Don’t Just Earn, Excel: Mastering Your ASRT Continuing Education

Why ASRT Approved CE Credits Matter for Every Radiologic Technologist

ASRT approved CE credits are continuing education credits recognized by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) that help radiologic technologists meet their ARRT certification and state licensure requirements. Here’s what you need to know:

Quick Facts:

• Most R.T.s need 24 CE credits every two years (called a biennium)
• R.R.A.s require 50 CE credits per biennium
• Sonography credentials require 16 discipline-specific credits within your 24
• ASRT is an ARRT Recognized Continuing Education Evaluation Mechanism (RCEEM)
• Credits are accepted for ARRT certification renewal and state requirements

If you’re a busy radiologic technologist, you already know the challenge: balancing patient care, work schedules, and the constant need to maintain your credentials. All registered technologists must meet the continuing education requirements of the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). Miss your CE deadline, and you risk losing your certification and registration entirely.

The good news? Understanding how ASRT approved CE credits work doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you’re tracking down your biennial requirements, navigating state-specific mandates, or trying to figure out Category A versus A+ credits, this guide breaks down everything you need to know.

As Zita Ewert, I’ve spent my career helping imaging professionals steer the CE landscape through SCRUBS Continuing Education, where we provide comprehensive ASRT approved CE credits that meet ARRT requirements and support your professional growth. This guide will show you exactly how to master your continuing education requirements efficiently and affordably.

What are ASRT Approved CE Credits and Why Are They Crucial?

At the heart of every radiologic technologist’s career is a commitment to patient safety and professional excellence. This commitment is formally upheld through continuing education (CE), and that’s where ASRT approved CE credits come into play. But what exactly are they, and why are they so incredibly important?

Simply put, ASRT approved CE credits are educational units recognized and vetted by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, the leading professional organization for medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals. The ASRT ensures that these educational activities meet stringent quality standards and are relevant to our changing field.

Why is this approval so crucial? The ASRT acts as an ARRT Recognized Continuing Education Evaluation Mechanism (RCEEM). This means that when you earn CE credits from a provider whose activities are approved by the ASRT, those credits are guaranteed to be accepted by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) for your certification and renewal. It’s like having a seal of approval that says, “Yes, this education counts!”

Without these credits, maintaining your ARRT certification – which is essential for practicing in most states – would be impossible. Our profession demands that we constantly update our knowledge and skills to keep pace with new technologies, techniques, and best practices. From understanding the latest in digital imaging to mastering radiation protection protocols, CE ensures we remain competent and capable. It’s not just about meeting a requirement; it’s about our professional responsibility to our patients and ourselves. Staying current helps us provide the best possible care, advance our careers, and even opens doors to new specializations.

Decoding Your CE Requirements: ARRT, State, and Discipline Rules

Navigating the landscape of continuing education can feel like trying to read an MRI without proper training – a bit confusing! But fear not, we’re here to explain it. Your CE requirements aren’t a one-size-fits-all situation; they depend on your certification, your specialty, and even where you practice. Let’s break down the key players: the ARRT, individual states, and specific disciplines.

ARRT Biennial Requirements

The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) sets the foundational continuing education requirements for most radiologic technologists. The core idea is simple: you need to complete a certain number of CE activities within a two-year period, which the ARRT affectionately calls a “biennium.”

For the majority of R.T.s, this means earning 24 approved CE credits during each biennium. Think of it as your professional fitness check-up every two years – making sure your knowledge muscles are strong and flexible! These CE credits must be category A or A+ (we’ll dive into what those mean in the next section).

However, there are a few important exceptions to keep in mind:

• Registered Radiologist Assistants (R.R.A.s): If you’ve achieved the R.R.A. credential, you’re on a different track. R.R.A.s need to complete a more robust 50 approved CE credits each biennium, reflecting the advanced nature of their role.
• Sonography Credentials: For those holding a Sonography credential, there’s a specific twist. Of your biennial CE credits, 16 of them need to be directly related to the Sonography discipline. This ensures that specialists maintain deep expertise in their specific area.

