Chapter 4773. RADIATION TECHNICIANS
As used in this
chapter:
| (A) |
"General x-ray machine operator" means an individual who
operates
ionizing radiation-generating equipment in order to perform
standard radiology procedures; whose performance of
such procedures is limited to specific body sites; and
who does not, to any significant degree, determine procedure positioning or the
dosage of radiation to which a
patient is exposed. |
| (B) |
"Chiropractor" means an individual licensed under Chapter 4734. of the Revised
Code to practice chiropractic. |
| (C) |
"Ionizing radiation" means any electromagnetic or particulate radiation that
interacts with atoms to produce ionization in matter, including x-rays, gamma
rays, alpha and beta particles, high speed electrons, neutrons, and other
nuclear particles. |
| (D) |
"Physician" means an individual authorized under
Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine
and surgery. |
| (E) |
"Podiatrist" means an individual authorized under
Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice podiatric medicine and surgery. |
| (F) |
"Nuclear medicine technologist" means an individual who prepares and
administers radio-pharmaceuticals to human beings and conducts in vivo or in
vitro detection and measurement of radioactivity for medical
purposes. |
| (G) |
"Radiation therapy technologist" means an individual who utilizes ionizing
radiation-generating equipment, including therapy
simulator radiation-generating equipment, for therapeutic purposes on
human beings. "Radiation therapy technologist" is the same as a radiation
therapist.
|
| (H) |
"Radiographer" means an individual who operates
ionizing radiation-generating equipment, administers contrast, and determines
procedure positioning and the dosage of ionizing radiation in order to
perform a comprehensive scope of radiology procedures
on human
beings. |
| (I) |
"Mechanotherapist" means an individual who holds a certificate issued under
section
4731.15
of the Revised Code authorizing the individual to practice
mechanotherapy. |
Amended by
133rd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 166, §101.01, eff.
10/17/2019.
Effective Date:
03-09-1999 .
| (A) |
Except
as provided in division (B) of this section, no person shall practice or hold
self out as a general x-ray machine operator,
radiographer, radiation therapy technologist, or nuclear medicine technologist
without a valid license issued under this chapter for
the
person's area of practice. |
| (B) |
Division (A) of this section does not apply to any of the following:
| (1) |
A
physician, podiatrist, mechanotherapist, or chiropractor; |
| (2) |
An
individual licensed under Chapter 4715. of the Revised Code to practice
dentistry, to practice as a dental hygienist, or to practice as a dental x-ray
machine operator; |
| (3) |
As
specified in 42 C.F.R. 75, radiologic personnel employed by the federal
government or serving in a branch of the armed forces of the United
States; |
| (4) |
Students engaging in any of the activities performed by basic x-ray machine
operators, radiographers, radiation therapy technologists, and nuclear medicine
technologists as an integral part of a program of study leading to receipt of a
license issued under this chapter or Chapter 4715.,
4731., or 4734. of the
Revised Code . |
|
Amended by
133rd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 166, §101.01, eff.
10/17/2019.
Effective Date:
10-20-1995 .
| (A) |
Each individual seeking a license to practice as a
general x-ray machine operator, radiographer, radiation therapy technologist,
or nuclear medicine technologist shall apply to the department of health on a
form the department shall prescribe and provide. The application shall be
accompanied by the appropriate license application fee established in rules
adopted under section
4773.08 of the Revised
Code. |
| (B) |
The department shall review all applications
received and issue the appropriate general x-ray machine operator,
radiographer, radiation therapy technologist, or nuclear medicine technologist
license to each applicant who meets all of the
following requirements:
| (1) |
Is eighteen
years of age or older; |
| (2) |
Is
of good moral character; |
| (3) |
Except as provided in division (C) of this section, passes the examination
administered under section
4773.04 of the Revised Code for
the applicant's area of practice; |
| (4) |
Complies with any other licensing standards established in rules adopted under
section 4773.08 of the Revised
Code. |
|
| (C) |
An applicant is not required to take a licensing
examination if one of the following applies to the
applicant:
| (1) |
The
individual is applying for a license as a general x-ray machine operator and
holds certification in that area of practice from the American registry of
radiologic technologists or the American chiropractic registry of radiologic
technologists. |
| (2) |
The
individual is applying for a license as a radiographer and holds certification
in that area of practice from the American registry of radiologic
technologists. |
| (3) |
The
individual is applying for a license as a radiation therapy technologist and
holds certification in that area of practice from the American registry of
radiologic technologists. |
| (4) |
The
individual is applying for a license as a nuclear medicine technologist and
holds certification in that area of practice from the American registry of
radiologic technologists or the nuclear medicine technology certification
board. |
| (5) |
The
individual holds a conditional license issued under section
4773.05 of the Revised Code and
has completed the continuing education requirements established in rules
adopted under section
4773.08 of the Revised
Code. |
| (6) |
The
individual holds a license, certificate, or other credential issued by another
state that the department determines uses standards for radiologic professions
that are at least equal to those established under this
chapter. |
|
| (D) |
A license issued under this section expires
biennially on the license holder's birthday, except for an initial license
which expires on the license holder's birthday following two years after it is
issued. For an initial license, the fee established in rules adopted under
section 4773.08 of the Revised Code may
be increased in proportion to the amount of time beyond two years that the
license may be valid. A license may be renewed
. To be
eligible for renewal, the license holder must
complete the continuing education requirements specified in rules adopted
by the department under section
4773.08 of the Revised Code.
