Rad techs push to soften strict pass-fail rule for credentialing exam
An online petition is calling for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) to change its policies pertaining to the number of times graduates can sit for their certification exam.
Currently, students who have completed an accredited radiologic technology program are given three chances to pass the certification examination within their eligibility period. If they do not pass one of these three attempts, they lose the eligibility to sit for the exam another time without first completing the entire radiography curriculum again. Former technologists seeking to reinstate RT licensure are given three attempts to pass the exam as well.
The Change.org petition, which has now garnered more than 10,000 signatures, is requesting ARRT to reconsider the testing limit. Its organizers point to the policies of other accrediting bodies for allied healthcare professions—such as nursing, respiratory therapy, speech-language pathology, EMT, surgical technology and medical assisting—that offer graduates more flexibility in becoming certified. These professions allow more tries to pass, with some implementing remediation requirements after a certain number of failures.
The limited number of attempts allotted by ARRT, the petition organizers contend, may result in substantial career setbacks for students. What’s more, many bankroll their education through student loans; not passing a board after financing niche training specific to radiography could “have life-altering financial consequences,” the group writes.
“We are not asking for certification standards to be lowered. We are asking for a fair and reasonable pathway that recognizes the realities of test anxiety, personal hardships, learning differences and other challenges that may affect exam performance,” the petition reads. “Qualified graduates who have completed their education and clinical requirements should have additional opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge and earn certification.”
The petition organizers suggest that increasing the number of attempts allotted to pass wouldn’t just benefit students, but the healthcare industry as a whole. It would promote fairness and consistency across allied health professions while also helping to address staffing shortages.
“We urge the ARRT to review and revise its current examination-attempt policy and provide radiography graduates with additional opportunities to achieve certification while maintaining the high standards expected of the profession. We respectfully request that the ARRT increase the maximum number of certification exam attempts, with remediation requirements between attempts as deemed appropriate.”
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In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She began covering the medical imaging industry for Innovate Healthcare in 2021.