Your biennium dates are set when you first earn your certification and registration, and they typically remain the same even if you earn additional credentials later. However, life happens! If you ever need to adjust your CE biennium year, you can submit a request to change your CE biennium to the ARRT.

State-Specific and Discipline-Specific Mandates

While the ARRT sets the national benchmark, your CE journey doesn’t end there. Many states have their own unique licensing requirements that can add another layer to your continuing education. For example, we are proud to be an approved CE provider for the state of Florida, and our courses are approved by the Florida state Department of Health. This means our interactive courses can help Florida radiologic technologists meet their specific state mandates, and we even report CE credits to the state on their behalf monthly. Similarly, if you practice in California, you can easily find CE approved for California by visiting the CE Library and selecting “California” under the Approvals filter. It’s always a good idea to check your state’s Board of Health or licensing body for their specific rules, as they can vary.

Beyond state lines, certain disciplines also come with their own special CE mandates.

• Mammography: If you’re a mammographer, you’re likely familiar with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) and Program. These federal regulations impose specific CE requirements to ensure the highest standards in mammography.
• Structured Education for New Credentials: Are you looking to expand your horizons and earn an additional ARRT credential? Many postprimary pathways require specific “structured education” hours. These aren’t just any CE credits; they’re targeted educational activities designed to build the foundational knowledge for a new specialty. The ARRT has a requirement for 16 hours of structured education for these pathways, and we offer Structured Education Solutions, which are bundles specifically designed to help you meet these requirements.

It’s crucial to be aware of all these layers of requirements. What counts for your ARRT renewal might not fully satisfy your state’s board, or vice versa. We recommend keeping a clear record of all your completed CE activities and checking both ARRT and state regulations regularly.

Understanding Category A vs. Category A+ Credits

You’ll often hear about CE credits being designated as “Category A” or “Category A+.” While both are accepted by the ARRT and contribute to your biennial requirements, they represent slightly different types of educational activities.

Let’s explain these categories:

| Category | Definition The next paragraphs will be written in English, as per the request.

| Category | Definition | Category A | This type of CE credit is typically obtained from activities directly related to radiologic technology, such an organization recognized by the ARRT and ASRT. It includes most courses, seminars, and other educational activities that improve clinical skills or knowledge. These are generally the easiest to find and fulfill. | | Category A+ | These credits often involve advanced-level activities, such as those that require a higher degree of professional judgment or responsibility, like those for Registered Radiologist Assistants (R.R.A.s). While all A+ credits are inherently Category A, they signify a more rigorous or specialized learning experience. For instance, some structured education activities for advanced credentials might be designated as A+. | | All Categories | Our courses total 302.25 credits, offering a vast array of learning opportunities across all categories. | | Category A | This type of CE credit is typically obtained from activities directly related to radiologic technology, such an organization recognized by the ARRT and ASRT. It includes most courses, seminars, and other educational activities that improve clinical skills or knowledge. These are generally the easiest to find and fulfill. | | Category A+ | These credits often involve advanced-level activities, such as those that require a higher degree of professional judgment or responsibility, like those for Registered Radiologist Assistants (R.R.A.s). While all A+ credits are inherently Category A, they signify a more rigorous or specialized learning experience. For instance, some structured education activities for advanced credentials might be designated as A+. |

The distinction between Category A and Category A+ is primarily about the depth and complexity of the subject matter. All Category A+ activities also count as Category A. For most R.T.s, any combination of Category A and A+ credits will satisfy their 24-credit requirement. However, for R.R.A.s, who need 50 credits, or those pursuing advanced credentials, Category A+ courses might be more relevant or even specifically required. We make sure our courses clearly indicate their Category A or A+ designation, so you always know exactly what you’re earning.

