ARRT Certification 2026–2026 — American Registry of Radiologic Technologists
ARRT (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists) is the national credentialing organization for radiologic technologists and imaging professionals in the United States. ARRT certification is the standard credential required to work as a radiologic technologist (RT), radiographer, MRI technologist, CT technologist, sonographer, radiation therapist, or nuclear medicine technologist in accredited healthcare settings. To earn ARRT certification, candidates must meet education requirements, demonstrate clinical competency, meet ethics standards, and pass the ARRT certification examination in their discipline. Over 360,000 ARRT-certified professionals work in the US. This guide covers ARRT certification requirements, the examination process, continuing education requirements, and how to verify ARRT credentials for 2026–2026.
What Does ARRT Certify? — Disciplines and Credentials
ARRT offers certification and registration in more than 20 imaging disciplines. The most common ARRT credentials are:
Primary disciplines (entry-level certification):
- Radiography (R): The foundational ARRT credential. Radiographers (also called X-ray techs or diagnostic radiologic technologists) perform plain film X-rays and are required in virtually every hospital and radiology practice. Most other ARRT postprimary credentials require Radiography as a prerequisite.
- Radiation Therapy (T): Radiation therapists deliver radiation treatments to cancer patients under physician prescription. Separate from Radiography — requires its own accredited program.
- Nuclear Medicine Technology (N): Nuclear medicine technologists prepare and administer radiopharmaceuticals and operate imaging equipment to produce functional body images.
- Sonography (S): Diagnostic medical sonography (ultrasound). Sonography is a primary pathway — does not require Radiography as a prerequisite.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MR): MRI technologists require either Radiography or Sonography as a prerequisite (or a standalone MRI pathway from a limited number of accredited MRI programs).
Post-primary specialty credentials (require a primary credential): Computed Tomography (CT), Mammography, Cardiac-Interventional, Vascular-Interventional, Breast Sonography, Bone Densitometry, Radiologist Assistant (RA), Medical Dosimetry, and more. These credentials require an existing ARRT primary certification plus additional education and clinical competencies.
To earn ARRT certification in a primary discipline (Radiography, Radiation Therapy, Nuclear Medicine Technology, or Sonography), candidates must satisfy three requirements.
Requirement 1: Education
Candidates must graduate from a program accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) or another ARRT-recognized accrediting agency. Programs are typically 2-year associate degree programs (for radiography) or 4-year bachelor's degree programs. Sonography and nuclear medicine programs have their own accreditation pathways. You cannot sit for the ARRT exam without graduating from an accredited program — attending an unaccredited program disqualifies you from ARRT certification.
Requirement 2: Ethics Review
All ARRT applicants must disclose criminal history, sanctions, and certain civil history. ARRT conducts a background check and ethics review. Certain criminal convictions (particularly those involving patient harm, fraud, or dishonesty) may result in disqualification or conditional approval. Candidates with concerns about their eligibility should submit a Pre-Application Review to ARRT before investing in their education program — this process allows ARRT to review a criminal record and advise on likely eligibility before the applicant completes their training.
Requirement 3: Examination
After graduating from an accredited program and passing ethics review, candidates schedule and take the ARRT certification exam at a Pearson VUE test center. The exam window is typically within a limited period after graduation (contact ARRT for current application deadlines and exam windows). First-time test takers have a limited number of attempts within an initial eligibility period — review current ARRT policies at arrt.org for exam attempt limits and window dates.
Prepare with our ARRT practice test to assess your readiness before your examination date, and review our full ARRT practice tests collection for content-area review.
ARRT Certification Preparation Checklist
Verify your educational program is JRCERT-accredited before enrolling — attending a non-accredited program disqualifies you from ARRT certification If you have any criminal history, submit an ARRT Pre-Application Review before beginning your training program — this prevents investing 2+ years in training only to be disqualified Download the ARRT Content Specification for your discipline from arrt.org — this lists every testable content area with approximate weighting and is your primary study blueprint Complete all required clinical competencies during your program — your program director must certify competency as part of your ARRT application Apply to ARRT for certification immediately after graduation — there is a limited exam window after graduation, and delays can affect eligibility Schedule your Pearson VUE exam appointment promptly after receiving ARRT authorization — popular test centers book weeks in advance Take ARRT practice exams in all three major content areas (Patient Care, Safety, Image Production for Radiography) to identify weakest areas before test day Plan your CE strategy before your first renewal: ARRT requires 24 CE credits every 2 years — start tracking from your initial certification date ARRT Continuing Education Requirements
ARRT-registered professionals must maintain their credentials through biennial (every 2 years) renewal by completing continuing education.
