Primary: Nuclear Medicine Technology Sets the Pace at 17%
(May 29, 2008) — For a seventh consecutive year, ARRT saw a continued upward trend in primary exam volume. Growth in 2007 was most significant in Nuclear Medicine Technology, at 17.1% over 2006. Radiography was virtually even with the previous year, while Radiation Therapy took a -5.3% dip.
The figures (detailed in Table 1) are from ARRT’s 2007 Annual Report of Examinations, available at www.arrt.org under “Examinations,” along with a more detailed Technical Appendix. In addition to reporting volume, ARRT’s Annual Report of Examinations also reports scores — by exam section, percentile rank, and comparative means for educational programs, as well as by state.
Post-Primary: CT in the Lead, Up 23% Over Previous Year
Post-primary ARRT exam volume for first-time candidates increased for the sixth consecutive year in 2007.
The increase for 2007 was 15%. Previous increases were 19% in 2006, 14% in 2005, 7% in 2004, and 8% in 2003.
The big gainer among the high-volume disciplines was Computed Tomography, with a 23.0% increase. MRI grew by 15.8%.
Candidate numbers by discipline (including primary-pathway exams) are detailed in Table 2.
Table 1.
|
2007 |
2006 |
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
Radiography |
|||||
# of 1st-time candidates |
14142 |
14061 |
13200 |
11860 |
9627 |
% change from previous year |
+0.5% |
+6.5% |
+11.3% |
+23.2% |
+17.9% |
Nuclear Medicine Technology |
|||||
# of 1st-time candidates |
746 |
637 |
576 |
484 |
396 |
% change from previous year |
+17.1% |
+10.6% |
+19.0% |
+22.2% |
+52.3% |
Radiation Therapy |
|||||
# of 1st-time candidates |
1027 |
1084 |
984 |
941 |
830 |
% change from previous year |
-5.3% |
+10.2% |
+4.6% |
+13.4% |
+27.3% |
Table 2.
Certification |
Candidates |
1st-time Candidates |
||
Primary Pathway |
# all |
# 1st-time |
Avg score |
Pass % |
Radiography |
16903 |
14142 |
84.7 |
90.8 |
Nuclear Medicine Technology |
805 |
746 |
85.2 |
92.9 |
Radiation Therapy |
1293 |
1027 |
82.2 |
85.4 |
Sonography |
54 |
43 |
77.4 |
65.1 |
Magnetic Resonance Imaging |
29 |
25 |
84.6 |
88.0 |
Post-Primary Pathway |
# all |
# 1st-time |
Avg score |
Pass % |
Mammography |
1569 |
1237 |
83.8 |
91.4 |
Computed Tomography |
3396 |
2730 |
80.5 |
81.1 |
Magnetic Resonance Imaging |
2423 |
1779 |
80.3 |
75.5 |
Quality Management |
30 |
23 |
77.7 |
73.9 |
Bone Densitometry |
244 |
207 |
78.0 |
70.5 |
Cardiac-Interventional Radiography |
55 |
44 |
78.1 |
59.1 |
Vascular-Interventional Radiography |
223 |
175 |
77.4 |
68.0 |
Sonography |
23 |
14 |
75.6 |
64.3 |
Vascular Sonography |
15 |
15 |
82.1 |
86.7 |
Breast Sonography |
57 |
56 |
83.6 |
94.6 |
Advanced Practice |
# all |
# 1st-time |
Avg score |
Pass % |
Registered Radiologist Assistant |
52 |
43 |
79.3 |
86.0 |