How to Earn and Access ASRT Approved CE Credits

Alright, you know why ASRT approved CE credits are vital and what your requirements are. Now for the fun part: how to actually earn them! The good news is that continuing education isn’t confined to stuffy classrooms anymore. The ASRT, and by extension, Scrubs CE, offers a smorgasbord of flexible options to fit your busy life and learning style.

Exploring Different Learning Formats

We believe learning should be convenient, engaging, and accessible. That’s why we offer high-quality continuing education products available through a variety of flexible options, catering to every preference:

• Online CE Library: This is probably the most popular and convenient option. Our online CE Library boasts over 600 courses, covering a vast array of topics from radiography and CT to MR, mammography, radiation therapy, and nuclear medicine. These courses are self-paced, meaning you can learn on your schedule, from anywhere with an internet connection. No more rushing to make a class!
• Directed Readings (Journals): For those who love to learn through reading, award-winning journals deliver access to CE right to your door. You read an article, take a post-test, and voilà – CE credits earned! This format is perfect for deep dives into specific topics.
• Live and On-Demand Webcasts: Prefer a more dynamic, interactive experience? ASRT Live® offers one-hour webcasts for CE credit. These can be live sessions where you can interact with experts, or recorded versions you can watch at your convenience. It’s like having a mini-conference right on your screen.
• In-Person Events (Conferences): Sometimes, there’s no substitute for face-to-face interaction. Attending a conference offers a wide variety of continuing education opportunities taught by experts in their fields, plus invaluable networking opportunities.
• Staff Training Solutions: For departments or facilities looking to educate their entire team, customized online education solutions are available. This ensures consistent, high-quality training across your staff, custom to your specific needs.

Finding Courses with ASRT Approved CE Credits

Finding the right CE activity can be like searching for a needle in a haystack if you don’t know where to look. But with Scrubs CE, we make it simple to locate the ASRT approved CE credits you need.

Our comprehensive course catalog is your go-to resource. We offer a vast selection, and you can easily filter by:

• Topic: Whether you’re looking for courses in CT, MRI, radiography, mammography, radiation protection, or even patient safety, our filters help you narrow down your options. For example, popular CE courses feature topics such as image analysis, PACS, radiation protection, fluoroscopic equipment configurations, and improving safety in medical environments.
• Credit Type: You can select for Category A or A+ credits, ensuring they meet your specific ARRT requirements.
• Specialty: We offer courses custom to various specialties within radiologic technology, including radiography, CT, MR, mammography, radiation therapy, nuclear medicine, sonography, and more.
• State Approvals: Need CE approved for California? Just visit our CE Library and select “California” under the Approvals filter.

All of our courses are approved by an ARRT® Recognized Continuing Education Evaluation Mechanism (RCEEM)—the ASRT—and therefore your CE credits are guaranteed to be accepted for ARRT® certification and renewal. This takes the guesswork out of finding reliable education.

The Value of Scrubs CE Membership and Course Bundles

We know that continuing education isn’t just about ticking boxes; it’s about investing in your future. That’s why we’ve designed our offerings to provide maximum value and support for your professional journey.

