The Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography examination is administered on behalf of state licensing agencies to assess the knowledge and skills of radiography candidates by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) offers credentialing covering the practice of radiologic technology. Thirty-nine states require credentialing as a part of their licensing program. ARRT certification and state licensing have separate application procedures.
Eligibility
Candidates for the Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography credential need to meet eligibility requirements before applying for credentialing. There are three eligibility pathways:
- Primary
- Post-primary
- Registered Radiologist Assistant
All pathways include an education, ethics, and examination requirement.
How to apply
Regardless of the pathway used to obtain eligibility requirements, you need to submit an application. The Primary pathway’s application is paper-based, while the Post Primary and Registered Radiologist Assistant pathways’ application is completed online. Application fees are either $200.00 or $400.00, depending on the eligibility pathway used.
Scheduling your exam
Once your application is approved, ARRT sends a candidate status report (CSR) with instructions you need to schedule your exam. You have 90 days from the date of receipt of your CSR to schedule your exam.
Exams are offered at Pearson VUE test centers located nationwide and are available on an appointment basis Monday through Friday. Some centers have Saturday appointments available.
Test design
The ARRT exam is computer-delivered consisting of multiple-choice questions. The exam contains two modules – a core module and procedure module(s). Every candidate completes the core module, and your state determines which procedure modules you will complete.
The Core Module consists of 100 questions covering the following knowledge and cognitive skills:
- Patient Care
- Safety
- Image Production
The Procedure Modules consist of 20-25 multiple-choice questions each and include
- Chest
- Extremities
- Skull/Sinuses
- Spine
- Podiatric
You are provided one minute per question which equals one hour and fifty-five minutes to complete the core module, and twenty-five to thirty minutes for each Procedure Module, depending on the number of questions per module.
Passing score
Your raw score is converted to a scaled score. The scaled score ensures consistency in grading the exam, regardless of the difficulty of the exam. To pass both the Core Module and the Procedure Modules, you need to obtain a scaled score of 75.
Test day
Arrive early for your testing appointment and be prepared with the required identification. Additional security measures may be in place including palm vein scanning, digital signature, and a digital photograph. You are not allowed to bring any resources, scratch paper, calculators, or writing utensils with you. All the supplies you need for the exam are provided.
At your testing station, you have an opportunity to take a short tutorial. After the tutorial, your exam begins. The test proctor provides an erasable note pad and dry-erase pen for notetaking. You cannot take the note pad out of the testing center. An onscreen computer and reference sheets are available for your use during the exam.
Each question must be answered before the computer allows you to move on to the next question. You are able to mark items for review. After you have responded to all the questions and time remains, you are provided an opportunity to review your work. Once you have reached the allotted time, your exam closes, and your responses are sent to be evaluated and graded. The required modules will appear one after the other until the state-required modules are completed.
Scoring
Each correct answer is tallied to come up with your raw score. The raw score is converted to a scaled score with a range of one to 99. Each state determines the passing score, but an average passing scaled score is 75.
You will not receive a score report at the end of your exam at the test center. The results are sent directly to your state licensing board, which determines your pass or fail status. Within four weeks of taking the examination, your state licensing board will notify you of your pass or fail status. Any questions regarding your score report are directed to your licensing board, not ARRT.
How Can I Prepare for the Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography Test?
That’s a great question. We’ve broken down the answer into three parts.
- Do yourself a favor and study. Do not walk in unprepared. We have recommended prep materials below, but that only helps if you actually try. Plus, studying is actually proven to be the best antidote to test anxiety.
- Take care of yourself. Make sure you’re eating well, exercising, and sleeping. All of these things are scientifically linked to brain performance. If you take care of your body, you’ll be helping your grades.
- Get a study guide or set of flashcards. Some people study better a certain way. Find your study strengths and make the most of them. We’ve tried to make it easy for you by tracking down the best study guide and flashcard set for your exam. Below you’ll see links to both!