Radiologic Health Branch
Continuing Education Requirements for Certificate/Permit Renewal*
Table of Contents
1. General Information
2. Licentiates of the Healing Arts – CE Requirements
3. Certified Radiologic Technologists (CRT) - CE Requirements
4. Mammographic Certified Radiologic Technologists(CRT) – ADDITIONAL Requirements
5. Limited Permit X-Ray Technicians (XT) – CE Requirements
6. Certified Technologist, Nuclear Medicine – CE Requirements
7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. General Information
The continuing education (CE) credits and continuing experience required to renew permits and certificates in radiologic technology are specified in title 17, California Code of Regulation (17 CCR), section 30403. The Radiologic Health Branch does not have a program to provide continuing education credits and does not credential providers of continuing education.
An approved continuing education credit means one hour of instruction received in subjects related to the application of X-ray to the human body and accepted for purposes of credentialing, assigning professional status or certification by:
• American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)
• Medical Board of California
• Osteopathic Medical Board of California
• California Board of Chiropractic Examiners
• Board of Podiatric Medicine
• Dental Board of California
Please note that “subjects related to the application of X-ray to the human body” may include X-ray administration, X-ray management, X-ray pathology, X-ray diagnosis and X-ray quality control. However, subjects in MRI, Ultrasound, CPR, or other topics not related to the application of X-rays to the human body cannot be accepted. It is the responsibility of the certificate or permit holder to ascertain the acceptability of courses.
The renewal form mailed to you will include space for documenting the approved CE credits you have earned. You may use the reverse side of the renewal form, if needed. You are required to maintain original certificates or other documentation for five (5) years and to be made available to this Department upon request.
2. Licentiates of the Healing Arts – CE Requirements
Licentiates of the healing arts are those physicians and surgeons, osteopathic physicians and surgeons, podiatrists and chiropractors who possess a Radiology supervisor and operator certificate, or a Fluoroscopy, Radiography or Dermatology supervisor and operator permit.
All licentiates need to earn 10 approved CE credits in the two years immediately preceding the expiration date of their certificate/permit.
An approved continuing education credit means one hour of instruction received in subjects related to the application of X-ray to the human body and accepted for purposes of credentialing, assigning professional status or certification by:
• ARRT
• Medical Board of California
• Osteopathic Medical Board of California
• California Board of Chiropractic Examiners
• Board of Podiatric Medicine
• Dental Board of California
EXAMPLE: The Medical Board of California requires that physicians complete 50 hours of approved continuing education during each two-year period, and refers to these hours as Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits. One CE credit is equivalent to one CME credit as defined by the Medical Board of California when X-ray application to the human body is the subject matter of the education. Licentiates who are in residency or fellowship programs and courses, and seminars and meetings that contain subject matter related to X-ray may qualify for CE credits if they are granted CME status by the Medical Board of California. CME credits are determined to qualify for CE credit on an hour per hour basis of instruction related to X-ray. For example, a 3 day seminar that is granted 24 CME credits by the medical board would need to have discussions or training pertaining to X-ray amounting to at least 10 hours over the 3 day duration of the seminar. The required 10 hours of CE credits can be accrued over all education activities completed in the 2 year period.
It is the responsibility of the certificate or permit holder to ascertain the acceptability of the continuing education activity as a CE credit for the Department’s purposes. When completing the renewal form, please list all CME credit quantities in the “Hours/credits” column on the renewal application. If an audit is performed, you will be requested to provide the documentation that at least 10 of the CME credits listed are related to X-ray.
Additionally, courses and training offered by other recognized organizations can qualify as CE credits if they meet the requirements listed under general requirements above.
For further information on CME credits, please visit www.medbd.ca.gov, and the Osteopathic Medical Board of California at www.ombc.ca.gov. The Board of Podiatric Medicine’s continuing competency requirements can be viewed at www.bpm.ca.gov. The Dental Board of Californias’ policy on CE credits can be viewed at www.dbc.ca.gov. The California Board of Chiropractic Examiners has additional requirements related to the training for the use of X-ray and can be viewed at www.chiro.ca.gov.
