Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography Exam

Key point: every candidate takes the Core module, but your state determines which procedure modules you must take. Before studying, confirm your required modules with your state licensing agency.

Try these original Limited Scope Radiography-style sample questions. These examples reflect common Core and procedure-module topics, but they are not actual ARRT exam questions.

1. Patient Care: Identification

Before beginning an imaging exam, which action is most appropriate for verifying the patient’s identity?

1. Ask the patient if they are ready for the exam.
2. Confirm the patient’s identity using two approved identifiers.
3. Use only the room number to identify the patient.
4. Begin the exam if the patient responds when called by first name.

2. Patient Care: Infection Control

Which action is the best example of standard precautions during a radiographic procedure?

1. Using gloves only when the patient has a known infection
2. Cleaning equipment only at the end of the day
3. Performing hand hygiene and using appropriate personal protective equipment when exposure to body fluids is possible
4. Assuming that ambulatory patients do not require infection control measures

3. Safety: Radiation Protection

Which practice best follows the ALARA principle for personnel protection?

1. Increasing exposure time to improve image quality
2. Standing close to the patient during every exposure
3. Using time, distance, and shielding to reduce occupational exposure
4. Removing protective barriers when the patient is shielded

4. Image Production: Exposure Factors

If mAs is increased while other exposure factors remain unchanged, what is the expected effect on receptor exposure?

1. Receptor exposure increases.
2. Receptor exposure decreases.
3. Image distortion decreases.
4. Spatial resolution increases automatically.

5. Image Production: Distortion

Which factor most directly increases magnification on a radiographic image?

1. Decreasing object-to-image receptor distance
2. Increasing object-to-image receptor distance
3. Decreasing patient motion
4. Using the correct anatomic side marker

6. Image Evaluation: Artifacts

A radiographic image shows an anatomy marker covering part of the area of interest. Which image-quality problem is present?

1. Grid cutoff
2. Motion blur
3. Image artifact
4. Quantum noise

7. Chest Procedure Module

For a standard PA chest projection, why is the patient commonly positioned with the shoulders rolled forward?

1. To move the scapulae away from the lung fields
2. To increase motion artifact
3. To shorten the exposure time
4. To remove the need for a lateral projection

8. Extremities Procedure Module

A lateral wrist projection should primarily demonstrate which relationship?

1. The radius and ulna superimposed in profile alignment at the wrist
2. The entire humerus and shoulder joint
3. The chest and costophrenic angles
4. The lumbar vertebrae and sacrum

9. Spine Procedure Module

For a lateral lumbar spine projection, which positioning goal is most important for reducing rotation?

1. Keeping the shoulders and pelvis in the same vertical plane
2. Turning the patient into a steep oblique position
3. Flexing the elbows above the head to move the scapulae
4. Rotating the head away from the image receptor

Score Basics

• Passing scaled score: 75
• Score scale: 1 to 99
• Not a percentage: 75 does not mean 75% correct
• Core module: includes 100 scored questions and 15 unscored pilot questions
• Procedure modules: include 20 or 25 scored questions plus 5 unscored pilot questions
• Results: sent to the state licensing agency

Before You Register or Schedule

• Confirm your state’s eligibility requirements.
• Verify which modules your state requires for your license category.
• Create your ARRT state candidate account only after your state confirms eligibility.
• Review your Candidate Status Report carefully.
• Make sure your name matches your required identification documents.
• Schedule your exam within your assigned 90-day window.
• Review current Pearson VUE test-center rules before test day.

Test-Day Checklist

• Arrive early for your appointment.
• Bring the required identification listed in your exam instructions.
• Do not bring prohibited personal items into the testing room.
• Complete the tutorial so you understand the testing tools.
• Answer every question before moving forward.
• Use the flag feature for questions you want to review within the same module.
• Review flagged questions only if time remains in that module.
• Do not end a module until you are ready to move on permanently.

Limited Scope Radiography Study Checklist

• Confirm which procedure modules your state requires.
• Study the Core module first: Patient Care, Safety, and Image Production.
• Review patient identification, consent, confidentiality, communication, infection control, and emergency response.
• Study radiation physics, radiation biology, shielding, collimation, exposure reduction, dosimetry, and ALARA.
• Review mAs, kVp, SID, OID, focal spot size, motion, grids, digital image characteristics, and image artifacts.
• Practice image evaluation questions involving exposure indicator, contrast, spatial resolution, distortion, anatomy markers, and artifacts.
• Study positioning terminology, routine projections, and anatomy for each required procedure module.
• Use timed practice so you are comfortable with the pace of each module.