- Becoming a radiologic technologist involves graduating from high school, achieving an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in an accredited program, applying for certification, and renewing that certification every two years.
- A certification from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) acknowledges an individual qualified and certifies them to perform the role of a radiologic technologist.
- Salary estimates in 2021 showed that the median salary for radiologic and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologists was around $61,980 per year(1).
Radiologic Technologist Education: Prerequisites, Requirements, Programs, Degrees, and Certificates
Pursuing a career as a radiologic technologist (sometimes called radiology technologist or rad tech) generally involves accomplishing the following requirements:
- Graduate from high school: Finishing high school or its equivalent is mandatory for any radiologic technologist. Individuals planning to enter this field must pay particular attention to science and mathematics courses.
High school students can also consider working or volunteering in a healthcare setting to familiarize themselves with the program.
- Attend an accredited radiologic technology program: Candidates should earn either an associate’s or bachelor’s degree to be eligible for certification from the ARRT.
As of June 2021, applicants for ARRT certification in radiography, MRI, nuclear medicine technology, sonography, or radiation therapy must have graduated from a school accredited by an ARRT-recognized body(2).
- Apply for ARRT certification and registration: Radiologic technologists can pursue an ARRT certification to establish their expertise and maximize potential employability.
This process requires the applicant to submit an ethics pre-application and proof of acceptable academic record. They should also pass an exam that assesses their knowledge and skills, indicating their capacity to perform tasks required of an entry-level staff technologist.
A radiography certification is the most applicable for entry-level positions. Radiologic technologists in this capacity can later pursue specialty certification in mammography, bone densitometry, or cardiac interventional radiography.
Paper applications may take 30 days or longer to process, depending on whether ARRT needs to do an ethics review or if the applicant requests Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations.
Online applications may take around two days before the applicant receives their status.
Afterward, candidates have 365 days to schedule and take a certification exam. Individuals can get their official final score in 30 days.
- Maintain ARRT certification: Technologists must renew their ARRT certifications every two years. To do this process, individuals must comply with all ARRT regulations, adhere to the organization’s standards of ethics, and complete the required hours of continuing education.
Technologists who are renewing their certification must earn 24 credit hours yearly to stay updated with their credentials or qualify for further ARRT certifications in other specialties.
According to the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT), candidates can work as any of the following specialists(3):
- Radiographer
- Computed tomography technologist
- Cardiac interventional technologist
- Bone densitometry technologist
- Vascular interventional technologist
- Magnetic resonance technologist
- Mammographer
- Sonographer
- Nuclear medicine technologist
- Medical dosimetrist
- Radiologist assistant
- Radiation therapist
Schools and Colleges With Registered Radiologic Technologist Programs
Determining which school to enroll in to be a registered radiologic technologist involves evaluating the institution’s offered programs, accreditation, credentialing pass rate, job placement rate, and tuition.
