AN INDIVIDUAL MUST BE ARRT CERTIFIED OR HAVE A LIMITED X-RAY MACHINE OPERATOR PERMIT IN BONE DENSITOMETRY TO PERFORM BONE DENSITY TESTING.
Oregon Board of Medical Imaging
ORS § 688.515 (2009)
688.515 Limited X-ray machine operator permit; fees; qualifications; rules.
(1) The Board of Medical Imaging shall issue a limited X-ray machine operator permit to an applicant to practice under the supervision of a licensed physician, a licensed nurse practitioner, or a licensed physician assistant if the applicant meets the requirements as provided in this section. A limited X-ray machine operator permit shall state the category or categories for which the applicant has demonstrated competence and shall be limited to one of the categories listed below or as established by the board by rule:
(a) Skull and sinuses;
(b) Spine;
(c) Chest;
(d) Extremities;
(e) Podiatric; or
(f) Bone densitometry.
(2) Limited X-ray machine operator permits may not be issued for fluoroscopy, bony thorax studies, abdominal studies, contrast studies, or special head studies such as tomography, radiation therapy or any of the other medical imaging modalities or subspecialties other than the categories listed in subsection (1) of this section or as established by the board by rule.
(3) Each applicant for a limited X-ray machine operator permit shall:
(a) Make an application in writing;
(b) Pay an application fee in an amount set by the board;
(c) Be at least 18 years of age;
(d) Have successfully passed a board-approved course of instruction in radiation use and safety consisting of the number of hours of instruction required by the board by rule;
(e) Have successfully completed a course of instruction approved by the board and taught by a board-approved, licensed radiographer in laboratory practice specific to each category for which the applicant seeks a limited X-ray machine operator permit, with the instructor’s certifying to the board that the applicant has completed the course in those categories applied for;
(f) Have successfully completed a practical experience program approved by the board, specific to each category for which the applicant seeks a limited X-ray machine operator permit. Such program shall include the operation of an energized X-ray machine under the supervision of a radiographer;
(g) Have paid the examination fee set by board rule to reflect the actual cost of the examination;
(h) Have successfully passed an examination approved by the board in the core module as defined in rules adopted by the board, and in those categories in which the applicant seeks a limited X-ray machine operator permit;
(i) Have undergone a background check to the satisfaction of the board as established in rules adopted by the board;
(j) Not have had any type of license or permit revoked by this state or any state, the territory of the United States or nation; and
(k) Meet the standards of ethical conduct established in the professional standards of a credentialing organization or a medical imaging modality’s professional society.
(4) Upon meeting the requirements of this section, the board shall issue a limited X-ray machine operator permit to the applicant. The limited X-ray machine operator permit is subject to the renewal procedures described in ORS 688.445.
(5) Every person issued a limited X-ray machine operator permit shall notify the board in writing of the name of each licensed physician supervising the person’s performance of diagnostic radiography and may only perform diagnostic radiography while being supervised by a licensed physician. In the event the person subsequently is supervised by a licensed physician other than the physician whose name was initially furnished to the board, the person shall immediately notify the board in writing.
(6) Limited X-ray machine operators must meet the standards of ethical conduct equal to those of a licensed radiographer.
Note: The amendments to 688.515 by section 12, chapter 833, Oregon Laws 2009, take effect July 1, 2010. See section 44, chapter 833, Oregon Laws 2009. The text that is effective until July 1, 2010, is set forth for the user’s convenience.
688.515.
(1) The Board of Radiologic Technology shall issue a limited permit to an applicant to practice in a limited area of radiologic technology if such applicant meets the requirements for a limited permit as provided in this section. Such limited permit shall state the category or categories for which the applicant has demonstrated competence and shall be limited to one of the categories listed below or as established by the board by rule:
(a) Upper extremities;
(b) Pelvis or lower extremities, or both;
(c) Chest and ribs;
(d) Spine;
(e) Head;
(f) Abdomen; or
(g) Foot and ankle for podiatric use.
(2) Limited permits shall not be issued for contrast studies or special head studies such as tomography.
(3) Each applicant for a limited permit shall:
(a) Make an application in writing;
(b) Pay an application fee in an amount set by the board;
(c) Be at least 18 years of age;
(d) Have successfully passed a board-approved course of instruction in radiation use and safety consisting of the number of hours of instruction required by the board by rule;
(e) Have successfully completed a course of instruction approved by the board and taught by a board-approved, licensed, registered radiologic technologist in laboratory practice specific to each category for which the applicant seeks a limited permit, with the instructor’s certifying to the board that the applicant has completed the course in those categories applied for;
(f) Have successfully completed a practical experience program approved by the board, specific to each category for which the applicant seeks a limited permit. Such program shall include the operation of an energized X-ray machine under the supervision of a registered radiologic technologist;
(g) Have paid the examination fee set by board rule to reflect the actual cost of the examination; and
(h) Have successfully passed an oral or written examination, or both, conducted by or approved by the board in radiation use and safety and in those categories in which the applicant seeks a limited permit.
(4) Upon meeting the requirements of this section, the board shall issue a limited permit to the applicant. A limited permit shall be renewed every two years on the first day of the month of the anniversary date of the permittee’s birthday subject to ORS 688.505 and payment of a fee in an amount set by the board. Any limited permit that is not renewed as provided in this subsection expires. The board may renew any expired limited permit upon payment of a delinquent fee in an amount set by the board plus the biennial renewal fee.
(5) Every person issued a limited permit shall notify the board in writing of the name of each licensed practitioner supervising the permittee’s performance of diagnostic X-ray technology and shall only perform diagnostic X-ray technology while being supervised by a licensed practitioner. In the event permittee subsequently is supervised by a licensed practitioner other than the person whose name was initially furnished to the board, the board shall be immediately notified in writing.
(6) A temporary license or limited permit may be issued by the board without examination to a graduate of or a student enrolled in an approved school of radiologic technology or limited permit course of instruction upon application and payment of a registration fee in an amount set by the board if the person practices as a diagnostic radiologic technologist or radiation therapist under the supervision of a licensed practitioner. A temporary license or limited permit is valid for a period of six months and may be renewed by the board for one six-month period only.
(7) At the discretion of the board a temporary limited permit may be issued by the board without examination to a person upon application and payment of a registration fee in an amount set by the board if the person practices diagnostic radiologic technology under the supervision of a licensed practitioner and if the person is enrolled in an approved course of instruction in radiation use and safety. Such a temporary limited permit shall be valid for a period of three months and shall not be renewed by the board except as provided under subsection (6) of this section.
(8) In addition to the temporary license or limited permit authorized by this section, the board may authorize a permit authorizing its holder to be an X-ray bone densitometry operator. The operator must meet standards of training established by the board by rule. The applicant shall pay a nonrefundable fee fixed by the board and the permit may be issued for a period of two years and may be renewed upon payment of a fixed renewal fee.