CE requirements per 2-year cycle:
- 24 continuing education (CE) credits total
- At least 12 credits must be in structured educational activities (organized courses, seminars, webinars)
- At least 1 credit must be in ethics content
- Self-directed learning can account for up to 12 credits (reading journals, online learning modules)
Where to earn CE credits: ARRT accepts CE from a variety of providers: ASRT (American Society of Radiologic Technologists) offers online and in-person CE courses recognized by ARRT. State society conferences, hospital education departments, RadiologyInfo.org, and vendor-neutral online platforms also offer ARRT-accepted CE. Always verify that the CE provider and activity are accepted by ARRT before completing — list of recognized providers at arrt.org.
Specialty credential CE: Post-primary specialty credentials (CT, Mammography, MRI, etc.) have separate CE requirements — typically 24 CE credits per 2-year cycle with content requirements relevant to the specialty.
Verifying ARRT Certification Status
ARRT provides a public verification tool that allows anyone to verify a practitioner's ARRT credential status. This is commonly used by employers during hiring, state licensing boards for licensure verification, and patients who wish to confirm their technologist's credentials.
How to verify: Visit arrt.org and use the 'Verify Credentials' search tool. Search by name, location, or ARRT ID number. The search returns the practitioner's primary discipline(s), registration status (current or expired), and the state where they are registered. ARRT verification is free and publicly accessible.
ARRT vs state licensure: In most states, radiologic technologists must hold both ARRT certification AND a state license (or state certification). ARRT provides the national credential; state licensure is separate and governed by the state's health department or radiation control program. Always verify both ARRT status and state license status when credentialing new hires.
ARRT Study Tips
💡 What's the best study strategy for ARRT?
Focus on weak areas first. Use practice tests to identify gaps, then study those topics intensively.
📅 How far in advance should I start studying?
Most successful candidates begin 4-8 weeks before the exam. Create a structured study schedule.
🔄 Should I retake practice tests?
Yes! Take each practice test 2-3 times. Focus on understanding why answers are correct, not memorizing.
✅ What should I do on exam day?
Arrive 30 min early, bring required ID, read questions carefully, flag difficult ones, and review before submitting.
Pros
- Validates your knowledge and skills objectively
- Increases job market competitiveness
- Provides structured learning goals
- Networking opportunities with other certified professionals
Cons
- Study materials can be expensive
- Exam anxiety can affect performance
- Requires dedicated preparation time
- Retake fees apply if you don't pass
ARRT Certification Questions and Answers
What does ARRT stand for?
ARRT stands for American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. It is the national credentialing organization that certifies radiologic technologists and imaging professionals in the United States. Founded in 1922 and headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, ARRT certifies professionals in more than 20 disciplines including radiography (X-ray), radiation therapy, nuclear medicine, MRI, CT, mammography, and sonography. Over 360,000 ARRT-certified professionals hold active credentials.
How long does it take to become ARRT certified?
The time to earn ARRT certification depends on your educational program. For Radiography (the most common primary discipline), accredited programs are typically 2 years (associate degree) or 4 years (bachelor's degree) in length. After completing your program, you apply to ARRT, pass the ethics review, and take the certification exam — a process that typically takes 2–6 months after graduation. Most candidates take the exam within 3–4 months of completing their degree program.
What is the ARRT exam passing score?
ARRT reports scores as scaled scores rather than simple percentages. The Radiography exam passing scaled score is set through a process called standard setting — ARRT periodically convenes panels of experts to determine what a minimally qualified candidate should know. In practice, most candidates who correctly answer approximately 70–75% of questions pass the exam. ARRT provides a score report immediately after the exam showing your scaled score and whether you passed. If you fail, your score report includes performance by content category to guide retake preparation.
Can a criminal conviction disqualify you from ARRT certification?
Potentially, yes. ARRT requires an ethics review for all certification applicants. Certain criminal convictions — particularly those involving patient abuse, fraud, identity theft, drug convictions, and serious crimes — may result in ineligibility or conditional approval with monitoring requirements. ARRT evaluates each situation individually based on the nature of the offense, time elapsed, rehabilitation evidence, and other factors. If you have concerns, ARRT offers a Pre-Application Review process where you can disclose your history before completing your education program and receive a preliminary eligibility determination.
How many CE credits does ARRT require for renewal?
ARRT requires 24 continuing education (CE) credits every 2-year (biennial) renewal cycle. Of those 24 credits, at least 12 must be earned through structured educational activities (courses, seminars, webinars), and at least 1 of the 24 must be ethics content. Up to 12 credits can be self-directed learning. CE must be completed through ARRT-accepted providers. If you hold multiple ARRT credentials (for example, Radiography and CT), each credential has its own CE requirement, though some CE activities may be applied to multiple credentials.