3. Certified Radiologic Technologists (CRT) - CE Requirements
This section discusses CE requirements for diagnostic, therapeutic, and mammographic CRTs and those who may also possess a Fluoroscopy permit. Mammographic CRTs have ADDITIONAL requirements which are discussed separately below and supplement the information in this section.
CRTs need to earn twenty-four (24) approved CE credits in the two years immediately preceding the expiration date of their permit.
The Department will accept the following advanced credential certificates issued by ARRT for 24 CE credits if the certificate was issued within the two years immediately preceding the expiration date of the certificate or permit:
• Mammography
• Computerized Tomography
• Quality Management
• Bone Densitometry
• Vascular-interventional Radiography
• Cardiac-interventional Radiography
• Radiologist Assistant
• Radiation Therapy
Note: Issuance of a certificate through the State of California where a state examination was taken does not qualify for CE credits. However, training courses taken in preparation for these exams may be approved by one of the credentialing organizations listed above and therefore would qualify.
Activities meeting the definition of an ‘approved academic course’ as defined by the ARRT may be awarded CE credit at the rate of 12 CE credits for each academic quarter credit or 16 CE credits for each academic semester credit. The ‘approved academic course’ must also pertain to the application of X-ray to the human body to qualify as a CE credit for California. For more information on acceptable classes, please visit the ARRT website at www.arrt.org.
The ASRT is a recognized credentialing body for continuing education activities and those activities pertaining to the application of X-ray of the human body will be acceptable to the Department.
4. Mammographic Certified Radiologic Technologists (CRT) – ADDITIONAL Requirements
17 CCR 30403, specifies that each person who has been issued a Mammographic CRT Certificate shall, in the two years immediately preceding the expiration date of the certificate:
(1) Earn 24 approved continuing education (CE) credits, 10 of which shall be in mammography; and
(2) Perform at least 200 mammographic examinations.
If you did not perform 200 mammographic examinations in the required two year period, then you must attest that you understand that before you can legally perform mammographic examinations, you will complete 200 supervised (25 direct, 175 indirect) mammographic examinations. You will be allowed to maintain your mammographic certificate even though you are currently not performing mammography as long as you complete the CE requirements (including 10 specific to mammography) and provide a completed renewal application. However, if you prefer to cancel the mammography portion of your CRT certificate, please prepare a dated letter with your printed name and signature stating that you request cancellation of the mammographic portion of your CRT. Return this letter with your renewal application.
To renew your mammographic certification you must check the appropriate boxes on the renewal application in the section titled: “*Additional requirement for Mammographic Technology.” To maintain your Mammographic CRT certificate you must:
- Check the ‘Yes’ box attesting that ten (10) of the approved CE credits listed were earned in Mammography.
- Check ‘Yes’ to:
a. I attest that I have performed at least 200 mammographic examinations in the past two years.
OR
b. I attest that I understand that before I can legally perform mammographic examinations I must have completed at least 200 supervised (25 direct, 175 indirect) mammographic examinations.
The Department will accept the following advanced credential certificates issued by ARRT for 24 CE credits if the certificate was issued within the two years immediately preceding the expiration date of the certificate or permit:
• Bone Densitometry
• Cardiovascular-interventional Radiography
• Computerized Tomography
• Mammography**
• Quality Management
• Radiology Assistant
• Radiation Therapy
• Vascular-interventional Radiography.
**The advanced credential certificate for mammography will meet the 10 CE credits specific to mammography requirement. The other advanced credentials will not meet this requirement, so additional CE credits will need to be earned specific to mammography.
5. Limited Permit X-Ray Technicians (XT) – CE Requirements
Limited Permit X-Ray Technicians (XTs) need to earn twenty-four (24) approved CE credits in the two years immediately preceding the expiration date of their permit.
