Eligibility Appeal Request

An Eligibility Appeal allows you to request a review if you believe you met all our eligibility requirements but were deemed ineligible. This process is available to candidates pursuing a credential, as well as registrants maintaining their status, who wish to appeal an ineligibility decision.

Important: Use this process only for appeals related to education or examination requirements. For questions about ethics requirements or reviews, visit our Ethics Requirements page. 

About Eligibility Appeals

Examples of issues you can appeal include (not an exhaustive list):

  • Missed deadline due to health, hospitalization, military, and/or incapacitation within 24 hours of the examination.
  • Examination window extension request due to health, hospitalization, military, and/or incapacitation within 24 hours of the examination.
  • Examination rescore request
  • Administration of the examination or assessment
  • Continuing Education (CE) Probation
  • Reinstatement
  • Continuing Qualification Requirements (CQR)

Examples of issues you can’t appeal:

  • Eligibility requirements themselves (e.g., passing score, CQR CE prescription) 
  • ARRT policies outlined in Governing Documents
  • Refusal to sign the Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) for the exam or Structured Self-Assessment (SSA)

Note: You may submit either an Eligibility Appeal or a Reapplication/Reinstatement of Certification and Registration by Examination in the same discipline—not both at the same time. If both are submitted, the Eligibility Appeal Request will be voided, regardless of the order of submission.

Who May Initiate an Eligibility Appeal

Generally, only the individual seeking to earn or maintain a credential may file an appeal.

Exceptions:

  • Individual is incapacitated (e.g., Special Extension for Reinstatement - coma, stroke recovery)
  • Legal representative filing on behalf of the individual

How to Initiate an Eligibility Appeal

  1. Complete the Eligibility Appeal Request form and explain why you believe the decision was incorrect. Include supporting documentation.
  2. Submit by mail or fax. (Rescore appeals require a $25 fee.)
  3. We'll notify you in writing of the outcome. We do not provide appeal results by phone.

Important Deadlines

  • Eligibility Appeal Requests for examination or assessment administration must be received by ARRT within two business days after the exam or assessment.
  • Exam or assessment rescore requests must be postmarked within 14 calendar days of the date your score report became available in your ARRT account. (You'll receive an email when your score report is posted.)
  • See the deadlines below for next-level appeals.

Appeal Levels

If you submitted an eligibility appeal request and ARRT confirmed the ineligible decision, it is within your appeal rights to file a next level appeal. All second- and third-level appeals require additional evidence/documentation from the previous appeal to qualify for a next level review.

  • First Level: Must be submitted within 600 days of the event resulting in the individual being declared ineligible for certification and registration.
  • Second Level: Must be submitted within 60 days of the postmark date on the envelope of the First Level Eligibility Appeal decision letter.
  • Third Level: Must be submitted within 60 days of the postmark date on the envelope of the Second Level Eligibility Appeal decision letter.

If the appeal deadline expires, you cannot file an appeal.

If Your Exam/Assessment Administration Appeal is Approved 

If ARRT determines that your exam or assessment was administered in a way that significantly deviated from normal procedures, your original score may be canceled, and you’ll be assigned a new exam window at no cost. We won't adjust your score—if a substantial deviation is confirmed, we cancel the score and provide a new exam opportunity.

Overview of the Process 

  1.  Eligibility Not Met: Complete the Eligibility Appeal Request form
  2.  Submit Appeal: Mail or fax the form to ARRT with documentation and any applicable fee. (Rescore appeals: $25 fee).
  3.  ARRT Review: ARRT receives the appeal, reviews it, and mails the decision letter. (NOTE: This could take 45-60 business days).
      • If approved: Follow the instructions in the decision letter.
      • If not approved: Take the action specified in the decision letter. If applicable, file the next level of appeal within 60 days of the decision letter postmark, including additional documentation as required.