As of July 2022, schools and colleges in the United States offering radiologic technology and medical imaging programs include:
| Alabama(4) | |||||
| School | Radiologic Technology and Medical Imaging Programs | Accreditation | Credential Exam Pass Rate | Job Placement Rate | Tuition and Fees |
| Gadsden State Community College | Associate’s Degree | Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) | 90% | 99% | $4,960 |
| Southern Union State Community College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 87% | 92% | $8,278 |
| University of South Alabama | Bachelor’s Degree | JRCERT | 87% | 97% | $13,624 |
| Wallace Community College-Dothan | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 81% | 100% | $2,347 |
| Arizona(5) | |||||
| School | Radiologic Technology and Medical Imaging Programs | Accreditation | Credential Exam Pass Rate | Job Placement Rate | Tuition and Fees |
| Arizona Western College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 71% | 100% | $10,121 |
| Central Arizona College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 95% | 100% | $6,415 |
| Mohave Community College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 87% | 97% | $8,826 |
| Pima Community College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 99% | 100% | $3,297 |
| California(6) | |||||
| School | Radiologic Technology and Medical Imaging Programs | Accreditation | Credential Exam Pass Rate | Job Placement Rate | Tuition and Fees |
| Cabrillo College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 97% | 90% | $10,157 |
| California State University-Northridge | Bachelor’s Degree | JRCERT | 99% | 97% | $5,958 |
| Foothill College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT, CAAHEP | 99% | 98% | $7,481 |
| Los Angeles City College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 92% | 86% | $7,360 |
| Florida(7) | |||||
| School | Radiologic Technology and Medical Imaging Programs | Accreditation | Credential Exam Pass Rate | Job Placement Rate | Tuition and Fees |
| AdventHealth University | Associate’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree | JRCERT, CAAHEP, JRCNMT | 92% | 97% | $17,298 |
| Eastern Florida State College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT, CAAHEP | 88% | 100% | $3,512 |
| Hillsborough Community College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT, CAAHEP, JRCNMT | 97% | 98% | $2,836 |
| South Florida State College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 76% | 100% | $4,531 |
| Georgia(8) | |||||
| School | Radiologic Technology and Medical Imaging Programs | Accreditation | Credential Exam Pass Rate | Job Placement Rate | Tuition and Fees |
| Albany State University | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT, CAAHEP | 92% | 97% | $12,500 |
| Augusta Technical College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT, CAAHEP | 100% | 100% | $9,672 |
| Dalton State College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 98% | 100% | $6,697 |
| Georgia Southern University | Bachelor’s Degree | JRCERT, CAAHEP, JRCNMT | 83% | 84% | $15,374 |
| Illinois(9) | |||||
| School | Radiologic Technology and Medical Imaging Programs | Accreditation | Credential Exam Pass Rate | Job Placement Rate | Tuition and Fees |
| College of DuPage | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT, JRCNMT, CAAHEP | 96% | 99% | $6,388 |
| Elgin Community College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 100% | 100% | $4,565 |
| Illinois Central College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 97% | 100% | $9,370 |
| Sauk Valley Community College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 99% | 98% | $7,469 |
| Indiana(10) | |||||
| School | Radiologic Technology and Medical Imaging Programs | Accreditation | Credential Exam Pass Rate | Job Placement Rate | Tuition and Fees |
| Ball State University | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 91% | 98% | $13,533 |
| Ivy Tech Community College- Bloomington | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 91% | 100% | $6,556 |
| University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 100% | 100% | $18,055 |
| University of Southern Indiana | Bachelor’s Degree | JRCERT, CAAHEP | 93% | 100% | $13,360 |
| Louisiana(11) | |||||
| School | Radiologic Technology and Medical Imaging Programs | Accreditation | Credential Exam Pass Rate | Job Placement Rate | Tuition and Fees |
| Delgado Community College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT, JRCNMT, CAAHEP | 95% | 99% | $9,795 |
| Louisiana State University-Alexandria | Associate’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree | JRCERT | 67% | 100% | $7,838 |
| Southern University Shreveport | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 94% | 99% | $8,691 |
| University of Holy Cross | Associate’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree | JRCERT | 100% | 100% | $14,234 |
| Michigan(12) | |||||
| School | Radiologic Technology and Medical Imaging Programs | Accreditation | Credential Exam Pass Rate | Job Placement Rate | Tuition and Fees |
