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Looking to apply for your California fluoroscopy license? New regulations announced by the California Department of Public Health, Radiologic Health Branch (CDPH-RHB) mean that you might be eligible to apply for your California fluoroscopy permit without having to take the California fluoroscopy exam administered by the ARRT ® organization. These new rules have split the application process into two separate paths, so we have developed this easy-to-follow guide to help you find out if you’re eligible to skip the test, what path you need to follow to get your permit, and what additional CE requirements CRTs with a fluoroscopy license are required to complete.
Table of ContentsWe’ll start with explaining the new regulations first.
Recently, the CDPH-RHB announced new regulations regarding the California fluoroscopy exam. The long and short of it is that radiologic technologists practicing in California who meet specific criteria are exempt from taking the exam as part of the application process for a California fluoroscopy license.
This decision was a result of the findings of a subcommittee made up of representatives of ARRT ® and Radiologic Technology School Program Directors. The subcommittee was tasked with evaluating how well the ARRT ® Radiography examination measured fluoroscopy competence and if a separate fluoroscopy exam was really needed in order for applicants to demonstrate competence in fluoroscopy.
The subcommittee found that applicants who took and passed the ARRT ® Radiography exam on or after January 1, 2011 and who also hold a current California Diagnostic Technologist Certificate demonstrated sufficient competency in fluoroscopy, and so these applicants do not need to take the fluoroscopy exam in order to get a permit.
Now, for the part you’re really interested in: Who has to take the exam and who doesn’t?
You are eligible to get a California Radiologic Technologist Fluoroscopy Permit without taking the Fluoroscopy examination administered by the ARRT ® organization if you either of meet the following criteria:
Radiologic technologists who do not meet either of these criteria must take the fluoroscopy exam in order to apply for a fluoroscopy permit.
With the new regulations, there are now two separate procedures for applying for a California fluoroscopy permit. We will address each one in turn.
If you meet the requirements to skip the California fluoroscopy exam, you will submit your application using the Radiologic Technologist Fluoroscopy Permit Application – Examination Not Required Form CDPH 8228. You can download that form on the CDPH-RHB website here.
What You’ll Need For Your Application
You’ll need to have the following information on hand to complete the application:How much does it cost to apply for a California fluoroscopy license?
The fee for applying for the California fluoroscopy permit is $112.00, payable to the CDPH-RHB by check or money order. You’ll need to include the fee with your application.
Okay, I’ve submitted my application with the Examination Not Required form. What next?
Once you mail your application, supporting documents, and application fee off to the CDPH-RHB, you’ll hear back from them within 30 days of the day they receive your application to inform you if your application is complete, or if it is unacceptable for filing and what you need to do next.
For RTs who are not eligible to skip the exam, you’ll follow a different procedure. You’ll need to fill out an entirely different form: the Radiologic Technologist Fluoroscopy Permit Application – Examination Required Form CDPH 8218, available on the CDPH-RHB website here.
What You’ll Need For Your Application:How much does it cost to apply for a California fluoroscopy license?
The cost of the application for a California fluoroscopy permit for those who have to take the examination is the same as for those who don’t: $112.00, payable to the CDPH-RHB by check or money order. You’ll need to include the fee with your application.
Okay, I’ve submitted my application with the Examination Required form. What next?
Once you mail your application off to the CDPH-RHB, you’ll hear back from them within 30 days of the day they received your application. If your application is complete and acceptable, you’ll receive instructions for registering for the California fluoroscopy exam. Otherwise, they will inform you that your application is not acceptable for filing and what you need to do next.
Once you get your California fluoroscopy permit, whether you took the fluoroscopy exam or not, you will need to complete specific continuing education (CE) requirements in order to maintain your permit.
You are required to earn 24 CE credits every two years, but now with your fluoroscopy permit, 4 of those CE credits must be in radiation safety for the clinical uses of fluoroscopy.
Getting your California fluoroscopy license is now a simpler process than ever before (if you meet the new requirements to skip the California fluoroscopy exam, that is). We hope this guide has helped simplify the application process for you, and we wish you luck in pursuing your fluoroscopy permit!
