REPORTING ETHICS VIOLATIONS

When you first applied for certification and registration, you had to meet our ethics requirements. To maintain your credentials, you must continue to abide by the ARRT Standards of Ethics. If you’ve engaged in behavior that might constitute an ethics violation, you must report it to ARRT. Learn more about reporting ethics violations below.

SELF-REPORTING

If you ever behave in a way that’s inconsistent with the ARRT Standards of Ethics, you must report the potential violation to us either within 30 days of its occurrence, during your annual online renewal, or in your application for an additional credential, whichever event comes first. If you’re not sure whether an incident constitutes an ethics violation, it’s best to report it. Please note—even if you have already reported a occurrence and/or charge, you still need to report any resulting convictions. 

It’s never a good idea to try hiding an ethics violation from ARRT. More and more, employers conduct criminal background checks as part of their hiring processes. If employers find charges or convictions, they often ask if we were aware of them. Such communications are the basis for many of our ethics reviews. We also receive reports of ethics violations from co-workers, patients, and other R.T.s.

Bottom line—failure to report a potential ethics violation breaks our rules. In fact, nondisclosure can be more serious than the violation itself, because it might involve falsifying an application (or renewal) for certification and registration. 

If you have a potential or known ethics violation, report the incident using our Ethics Violation Report Form. (Students shouldn't use this form; instead, follow the student process outlined here.) 

You’ll also find instructions for self-reporting on the Criminal Violation Checklist, the Regulatory Violation Checklist, and the Honor Code Violation Checklist. Each checklist outlines the information and supporting material that you’ll need to submit. 

Mail or fax the complete documentation to:

ARRT
1255 Northland Drive
St. Paul, MN 55120

Fax: 651-687-0449

Keep in mind—

although reporting a violation might worry you, only a small percentage of ethics cases result in revocation. For example, of the 1,585 ethics violations we investigated in 2022, only 21 cases (1%) resulted in revocation.

ETHICS QUESTIONS ON RENEWAL FORM

Each year when you renew online, you’ll have to answer two ethics questions to verify that you’re still complying with the ARRT Standards of Ethics: 

  • Have you ever been charged with or convicted of a misdemeanor or felony? (This includes court convictions and military courts-martial.)
  • Has a regulatory authority or certification board (other than ARRT) ever done one or more of the following?
    • Denied, revoked, or suspended your professional license, permit, registration, or certification? 
    • Placed you on probation (excluding ARRT Continuing Education probation), under consent agreement, or under consent order? 
    • Allowed voluntary surrender of your professional license, permit, registration, or certification?
    • Subjected you to any conditions or disciplinary actions?

If you answer yes to either of these questions, you must report the violation within 30 days of its occurrence or when you renew your certification and registration each year, whichever comes first. See the instructions in the “Self Reporting” section above. 

ETHICS QUESTIONS ON APPLICATION FORM

If you’re pursuing an additional ARRT credential, you’ll need to complete an application form as part of the process. On the application, you’ll again need to respond to ethics questions—three this time:

  • Have you ever been charged with or convicted of a misdemeanor or felony? (This includes court convictions and military courts-martial.)
  • Has a regulatory authority or certification board (other than ARRT) ever done one or more of the following?
    • Denied, revoked, or suspended your professional license, permit, registration, or certification? 
    • Placed you on probation (excluding ARRT Continuing Education probation), under consent agreement, or under consent order? 
    • Allowed voluntary surrender of your professional license, permit, registration, or certification?
    • Subjected you to any conditions or disciplinary actions?
  • Have you ever voluntarily withdrawn—or been suspended, dismissed, or expelled—from an educational program you attended to meet ARRT certification and registration requirements?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, you must report the violation within 30 days of its occurrence or when you submit your application, whichever comes first. See the instructions in the “Self Reporting” section above.

REPORTING SOMEONE ELSE

If you see another R.T. engaging in questionable behavior, it’s important to report the activity to ARRT. When R.T.s violate the ARRT Standards of Ethics, they could be putting current and future patients in danger. The right thing to do is to report the incident to ARRT using our Ethics Violation Report Form.  

QUESTIONS?

For more information on reporting, review our ethics FAQ page. If you have questions about a specific ethics violation or how to report, contact our Ethics Requirements Department at 651.687.0048. Choose the option for ethics information.