| Baker College-Clinton Township | Associate’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree | JRCERT | 97% | 87% | $14,487 |
| Ferris State University | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT, CAAHEP, JRCNMT | 87% | 89% | $13,097 |
| Northern Michigan University | Associate’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree | JRCERT | 90% | 94% | $15,201 |
| Wayne State University | Bachelor’s Degree, Graduate Degree | JRCERT | 98% | 100% | $15,012 |
| Mississippi(13) | |||||
| School | Radiologic Technology and Medical Imaging Programs | Accreditation | Credential Exam Pass Rate | Job Placement Rate | Tuition and Fees |
| Copiah-Lincoln Community College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 95% | 100% | $5,273 |
| Itawamba Community College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 95% | 100% | $5,733 |
| Meridian Community College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 76% | 100% | $6,247 |
| University of Mississippi | Bachelor’s Degree, Graduate Degree | JRCERT, JRCNMT | 98% | 100% | $14,762 |
| New York(14) | |||||
| School | Radiologic Technology and Medical Imaging Programs | Accreditation | Credential Exam Pass Rate | Job Placement Rate | Tuition and Fees |
| CUNY Bronx Community College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT, JRCNMT | 94% | 98% | $4,441 |
| Long Island University-Post | Bachelor’s Degree | JRCERT | 92% | 100% | $25,436 |
| Monroe Community College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 97% | 92% | $6,968 |
| Orange County Community College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 94% | 100% | $4,325 |
| North Carolina(15) | |||||
| School | Radiologic Technology and Medical Imaging Programs | Accreditation | Credential Exam Pass Rate | Job Placement Rate | Tuition and Fees |
| Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT, CAAHEP | 100% | 99% | $7,729 |
| Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT, CAAHEP, JRCNMT | 78% | 100% | $2,667 |
| Forsyth Technical Community College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT, CAAHEP, JRCNMT | 95% | 100% | $3,326 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Bachelor’s Degree | JRCERT, JRCNMT | 97% | 98% | $10,085 |
| Ohio(16) | |||||
| School | Radiologic Technology and Medical Imaging Programs | Accreditation | Credential Exam Pass Rate | Job Placement Rate | Tuition and Fees |
| Central Ohio Technical College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT, CAAHEP | 100% | 100% | $8,618 |
| Columbus State Community College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 90% | 100% | $6,027 |
| Kent State University at Ashtabula | Associate’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree | JRCERT | 97% | 100% | $8,366 |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus | Bachelor’s Degree | JRCERT, CAAHEP | 96% | 100% | $18,706 |
| Oklahoma(17) | |||||
| School | Radiologic Technology and Medical Imaging Programs | Accreditation | Credential Exam Pass Rate | Job Placement Rate | Tuition and Fees |
| Bacone College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 78% | 85% | $21,621 |
| Cameron University | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 100% | 100% | $8,110 |
| Southwestern Oklahoma State University | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 78% | 100% | $12,692 |
| Tulsa Community College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT, CAAHEP | 75% | 88% | $5,788 |
| Pennsylvania(18) | |||||
| School | Radiologic Technology and Medical Imaging Programs | Accreditation | Credential Exam Pass Rate | Job Placement Rate | Tuition and Fees |
| Bucks County Community College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 79% | 99% | $6,666 |
| Community College of Allegheny County- Allegheny | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT, JRCNMT | 82% | 94% | $8,493 |
| Community College of Philadelphia | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 100% | 97% | $6,106 |
| Johnson College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 87% | 95% | $18,434 |
| South Carolina(19) | |||||
| School | Radiologic Technology and Medical Imaging Programs | Accreditation | Credential Exam Pass Rate | Job Placement Rate | Tuition and Fees |
| Aiken Technical College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 89% | 100% | $3,525 |
| Greenville Technical College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT, CAAHEP | 98% | 90% | $6,992 |
| Midlands Technical College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT, JRCNMT | 98% | 100% | $5,864 |
| Trident Technical College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 79% | 80% | $2,559 |
| Tennessee(20) | |||||
| School | Radiologic Technology and Medical Imaging Programs | Accreditation | Credential Exam Pass Rate | Job Placement Rate | Tuition and Fees |
| Austin Peay State University | Bachelor’s Degree | JRCERT | 87% | 98% | $13,440 |