Applications for license renewal shall be accompanied by the appropriate
renewal fee established in rules adopted under section
4773.08 of the Revised Code.
Renewals shall be made in accordance with the standard renewal procedure
established under Chapter 4745. of the Revised Code.
|
| (E) |
| (1) |
A license that has lapsed or otherwise become inactive
may be reinstated. An individual seeking reinstatement of a license shall apply
to the department on a form the department shall prescribe and provide. The
application shall be accompanied by the appropriate reinstatement fee
established in rules adopted under section
4773.08 of the Revised
Code. |
| (2) |
To be eligible for
reinstatement, both of the following apply:
| (a) |
An applicant must continue to meet the conditions for
receiving an initial license, including the examination or certification
requirements specified in division (B) or (C) of this section. In the case of
an applicant seeking reinstatement based on having passed an examination
administered under section
4773.04 of the Revised Code, the
length of time that has elapsed since the examination was passed is not a
consideration in determining whether the applicant is eligible for
reinstatement. |
| (b) |
The applicant must
complete the continuing education requirements for reinstatement established in
rules adopted under section
4773.08 of the Revised
Code. |
|
|
| (F) |
The department shall refuse to issue , renew, or reinstate and may suspend or revoke a general
x-ray machine operator, radiographer, radiation therapy technologist, or
nuclear medicine technologist license if the applicant or license holder does
not comply with the applicable requirements of this chapter or rules adopted
under it. |
Amended by
130th General Assembly File No. TBD, SB 276, §1,
eff. 1/1/2015.
Amended by
130th General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 394, §1,
eff. 1/1/2015.
Effective Date: 10-29-1995
.
| (A) |
The
department of health shall examine, or pursuant to section
3701.044 of the Revised Code
contract with another entity to examine, each qualified applicant for a license
issued under this chapter. To be eligible for admittance to an examination, an
applicant must submit evidence satisfactory to the department or other examiner
that the applicant has successfully completed a course of study in the
appropriate area of practice and the course of study must have been conducted
by an educational program accredited by the department under section
4773.07 of the Revised Code. In
examining or contracting for the examination of applicants, the department
shall ensure that an opportunity to take an examination is available as
follows:
| (1) |
At least once each month for
individuals applying to be licensed as general x-ray machine operators;
|
| (2) |
At least three times each year
for individuals applying to be licensed as radiographers, radiation therapy
technologists, or nuclear medicine technologists. |
|
| (B) |
The department shall develop or contract
for a separate examination for each type of license issued under this chapter.
An examination may consist of all or part of any standard examination created
by any entity for purposes of determining the competence of individuals to
practice as general x-ray machine operators, radiographers, radiation therapy
technologists, or nuclear medicine technologists. |
Effective Date:
09-29-1999 .
Until October 20, 1995, an individual engaging in any of the
activities performed by a general x-ray machine operator, radiographer,
radiation therapy technologist, or nuclear medicine technologist may be granted
a conditional license in that individual's area of practice. Application shall
be made on a form prescribed and provided by the department of health,
accompanied by the fee established in rules adopted under section
4773.08 of the Revised Code. The
department shall review all applications received and issue the appropriate
conditional license to each applicant who submits evidence satisfactory to the
department that during the period from October 20, 1993 to October 20, 1994,
the applicant was employed to perform the procedures authorized under the
license. A conditional license expires on the license holder's birthday that
occurs on or after October 20, 1997, and is not renewable. An individual
holding a conditional license may apply for a license issued under section
4773.03 of the Revised Code after
completing the continuing education requirements specified in rules adopted
under section
4773.08 of the Revised Code.
