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United States · Certification exam

ARRT license or state license: what each one lets you do

ARRT certification isn’t a license. The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certifies and registers you; a license to practice comes from your state. ARRT says more than 75% of states have licensing laws for radiologic technology, and some of them require ARRT certification before they’ll license you. Where a state licenses technologists, you may need both: the ARRT credential and the state’s license.

  • 90 daysARRT exam window for state candidates
  • Your stateWho issues a license to practice
  • More than 75%States with licensing laws, per ARRT
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Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

Is an ARRT license the same as a state license?

No. To become certified and registered, you meet ARRT’s requirements and apply to ARRT. To get a state license, you meet that state’s requirements and apply to the state. Passing an exam for a state license, or holding one, doesn’t make you eligible for ARRT certification. And an ARRT credential doesn’t by itself mean you can work in a particular state.

Licensing laws differ. ARRT says some states require its certification for a license and others require a state exam on state regulations. Your state is the best source. ARRT links to a state-by-state contact list kept by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT), and suggests asking first whether your state requires ARRT certification or uses ARRT as its exam administrator.

ASRT: Individual state licensure information ↗ARRT: State licensing ↗Checking someone’s ARRT status →

The ARRT limited scope exam and other state exams

ARRT says many states that license technologists ask it to give their exams. ARRT uses its own Radiography, Nuclear Medicine Technology and Radiation Therapy exams, and some postprimary ones, for this. It also wrote three exams only for state licensing:

  • Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography
  • Bone Densitometry Equipment Operator
  • Fluoroscopy

You apply to your state first. If the state approves you, it tells you how to pay ARRT, and about 10 days after ARRT processes the payment your Candidate Status Report shows a 90-day exam window for booking at Pearson VUE. California and Louisiana allow a 365-day eligibility period and Florida 180 days, but the ARRT window stays at 90 days unless ARRT extends it. The Handbook for State Candidates has the details.

ARRT scores these exams and sends the results to the state, which decides whether you pass and tells you. Allow up to four weeks; ARRT can’t release state exam scores to you.

ARRT: How to apply for state licensing ↗ARRT: Handbook for State Candidates (PDF) ↗ARRT disciplines and credentials →ARRT: State licensing exam ↗

State exams and your ARRT attempts

If you take an ARRT exam as a state candidate and also apply to ARRT in the same discipline, the state attempt counts toward ARRT’s limit of three attempts in three years. A pass as a state candidate can’t be used for ARRT certification. You can also only apply for one ARRT credential or state exam at a time, so choose which to take first.

ARRT attempts and retakes →

CE for a state license and for ARRT

ARRT accepts some activities completed for state licensing toward its own continuing education (CE) requirement, but only for Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts and Oregon. Elsewhere, check that each activity meets ARRT’s rules as well as your state’s.

ARRT renewal and CE requirements →
Sources: ARRT and 4 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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