Radiology technicians use radioactive materials to take images, requiring training.
Radiology technicians, or RTs, perform diagnostic tests that help doctors and other medical personnel to assess a patient's condition and aid in creating the proper treatment plan. X-rays, fluoroscopic equipment, CT scanners, MRI machines and mammography equipment are some of the potentially dangerous equipment used by these technicians. Federal law requires that radiology techs possess a minimum level of knowledge and competency in order to use these machines, but not every state complies with the federal standard. Missouri is one of them.
State Licensing
Missouri is one of six states -- including Alabama, Alaska, Idaho, North Carolina and South Dakota, along with the District of Columbia -- that does not require any form of licensing, certification or minimum standards for RTs. Anyone with a few weeks of basic education in radiologic equipment is legally able to operate the machines. Most states require RTs to hold a license, though not all of these states' licensing requirements meet minimum federal standards.
Federal Standards
In 1981, Congress passed the Consumer-Patient Radiation Health and Safety Act. The legislation required states to conform to minimum licensing or certification standards, but the suitable enforcement was amended out of the bill. This allowed states to decide for themselves if they wished to meet the federal guidelines. The proposed Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility, and Excellence (CARE) in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy bill, in committee since September 2009, ties Medicare and Medicaid funding to minimum standards for RTs, which would close the loophole and make the standards enforceable. RTs in Missouri would have to hold a license or state-approved certification if the bill passes.
Hospital Standards
Even though the state of Missouri does not require a license, many Missouri hospitals and medical facilities have minimum standards for RTs. Many look for candidates who possess a certification as a RT, particularly one issued through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. Some will not hire a non-certified RT at all, even if they hold a license in another state. This helps them to avoid potential liability issues and may follow guidelines set down by their insurers.
ARRT Certification
The ARRT certification exam is a comprehensive test; some states even use the ARRT to administer their state tests. To be eligible for the exam, all candidates must complete an AART-approved course and meet the association's ethical standards. In 2015, the AART will require all exam candidates to hold a minimum of an ARRT-acceptable associate degree before they are eligible to take the exam.
Tags: hold license, minimum standards, does require, exam candidates, licensing certification, Radiology technicians
