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ARRT Seeks Comments on Proposed Computed Tomography Document Changes

Published on Aug 17, 2021

The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) is looking for help from working professionals in CT. We encourage you to review the proposed changes to the CT Examination Content Specifications and Clinical Experience Requirements.

Our goal is to produce comprehensive, accurate, and fair documents that cover the knowledge and cognitive skills required of CT technologists. ARRT’s examinations are job-related. That is, we only include topics if knowledge of those topics relates directly to a clinical activity typically required in one’s job. A survey of possible tasks and procedures were sent to 4,500 current CT technologists to determine these topics. Results from these surveys were used to update the content specifications and clinical experience requirements.

ARRT CT Practice Analysis Committee (composed of subject matter experts from throughout the United States) began working on these documents in October 2020 and will complete work on them later this year. After that, ARRT’s Board of Trustees will review the proposed changes. The revised CT documents have a scheduled implementation date of July 1, 2022.

SUMMARY OF MAJOR PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CT EXAMINATION CONTENT SPECIFICATIONS

Patient Care Section

  • Additional content was added to the patient assessment and preparation area.
  • Medication administration and infection control were added to the contrast and medication area.
  • The patient care section was updated to reflect current practice and guidelines.

Safety Section

  • Additional content was added to the radiation physics area.
  • Filtration, image reconstruction, detector efficiency, overranging, patient considerations, and additional dose measurements were added to the radiation protection area.

Image Production Section

  • Slip rings was added under components of a CT unit.
  • Shuttle/continuous/cine and dual energy/dual source were added under methods of acquisition.

Procedures Section

  • Pituitary fossa, base of skull, discography, and sternum and/or ribs were removed from the procedures list because they are not done as separate procedures.
  • Chest wall was added to the Procedures list.
  • Cross sectional anatomy and trauma were added under the Focus of Questions area.

The total number of scored questions remains the same at 165 but the number of items in some sections changed. The number of pilot (unscored) questions increased from 20 to 30 questions.

SUMMARY OF THE MAJOR PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CLINICAL EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

  • Each of the following areas was listed as CTA/CTV; they were separated so these areas can be counted as a CTA or a CTV and are considered separate procedures: head, extremity, neck, and abdomen/pelvis.
  • Pulmonary angiography/PE study (CTPA) and coronary artery calcium scoring were separated from other procedures and can be counted as separate procedures.
  • The following procedures are new and were added to the procedures list: retrograde cystogram, and ablations.
  • The following procedures were removed and cannot be counted as a separate procedure: pituitary fossa, lung nodule study, and discography. Vascular pelvis (CTA/CTV) was combined into arteriography abdomen/pelvis (CTA) and venography abdomen/pelvis (CTV).
  • The minimum number of repetitions required remains at 125 procedures. A minimum of 30 repetitions must be done with iodinated IV contrast.
  • Additionally, wording was updated for clarification and consistency.

REVIEW THE DOCUMENTS AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK

We invite you to review the documents below and provide feedback through an online survey (live until October 1, 2021). The survey is the official method by which we track feedback. The CT Practice Analysis Committee will review all comments and may make additional changes based on your feedback.

Note: Additions are in blue and deletions are in strikethrough red in the drafts.

Proposed Examination Content Specifications

Proposed Clinical Experience Requirements

Survey

QUESTIONS?

If you have questions about how the proposed changes may affect your eligibility for certification and registration in CT, call 651.687.0048. Choose the option for earning an ARRT credential.

Thank you for your contribution to this important project.