| Columbia State Community College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 94% | 97% | $6,645 |
| Southwest Tennessee Community College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 62% | 80% | $4,370 |
| Volunteer State Community College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT, CAAHEP | 91% | 100% | $6,181 |
| Texas(21) | |||||
| School | Radiologic Technology and Medical Imaging Programs | Accreditation | Credential Exam Pass Rate | Job Placement Rate | Tuition and Fees |
| Amarillo College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT, JRCNMT | 79% | 93% | $6,005 |
| Austin Community College District | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT, CAAHEP | 98% | 95% | $4,786 |
| Dallas College- Brookhaven | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 99% | 100% | $5,205 |
| Houston Community College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT, CAAHEP, JRCNMT | 95% | 95% | $4,686 |
| Virginia(22) | |||||
| School | Radiologic Technology and Medical Imaging Programs | Accreditation | Credential Exam Pass Rate | Job Placement Rate | Tuition and Fees |
| Central Virginia Community College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 94% | 100% | $5,436 |
| Piedmont Virginia Community College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT, CAAHEP | 96% | 97% | $6,913 |
| Southwest Virginia Community College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 79% | 100% | $8,326 |
| Tidewater Community College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT, CAAHEP | 97% | 99% | $7,943 |
| Washington(23) | |||||
| School | Radiologic Technology and Medical Imaging Programs | Accreditation | Credential Exam Pass Rate | Job Placement Rate | Tuition and Fees |
| Bellevue College (Associate’s) | Associate’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree | JRCERT, CAAHEP, JRCNMT | 98% | 100% | $8,828 |
| Spokane Community College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT, CAAHEP | 95% | 99% | $5,714 |
| Tacoma Community College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT, CAAHEP | 98% | 100% | $7,127 |
| Yakima Valley College | Associate’s Degree | JRCERT | 92% | 88% | $8,091 |
Jobs and Salary
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for radiologic and MRI technologists may increase up to 9% from 2020 to 2030, a rate as fast as the average growth of all occupations(24).
BLS also projects 20,800 openings for radiologic and MRI technologists yearly throughout the decade. These work opportunities may be due to the need to replace workers leaving the labor force or transferring to different occupations.
Below are the median annual wages of radiologic and MRI technologist-related occupations as of May 2021(25):
- Magnetic resonance imaging technologists: $77,360
- Radiologic and MRI technologists: $61,980
- Radiologic technologists and technicians: $61,370
- Health technologists and technicians: $46,910
The top industries hiring radiologic and MRI technologists and the median salaries of these occupations in these industries as of May 2021 are as follows(26):
- The federal government, excluding postal service: $71,530
- Outpatient care centers: $67,240
- Medical and diagnostic laboratories: $62,410
- Hospitals; state, local, and private: $61,670
- Offices of physicians: $59,500
ARRT Overview
ARRT certification and registration aim to acknowledge qualified individuals and certify them to perform specific radiology or radiologic technology roles.
For example, ARRT’s radiography certification and registration are to recognize individuals capable of taking on the roles and responsibilities of a radiographer. These responsibilities can include proficiency in radiation protection or operating specific X-ray equipment.
Certification and registration require aspiring candidates to meet professional standards in medical imaging, radiation therapy, or interventional procedures.
Employers, federal regulators, and state licensing agencies consider ARRT credentials to indicate that the individual has met professional standards.
ARRT Rules and Regulations
In 2020, the ARRT published guidelines regarding the certification and registration of radiologic technologists(27). These guidelines include the qualifications and processes for radiologic technologist certification, registration, renewal, reinstatement, and continuing education.
Article I: Certification and Registration
The ARRT established a set of qualifications to evaluate applicants for certification and registration. Once these candidates meet those qualifications, the organization will certify and register them as radiologic technologists.
Applicants who satisfy the certification and registration requirements are awarded a certificate proving that they have met the requirements and, therefore, ARRT-certified and registered technologists.
The individual maintains their ARRT certification and registration status as long as they meet the initial certification and registration requirements and continue to meet such requirements.
