radiologic technologists; radiologist assistants

Chapter 0037 - 572R - S Ver of HB2050

Senate Engrossed
House Bill

radiologic
technologists; radiologist assistants

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

CHAPTER 37

HOUSE BILL 2050

AN
ACT

Amending sections 30-672, 32-2804,
32-2813, 32-2815 and 32-2819, Arizona Revised Statutes;
amending title 32, chapter 28, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding
section 32-2819.01; amending sections 32-2841 and 36-3601,
Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to radiologic technologiES.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 30-672, Arizona Revised Statutes,
is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
30-672.

Licensing and registration of sources of radiation; exemptions;
rules

A. The department by rule shall provide for general
or specific licensing of by-product
materials
,
source
materials
, special nuclear materials or devices or
equipment using those materials. The department shall require from
the applicant satisfactory evidence that the applicant is using methods and
techniques that are demonstrated to be safe and that the applicant is familiar
with the rules adopted by the department under section 30-654, subsection
B, paragraph 5 relative to uniform radiation standards, total occupational
radiation exposure norms, labels, signs and symbols, storage, waste disposal
and shipment of radioactive materials. The department may require
that, before it issues a license, the employees or other personnel of an
applicant who may deal with sources of radiation receive a course of
instruction approved by the department concerning department
rules. The department shall require that the applicant's proposed
equipment and facilities be adequate to protect health and safety and that the
applicant's proposed administrative controls over the use of the sources of
radiation requested be adequate to protect health and safety.

B. The department may require registration or
licensing of other sources of radiation if deemed necessary to protect public
health or safety.

C. The department may exempt certain sources of
radiation or kinds of uses or users from the licensing or registration
requirements set forth in this section if it finds that exempting such sources
of radiation or kinds of uses or users will not constitute a significant risk
to the health and safety of the public.

D. The director may suspend or revoke, in whole or
in part, any license issued under subsection A of this section if the licensee
or an officer, agent or employee of the licensee:

1. Violates this chapter or rules of the department
adopted pursuant to this chapter.

2. Has been, is or may continue to be in substantial
violation of the requirements for licensure of the
source of

radiation
source
and as a result the health or safety of
the general public is in immediate danger.

E. If the licensee, or an officer, agent or employee
of the licensee, refuses to allow the department or its employees or agents to
inspect the licensee's premises, such an action shall be deemed reasonable
cause to believe that a substantial violation under subsection D, paragraph 2
of this section exists.

F. A license may not be suspended or revoked under
this chapter without affording the licensee notice and an opportunity for a
hearing as provided in title 41, chapter 6, article 10.

G. The department shall not require persons who are
licensed in this state to practice as a dentist, physician assistant,
registered nurse practitioner,
chiropodist or veterinarian or
licensed in this state to practice medicine, surgery, osteopathic medicine,
chiropractic or naturopathic medicine to obtain any other license to use a
diagnostic x-ray machine, but these persons are governed by their own
licensing acts.

H. Persons who are licensed by the federal
communications commission with respect to the activities for which they are
licensed by that commission are exempt from this chapter.

I. Rules adopted pursuant to this chapter may
provide for recognition of other state or federal licenses as the department
deems desirable, subject to such registration requirements as the department
prescribes.

J. Any licenses issued by the department shall state
the nature, use and extent of use of the source of radiation. If at
any time after a license is issued the licensee desires any change in the
nature, use or extent, the licensee shall seek an amendment or a new license
under this section.

K. The department shall prescribe by rule
requirements for financial security as a condition for licensure under this
article. The department shall deposit all amounts posted, paid or
forfeited as financial security in the radiation regulatory and perpetual care
fund established by section 30-694.

L. Persons applying for licensure shall provide
notice to the city or town where the applicant proposes to operate as part of
the application process.

M. Any facility that provides diagnostic
mammography

or screening
mammography examinations by or under the direction of a person who is exempt
from further licensure under subsection G of this section shall obtain
certification by the department. The department shall prescribe by
rule the requirements of certification in order to ensure the accuracy and
safety of diagnostic
mammography

and
screening mammography.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Section 32-2804, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
32-2804.

