The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) is looking for help from working professionals in Bone Densitometry (BD). We encourage you to review the proposed changes to the Bone Densitometry 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 entry-level bone densitometry technologists. ARRT’s examinations are job-related. That is, we only include topics if that knowledge relates directly to a clinical activity typically required for a technologist’s job. A survey of possible tasks and procedures was sent to 1,000 current bone densitometry technologists to determine these topics. Results from this survey was used to update the content specifications and clinical experience requirements.
The ARRT Bone Densitometry Practice Analysis Committee (composed of subject matter experts from throughout the United States) began working on these documents in October 2023 and will complete work on them this fall. After that, ARRT’s Board of Trustees will review the proposed changes. The new Bone Densitometry documents have a scheduled implementation date of January 1, 2027.
SUMMARY OF MAJOR PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE EXAMINATION CONTENT SPECIFICATIONS:
Patient Care
- Explanation of the radiation dose and effects was added.
- Entrance dose was changed to absorbed dose, and dose equivalent was changed to effective dose.
Image Production
- Trabecular bone score (TBS), whole body DXA, record results, and reconfigure report setting were added.
- Cross-calibration, equipment replacement, and equipment manufacturer change were removed.
- An informatics section replaced the file and database management section.
Procedures
- Window level and follow-up scans (rate of change and reproducibility) were added to each of the scan areas (lumbar spine, proximal femur, forearm).
SUMMARY OF THE MAJOR PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CLINICAL EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
- Perform and analyze a DXA scan of the whole body was added as an elective.
- Perform postprocessing analysis to create a TBS was added as an elective.
- A maximum of 2 elective procedures may be counted per patient per day.
REVIEW THE DOCUMENTS AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK
We invite you to review the documents below and provide feedback through an online survey (live until March 24, 2025). The survey is the official method we use to track feedback. The Bone Densitometry 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 Bone Densitometry, call 651.687.0048. Select the option for earning an ARRT credential.
Thank you for your contribution to this important project!