The certificate confers upon the qualified candidates the right to use the “Registered Technologist” title and “R.T. (ARRT)” abbreviation next to their names while the certification and registration status is in effect.
Meanwhile, the radiologist assistant certificate gives an individual the right to use the “Registered Radiologist Assistant” title and “R.R.A. (ARRT)” abbreviation after their names.
Article II: Qualifications for Certification and Registration
A candidate applying for an ARRT certification and registration must meet the organization’s education, ethics, and examination requirements and agree to comply with the ARRT’s rules, regulations, and ethics standards.
Applicants for certification and registration must meet specific requirements:
- Radiography: Applicants must complete an ARRT–accredited educational program in radiography and the ARRT requirements for radiography didactic and clinical competency as part of the educational program.
- Nuclear medicine technology: Individuals taking this path must complete a formal educational program in nuclear medicine technology and the ARRT nuclear medicine technology clinical and didactic competency requirements.
- Radiation therapy: Candidates pursuing this profession must complete a radiation therapy program accredited by an ARRT-recognized mechanism and accomplish the ARRT’s requirements for radiation therapy didactic and clinical competency.
- Cardiovascular interventional radiography: Applicants in this field must obtain a radiography certification and registration from the ARRT and remain certified to be eligible for cardiovascular interventional radiography.
Candidates must document their completion of the cardiovascular interventional radiography clinical experience requirements before applying for certification and registration.
- Mammography: Individuals pursuing mammography must receive ARRT certification and registration in radiography and maintain their radiography status to qualify for mammography certification.
Before applying for ARRT certification, aspiring enrollees must document their completion of the organization’s clinical experience requirements in mammography in the 24 months preceding application submission.
- Computed tomography: Candidates should be ARRT-certified and registered for radiography or radiation therapy to be eligible for computed tomography (CT) certification and registration.
Individuals can also qualify for CT certification by pursuing a nuclear medicine technology certification through the ARRT or Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB).
Applicants must document the completion of the ARRT clinical experience requirements in CT within the 24 months preceding submission of the application for certification and registration.
- Magnetic resonance imaging: Aspiring enrollees can pursue two options to meet the professional education requirement for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
In the first option, candidates must get certified and registered in any of the following programs:
- Radiography or radiation therapy by the ARRT
- Nuclear medicine technology through the ARRT or NMTCB
- Sonography by ARRT
- Any sonography-related modality through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS)
Certified individuals must maintain their certification and registration in radiography, radiation therapy, nuclear medicine technology, sonography, or any sonography-related modality to be eligible for MRI certification and registration.
For the second option, candidates must complete a formal educational program in magnetic resonance imaging through an ARRT–accredited mechanism. They must also accomplish the ARRT MRI didactic and clinical competency requirements.
- Quality management: Candidates interested in quality management must first get certified and registered in radiation therapy or radiography by the ARRT or in nuclear medicine technology by the ARRT or the NMTCB.
These individuals must also maintain their radiography, radiation therapy, or nuclear medicine technology certification and registration to continue being eligible for certification in quality management.
- Sonography: Applicants pursuing sonography certification and registration have two options to meet the professional education requirement for sonography:
- In the first option, candidates must get certified and registered in radiography, radiation therapy, and MRI through the formal educational eligibility pathway, nuclear medicine technology, or any sonography-related modality to qualify for sonography certification.
Starting January 1, 2016, individuals no longer need to maintain their certification and registration in radiography, radiation therapy, MRI, nuclear medicine technology, or any sonography-related modality to be eligible for continued sonography certification and registration(28).
- Under the second option, candidates must accomplish a formal sonography educational program accredited by an ARRT-approved mechanism. Part of the educational program also requires completion of the ARRT sonography didactic and clinical competency requirements.
- Bone densitometry: Candidates seeking bone densitometry certification must first be certified in radiography, radiation therapy, or nuclear medicine technology and maintain these certifications.
