Part I
General Provisions

18VAC85-101-10. Definitions.

In addition to definitions in § 54.1-2900 of the Code of Virginia, the following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"ACRRT" means the American Chiropractic Registry of Radiologic Technologists.

"ARRT" means the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.

"Bone densitometry" means a process for measuring bone mineral density by utilization of single x-ray absorptiometry (SXA), dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) or other technology that is substantially equivalent as determined by the board.

"Direct supervision" means that a licensed radiologic technologist, doctor of medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic or podiatry is present and is fully responsible for the activities performed by radiologic personnel, with the exception of radiologist assistants.

"Direction" means the delegation of radiologic functions to be performed upon a patient from a licensed doctor of medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, or podiatry, to a licensed radiologic technologist or a radiologic technologist-limited for a specific purpose and confined to a specific anatomical area, that will be performed under the direction of and in continuing communication with the delegating practitioner.

"ISCD" means the International Society for Clinical Densitometry.

"NMTCB" means Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board.

"Radiologist" means a doctor of medicine or osteopathic medicine specialized by training and practice in radiology.

"R.T.(R)" means a person who is currently certified by the ARRT as a radiologic technologist with certification in radiography.

"Traineeship" means a period of activity during which an applicant for licensure as a radiologic technologist works under the direct supervision of a practitioner approved by the board while waiting for the results of the licensure examination or an applicant for licensure as a radiologic technologist-limited working under direct supervision and observation to fulfill the practice requirements in 18VAC85-101-60.

18VAC85-101-40. Licensure requirements.

A. An applicant for board licensure shall:

1. Meet the educational requirements specified in 18VAC85-101-30;

2. Submit the required application, fee, and credentials to the board; and

3. Submit evidence of passage of the ARRT or the NMTCB certification examination with a minimum passing score acceptable to the board.

B. If an applicant has been licensed or certified in another jurisdiction, he shall provide information on the status of each license or certificate held and verification from that jurisdiction of any current, unrestricted license.

C. An applicant who fails the ARRT or NMTCB examination shall follow the policies and procedures of the ARRT certifying body for successive attempts.

Part IV
Licensure Requirements - Radiologic Technologist-Limited

18VAC85-101-55. Educational requirements for radiologic technologists-limited.

A. An applicant for licensure as a radiologic technologist-limited shall be trained by one of the following:

1. Successful completion of a program educational coursework that is directed by a radiologic technologist with a bachelor's degree and current ARRT certification, has instructors who are licensed radiologic technologists or doctors of medicine or osteopathic medicine who are board certified in radiology, and has a minimum of the following coursework:

a. Image production/equipment operation - 25 clock hours;

b. Radiation protection - 15 clock hours; and

c. Radiographic procedures in the anatomical area of the radiologic technologist-limited's practice - 10 clock hours taught by a radiologic technologist with current ARRT certification or a licensed doctor of medicine, osteopathy, podiatry or chiropractic;

2. An ACRRT-approved program;

3. The ISCD certification course for bone densitometry; or

4. Any other program acceptable to the board.

B. A radiologic technologist-limited who has been trained through the ACRRT-approved program or the ISCD certification course and who also wishes to be authorized to perform x-rays in other anatomical areas shall meet the requirements of subdivision A 1 of this section.

18VAC85-101-60. Licensure requirements.

A. An applicant for licensure by examination as a radiologic technologist-limited shall submit:

1. The required application and fee as prescribed by the board;

2. Evidence of successful completion of an examination as required in this section; and

3. Evidence of completion of training as required in 18VAC85-101-55.

B. To qualify for limited licensure to practice under the direction of a doctor of medicine or osteopathic medicine, with the exception of practice in bone densitometry, the applicant shall:

1. Provide evidence that he has received a passing score as determined by the board on the core section of the ARRT examination for Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography;

2. Meet one of the following requirements:

a. Provide evidence that he has received a passing score, as determined by the board, on the section of the ARRT examination on specific radiographic procedures, depending on the anatomical areas in which the applicant intends to practice; or

b. Until the ARRT offers an examination for limited licensure in the radiographic procedures of the abdomen and pelvis, the applicant may qualify for a limited license by submission of a notarized statement from a licensed radiologic technologist or doctor of medicine or osteopathy attesting to the applicant's training and competency to practice in that anatomical area as follows:

(1) To perform radiographic procedures on the abdomen or pelvis, the applicant shall have successfully performed during the traineeship at least 25 radiologic examinations on patients of the abdomen or pelvis under the direct supervision and observation of a licensed radiologic technologist or a doctor of medicine or osteopathy. The notarized statement shall further attest to the applicant's competency in the areas of radiation safety, positioning, patient instruction, anatomy, pathology and technical factors.

(2) When a section is added to the limited license examination by the ARRT that includes the abdomen and pelvis, the applicant shall provide evidence that he has received a passing score on that portion of the examination as determined by the board; and

3. Provide evidence of having successfully performed in a traineeship at least 10 radiologic examinations on patients in the anatomical area for which he is seeking licensure under the direct supervision and observation of a licensed radiologic technologist or a doctor of medicine or osteopathy. A notarized statement from the supervising practitioner shall attest to the applicant's competency in the areas of radiation safety, positioning, patient instruction, anatomy, pathology and technical factors.

C. To qualify for limited licensure to practice in bone densitometry under the direction of a doctor of medicine, osteopathy, or chiropractic, the applicant shall either:

1. Provide evidence that he has received a passing score as determined by the board on the core section of the ARRT examination for Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography; and

a. The applicant shall provide a notarized statement from a licensed radiologic technologist or doctor of medicine, osteopathy, or chiropractic attesting to the applicant's training and competency to practice in that anatomical area. The applicant shall have successfully performed at least 10 examinations on patients for bone density under the direct supervision and observation of a licensed radiologic technologist or a doctor of medicine or osteopathy; or

b. When a section is added to the limited license examination by the ARRT that includes bone densitometry, the applicant shall provide evidence that he has received a passing score on that portion of the examination as determined by the board; or

2. Provide evidence that he has taken and passed an examination resulting in certification in bone densitometry from the ISCD or any other substantially equivalent credential acceptable to the board.

D. To qualify for a limited license in the anatomical areas of the spine or extremities or in bone densitometry to practice under the direction of a doctor of chiropractic, the applicant shall provide evidence that he has met the appropriate requirements of subsection B, taken and passed the appropriate requirements of subsection C for bone densitometry only, or taken and passed an examination by the ACRRT.

E. To qualify for a limited license in the anatomical area of the foot and ankle to practice under the direction of a doctor of podiatry, the applicant shall provide evidence that he has taken and passed an examination acceptable to the board.

F. An applicant who fails the examination shall be allowed two more attempts to pass the examination after which he shall reapply and take additional educational hours which meet the criteria of 18VAC85-101-70.

Part VII
Practice of Radiologic Technologist-Limited

18VAC85-101-130. General requirements.

A. A radiologic technologist-limited is permitted to perform radiologic functions within his capabilities and the anatomical limits of his training and examination. A radiologic technologist-limited is responsible for informing the board of the anatomical area or areas in which he is qualified by training and examination to practice.

B. A radiologic technologist-limited shall not instill administer contrast media during radiologic examinations or radiopharmaceuticals or perform mammography, fluoroscopic procedures, computerized tomography, or vascular-interventional procedures. The radiologic technologist-limited is responsible to a licensed radiologic technologist, or doctor of medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, or podiatry.