The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) has announced it will stop issuing new Quality Management (QM) credentials after June 30, 2018. The last day to apply to take the QM exam will be June 1, 2018.

Registered Technologists (R.T.s) who already hold the QM credential—or who earn it before July 1, 2018—may maintain it if they choose to do so.

RATIONALE

ARRT recently surveyed QM practitioners nationwide, asking what tasks they commonly perform in their jobs. Because medical imaging, radiation therapy, and interventional procedures primarily use digital equipment now, many previous QM tasks have become obsolete.

In fact, the survey showed that 43 of the 105 tasks the QM exam covers are no longer common to QM practitioners. In addition, some of the remaining tasks are no longer related to medical imaging, radiation therapy, or interventional procedures—and they aren’t specific to any radiologic discipline.

ARRT maintains certification and registration programs for disciplines having a broad range of tasks and practice patterns consistent enough that technologists can demonstrate their qualifications. Because the number of tasks has decreased significantly in QM, and because QM no longer requires a well-defined set of tasks applied universally in the workplace, ARRT’s Board of Trustees elected to stop issuing new QM credentials.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

ARRT has communicated directly with all R.T.s who hold the QM credential or are working toward it. In addition, we’ve sent information to all other R.T.s, to continuing education sponsors, and to other audiences with an interest in QM.

In short:

• People who earn the QM credential before July 1, 2018, can maintain it indefinitely as long as they continue to meet ARRT’s ethical standards and other requirements for doing so.
• People working on QM certification and registration must apply to take the QM exam by June 1, 2018. They have until June 30, 2018, to complete eligibility requirements for the credential and pass the exam. Note: If R.T.s have an ethics violation to report, processing their application will take longer. They must report violations within 30 days of its occurrence or when they renew, whichever happens first.
• Beginning July 1, 2018, R.T.s who hold the QM certification, but who don’t comply with other ARRT requirements for certification and registration, will be able to reinstate their QM credential only up to the point at which they would have to re-examine. They won’t be able to reinstate the QM credential after that because ARRT won’t offer the exam after June 30, 2018.  

QUESTIONS?

If you have questions about this change, please contact ARRT at 651.687.0048.