ARRT® Continuing Education and License Renewal

ARRT® Continuing Education (CE) Requirements Explained for Radiologic Technologists

For renewal of a R.T.® certification and registration, The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists® (ARRT®) requires radiologic technologists to report, at minimum, 24 Category A or A+ radiology CE credits at the end of their CE biennium. This requirement became mandatory in 1995 and continues today and assists in ensuring the health care community and public that a R.T.® professional is qualified to practice in the profession. All Registered Radiologic Technologists are required to comply with the ARRT® continuing education requirements for obtaining radiology CE credits.

What is a Radiologic Technologist's Biennium?

An R.T.®'s biennium is a two-year time span that coincides with a technologist's birth month. The biennium begins on the first day of a radiologic technologist's birth month, extending two years, and ends the last day of the month prior to the radiologic technologist's birth month. The ARRT® continuing education requirements make it mandatory that a technologist complete 24 Category A or A+ radiology CE credits in this two-year time frame for certification and registration renewal.

Biennium Example for ARRT® Radiology Continuing Education (CE) Requirements

As an example, let's say a new radiologic technologist has a November birthday. This particular person passes the ARRT® national registry exam in May of 2016 and obtains initial certification and registration. This newly registered and certified R.T.®'s biennium will start on the November 1, 2016 (The technologist's next birth month) and continue for two years, ending on October 31, 2018. Between November 1, 2016 and October 31, 2018 this technologist must obtain 24 Category A or A+ radiology CE credits to be eligible for renewal of certification and registration.

If you are looking for your biennium period, it should be printed on your ARRT® credential card. Your biennium dates will also appear on your application for renewal of registration and certification. It is important to note that CE credits CAN NOT be carried over from one biennium period to another biennium period per ARRT® continuing education guidelines.

How to Renew Your ARRT® License

To renew your ARRT® license you should be able to do that online. Just head over to the ARRT® website.

Click the "LOGIN" icon in the upper right hand corner of the page. If you have login in credentials, then login and you can report your CE and renew online.

If you don't have a login, just click the "REGISTER" link from this page and register with their site to have an online login. Once you do that you should be able to renew online. If you need to contact the ARRT®, their phone # is 651-687-0048.

How Does a Radiologic Technologist Report and Document their Radiology CE Credits to the ARRT®?

During the renewal process, a technologist will complete the ARRT®'s Application for Renewal of Certification and Registration. Every other year, at the end of a technologist's biennium, he or she will be required to document continuing education (CE) on the renewal application CE Report Form by listing the radiology CE credits and activities he or she has completed. The actual CE certificates, proving and documenting that CE credit was completed, should not be submitted with the renewal form. The only time you will be required to submit proof of CE credit via a certificate is if the ARRT® selects you for a CE audit.

What Options Does a Technologist Have to Satisfy CE Requirements?

Currently, there are three options a technologist has in fulfilling his or her ARRT® continuing education requirements.

Option 1: Earn 24 continuing education (CE) credits that meet the ARRT®'s criteria and guidelines.

• The 24 CE credits need to be Category A or A+ and must be evaluated by a Recognized Continuing Education Evaluation Mechanism (RCEEM). All EverLearn courses are Category A and evaluated by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT), which is a recognized RCEEM with the ARRT®.

• Radiologic Technologist's should choose CE topics that are relevant to their practice area. The CE credits do not have to be specific to radiography but must be applicable to radiography or patient care as it relates to radiography.

• Radiology CE credits earned via home study, Internet activities, lectures, and directed reading courses cannot be repeated in the same biennium.

• Applications facility training qualifies as Category A CE credit, but effective January 1, 2011 the ARRT® has capped those credits at 8.0 per biennium.

Option 2: Earn certification and registration in a primary discipline not previously certified and registered in. It is important to note though, that this option will no longer provide CE credit for technologists with a CE biennium starting on or after January 1, 2018. Examples of primary certifications or registrations that the ARRT® has deemed acceptable for CE credit include Radiography through the ARRT®, Nuclear Medicine Technology through the ARRT® or NMTCB, Radiation Therapy through the ARRT®, Sonography through the ARRT®, Magnetic Resonance Imaging through the ARRT®, Dosimetry through MDCB, and Diagnostic Medical Sonography , Vascular Technology, or Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography through the ARDMS. Visit the ARRT® website to learn more about primary and post-primary certifications and registrations.

Option 3: Earn a post-primary certification and registration not previously held. Again, it is important to note that this option will no longer provide CE credit for technologists with a CE biennium starting on or after January 1, 2018. Examples of post-primary certifications or registrations that the ARRT® has deemed acceptable for CE credit include Mammography through the ARRT®, Computed Tomography through the ARRT®, Magnetic Resonance Imaging through the ARRT®, Quality Management through the ARRT®, Vascular Sonography through the ARRT®, Bone Densitometry through the ARRT®, Vascular-Interventional Radiography through the ARRT®, Cardiac-Interventional Radiography through the ARRT, Breast Sonography through the ARRT®, Radiologist Assistant through the ARRT®, Nuclear Cardiology through NMTCB, Positron Emission Tomography through NMTCB, Certified Radiology Administrator sponsored by the AHRA, and the Cardiovascular Credentialing International certification earned on or after January 1, 2016. Visit the ARRT® website to learn more about primary and post-primary certifications and registrations.

Will the ARRT® Accept for Certification and Renewal Radiology CE Credits Approved in My State?

There are certain states that have laws requiring Radiologic Technologist's to earn CE credit to uphold a state license in order to practice in the radiography profession. Currently (January 2016), the ARRT® accepts CE credits from the following states: Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Oregon, and Texas.

Well, this post covers a lot of what you need to know about ARRT® continuing education and R.T.® license renewal. Be sure to head over to the ARRT®'s website for further review of their continuing education (CE) requirements and download a PDF copy for your review.

Happy Imaging!
Lindsay