School approval; standards; considerations

A. The department may approve a school of radiologic
technology as maintaining a satisfactory standard if
its
the school's
course of study:

1. Is
for a period of at least twenty-four
months of full-time study or its equivalent and is
accredited by
the
committee on allied health accreditation
commission on accreditation of allied health EDUCATION programs
or the joint review committee on education in radiologic technology or

accredited as recognized by the united States department
of education,
or meets or exceeds the standards of this chapter.

2. Includes at least four hundred hours of classroom
work, including radiation protection, x-ray physics, radiographic
techniques,
processing techniques, nursing

radiographic
imaging and patient care
procedures, anatomy and physiology,
radiographic positioning,
radiation therapy

an introduction to other imaging modalities
and professional ethics.

3. Includes at least one thousand
eight
six
hundred
fifty
hours devoted to
clinical experience.

4. Includes demonstrations, discussions, seminars
and supervised practice.

5. Includes at least eighty hours of regularly
scheduled supervised
film
image

critiques.

B. An approved school of radiologic technology may
be operated by a medical or educational institution or other public or private
agency or institution and, for the purpose of providing the requisite clinical
experience, shall be affiliated with one or more hospitals that the department
determines are likely to provide this experience.

C. In approving a school of radiologic technology,
the department shall consider the standards adopted by appropriate professional
organizations, including the joint review committee on education in radiologic
technology, and may accept the certification of a school of radiologic
technology or the accreditation of a hospital to provide requisite clinical
experience if the department finds that certification or accreditation was
granted on the basis of standards that will afford the same protection to the public
as the standards provided by this chapter.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 3. Section 32-2813, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
32-2813.

Examination; contents; subsequent examinations

A. Examinations for certification shall include the
subjects of radiation protection, x-ray physics, radiographic techniques,

processing techniques, nursing

radiographic imaging and patient care
procedures, anatomy
terminology, radiological mathematics, professional ethics and such other
subjects as the department may deem appropriate
, including the
content specifications outlined by the American registry of radiologic
technologists
.

B. The department shall prepare lists of examination
questions or problems and administer the examinations.

C. Examinations shall include written questions but
may also include practical and oral portions. Following each
examination, the papers and the practical and oral examinations shall be graded
and the standing of each applicant shall be recorded. The department
shall either pass or reject each applicant.

D. An applicant who fails to pass an examination may
reapply for examination in the manner prescribed by section 32-2812. The
department shall require a candidate who fails the examination three times to
successfully complete additional training prescribed by the department before
accepting the candidate for reexamination.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 4. Section 32-2815, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
32-2815.

Rules; bone densitometry certification; nuclear medicine
certification; continuing education

A. The department shall adopt rules regarding the
certification of practical technologists in bone densitometry to allow the
certificate holder to apply ionizing radiation to a person's
hips,
spine and
extremities through the use of a bone densitometry
machine. The rules shall prescribe:

1. The minimum education and training qualifications
for certification. The qualifications prescribed by the department
shall allow a person who does not meet the education and training requirements
of a radiologic technologist or a practical technologist in radiology to obtain
a certificate as a practical technologist in bone densitometry.

2. The application and renewal fees.

B. Subsection A of this section does not prohibit a
radiologic technologist or a practical technologist in radiology from operating
a bone densitometry machine.

C. A person who wishes to practice as a nuclear
medicine technologist must apply to the department for certification as
prescribed by rule. The department shall adopt rules to establish
minimum educational and training requirements for nuclear medicine
technologists.

D. The department shall adopt rules to prescribe the
following minimum continuing education requirements for the renewal of the
following certificates:

1. Practical technologist in podiatry, two hours
every two years.

2. Practical technologist in radiology, six hours
every two years.

3. Practical technologist in bone densitometry, two
hours every two years.

4. Unlimited practical technologist in radiology,
twenty-four hours every two years.

5. Nuclear medicine technologist, twenty-four
hours every two years.

6. Radiologist assistant, fifty hours every two
years.

7. Radiologic technologist, twenty-four hours
every two years.

8. Radiation therapy technologist, twenty-four
hours every two years.

E. The department may require an applicant for
renewal to document compliance with the appropriate continuing education
requirements of subsection D of this section.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 5. Section 32-2819, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
32-2819.

