Since certification examinations are required to be practice related, ARRT periodically conducts a job analysis to make certain that the certification examination content specifications and the clinical requirements remain comprehensive, accurate, and fair. ARRT, with the help of the professional community, reviews the certification documents every five years. The ARRT Board of Trustees recently approved changes to the following documents, which go into effect on March 1, 2027.
OVERVIEW OF MAJOR CHANGES TO THE CONTENT SPECIFICATIONS
Patient Care
Patient scheduling was added to the interpersonal communications section.
IV supplies was added to the disposal of contaminated materials.
Safety
Morbid obesity was changed to body habitus to encompass all body types.
Pregnancy and resources (e.g. Image Wisely®, Image Gently®) were added to the minimizing patient exposure and repeats section.
Image receptors were changed to digital detectors (e.g., DQE, exposure latitude).
Image Production
Image contrast and subject contrast were added to the factors affecting radiographic quality table.
Virtual grids were added and compensating filters were deleted in the imaging equipment section.
Security and confidentiality as well as teleradiography were added to the informatics section.
All content pertaining to computed radiography (CR) was removed.
Procedures
Lumbar puncture and epidural injections were added to the myelography section.
Joint injections and aspirations were added to the arthrography section.
Foreign body, airway or ingested, line placement with C-arm, and nasogastric/enteric and orogastric/enteric tube placement were added to the thorax section.
Intravenous urography was removed from the GU Studies section.
On Attachment A, some of the less common positions and projections were removed. More common positions and projections were added.
Attachment B was removed because the content can be found in other resources.
OVERVIEW OF MAJOR CHANGES TO THE DIDACTIC AND CLINICAL COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS
CPR certified was changed to BLS or ACLS certified in the General Patient Care Procedures.
Vital signs - temperature and venipuncture were removed from General Patient Care Procedures.
Thoracolumbar spine was added as an elective to Imaging Procedures.
Nasogastric/enteric or orogastric/enteric tube (e.g., Dobhoff) was added as an elective to Imaging Procedures.
Intravenous urology was removed from Imaging Procedures.
All pediatric patient (age 6 years or younger) procedures are elective and may not be simulated.
The number of mandatory procedures required decreased from 36 to 35. The number of elective procedures required increased from 15 to 17. The number of simulations allowed remains the same at 10.
Please direct any questions about your eligibility and requirements for Radiography certification and registration to Initial Certification at 651.687.0048 and select the option for Earning ARRT Credentials.