| (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:
(A) successful completion of an entry-level or advanced-level
examination previously passed in the same discipline of radiologic
technology administered by or for the ARRT during the renewal period.
The examinations shall be topics dealing with ionizing forms of radiation
administered to human beings for medical purposes. Such successful
completion shall be limited to not more than one-half of the continuing
education hours required;
(B) successful completion or recertification in a cardiopulmonary
resuscitation course, basic cardiac life support course, or advanced
cardiac life support course during the continuing education period.
Such successful completion or recertification shall be limited to
not more than:
(i) three hours credit during a renewal period for
a cardiopulmonary resuscitation course or basic cardiac life support
course; or
(ii) six hours credit during a renewal period for an
advanced cardiac life support course;
(C) attendance and participation in tumor conferences
(limited to six hours), in-service education and training offered
or sponsored by Joint Commission-accredited or Medicare certified
hospitals, provided the education/training is properly documented
and is related to the profession of radiologic technology;
(D) teaching in a program accredited by a regional
accrediting organization such as the Southern Association of Colleges
and Schools; or an institution accredited by JRCERT, JRCNMT, JTCCVT,
CCE, ABHES, ASRT, professional organizations or associations, or a
federal, state, or local governmental entity, with a limit of one
contact hour of credit for each hour of instruction per topic item
once during the continuing education reporting period for up to a
total of 6 hours. No credit shall be given for teaching that is required
as part of one's employment. Credit may be granted in direct, indirect
or non-ionizing radiation based on the topic; or
(E) developing and publishing a manuscript of at least
1,000 words in length related to radiologic technology with a limit
of six contact hours of credit during a continuing education period.
Upon audit by the board, the certificate holder must submit a letter
from the publisher indicating acceptance of the manuscript for publication
or a copy of the published work. The date of publication will determine
the continuing education period for which credit will be granted.
Credit may be granted in direct, indirect or non-ionizing radiation
based on the topic.
(4) Reporting Requirements. A certificate holder or
NCT must report on the biennial renewal application form if she or
he has completed the required continuing education during the previous
renewal period.
(A) A certificate holder or NCT may carry forward continuing
education credit hours that meet the requirements under this subsection
and earned prior to the biennial registration renewal period which
are in excess of the biennial hour requirement, and apply such hours
to the subsequent renewal period requirements, except for the required
course in human trafficking prevention.
(B) For RAs or MRTs, a maximum of 48 total excess credit
hours meeting the requirements under this subsection may be carried
forward, except for the required course in human trafficking prevention.
Excess continuing education credits may not be carried forward or
applied to a report of continuing education more than two years beyond
the date of the registration following the period during which the
credits were earned.
(C) For LMRTs, a maximum of 24 hours meeting the requirements
of this subsection may be carried forward, except for the required
course in human trafficking prevention. Excess continuing education
credits may not be carried forward or applied to a report of continuing
education more than two years beyond the date of the registration
following the period during which the credits were earned.
(D) For NCTS, a maximum of 12 total excess credit hours
meeting the requirements of this subsection may be carried forward,
except for the required course in human trafficking prevention. Excess
continuing education credits may not be carried forward or applied
to a report of continuing education more than two years beyond the
date of the registration following the period during which the credits
were earned.
(5) Exemptions.
(A) A certificate holder or NCT may request in writing
an exemption for the following reasons, subject to the approval of
the certification committee of the board:
(i) catastrophic illness;
(ii) military service of longer than one year's duration
outside the United States;
(iii) residence of longer than one year's duration
outside the United States; or
Cont'd... |