• Instant Access to CE Credits: With a Scrubs CE All-Access Pass, you gain immediate entry to our full library of interactive continuing education courses. This isn’t just a handful of credits; it’s a vast array of learning opportunities, including over 600 courses in our online CE Library. This instant access means you can start earning credits the moment you sign up, helping you stay ahead of your biennium deadline.
• Extensive Course Selection: Our library covers a wide range of radiologic technology specializations. From the ‘Essentials of Digital Imaging’ series to the ‘Fluoroscopy – The Series’ which expands technical skills and limits radiation risks, and the ‘Safety Essentials – The Series’ that explains how to improve safety in medical environments, we have something for everyone. We cover radiography, CT, MR, mammography, radiation therapy, nuclear medicine, and more.
• Structured Education Bundles: For those of you pursuing an additional ARRT credential, we offer Structured Education Solutions. These are carefully curated bundles designed to meet the ARRT requirement for 16 hours of structured education. It takes the guesswork out of finding the right courses to fulfill these specific, often complex, requirements.
• Cost-Effectiveness: We are committed to making high-quality CE affordable. Our All-Access Pass provides unlimited CE credits for a fixed one-time price, offering a comprehensive and cost-effective solution for your ongoing education needs. Plus, we don’t believe in auto-renewals; you get 365 days of access, and the choice to renew is entirely yours. We even offer group discount rates for facilities looking to educate their staff.
• Career Advancement Support: Beyond just meeting requirements, our courses are designed to support your career growth. We offer programs that can help you prepare for CT, MR, or mammography credentials, and even courses that improve leadership skills or research capabilities. Our ‘Roadmaps to Your Future’ can guide you toward new credentials and specializations, ensuring you’re always moving forward.

Mastering Credit Management: Tracking, Audits, and Special Cases

Earning your ASRT approved CE credits is a significant achievement, but it’s only half the battle. The other half is ensuring those credits are properly tracked, managed, and reported to the ARRT. Think of it as the administrative choreography that keeps your certification valid. And sometimes, the ARRT decides to put your record-keeping skills to the test with a CE audit. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!

How Scrubs CE Helps You Track and Manage Your Credits

We understand that you have enough on your plate without having to worry about complex credit tracking. That’s why we strive to make the process as seamless as possible.

• Downloadable Certificates: After successfully completing any of our courses, you’ll receive an instant, downloadable certificate of completion. This is your official proof of earning those valuable ASRT approved CE credits.
• My Learning Portal: All the courses you purchase and complete through Scrubs CE are accessible via your “My Learning” portal. This centralized hub allows you to view your progress, access your completed courses, and easily retrieve your certificates whenever you need them.
• Uploading Certificates to ARRT: While the ASRT offers services to track and transfer credits, we empower you with the documentation you need. You can upload your certificates directly to the ARRT website or use the ASRT’s free service for members to track CE credits. This ensures your credits are recorded accurately and efficiently.
• Checking Your CE Record: With your certificates in hand, you can check your CE record directly through the ARRT portal or your ASRT account to ensure all your hard-earned credits are properly registered.

Our goal is to simplify your CE management, allowing you to focus on what you do best: providing excellent patient care.

Navigating an ARRT CE Audit

Receiving a notification for a CE audit from the ARRT can certainly make your heart skip a beat, but it’s a routine part of maintaining professional standards. If you get that notification, it simply means the ARRT is looking for more information regarding the CE activities you reported.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Why You’re Audited: Audits are often part of a random monthly sample of R.T.s, or they might occur if the documentation for one of your reported CE activities was incomplete. Don’t take it personally – the ARRT doesn’t select audits by work site, so if a colleague gets audited, it doesn’t mean you’re next!
• Documentation Requirements: You’ll have 30 days to submit documentation proving your participation and completion of the CE activities you’ve reported. Your audit letter will specify exactly what information is required on your documentation. This is where keeping those downloadable certificates handy really pays off!
• Submission: Make sure to mail copies (not originals) of your documentation to the ARRT. They don’t accept faxes or emails for audit responses.
• The Timeline: The ARRT typically takes approximately two weeks to review your submitted documents.
• Consequences of Non-Compliance: This is the serious part. If you don’t have sufficient documentation or don’t respond to the audit request in time, you will be placed on CE probation for six months. This probation is retroactive to the end of your biennium. More severely, failure to respond or provide adequate documentation could lead to the loss of your certification and registration, requiring a full reinstatement process.

Always respond promptly and thoroughly. If you have questions during an audit, you can call the ARRT directly at 651.687.0048 and choose the option for renewal, reinstatement, or continuing education.