Radiologist assistants; certification; rules; scope of practice

A. A person who wishes to practice as a radiologist
assistant must apply to the department for a certificate on a form and in the
manner prescribed by the department pursuant to the requirements of section 32-2812.

B. The department shall adopt rules to implement
this section. The rules shall include the following:

1. Continuing education requirements.

2. Any other requirements the department considers
appropriate to implement this section.

C. Pursuant to rules adopted by the department
and except as provided in section 32-2819.01
, a
radiologist assistant may do the following under the direct supervision of a
radiologist:

1. Perform fluoroscopic procedures.

2. Assess and evaluate the physiologic and
psychological responsiveness of patients
who are

undergoing radiologic procedures.

3. Evaluate image quality, make initial image
observations and communicate observations to the supervising radiologist.

4. Administer contrast media or other medications
prescribed by the supervising radiologist.

5. Perform any other procedures consistent with
rules adopted by the department.

D. In adopting rules pursuant to subsection C of
this section, the department shall consider guidelines established by
the
the American society of radiologic technologists and the
American registry of radiologic technologists.

E. A radiologist assistant shall not interpret
images, make diagnoses or prescribe medications or therapies.

F. A radiologist who supervises a radiologist
assistant may authorize the
radiologist
assistant to
perform only those radiologic procedures described in this section.

G. A person shall not do any of the following
without a certificate issued pursuant to this section:

1. Perform the radiologic procedures described in
subsection C of this section.

2. Claim to be a radiologist assistant, including
using any sign, advertisement, card, letterhead, circular or other writing,
document or design to induce others to believe the person is authorized to
practice as a radiologist assistant.

H. Subsection G of
this section does not apply to either of the following:

1. A person
who is
engaging in the scope of practice for which the person
holds a valid license or certificate.

2. A person
who is
performing
a task as part of an advanced academic program.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 6. Title 32, chapter 28, article 2,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 32-2819.01, to read:

START_STATUTE
32-2819.01.

Radiologist assistants; general supervision; rural counties;
critical access hospitals; definition

A.
In
a county with a population of less than five hundred thousand persons or a
health care institution that is licensed as a critical access hospital, the
department shall allow for general supervision of radiologist assistants if the
HEALTH CARE facility ensures all of the following:

1. The HEALTH care facility OR
RADIOLOGIST:

(
a
) Has
established a written protocol for the application of radiation to a patient
for each procedure that may be conducted by a radiologist assistant under the
general supervision of a radiologist, including follow-up instructions for the
patient.

(
b
) Reviews
and, as necessary, revises the written protocol at least annually.

(
c
) Documents
the review required by subdivision (
b
) of this paragraph
with a signature and date of signature.

2. Each Radiologist assistant follows
the applicable written protocol when delivering radiation to a patient.

3. At least every six months, the
radiologist:

(
a
) Observes
each radiologist assistant while the radiologist assistant is performing a
procedure to ensure the radiologist assistant's adherence to the applicable
written protocol.

(
b
) Documents
the radiologist's observation and assessment of the radiologist assistant.

4. A radiologist is on-site and
available for consultation about patient care at least once every five working
days, as verified in documentation maintained by the registrant.

5. The health and safety of patients
are maintained.

B. A radiologist that uses general
supervision to comply with the requirements of this section shall develop,
maintain and implement policies and procedures to monitor both:

1. The performance of each procedure
by a radiologist assistant under general supervision.

2. The quality of patient care.

C. For the purposes of this section,
"general supervision" means supervision by a radiologist who is
licensed in this state and who is readily accessible by telecommunication.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 7. Section 32-2841, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
32-2841.

Mammographic technologists; computed tomography technologists;
certification; renewal

A. A person who wishes to perform diagnostic
mammography or screening mammography as defined in section 30-651 shall
obtain a mammographic technologist certificate from the
department. A person who wishes to perform computed tomography shall
obtain a computed tomography technologist certificate from the
department. The department shall issue a certificate to an applicant
who:

1. Pays
a twenty dollar
the
application fee
that is prescribed in rule
by the department
.

2. Holds a current radiologic technology certificate
issued by the department.

3. For a mammographic
technologist
certification,
completes the training and education requirements of subsection B of this
section and passes an examination as prescribed in subsection D of this
section.

