(a) Temporary Certificates.
(1) A temporary certificate shall expire one year from
the date of issue. A person whose temporary certificate has expired
is not eligible to reapply for another temporary certificate.
(2) A temporary certificate is not subject to a renewal
or extension for any reason.
(3) Persons who hold temporary certificates, either
radiologist assistant, general, or limited, are not subject to continuing
education requirements set forth under subsection (c) of this section.
(b) Biennial Registration and Fee Required.
(1) Certificate holders and NCTs registered under the
Act shall renew authorization to practice biennially and pay a fee.
Upon notification from the board, unexpired authorization may be renewed
by submitting the required form and documents and by paying the required
renewal fee to the board on or before the expiration date of the authorization.
(2) The fee shall accompany the required form which
legibly sets forth the certificate or NCT registration holder's name,
mailing address, business address, and other necessary information
prescribed by the board. The certificate or NCT registration holder
must include with the required forms and fee documentation of continuing
education completed during the previous two years to the date of renewal
("biennial renewal period").
(c) Continuing education requirements.
(1) Generally.
(A) RA. As a prerequisite to the biennial renewal of
a radiologist assistant certificate, the following must be completed:
(i) a minimum of 23 hours of continuing education hours
must be completed during each biennial renewal period. The hours must
be in activities that are designated for Category A or A+ credits
of continuing education evaluated by an organization recognized by
ARRT as a Recognized Continuing Education Evaluation Mechanism (RCEEM)
or RCEEM+ during the biennial renewal period; and
(ii) a course in human trafficking prevention approved
by the executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services
Commission.
(B) MRT. As a prerequisite to the biennial renewal
of an MRT certificate, a minimum of 24 hours of continuing education
hours must be completed during each biennial renewal period. The continuing
education must be completed as follows:
(i) at least 12 hours of the required number of hours
must be satisfied by completing activities that are designated for
Category A or A+ credits of continuing education evaluated by an organization
recognized by ARRT as a RCEEM or RCEEM+ during the biennial renewal
period;
(ii) the required hours must include a course in human
trafficking prevention approved by the executive commissioner of the
Texas Health and Human Services Commission;
(iii) the remaining credits for the biennial renewal
period may be composed of self-study or courses not approved for formal
CE, and shall be recorded in a manner that can be easily transmitted
to the board upon request; and
(iv) any additional hours completed through self-study
must be verifiable, through activities that include reading materials,
audio materials, audiovisual materials, or a combination thereof.
(C) LMRT. As a prerequisite to the biennial renewal
of a limited certificate, a minimum of 18 hours of continuing education
acceptable to the board must be completed during each biennial renewal
period. The continuing education must be completed as follows:
(i) at least nine hours of the required number of hours
must be satisfied by completing activities that are designated for
Category A or A+ credits of continuing education evaluated by an organization
recognized by ARRT as a RCEEM or RCEEM+ during the biennial renewal
period;
(ii) the required hours must include a course in human
trafficking prevention approved by the executive commissioner of the
Texas Health and Human Services Commission; and the remaining credits
for the biennial renewal period may be composed of self-study or courses
not approved for formal CE, and shall be recorded in a manner that
can be easily transmitted to the board upon request. The hours completed
must be in the topics of general radiation health and safety or related
to the categories of limited certificate held.
(iii) Any additional hours completed through self-study
must be verifiable, through activities that include reading materials,
audio materials, audiovisual materials, or a combination thereof.
(D) An RA, MRT, or LMRT who also holds a current Texas
license, registration, or certification in another health profession
may satisfy the continuing education requirement for renewal of a
certificate with hours counted toward renewal of the other license,
registration, or certification, provided such hours meet all the requirements
of this subsection.
(E) An RA or MRT who holds a current and active annual
registration or credential card issued by ARRT indicating that the
certificate holder is in good standing and not on probation satisfies
the continuing education requirement for renewal of a certificate,
except for the human trafficking prevention course, provided the hours
accepted by ARRT were completed during the certificate holder's biennial
renewal period and meet or exceed the requirements set out in this
subsection. The board must be able to verify the status of the card
presented by the certificate holder electronically or by other means
acceptable to the board. The board may review documentation of the
continuing education activities in accordance with paragraph (5) of
this subsection.
(F) NCTs. As a prerequisite to the biennial renewal
of a placement on the NCT registry, the individual must complete a
minimum of 12 hours of continuing education during each biennial renewal
period. The continuing education must be completed as follows:
(i) at least six hours of the required number of hours
must be satisfied by completion of activities that are designated
for Category A or A+ credits of continuing education evaluated by
an organization recognized by ARRT as a RCEEM or RCEEM+ during the
biennial renewal period;
(ii) the required hours must include a course in human
trafficking prevention approved by the executive commissioner of the
Texas Health and Human Services Commission; and
(iii) the remaining hours for the biennial renewal
period may be composed of self-study or courses not approved for formal
CE, and shall be recorded in a manner that can be easily transmitted
to the board upon request.
(iv) Any additional hours completed through independent
self-study must be verifiable, through activities that include reading
materials, audio materials, audiovisual materials, or a combination
thereof.
(2) Content Requirements.
(A) At least 50% of the required number of hours must
be activities which are directly related to the use and application
of ionizing forms of radiation to produce diagnostic images and/or
administer treatment to human beings for medical purposes. For the
purpose of this section, directly related topics include, but are
not limited to: radiation safety, radiation biology and radiation
physics; anatomical positioning; radiographic exposure technique;
radiological exposure technique; emerging imaging modality study;
patient care associated with a radiologic procedure; radio pharmaceutics,
pharmaceutics, and contrast media application; computer function and
application in radiology; mammography applications; nuclear medicine
application; and radiation therapy applications.
(B) No more than 50% of the required number of hours
may be satisfied by completing or participating in learning activities
which are related to the use and application of non-ionizing forms
of radiation for medical purposes.
(C) No more than 50% of the required number of hours
may be satisfied by completing or participating in learning activities
which are indirectly related to radiologic technology. For the purpose
of the section, indirectly related topics include, but are not limited
to, patient care, computer science, computer literacy, introduction
to computers or computer software, physics, human behavioral sciences,
mathematics, communication skills, public speaking, technical writing,
management, administration, accounting, ethics, adult education, medical
sciences, and health sciences. Other courses may be accepted for credit
provided there is a demonstrated benefit to patient care.
(3) Alternative Continuing Education Accepted by the
Board. The following may not be applied toward compliance with the
required human trafficking prevention course. The additional activities
for which continuing education credit will be awarded are as follows:
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