The Department will credit 24 CE credits to XTs who have enrolled in an approved Radiologic Technology program and who have documented the completion of a minimum of six months coursework. Documentation must include a letter from an authorized representative of the approved Radiologic Technology program. Additional documentation may also be required, such as official school transcripts. Be sure to include this information on your renewal application.
Completion of instruction in digital radiologic technology in accordance with our regulations is considered to be approved for 20 CE credits for purposes of renewing your permit. It is your responsibility to include these credits on your renewal application.
6. Certified Technologist, Nuclear Medicine – CE Requirements
The CE requirements and continuing experience required to renew certificates in nuclear medicine are specified in 17 CCR 30536. Nuclear Medicine Certificates expire five years from the date of issuance.
17 CCR 30536(c)(1), states, “Documentation submitted with the application establishes that the applicant has participated in management-sponsored or formal continuing education or training offered by one or more of the following:
(A) Professional organizations or societies.
(B) Institutions of higher learning.
(C) The applicant’s education and training includes at least five (5) clock hours since the last certificate renewal or initial application in each of the scopes specified in 17 CCR 30533 for which the certificate was issued.
The Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM) is a recognized credentialing body for continuing education activities pertaining to nuclear medicine.
Nuclear medicine categories pursuant to 17 CCR 30533(a) states, “Certificates shall be issued for one or more of the following:
(1) Diagnostic in vivo and in vitro tests involving measurement of uptake, dilution, or excretion, including venipuncture, but not involving imaging.
(2) Diagnostic nuclear medicine technology procedures involving imaging, including venipuncture.
(3) Use of generators and reagent kits for preparation of radioactive material.
(4) Internal radioactive material therapy.”
CE credits from the Radiopharmacy Scope may be applied to either: Non-Imaging (in-vivo/in-vitro) or Generators and Kits, depending upon the topic.
7. Frequently Asked Questions
1. What courses can be accepted for continuing education credit in California?
In order for us to be able to accept a course as credit for continuing education, it needs to be in a subject that is related to the application of X-rays to the human body and it needs to be approved by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, American Society of Radiologic Technologists, Society of Nuclear Medicine (FOR CERTIFIED TECHNOLOGISTS, NUCLEAR MEDICINE ONLY), Medical Board of California, Osteopathic Medical Board of California, California Board of Chiropractic Examiners, Board of Podiatric Medicine; or the Dental Board of California.
2. How many credits do I need to renew my certificate/permit?
XTs and CRTs need to earn twenty-four (24) Approved Continuing Education Credits in the 2 years prior to the expiration of their certificate/permit. Certified Supervisors and Operators (California Licensed Physicians and Surgeons, Podiatrists, or Chiropractors) need to earn ten (10) Approved Continuing Education Credits in the same time period of 2 years prior to the expiration of their certificate/permit. CRTs with mammography certificates need 24 hours, 10 of which are specific to mammography.
3. How can I find out where continuing education courses are being held?
Perform an Internet search using California Radiology Continuing Education or California X-ray Continuing Education. Do not forget to verify if the certificate and course is being given by an approved body as listed in Question #1 and is in a subject that is related to the application of X-rays to the human body.
4. What happens if I have not earned my required credits when my certificate or permit renewal is due?
We cannot process your renewal until you have earned the required credits and sent in your renewal application with the required information and fee. It is a violation of the regulations to continue to work with an expired certificate or permit.
5. Can courses in MRI, Ultra Sound, and CPR be accepted for approved continuing education credits?
No. Credits can be accepted only for approved courses in subjects that are related to the application of X-rays to the human body. These courses can include subjects in radiology administration or management and radiologic pathology, diagnosis, or quality control.
6. Are all continuing education courses approved by ARRT accepted in California as approved continuing education credits?
No. We can only accept approved courses that are in subject related to the application of X-ray to the human body.
7. How do I report continuing education credits that I have earned?
Complete the renewal application sent with your renewal notice. You will need to retain your original course certificates for five years so that you can provide them for audit purposes if needed.