Before applying for certification and registration, aspiring enrollees must provide documentation of their completion of the ARRT clinical experience requirements in the bone densitometry program during the 24 months preceding application submission.
- Vascular sonography: Individuals have two options for meeting the vascular sonography professional education requirement.
The first option requires candidates to be certified and registered in any of the following pathways:
- Radiography or radiation therapy by the ARRT
- Sonography by ARRT
- Any sonography-related modality by the ARDMS
- Nuclear medicine technology by ARRT or NMTCB
The candidate must maintain certification in the pathways mentioned above to be eligible for vascular sonography certification and registration.
- Cardiac interventional radiography: Candidates seeking eligibility for cardiac interventional radiography certification must first be ARRT-certified and registered in radiography. These individuals must also maintain their radiography certification at all times.
During the 24 months preceding their application submission, aspiring enrollees must document their completion of the ARRT clinical experience requirements for cardiac interventional radiography.
- Vascular interventional radiography: Candidates pursuing vascular interventional radiography must get certified and registered in radiography by the ARRT and consistently maintain this status to qualify for vascular interventional radiography certification and registration.
Individuals must submit a document of their completion of the ARRT vascular interventional radiography clinical experience requirements during the 24 months preceding submission of their application.
- Breast sonography: Candidates seeking eligibility to become breast sonographers must have a mammography or sonography certification and registration by the ARRT.
These candidates can also qualify for breast sonography by getting an ARDMS certification in any sonography-related modality.
The individual must also maintain their certification and registration in mammography, sonography, or any sonography-related modality to be eligible for breast sonography certification and registration.
- Radiologist assistant: Candidates pursuing a radiologist assistant career must get certified and registered in radiography by the ARRT and retain this status to qualify for certification and registration as radiologist assistants.
Candidates must also document at least one year of full-time clinical experience after getting their radiography certification.
These aspirants may earn clinical experience concurrent to the radiologist assistant educational program.
Article III: Certification and Registration Process
Candidates must file their applications in a manner and format set by the organization and pay the appropriate fee specified by the Board of Trustees.
The program director of an educational program that meets the requirements stated in Article II is responsible for endorsing the following:
- Certification and registration applications for radiography, nuclear medicine technology, and radiation therapy
- Applications for MRI or sonography applied through the formal educational program option
- Certification and registration applications as a radiologist assistant
The Board of Trustees can investigate applications to determine the candidate’s educational preparation, moral character, and other qualifications. Investigations can also include the examination of public records and criminal background checks.
Article IV: Qualifications for Continued Certification and Registration
Once the candidate meets the initial qualifications to be certified and registered by the ARRT, the individual will receive the certification through the end of the candidate’s next birth month.
In case the period between the examination administration and the candidate’s birth month is two months or less, their certification and registration shall take effect through their birth month the following year.
Individuals can renew their certification and registration annually as long as they continue to meet the requirements described in the ARRT’s rules and regulations. The candidate should also fulfill other conditions the Board of Trustees will set from time to time.
ARRT’s Board of Trustees reserves the right to reject the renewal applications for certification and registration of any individuals, especially if the Board, through its absolute discretion, believes the applicant does not meet its qualifications.
Article V: Certification and Registration Renewal Process
Individuals renewing their certification and registration must file their applications to the ARRT in a format and manner the organization determines. The applicant also pays a fee set by the Board of Trustees.
Applications are available to candidates according to their birth month. Individuals must complete and submit these applications through the ARRT website before midnight, Central Standard Time, on the last day of the applicant’s birth month.
All applicants must provide all the required information according to the Board of Trustees’ requests and sign the applications.
The Board of Trustees also investigates applications to determine whether the applicant adheres to the renewal qualifications, including moral character criteria and compliance with the ARRT’s rules and regulations.
Article VI: Qualifications for Reinstatement of Certification and Registration
If an individual has discontinued ARRT certification and registration, they may apply for reinstatement, provided that they meet the reinstatement requirements described in Article VI of ARRT’s rules and regulations.
