Accredited program have satisfactorily demonstrated compliance with educational standards developed by and for the profession. These standards are set by the organizations that sponsor the accrediting agency. Radiography is considered by many to be the fifth oldest allied health profession. In 1969 the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology was established.
Accreditation is a voluntary peer-review process.
Although accreditation is voluntary, few programs choose not to undergo the accreditation process because the certification organizations require graduation from an accredited program as a qualification for eligibility to take their examinations. To permit their graduates to qualify for the national certification examinations, nearly all schools value their accreditation status highly and work hard to maintain standards that meet all the accreditation recommendations. It is a voluntary process and is the responsibility of the person, not of the person's school or employer. Each certification organization sets requirements for the recognition of professionals through registration, certification, or other recognition of skills by examination. This is accomplished through voluntary certification by examination.