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Ohio Laws and Rules
Chapter 4773: RADIATION TECHNICIANS
4773.01
Radiation technician definitions.
As used in this chapter:
(A) "General x-ray machine operator" means an individual who performs standard, diagnostic, radiologic procedures; whose performance of radiologic procedures is limited to specific body sites; and who does not, to any significant degree, determine the site or 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 who holds a certificate issued under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code authorizing the individual to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery.
(E) "Podiatrist" means an individual who holds a certificate issued under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code authorizing the individual to practice podiatry.
(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 for therapeutic purposes on human subjects.
(H) "Radiographer" means an individual who performs a comprehensive scope of diagnostic radiologic procedures employing equipment that emits ionizing radiation, exposes radiographs, and performs other procedures that contribute significantly to determining the site or dosage of ionizing radiation to which a patient is exposed.
(I) "Mechanotherapist" means an individual who holds a certificate issued under section 4731.15 of the Revised Code authorizing the individual to practice mechanotherapy.
Effective Date: 03-09-1999
(A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, no person shall practice or hold himself 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 his 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, Chapter 4715. or Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code; or a certificate issued under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code.
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 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 any of the following apply:
(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 holde 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 if the license holder completes 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) The department shall refuse to issue or renew 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.
Effective Date: 10-29-1995
4773.04
Conducting examinations.
(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
4773.05
Grant of conditional license.
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
4773.06
Supervising radiologic procedures.
(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
4773.07
Accreditating educational program - continuing education.
(A) Each person seeking accreditation for an educational program or approval for a continuing education program in general x-ray machine operation, radiography, 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.
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 3701.93 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 and renewal fees for licenses issued under this chapter that do not exceed the cost incurred in issuing and renewing the licenses;
(C) Standards for accreditation of educational programs and approval of continuing education programs in general x-ray machine operation, radiography, radiation therapy technology, and nuclear medicine technology;
(D) Fees for accrediting educational programs and approving continuing education programs in general x-ray machine operation, radiography, 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 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) Any other rules necessary for the implementation or administration of this chapter.
Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.127,HB 487, §101.01, eff. 9/10/2012.
Effective Date: 10-20-1994
4773.09
Compliance with law regarding sanctions for human trafficking.
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