The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) is looking for help from working professionals in CI Radiography. We encourage you to review the proposed changes to our CI Radiography Examination Content Specifications and Clinical Experience Requirements.
Our goal is to produce comprehensive, accurate, and fair documents that cover the knowledge and cognitive skills required of CI radiographers. ARRT’s examinations are job-related. That is, we only include topics if knowledge of those areas relates directly to a clinical activity typically required in one’s job. We recently sent a survey of possible tasks and procedures to 1,200 current CI radiographers to determine these topics. We used the survey results to update the content specifications and clinical experience requirements.
The ARRT CI Radiography Practice Analysis Committee (made up of subject matter experts from throughout the United States) began working on these documents in June 2021 and will complete work on them in spring 2022. After that, ARRT’s Board of Trustees will review the proposed changes. The revised CI radiography documents have a scheduled implementation date of July 1, 2023.
SUMMARY OF MAJOR PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE EXAMINATION CONTENT SPECIFICATIONS
Patient Care Section
- We added content to the patient assessment and preparation area and patient monitoring area.
- We added details to the contrast administration, medications, handling and disposal of hazardous materials, and emergency care areas.
- We changed the infection control and prevention section to asepsis and sterile technique. We expanded the content on sterile technique specifically related to CI radiographers. We deleted the CDC isolation precautions area because it is covered on the Radiography exam.
Image Production Section
- We added content on additional procedural equipment and added quality control under radiation protection.
Procedures Section
- Under diagnostic and conduction systems studies, we added intravascular imaging; additional peripheral angiography sites; temporary and leadless pacemaker; and lead extraction.
- Under interventional procedures, we added procedures to the percutaneous intervention section and the structural heart procedures section.
In the Focus of Questions column, we added types and indications for use under equipment and devices used. We added details to closure devices and added ultrasound guidance and interventional suite and hybrid OR to this column.
The total number of scored questions remains the same at 145, but the number of items in some sections changed.
SUMMARY OF THE MAJOR PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CLINICAL EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
- We increased the minimum number of right heart catheterizations from 10 to 20 repetitions. The minimum of left heart catheterizations remains the same at 60 repetitions. The minimum number of repetitions of elective procedures increased from 80 to 100 repetitions.
- We added the following procedures: ventricular septal defect closure; generator exchange; intravascular lithotripsy; transcatheter mitral valve repair; atrial appendage closure device implantation; extracorporeal membrane oxygenation system placement; pacemaker (leadless); and additional angiography areas.
- Additionally, we updated wording for clarification and consistency.
REVIEW THE DOCUMENTS AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK
We invite you to review the documents below and provide feedback through an online survey (live until April 16, 2022). The survey is the official method by which we track feedback. The CI Radiography Practice Analysis Committee will review all comments and may make additional changes based on your feedback.
Note: Additions are in blue, and deletions are in strikethrough red in the drafts.
QUESTIONS?
If you have questions about how the proposed changes may affect your eligibility for certification and registration in CI Radiography, contact us using the Message Center function in your online ARRT account. Or call 651.687.0048 and select the option for earning an ARRT credential.
Thank you for your contribution to this important project!