American Registry of Radiologic Technologists Certification (ARRT) Professional Practice, Ethics, and Registration Syllabus

Professional Practice, Ethics, and Registration syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Professional Practice, Ethics, and Registration in American Registry of Radiologic Technologists Certification (ARRT), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   ARRT Certification, Registration, and Requirements

   4 topics

   • Eligibility and education requirements
     • Educational program accreditation
     • Clinical competency requirements
   • Examination structure and content specifications
     • Scoring and passing standards
     • Reapplication and exam administration
   • Continuing education and registration renewal
     • CE credit requirements
     • Continuing qualifications requirements
   • Post-primary certification pathways
2. 2

   Ethics and Professional Conduct

   4 topics

   • ARRT Standards of Ethics
     • Code of Ethics principles
     • Rules of Ethics and violations
   • Ethical decision-making in patient care
   • Professional boundaries and scope of practice
   • Reporting and disciplinary procedures
3. 3

   Medical and Legal Considerations

   4 topics

   • Patient rights and confidentiality
     • HIPAA and protected health information
     • Informed consent and refusal
   • Legal doctrines and liability
     • Negligence and standard of care
     • Respondeat superior and res ipsa loquitur
   • Documentation and record-keeping
   • Patient identification and verification protocols

Professional Practice, Ethics, and Registration flashcards for American Registry of Radiologic Technologists Certification (ARRT)

19 of 51 cards from the Professional Practice, Ethics, and Registration deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the minimum educational degree required to be eligible for ARRT primary certification (e.g., Radiography) for candidates beginning programs in 2015 and later?

   An associate degree (or higher) from an accrediting agency recognized by the ARRT, in addition to completing an ARRT-approved educational program.

2. Under ARRT rules, within what time frame must a candidate apply for and attempt the certification examination after completing their educational program?

   Within three years of completing the program; eligibility expires after this window.

3. What are the three core eligibility requirements ARRT uses to evaluate every candidate for certification and registration?

   Ethics (meeting the Standards of Ethics), Education (completing required didactic and clinical requirements), and Examination (passing the certification exam).

4. What is the ARRT 'ethics review' (preapplication) process and who should use it?

   A preapplication process allowing individuals with a criminal conviction or disciplinary history to have ARRT determine eligibility before investing in education, so they know in advance whether the violation will bar certification.

5. How many clinical competency procedures and general patient care activities must a radiography candidate document to be examination-eligible?

   Demonstration of competency in mandatory and elective imaging procedures plus general patient care activities as specified in the ARRT Didactic and Clinical Competency Requirements (e.g., the radiography requirements list dozens of mandatory/elective exams and several patient-care activities).

6. What scoring system does ARRT use, and what is the passing scaled score for the certification examination?

   ARRT uses a scaled score ranging from 1 to 99; a scaled score of 75 is required to pass.

7. How does ARRT convert raw scores to the reported score, and why?

   Raw scores (number correct) are converted to a standardized scaled score (1-99) so that results are comparable across different exam versions of varying difficulty; 75 is passing regardless of version.

8. How many times may a candidate attempt an ARRT certification examination, and what is the time limit on attempts?

   A candidate is allowed up to three attempts within the three-year eligibility window; after three failures or expiration, re-establishing eligibility is required.

9. What document defines the specific subject areas and number of questions on an ARRT examination?

   The Content Specifications document, which lists the categories, subcategories, and number of scored questions for each exam.

10. On the ARRT Radiography exam, what are the major content categories tested?

    Patient Care; Safety (radiation protection); Image Production; and Procedures (anatomy, positioning, and imaging procedures).

11. What is the difference between scored ('operational') items and 'pilot' items on an ARRT exam?

    Scored items count toward the candidate's result; pilot (unscored) items are embedded to gather statistical data for future exams and do not affect the score.

12. Define ARRT 'primary certification' versus 'post-primary certification.'

    Primary certification is the initial entry-level credential in a discipline (e.g., Radiography, Nuclear Medicine, Radiation Therapy, Sonography); post-primary certification is an additional credential earned after already holding a primary credential, building on prior experience.

13. Name the three primary 'pathway' disciplines through which one can enter ARRT certification.

    Radiography, Nuclear Medicine Technology, and Radiation Therapy (Sonography is also offered through a primary educational pathway via recognized organizations).

14. What is generally required to qualify for an ARRT post-primary certification such as CT, MRI, or Mammography?

    Holding a qualifying ARRT (or equivalent) primary credential in good standing, documenting structured education, and completing the required number of clinical procedure experiences in that modality, then passing the post-primary exam.

15. How does ARRT registration differ from certification?

    Certification is the one-time recognition that a person met requirements and passed the exam; registration is the annual renewal that maintains the credential and confirms ongoing compliance with ethics and CE.

16. How often must ARRT registration be renewed, and what is the renewal cycle?

    Registration must be renewed annually; the registrant pays a fee, attests to the Standards of Ethics, and confirms CE compliance each year by the birth-month deadline.

17. How many continuing education (CE) credits must an ARRT registrant earn, and over what period?

    24 CE credits every two years (the biennium).

18. Define one ARRT Category A CE credit in terms of contact time.

    One CE credit equals 50 minutes of approved educational activity; Category A (and A+) activities are evaluated/approved by a Recognized Continuing Education Evaluation Mechanism (RCEEM).

19. What is the ARRT Continuing Qualifications Requirements (CQR) process?

    A structured self-assessment (every 10 years for post-primary credentials earned after 2011) that evaluates whether a registrant's knowledge remains current; it includes a professional profile and a non-graded structured self-assessment with a follow-up learning plan.

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