Effective Date:
10-29-1995 .
| (A) |
Except as
provided in division (C) of this section, a general x-ray machine operator may
perform radiologic procedures only if a physician, podiatrist,
mechanotherapist, or chiropractor is providing direct supervision. Direct
supervision does not require the practitioner to observe each radiologic
procedure performed by the operator, but does require that the practitioner be
present at the location where the operator is performing radiologic procedures
for purposes of consulting with and directing the operator while performing the
procedures. A practitioner supervising a general x-ray machine operator may
authorize the operator to perform only those radiologic procedures that are
within the practitioner's scope of practice as determined by the laws under
which the practitioner is authorized to practice. |
| (B) |
A radiographer, radiation therapy technologist, or
nuclear medicine technologist may perform radiologic procedures only if a
physician is providing general supervision. General supervision does not
require the physician to observe each radiologic procedure performed or to be
present at the location where the procedure is being performed, but does
require that the physician be readily available for purposes of consulting with
and directing the individual while performing the procedures. |
| (C) |
A general x-ray machine operator who is
licensed under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code to practice as a registered
nurse and is providing occupational health nursing services in an industrial
workplace may perform radiologic procedures under a physician's general
supervision, as described in division (B) of this section. |
Effective Date:
06-30-1995 .
Subject to section
4773.06
of the Revised Code, a radiation therapy technologist or nuclear medicine
technologist may perform computed tomography procedures if the technologist is
certified in computed tomography by a national certifying organization approved
by the director of health under section
4773.08 of
the Revised Code.
When performing computed tomography procedures, the
radiation therapy technologist or nuclear medicine technologist shall act in
accordance with rules adopted under section
4773.08 of
the Revised Code.
Added by
133rd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 166, §101.01, eff.
10/17/2019.
| (A) |
Each
person seeking accreditation for an educational program or approval for a
continuing education program in general x-ray machine operation,
radiology, radiation therapy technology, or nuclear
medicine technology shall apply to the department of health on a form the
department shall prescribe and provide. The application shall be accompanied by
the accreditation or approval fee established in rules adopted under section
4773.08 of
the Revised Code. |
| (B) |
The
department shall accredit educational programs and approve continuing education
programs that meet the standards established in rules adopted under section
4773.08 of
the Revised Code. The accreditation or approval shall be valid until
surrendered by the program or suspended or revoked by the department. A
program's accreditation or approval may be suspended or revoked if the program
does not comply with applicable requirements of this chapter or rules adopted
under it. |
Amended by
133rd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 166, §101.01, eff.
10/17/2019.
Effective Date:
10-20-1994 .
The director of
health shall adopt rules to implement and administer this chapter. In adopting
the rules, the director shall consider any recommendations made by the
radiation advisory council created under section 3748.20 of the Revised Code. The rules shall be adopted in accordance with
Chapter 119. of the Revised Code and shall not be less stringent than any
applicable standards specified in 42 C.F.R. 75. The rules shall establish all
of the following:
| (A) |
Standards for licensing general x-ray machine operators, radiographers,
radiation therapy technologists, and nuclear medicine technologists; |
| (B) |
Application, renewal, and reinstatement fees for licenses issued under this
chapter that do not exceed the cost incurred in issuing, renewing, and
reinstating the licenses; |
| (C) |
Standards for accreditation of educational programs and approval of continuing
education programs in general x-ray machine operation,
radiology, radiation therapy technology, and nuclear
medicine technology; |
| (D) |
Fees
for accrediting educational programs and approving continuing education
programs in general x-ray machine operation, radiology, radiation therapy technology, and nuclear
medicine technology that do not exceed the cost incurred in accrediting the
educational programs; |
| (E) |
Fees
for issuing conditional licenses under section
4773.05
of the Revised Code that do not exceed the cost incurred in issuing the
licenses; |
| (F) |
Continuing education requirements that must be met to have a license renewed or
reinstated under section
4773.03 of
the Revised Code; |
| (G) |
Continuing education requirements that the holder of a conditional license must
meet to receive a license issued under section
4773.03 of
the Revised Code; |
| (H) |
Standards for approving national certifying
organizations that certify nuclear medicine technologists or radiation therapy
technologists to perform computed tomography; |
| (I) |
Standards for performing computed tomography
procedures; |
| (J) |
Any
other rules necessary for the implementation or administration of this
chapter. |
Amended by
133rd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 166, §101.01, eff.
10/17/2019.
Amended by
130th General Assembly File No. TBD, SB 276, §1,
eff. 1/1/2015.
Amended by
130th General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 394, §1,
eff. 1/1/2015.
Amended by
129th General AssemblyFile No.127, HB 487,
§101.01, eff.
9/10/2012.
Effective Date: 10-20-1994
.
The department of health shall comply with section
4776.20 of the Revised Code.
Added by
129th General AssemblyFile No.169, HB 247,
§1, eff.
3/22/2013.
Whoever violates section
4773.02 of the Revised Code is
guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree on a first offense and a felony of
the fifth degree on each subsequent offense.
Effective Date:
07-01-1996 .