ARRT Certification

Last updated at July 28, 2023

When looking for a degree that will enhance your life, a radiology certification can do that and provide a rewarding career. The ARRT certification shows that you have completed the coursework that is required to become a radiologist and work in that field.

In This Article

ARRT Radiology Certification and Requirements

The ARRT proves to state and federal licensing departments, along with potential employers, that you have the skills required by the national standards to read and take x-rays, provide ways to help in an intervention, and give radiation therapy. There are three different requirements that are needed to complete the ARRT. They are general education, test, and ethics requirements.

General Education Needs for ARRT Certification

New Student Degree

Students getting an ARRT degree must have certain medical and practical classes that specifically relate to being a radiologist and practicing that profession. Before determining which classes to take, students need to determine what type of radiologist they want to be once they are finished with their degree. These categories are Radiography, Radiation Therapy, Nuclear Medicine Technology, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or Sonography.

Once the category is chosen, a list of classes will be created for the student to take, and what order the classes should be taken in, to optimize the student’s learning and time spent in the classroom.

As of January 2015, students who are attempting to complete and pass the ARRT degree need to have an academic degree first. That degree may be in any of the above categories. However, checking with your state and university for the specific regulations before taking any classes is a wise idea. That way, you have the exact classes mapped out for you and can make excellent use of your time in the classes and labs.

Returning Student Degree

If the student has a position as a radiologist and wishes to specialize in a particular area, they can obtain a post-primary certification in Mammography, Breast Sonography, Computed Tomography, Vascular Sonography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Vascular-Interventional Radiography, Quality Management, Cardiac-Interventional Radiography, or Bone Densitometry.

Along with an ARRT, these categories require specified certificates and testing to be registered as this type of radiologist.

New requirements demand that students going for this type of degree need to complete 16 hours of education that is structured within a classroom or online. This requirement came about in January 2016.

Ethics Educational Needs

Candidates who apply for the certification and wish to register need to have excellent character and cannot behave in a way that is not becoming to the ARRT expectations and ethical behaviors. The candidate needs to know, understand, and conduct in accordance with the ARRT Rules and Regulations and Standards of Ethics.

Candidates’ backgrounds are thoroughly checked, including checks and inquiries into any felonies, misdemeanors, convictions, criminal activities, court Martials, and any other delinquent issues that could be in violation of the ARRT Rules, Regulations, and Standards of Ethics. Minor problems such as traffic tickets that do not have a drug or alcohol conviction with them, would not be taken into consideration.

There is a pre-application that new candidates can complete, which will allow them to decide what their ethics qualification is before they begin classes.

Examination Needs for an ARRT Certification and Registration

Once the students pass the required classes for their chosen category, they must take the exams and successfully pass them. The exams test the skills; both educational and ethical, of the student, along with everything they learned throughout their time earning their degree.

To apply for the certification tests, a new student would need to contact their program chairs for the information. A returning student would log onto the ARRT information website and complete their applications for the exam there. For help or questions on the process, please call the Initial Certification Department: (651) 687-0048, extension 8560. They can help walk the student through the process of applying.

When completing the applications, the student needs to remember:

Students can send in the applications 3 month before their expected graduation date.

Dates, signatures, and pictures must be current up to 6 months prior to the receive date of the ARRT office.
Make certain the application fee is correct and included with the application.

There are no specific review or study materials that can assist the student in reviewing for the test. ARRT utilizes material from several sources to compile the exams. Reviewing the coursework within the student’s degree would be a good place to start for any type of review materials.

Once the student has been accepted, they will receive a Candidate Status Report, which will give the student testing information and a testing window in which to take their exam. It gives the students information on proving their identity at the testing site. Students are allowed three testing tries to pass during a three-year time frame.