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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
radiologic technologists; radiologist assistants
Purpose
Modifies Department of Health Services (DHS) standards regarding radiologic technologists and radiologic assistants, including radiologic technology school approvals, certification requirements and supervision requirements.
Background
DHS is the regulatory agency responsible for issuing certificates and enforcing standards of practice for radiologic technologists and radiologist assistants, including requirements relating to supervision, scope of practice, patient safety and professional conduct, in accordance with the American Society of Radiologic Technologists Practice Standards (9 A.A.C. 16 art. 6).
A radiologic technologist is a person who applies ionizing
radiation to individuals at the direction of a licensed practitioner for
general diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. A radiologist assistant is a
person who performs independent advanced procedures in medical imaging and
interventional radiology under the guidance, directions, direct supervision and
discretion of a licensed practitioner of medicine or osteopathic medicine
specializing in radiology (A.R.S.
§ 32-2801).
DHS may approve a school of radiologic technology as maintaining a satisfactory standard if the school's course of study includes: 1) at least 24 months of full-time study or its equivalent and is accredited by the Committee on Allied Health Accreditation; 2) at least 400 hours of classroom work, including radiation protection, x-ray physics, radiographic techniques, processing techniques, nursing procedures, anatomy and physiology, radiographic positioning, radiation therapy and professional ethics; 3) at least 1,800 hours devoted to clinical experience; 4) demonstrations, discussions, seminars and supervised practice; and 5) at least 80 hours of regularly scheduled supervised film critiques (A.R.S. § 32-2804).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Allows DHS to approve a school of radiologic technology as maintaining a satisfactory standard if the school's course of study is accredited as follows, rather than by the Committee on Allied Health Accreditation:
a) by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs;
b) by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology; or
c) as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
2. Removes the requirement that a school of radiologic technology's course of study be for a period of at least 24 months of full time-study or its equivalent.
3. Reduces the clinical experience hours that a school of radiologic technology must include in its course of study from 1,800 hours to 1,650 hours.
4. Requires a school of radiologic technology's classroom work to include an introduction to other imaging modalities, rather than radiation therapy.
5. Requires classroom work and examinations for the certification of radiologic technologists to include the subjects of radiographic imaging and patient care procedures, rather than processing techniques and nursing procedures.
6. Requires a school of radiologic technology's course of study to include at least 80 hours of supervised image critiques, rather than film critiques.
7. Expands the required examination subjects for the certification of radiologic technologists to include the content specifications outlined by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.
8. Prohibits DHS from requiring a licensed registered nurse practitioner to obtain any other license to use a diagnostic x-ray machine.
9. Allows a radiologist assistant to perform outlined procedures and evaluations under the supervision of a radiologist, rather than direct supervision.
10. Modifies the application and renewal fees for mammographic and computed tomography technologist certificates by requiring the fees to be prescribed in rule by DHS, rather than set at $20.
11. Removes radiologic technologists from the definition of health care provider as it applies to the delivery of telehealth care, unless the context otherwise requires.
12. Requires DHS to adopt rules to allow a certified practical technologist in bone densitometry to apply ionizing radiation to a person's hips and spine using a bone densitometry machine.
13. Defines supervision as supervision by a radiologist who is licensed in Arizona and who is readily accessible by telecommunication.
14. Contains a statement of legislative intent.
15. Makes technical changes.
16. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
HHS 1/22/26 DPA 10-2-0-0
3rd Read 2/25/26 37-16-7
Prepared by Senate Research
March 9, 2026
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