The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) will administer the first certification exam for radiology assistants (R.A.s) on October 28th.

Certification eligibility requirements were released in July. Candidates must be ARRT-registered radiographers with at least one year of post-radiography-certification clinical experience, who hold a baccalaureate degree and have completed a recognized R.A. program. More information is available at www.arrt.org

The exam will be offered twice yearly with the first administration on October 28, 2005. The second administration is scheduled for early 2006. Thereafter, the exam will be offered in June and January.

Individuals wishing to apply for Radiologist Assistant certification must obtain an application and application packet from ARRT, which can be downloaded and printed, or requested by phoning the ARRT office at (651) 687-0048, ext. 560. In addition to the application for certification, the packet includes the didactic and clinical portfolio requirements, a collection of forms that must be completed as part of the application process. The application also specifies fees and postmarking deadlines.

Once applications have been accepted, candidates will receive a Candidate Status Report (CSR) from ARRT. The CSR details all of the information they will need at the test center and explains what will happen after they complete the test regarding score reporting and certification status.

The Radiologist Assistant exam will be a multiple-format testing event, incorporating traditional multiple-choice questions as well as select multiple, sorted list, exhibits with hot spots, essay questions, and situation-judgment tests. Candidates are permitted six hours to complete the exam, which is presented at Pearson VUE test centers.

The exam measures candidates' command of knowledge in six major subject areas drawn from the R.A. Role Delineation as follows:
-Patient Communication, Assessment, and Management;
-Drugs and Contrast Materials;
-Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology;
-Radiologic Procedures;
-Radiation Safety, Radiation Biology, Fluoroscopic Operation; and
-Medical/Legal, Professional, and Governmental Standards.

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Candidates will be allowed three attempts to pass the examination within the three-year period that begins when the candidate's application is accepted (i.e., the candidate has met education and ethics requirements). One additional attempt may be permitted if the individual submits documentation of acceptable remedial activities. Individuals failing this fourth attempt or not completing it within one year will be deemed no longer eligible and may regain eligibility only by re-enrolling in an educational program and completing didactic and clinical requirements.

The designation for ARRT's Radiologist Assistant certification will appear in an individual's credentials as "R.R.A.(ARRT)," indicating that the person is a "Registered Radiologist Assistant." Those who earn the R.R.A. may choose to include their R.T. credential, too: R.R.A., R.T.(R)(ARRT).