Oregon State Archives

Oregon Bulletin

February 1, 2012

Board of Medical Imaging
Chapter 337

Rule Caption: Corrects and updates the process for students to apply to take the limited x-ray examination.

Adm. Order No.: BMI 1-2012

Filed with Sec. of State: 1-12-2012

Certified to be Effective: 1-12-12

Notice Publication Date: 12-1-2011

Rules Amended: 337-010-0030

Subject: This rules amendment completes two actions:

      (1) Under current rules, the Oregon Board of Medical Imaging (OBMI) requires a student to have completed all coursework in limited x-ray machine operation, before a student is allowed to submit an application to the OBMI to take the limited x-ray machine operator examination. This amendment would allow the OBMI to approve a student to submit an application prior to completion of all coursework. In order to obtain approval, a student’s examination application material would need to indicate the courses for which the student is enrolled, expected completion date, and the student’s status in each course. The final approved course completion certificate is required s part of the application for a temporary permit.

      (2) This amendment corrects current rules to reflect current OBMI practice to require a limited x-ray permit student to pass the examination prior to completing practical experience requirements.

Rules Coordinator: Ed Conlow—(971) 673-0216

337-010-0030

Limited X-Ray Machine Operator (LXMO) Permits

(1) Applicants for LXMO Permits Qualifications:

(a) An applicant for a LXMO permit must be at least 18 years of age, pay an application fee, and, effective January 1, 2007, have successfully passed a course of instruction that reflects the current Core Module of the “Content Specifications for the Examination for the Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography” published by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. The curriculum must consist of not less than 52 hours of instruction approved by the Board in the following subjects:

(A) Radiation physics;

(B) Interaction of radiation with matter;

(C) Radiation exposure, monitoring, and radiation units;

(D) Principle of the radiographic equipment;

(E) Biological effects of radiation;

(F) Low-dose technique and minimizing patient exposure;

(G) Applicable Federal and State radiation regulations;

(H) Darkroom, film processing, and quality assurance;

(I) Film and image critique;

(J) Personnel protection;

(K) Digital and computer-generated radiographic imaging;

(L) Developing and using technique charts; and

(M) Patient care.

(b) Have received a course of instruction in laboratory practice approved by the Board:

(A) Meeting the requirements stated in the Board’s publication “Overview of Guidelines for Instructors of Courses in Preparation for the Limited Scope Examination in Diagnostic Radiologic Technology dated “October 1, 2008” which is incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule;

(B) Reflects the current Radiographic Procedure Module(s) of the “Content Specifications for the Examination for the Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography” published by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists

(C) Taught by a licensed registered technologist specific to each category for which a limited permit is sought and have received the instructor’s certification that the applicant has demonstrated all the positions/projections described in the Behavioral Objectives for each category. Effective January 1, 2007, the minimum hours in each category is as follows:

(i) Skull/Sinus, 18 hours;

(ii) Spine, 30 hours;

(iii) Chest, 12 hours;

(iv) Extremities, 60 hours;

(v) Podiatric 10 hours.

(D) An individual must successfully pass a Board-approved Core Module course and successfully complete the didactic portion of a Radiographic Procedure Module (Skull/Sinus, Spine, Chest, Extremities, and Podiatric) relative to the anatomical area the student wishes to radiograph. Student status will continue for one year from the date of completion of the didactic portion of the corresponding Radiographic Procedure Module. Student status expires at the end of the one-year period specified above; or seven days after the date on which an applicant becomes eligible for a permanent LXMO permit.

(d) Radiographic procedures cannot be performed on patients without having passed the ARRT Core exam and corresponding ARRT Radiographic Procedure module. The applicant must obtain a temporary permit to successfully complete a practical experience program approved by the Board specific to each category for which the applicant seeks a LXMO permit. The practical experience component must consist of experience with live patients with a licensed RT, radiologist, or licensed physician, licensed nurse practitioner or licensed physician assistant with adequate training in radiography in accordance wih RPS Rules present in the room during radiographic exposures. Processed images made by the students are evaluated and critiqued by an ARRT-registered, Oregon-licensed radiographer Practical Experience Evaluator;

(e) The student may be evaluated for imaging by using the Practical Experience Evaluation Form developed by the Board. If the Practical Experience Evaluator chooses to use a method for evaluation other than the Practical Experience Evaluation Form, that method must receive prior approval from the Board. The Practical Experience Evaluator must provide the student with a certificate of completion in the categories in which the student has successfully completed practical experience.

(2) Applicants for LXMO Permits in X-ray Bone Densitometry: Qualifications:

(a) An applicant for a limited permit in x-ray bone densitometry must be at least 18 years of age, pay an application fee set by the Board, and have successfully passed a Board approved 24 hour course of instruction which includes not less than 20 hours of radiation protection, equipment operation and quality control specific to x-ray bone densitometry, and meets the didactic and practical experience requirements stated in the Board’s publication “Behavioral Objectives and Teaching Guide Bone Densitometry Equipment Operators dated October 01, 2008 which is incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule.

