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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
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. Requires DHS to allow for general supervision of radiologist assistants in a county with a population of fewer than 500,000 persons or a health care institution that is licensed as a critical access hospital, if the health care facility or radiologist:
a) establishes a written protocol for the application of radiation to a patient for each procedure that may be conducted by a radiologist assistant under the general supervision of a radiologist, including follow-up instructions for the patient;
b) reviews and, as necessary, revises the written protocol annually; and
c) documents the required review with a dated signature;
10. Requires, as a condition for general supervision of radiologist assistants, a health care facility to ensure that:
a) each radiologist assistant follows the written protocol when delivering radiation to a patient;
b) a radiologist is on-site and available for a consultation about patient care at least once every five working days;
c) the health and safety of patients are maintained; and
d) at least every six months, the radiologist:
i) observes each radiologist assistant while performing a procedure to ensure adherence to the written protocol; and
ii) documents the observation and assessment of the radiologist assistant.
11. Requires a radiologist that uses general supervision to develop, maintain and implement policies and procedures to monitor:
a) the performance of each procedure by a radiologist assistant under general supervision; and
b) the quality of patient care.
12. 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.
13. Removes radiologic technologists from the definition of health care provider as it applies to the delivery of telehealth care, unless the context otherwise requires.
14. 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.
15. Defines general supervision as supervision by a radiologist who is licensed in Arizona and who is readily accessible by telecommunication.
16. Contains a statement of legislative intent.
17. Makes technical changes.
18. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Restores the requirement that a radiologist assistant perform specified procedures and evaluations under direct supervision of a radiologist.
2. Requires DHS to allow for general supervision of radiologist assistants in a county with a population of fewer than 500,000 persons or a health care institution that is licensed as a critical access hospital, if the health care facility establishes outlined policies and procedures.
3. Defines general supervision.
House Action Senate Action
HHS 1/22/26 DPA 10-2-0-0 HHS 3/11/26 DP 7-0-0
3rd Read 2/25/26 37-16-7
Prepared by Senate Research
April 2, 2026
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