4. For a computed tomography technologist
certification, provides documentation of two years of experience in computed
tomography and completion of twelve hours of computed tomography specific
education or passes an examination as prescribed in subsection D of this
section.

B. To satisfy the education requirements of
subsection A of this section, an applicant shall meet the initial training and
education requirements of the mammography quality standards act regulations for
quality standards of mammographic technologists
,
(
21 Code of Federal Regulations section 900.12
)
.

C. The department shall issue a student mammography
permit, preceptorship or temporary certificate to a person who is in training
and
who
meets the requirement of subsection A, paragraph
2 of this section if the applicant also provides the department with
verification of employment and the name of the radiologist who agrees to be
responsible for the applicant's supervision and training. A student
mammography permit, preceptorship or temporary certificate is valid for one
year
from
after
the date it is issued
and may not be renewed.� If the holder completes all of the requirements of
subsection A of this section within the permitted period, the department shall
issue a mammographic
technologist
or computed tomography
technologist certificate. The mammographic

technologist
or computed tomography technologist certificate shall be
renewed as prescribed
under
by

subsection E of this section.

D. To satisfy the
examination requirements of this section
,
an applicant
shall pass an examination in mammography or computed tomography administered by
the department or, in lieu of its own examination, the department may accept a
certificate issued on the basis of an examination by a certificate-granting
body recognized by the department.

E. Except as provided in section 32-4301, a
certificate that is issued under this section is valid for two
years. The department shall notify a certificate holder thirty days
before the expiration date of the certificate. An applicant for
renewal of a mammographic technologist certificate shall meet the continuing
education requirements of the mammography quality standards act regulations for
quality standards of mammographic technologists
,
(
21 Code of Federal Regulations section 900.12
)
. If a radiologic technologist is certified by the
American registry of radiologic technologists, that person must satisfy the
continuing education requirements of this subsection by providing the
department with evidence of the
radiologic
technologist's
good standing and current certification with that registry. The applicant shall
also pay a
twenty dollar
renewal fee
to
as prescribed in rule by
the department.

F. A person or facility that employs a person
who is
certified under this section shall report any suspected
violations of section 32-2821 to the department. The
department shall investigate the complaint. If in the course of its
investigation the department determines that a person regulated by another
regulatory agency of this state may have violated that agency's laws, the
department shall report the violation to the other agency for disciplinary
action.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 8. Section 36-3601, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
36-3601.

Definitions

For the purposes of
in

this chapter
, unless the context otherwise requires
:

1. "Health care decision maker" has the
same meaning prescribed in section 12-2801.

2. "Health care provider":

(a) Means a person
who is
licensed
pursuant to title 32, chapter 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 15.1, 16, 17, 18, 19, 19.1, 25,

28,
29, 33, 34, 35, 39, 41 or 42, or chapter 4, article 6
of this title, chapter 6, article 7 of this title or chapter 17 of this title.

(b) Includes:

(i) A health care institution
that is

licensed pursuant to chapter 4 of this title.

(ii) A person who holds a training permit pursuant
to title 32, chapter 13 or 17.

3. "Health care provider regulatory board or
agency" means a board or agency that regulates one or more health care
provider professions in this state.

4. "Telehealth" means:

(a) The interactive use of audio, video or other
electronic media, including asynchronous store-and-forward technologies and
remote patient monitoring technologies, for the practice of health care,
assessment, diagnosis, consultation or treatment and the transfer of medical
data.

(b) Includes the use of an audio-only telephone
encounter between the patient or client and health care provider if an
audio-visual telehealth encounter is not reasonably available due to the
patient's functional status, the patient's lack of technology or
telecommunications infrastructure limits, as determined by the health care
provider.

(c) Does not include the use of a fax machine,
instant messages,
voice mail
voicemail

or email.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 9.
Legislative intent

The legislature intends that the
change made to the list of health professionals that do not require additional
licensure to use diagnostic x-ray in section 30-672, subsection G,
Arizona Revised Statutes, as amended by this act, prompt an advisory opinion
from the state board of nursing that details appropriate radiation safety
training and operator certification to perform imaging.

APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR APRIL 13, 2026.

FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE APRIL 13, 2026.