Radiologic Technology

An excerpt from the ARRT Rules of Ethics is as follows:

"Certification is a method of assuring the medical community and the public that an individual is qualified to practice within the medical community. Because the public relies on certificates and registrations issued by the ARRT, it is essential that Registered Technologists and Applicants act consistently with these Rules of Ethics. These rules of ethics are intended to promote the protection, safety, and comfort of patients. The Rules of Ethics are enforceable. Registered Technologists and Applicants engaging in any of the following conduct or activities, or who permit the occurrence of the following conduct or activities with respect to them, have violated the Rules of Ethics and are subject to sanctions as described hereunder.

  1. Employing fraud or deceit in procuring or attempting to procure, maintain, renew, or obtain reinstatement of: (i) any document issued by ARRT, or (ii) employment in radiologic technology or a state permit, license, or registration certificate to practice radiologic technology, such as by altering in any respect any document issued by the ARRT.
  2. Subverting or attempting to subvert ARRT's examination process (i.e., cheating on the exam).
  3. Conviction of a crime, including a felony, a gross misdemeanor, or a misdemeanor with the sole exception of speeding and parking violations. All alcohol and/or drug related violations must be reported. Conviction as used in this provision includes a criminal proceeding where a finding or verdict of guilt is made or returned but the adjudication of guilt is either withheld or not entered, or a criminal proceeding where the individual enters a plea of guilty or nolo contendere.
  4. Failure to report to the ARRT that charges regarding the person's permit, license, or registration certificate to practice radiologic technology are pending or have been resolved adversely to the individual in any state, territory, or country, or that the individual has been refused a permit, license, or registration certificate to practice radiologic technology by another state, territory, or country.
  5. Failure or inability to perform radiologic technology with reasonable skill and safety.
  6. Engaging in unprofessional conduct, including but not limited to, (i) a departure from or failure to conform to applicable federal, state, or local governmental rules regarding radiologic technology practice, or, if no such rule exists, to the minimal standards of acceptable and prevailing radiologic technology practice, or (ii) any radiologic technology practice that may create unnecessary danger to a patient's life, health, or safety. Actual injury to a patient need not be established under this clause.
  7. Delegating or accepting the delegation of a radiologic technology function or any other prescribed health care function when the delegation or acceptance could reasonably be expected to create an unnecessary danger to a patient's life, health, or safety. Actual injury to a patient need not be established under this clause.
  8. Actual or potential inability to practice radiologic technology with reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason of illness, use of alcohol, drugs, chemicals, or any other material, or as a result of any mental or physical condition.
  9. Adjudication as mentally incompetent, mentally ill, a chemically dependent person, or a person dangerous to the public by a court of competent jurisdiction.
  10. Engaging in any unethical conduct, including but not limited to, conduct likely to deceive, defraud, or harm the public, or demonstrating a willful or careless disregard for the health, safety, or welfare of a patient. Actual injury need not be established under this clause.
  11. Engaging in conduct with a patient that is sexual or may be reasonably interpreted by the patient as sexual, or in any verbal behavior that is seductive or sexually demeaning to a patient, or engaging in sexual exploitation of a patient or former patient. This does not apply to preexisting consensual relationships.
  12. Revealing a privileged communication from or relating to a patient, except when otherwise required or permitted by law.
  13. Knowingly engaging or assisting any person to engage in or otherwise participating in abusive or fraudulent billing practices, including violations of federal Medicare and Medicaid laws or state medical assistance laws.
  14. Improper management of patient records, including failure to maintain adequate patient records or to furnish a patient record of report required by law or making, causing, or permitting anyone to make false, deceptive, or misleading entry in any patient record.
  15. Knowingly aiding, assisting, advising, or allowing a person without a current and appropriate state permit, license, or registration certificate or a current certificate of registration with ARRT to engage in the practice of radiologic technology, in a jurisdiction which requires a person to have such a current and appropriate state permit, license, or registration certificate or a current and appropriate certification of registration with ARRT in order to practice radiologic technology in such jurisdiction.
  16. Violating a rule adopted by any state board with competent jurisdiction, an order of such board, or state or federal law relating to the practice of radiologic technology, or a state or federal narcotics or controlled substance law.
  17. Knowingly providing false or misleading information that is directly related to the care of a patient.
  18. Practicing outside the scope of practice authorized by the individual's current state permit, license, or registration certificate or the individual's current certificate of registration with ARRT.
  19. Making a false statement or knowingly providing false information to ARRT or failing to cooperate with any investigation of ARRT or the Ethics Committee.
  20. Engaging in false, fraudulent, deceptive, or misleading communications to any person regarding the individual's education, training, credentials, experience, or qualifications, or the status of the individual's state permit, license, or registration certificate in radiologic technology or certificate of registration with ARRT.
  21. Knowing of a violation or probable violation of any Rule of Ethics by any Registered Technologist or by an Applicant and failing to promptly report in writing the same to the ARRT."

The application for examination asks the question, "Have you ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor? Those answering "Yes" must supply a complete explanation including court documents so that eligibility can be determined by the ARRT. Individuals having been convicted of a crime may file a pre-application with the ARRT in order to obtain a ruling on the impact of the conviction on their eligibility. The individual may submit the pre-application any time after the first day of the professional phase of an accredited educational program. This process may enable the individual to avoid delays in processing an application for examination which is made at the time of graduation. The pre-application form may be requested from the Department of Regulatory Services at the ARRT office. A fee of $50 is charged for the pre-application review.

Link to www.arrt.org

TDH Licensure

Graduates of the program are eligible to apply to the Texas Department of Health for a license as a Medical Radiologic Technologist.

Link to http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/plc