Special Considerations: Limitations on ‘Applications Facility Training’

Sometimes, learning happens on the job, especially when new equipment arrives. As an R.T., you’ll probably have chances to attend training from medical equipment vendors. When this type of training takes place on-site at your facility, the ARRT refers to it as “applications facility training.” While valuable, there are specific limitations on how these hours can count toward your CE.

• The 8-Credit Limit: You can apply no more than eight (8) Category A credits of facility applications training per biennium/compliance period. This limit applies whether you’re using the credits for your biennial CE, for Prescribed CE as a result of Continuing Qualifications Requirements (CQR), or for structured education if you’re working toward an additional ARRT credential.
• Policy Update: As of January 1, 2024, the ARRT updated its policy: applications facility training will now only be accepted for biennial CE. This means it no longer counts toward Prescribed CE for CQR or structured education for new credentials. This change emphasizes the ARRT’s push for more formal, structured education for advanced requirements.
• What Doesn’t Count Towards the Limit: The good news is that this eight-credit limit only applies to applications training that takes place on-site at your facility. It does not apply to training that takes place at a vendor’s location, as a webinar, online courses, or user meetings. These other formats of vendor training generally count as full Category A credits without the specific eight-credit cap, provided they are ASRT approved.

Always be mindful of these distinctions when planning your CE, especially if you rely on vendor training.

Frequently Asked Questions about ASRT CE Credits

We get it – sometimes you just need a quick answer to a pressing question. Here are some of the most common questions we hear about ASRT approved CE credits:

How many ASRT approved CE credits do I need?

For most R.T.s, you’ll need to earn 24 approved CE credits during your two-year biennium. However, there are exceptions:

• R.R.A.s (Registered Radiologist Assistants) need to complete 50 approved CE credits each biennium.
• If you hold a Sonography credential, 16 of your biennial 24 CE credits need to be directly related to the Sonography discipline. For other disciplines, while currently not mandated, future stipulations may also require discipline-specific CE. It’s always a good idea to seek out courses relevant to your primary practice area.

Can I get CE credits for writing an article?

Yes, you can! Authorship credit can be awarded for peer-reviewed articles. If you’ve had an article published in a journal indexed in Medline or on the ARRT’s accepted list of journals, you may be eligible to receive Continuing Education credit. However, this isn’t a guaranteed or automatic source of credit. You’ll need to submit the article to the ARRT for review and approval to determine the number of credits awarded. It’s a great way to contribute to our profession and earn CE, but it does require an extra step of verification.

What happens if I don’t complete my CE credits on time?

Missing your CE deadline is a serious matter and can have significant consequences for your certification and ability to practice. If you don’t complete and report your required ASRT approved CE credits by the end of your biennium, you risk being placed on CE probation by the ARRT. This probation typically lasts for six months. Even more critical, if you fail to respond to an audit request or do not provide sufficient documentation, you could face the loss of your ARRT certification and registration entirely. Should this happen, you would then need to go through a reinstatement process, which can be lengthy and costly. It’s always best to plan ahead, track your credits diligently, and meet your deadlines to avoid these stressful situations.

Conclusion: Take Control of Your Professional Growth

Earning your ASRT approved CE credits isn’t just a regulatory hurdle; it’s a golden opportunity to invest in yourself, expand your expertise, and lift your career. In a field as dynamic as radiologic technology, lifelong learning isn’t optional – it’s essential for providing the best patient care and achieving professional excellence.

We’ve explored why these credits are crucial, decoded the intricate web of ARRT, state, and discipline-specific requirements, and shown you the myriad ways to earn and manage your CE. From convenient online courses and engaging webcasts to specialized bundles for career advancement, the resources are at your fingertips.

Don’t let your continuing education become a last-minute scramble. Take control, plan your learning, and accept the journey of professional growth. We are here to support you every step of the way, making it easy and affordable to get the high-quality, ASRT approved CE credits you need.

Ready to excel in your profession? Start earning your radiology CE credits today!