The individual applying for reinstatement must fulfill the education or re-examination requirements based on how long they have discontinued their certification and registration.
The length of time discontinued is determined relative to the individual’s continuing education (CE) biennium period. The CE biennium period is described in the ARRT continuing education requirements.
The Board of Trustees has the right to reject the individual’s application for reinstatement if the Board, at its discretion, determines that the applicant does not meet the certification’s qualifications.
An individual applying for reinstatement must have good moral character, have not engaged in conduct inconsistent with ARRT’s rules and regulations or standards of ethics, and have agreed to comply with the ARRT’s rules, regulations, and ethical standards.
Article VII: Reinstatement of Certification and Registration Process
Individuals applying for reinstatement of their ARRT certification and registration must file their application in a format and manner set by the organization. The applicant must also pay the appropriate fee set by the Board of Trustees.
Candidates must provide the necessary information the Board of Trustees requests and sign these applications.
The ARRT can investigate the applicants to determine whether their moral character, compliance with the rules, regulations, standards of ethics, and other qualifications make the applicant eligible for reinstatement.
Article VIII: Standards of Ethics
The ARRT Board of Trustees promotes, reviews, and adopts changes it deems appropriate or necessary in the organization’s standards of ethics.
The Board also evaluates the standards’ relevance and applicability to registrants and candidates for certification and registration. These standards also apply to applicants renewing or reinstating their certification.
While the ARRT standards of ethics can benefit the applicant, the Board of Trustees can still promote additional rules for registered technologists’ and registered radiologist assistants’ conduct.
The Board can also determine what types of conduct it should consider improper, unethical, or of a nature that may discredit the profession.
Article IX: Disciplinary Actions
Should the Board of Trustees, acting according to the ARRT’s rules, regulations, and standards of ethics, deem that an applicant does not meet its certification and registration qualifications, it can do any of the following:
- Deny or reject the application for certification and registration
- Refuse the certification renewal
- Revoke the individual’s certification status
- Revoke the eligibility to reinstate the individual’s certification and registration
The Board of Trustees also has the right to censure registrants or suspend their certification and registration for a certain period as the Board deems appropriate.
The Board may censure, revoke, or suspend a registrant’s certification and registration for the following reasons:
- The registrant is not, or ceased to be, an individual of good moral character.
- The applicant has advocated, directly or indirectly, or is guilty of unethical practices violating the standards of the Board of Trustees and the radiologic technology profession.
- The individual has conducted themselves in their professional practice or in any other manner that discredits the profession.
- The registrant has violated, or refused to comply with, any of the following:
- The agreed terms signed during application, renewal, or reinstatement for certification and registration.
- Any of the ARRT rules and regulations or the ARRT standards of ethics.
- The individual ceases to meet the certification and registration qualifications specified in the ARRT’s rules and regulations.
Article X: Continuing Education Requirements
Should the Board of Trustees determine the need to adopt changes to the ARRT continuing education requirements, the Board will promote and review such changes.
The Board will also evaluate the relevance of such changes and how they apply to the registered radiologist assistants, registered technologists, and individuals applying for reinstatement or renewal of certification and registration.
Article XI: Amendments to the Rules and Regulations, Standards of Ethics, Continuing Education Requirements, and Continuing Qualifications Requirements
Any individual, group, or representative of associations may register with the ARRT to receive a notice of the following:
- Proposed or amended ARRT rules and regulations
- Amended ARRT standards of ethics
- Amended ARRT continuing education requirements
- Amender ARRT continuing qualifications requirements
Following the amendment process, the organization will implement substantive revisions to the above-mentioned rules, standards, and requirements.
The Board of Trustees can make any other changes not mentioned in this section from time to time at the Board’s discretion.
Licensing and Certifications
There are more than 330,000 technologists holding ARRT credentials(29). Earning an ARRT certification and registration allows individuals to join the ranks of these qualified professionals.