(b) An individual must successfully pass a Board-approved course in x-ray bone densitometry. Student status will continue for one year from the date of completion of the “Bone Densitometry Equipment Operators Examination” given by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. Student status expires at the end of the one-year period specified above; or seven days after the date on which an applicant becomes eligible for a permanent LXMO permit.

(c) Bone density procedures cannot be performed on patients without having passed the ARRT Bone Densitometry Equipment Operators Examination.

(3) LXMO Permit students who wish to sit for the ARRT Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography Examination need to have a Course Completion Certificate to be eligible to sit for the ARRT “Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography” Examination from a program both approved by the board and licensed by the Oregon Department of Education, Private Career School Section or otherwise approved or accredited by the Oregon Department of Higher Education.

(4) Time Frame for Completing Requirements for a LXMO Permit: An applicant has a maximum of one year from the time of completion of a LXMO permit didactic class term to make application for a LXMO permit or add categories to an existing LXMO permanent permit. During the practical experience program after passing the ARRT exam. the applicant may only make x-ray exposures of patients under direct supervision by a licensed RT, radiologist, or licensed physician, licensed nurse practitioner or licensed physician assistant with adequate training in radiography in accordance with RPS Rules present in the room during radiographic exposures.

(5) Students are allowed 3 attempts to pass an ARRT exam.

(6) Limited Scope Examination Fees:

(a) Students can sit for the examination throughout the year. The examination fee is $20 for each examination category for which the student is tested, combined with an administration fee set by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). These fees, together with the necessary certifications and verifications that the applicant has completed Board-approved Core Module course and Radiographic Procedure Module courses, must be submitted to the Board office. On submission and acceptance of the application materials, OBMI shall register the applicant with the ARRT, after which the applicant has 90 days in which to sit for the exam. The Board, upon advance request, may approve a student to submit an application for the examination prior to completion of all course requirements, based upon school verification that the student is expected to complete all coursework. Verification must include a preliminary course completion certificate, endorsed by a responsible school official, indicating the courses for which the student is enrolled, expected completion date, and the student’s status in each course. The final approved course completion certificate is required as part of the application for a temporary permit. A temporary permit will only be issued for anatomical areas for which the applicant has successfully completed coursework and obtained a passing grade on the ARRT examination.

(b) The examination shall consist of two sections:

(A) Core Section (Radiation Use and Safety, Equipment Operation, Quality Control, Image Production, Image Evaluation, and Patient Care), which all applicants are required to pass; and

(B) Specific Radiographic Procedures (positioning and techniques) in the category or categories (Skull/Sinus, Spine. Chest, Extremities, and Podiatric) for which a limited permit is desired to be obtained. At least one category must be passed to obtain a permanent LXMO Permit (ORS 688.515(h). The LXMO Permit may be issued only in those categories that are passed.

(c) A score of 70 percent constitutes a minimum passing score for each section of the limited scope examination;

(d) Limited scope examinations will be administered at computer-based testing sites identified by ARRT. The student is subject to rules regarding test administration at the testing site;

(e) The application fee for the LXMO permit examination is non-refundable.

[Publications: Publications referenced are available from the agency.]

Stat. Auth.: ORS 388.555(1)

Stats. Implemented: ORS 688.515(4) & 688.515(8)

Hist.: RT 2-1978, f. & ef. 7-7-78; RT 2-1982, f. & ef. 3-11-82; RT 3-1982, f. & ef. 9-30-82; RT 2-1985, f. & ef. 7-1-85; RT 2-1986, f. 4-29-86, ef. 7-1-86; RT 1-1987, f. & ef. 1-27-87; RT 3-1987, f. & ef. 4-16-87; RT 5-1987, f. & ef. 10-19-87; RT 1-1988, f. & cert. ef. 4-13-88; RT 2-1988, f. & cert. ef. 11-9-88; RT 3-1988, f. & cert. ef. 11-9-88; RT 1-1989, f. & cert. ef. 1-24-89; RT 3-1990, f. & cert. ef. 11-7-90; RT 4-1990, f. & cert. ef. 11-7-90; RT 1-1991, f. & cert. ef. 1-30-91; RT 1-1992, f. & cert. ef. 1-15-92; BRT 4-1998, f. & cert. ef. 7-15-98; BRT 2-2002, f. & cert. ef. 11-18-02; BRT 1-2006, f. & cert. ef. 2-6-06; BRT 2-2006, f. 12-15-06, cert. ef. 1-1-07; BRT 1-2010, f. & cert. ef. 6-15-10; BMI 1-2012, f. & cert. ef. 1-12-12

Notes
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