Certain states require applicants to obtain state licensure before working as radiologic technologists in their area. This license differs from an ARRT certification and has different requirements.
More than 75% of states have laws covering radiologic technology licensing and practicing. In those states, the applicant must obtain a state license before taking the job as a radiologic technologist.
Many states refer to an individual’s ARRT exam scores or credentials when making licensing decisions. In other words, these states can require the applicant to be ARRT-certified and registered before providing the candidate a state license.
Benefits of Certification
Employers often prefer their technologists to have an ARRT certification even when such a credential is not a prerequisite.
However, holding this certificate indicates to employers that the applicant has the necessary competency and is committed to providing high-quality patient care.
Aspiring radiologic technologists can gain skills, knowledge, and confidence as they pursue certification and registration. Once they earn the registered technologist (R.T.) title, applicants can continue their professional growth while maintaining their certification status.
- Radiologic and MRI Technologists: Summary
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/radiologic-technologists.htm#tab-1 - Becoming a Radiologic Technologist – Education, Certification & Career
https://www.medicaltechnologyschools.com/radiologic-technologist/how-to-become-a-rad-tech - Careers in Radiologic Technology
https://www.asrt.org/main/career-center/careers-in-radiologic-technology - Radiology Technologist Schools and Careers in Alabama
https://www.radiologyschools411.com/alabama/ - Radiology Technologist Schools and Careers in Arizona
https://www.radiologyschools411.com/arizona/ - Radiology Technologist Schools and Careers in California
https://www.radiologyschools411.com/california/ - Radiology Technologist Schools and Careers in Florida
https://www.radiologyschools411.com/florida/ - Radiology Technologist Schools and Careers in Georgia
https://www.radiologyschools411.com/georgia/ - Radiology Technologist Schools and Careers in Illinois
https://www.radiologyschools411.com/illinois/ - Radiology Technologist Schools and Careers in Indiana
https://www.radiologyschools411.com/indiana/ - Radiology Technologist Schools and Careers in Louisiana
https://www.radiologyschools411.com/louisiana/ - Radiology Technologist Schools and Careers in Michigan
https://www.radiologyschools411.com/michigan/ - Radiology Technologist Schools and Careers in Mississippi
https://www.radiologyschools411.com/mississippi/ - Radiology Technologist Schools and Careers in New York
https://www.radiologyschools411.com/new-york/ - Radiology Technologist Schools and Careers in North Carolina
https://www.radiologyschools411.com/north-carolina/ - Radiology Technologist Schools and Careers in Ohio
https://www.radiologyschools411.com/ohio/ - Radiology Technologist Schools and Careers in Oklahoma
https://www.radiologyschools411.com/oklahoma/ - Radiology Technologist Schools and Careers in Pennsylvania
https://www.radiologyschools411.com/pennsylvania/ - Radiology Technologist Schools and Careers in South Carolina
https://www.radiologyschools411.com/south-carolina/ - Radiology Technologist Schools and Careers in Tennessee
https://www.radiologyschools411.com/tennessee/ - Radiology Technologist Schools and Careers in Texas
https://www.radiologyschools411.com/texas/ - Radiology Technologist Schools and Careers in Virginia
https://www.radiologyschools411.com/virginia/ - Radiology Technologist Schools and Careers in Washington
https://www.radiologyschools411.com/washington/ - Radiologic and MRI Technologists: Summary
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/radiologic-technologists.htm#tab-1 - Radiologic and MRI Technologists: Pay
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/radiologic-technologists.htm#tab-5 - Ibid.
- ARRT Rules and Regulations
https://assets-us-01.kc-usercontent.com/406ac8c6-58e8-00b3-e3c1-0c312965deb2/88b834a1-acf5-4595-a715-67769a39318a/arrt-rules-and-regulations.pdf - Ibid.
- What Is ARRT Certification & Registration?
https://www.arrt.org/pages/about-the-profession/arrt-certification-and-registration