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sb324_02_PS
As Passed by the Senate
136th
General Assembly
Regular
Session
S. B. No. 324
2025-2026
Senator Huffman
Cosponsors: Senators Ingram,
Romanchuk, Cirino, Hicks-Hudson, Manning, O'Brien, Reineke, Reynolds,
Roegner
To
amend sections 4773.01, 4773.02, 4773.03, and 4773.06 of the Revised
Code
to
revise the law governing general X-ray machine operators and other
radiation technicians.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section
1.
That
sections 4773.01, 4773.02, 4773.03, and 4773.06 of the Revised Code
be amended to read as follows:
Sec.
4773.01.
As
used in this chapter:
(A)
"General x-ray machine operator" means an individual who
operates ionizing radiation-generating equipment in order to perform
standard radiology procedures; whose performance of such procedures
is limited to specific body sites; and who does not, to any
significant degree, determine procedure positioning or the 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 authorized under Chapter
4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery or
osteopathic medicine and surgery.
(E)
"Podiatrist" means an individual authorized under Chapter
4731. of the Revised Code to practice podiatric medicine and surgery.
(F)
"Nuclear medicine technologist" means an individual who
does all of the following:
(1)
Prepares and administers radio-pharmaceuticals to human beings;
(2)
Conducts in vivo or in vitro detection and measurement of
radioactivity for medical purposes;
(3)
Documents orders for radio-pharmaceuticals in patient medical
records.
(G)
"Radiation therapy technologist" means an individual who
utilizes ionizing radiation-generating equipment, including therapy
simulator radiation-generating equipment, for therapeutic purposes on
human beings.
"Radiation
therapy technologist" is the same as a radiation therapist.
(H)
"Radiographer" means an individual who does all of the
following in order to perform a comprehensive scope of radiology
procedures on human beings:
(1)
Operates ionizing radiation-generating equipment;
(2)
Administers contrast;
(3)
Documents orders for contrast in patient medical records;
(4)
Determines procedure positioning;
(5)
Determines the dosage of ionizing radiation.
(I)
"Mechanotherapist" means an individual who holds a
certificate issued under section 4731.15 of the Revised Code
authorizing the individual to practice mechanotherapy.
(J)
"Certified nurse practitioner" has the same meaning as in
section 4723.01 of the Revised Code.
(K)
"Physician assistant" means an individual licensed under
Chapter 4730. of the Revised Code to practice as a physician
assistant.
Sec.
4773.02.
(A)
Except as provided in division (B) of this section, no person shall
practice or hold self 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
the person's area of practice.
(B)
Division (A) of this section does not apply to any of the following:
(1)
A physician, podiatrist, mechanotherapist,
or
chiropractor
,
certified nurse practitioner, or physician assistant
;
(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 or
Chapter 4715.,
4723.,
4730.,
4731.,
or 4734. of the Revised Code.
Sec.
4773.03.
(A)
Except as provided in division (G) of this section, 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)
Except as provided in division (G) of this section, 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 all of the following requirements:
(1)
Is eighteen years of age or older;
(2)
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;
(3)
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 one
of the following applies to the applicant:
(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 general x-ray machine
operator and has successfully passed the anatomy modules examination
offered by the American registry of radiologic technologists for the
individual's intended practice area in a limited scope of practice in
radiology.
(3)
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)
(4)
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)
(5)
The individual is applying for a license as a nuclear medicine
technologist and holds certification in that area of practice from
the American registry of radiologic technologists or the nuclear
medicine technology certification board.
(5)
(6)
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.
(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. To be eligible for renewal, the license
holder must complete 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)(1)
A license that has lapsed or otherwise become inactive may be
reinstated. An individual seeking reinstatement of a license shall
apply to the department on a form the department shall prescribe and
provide. The application shall be accompanied by the appropriate
reinstatement fee established in rules adopted under section 4773.08
of the Revised Code.
(2)
To be eligible for reinstatement, both of the following apply:
(a)
An applicant must continue to meet the conditions for receiving an
initial license, including the examination or certification
requirements specified in division (B) or (C) of this section. In the
case of an applicant seeking reinstatement based on having passed an
examination administered under section 4773.04 of the Revised Code,
the length of time that has elapsed since the examination was passed
is not a consideration in determining whether the applicant is
eligible for reinstatement.
(b)
The applicant must complete the continuing education requirements for
reinstatement established in rules adopted under section 4773.08 of
the Revised Code.
(F)
The department shall refuse to issue, renew, or reinstate 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.
(G)
The department shall issue a general x-ray machine operator,
radiographer, radiation therapy technologist, or nuclear medicine
technologist license in accordance with Chapter 4796. of the Revised
Code to an applicant if either of the following applies:
(1)
The applicant holds a license in another state.
(2)
The applicant has satisfactory work experience, a government
certification, or a private certification as described in that
chapter as a general x-ray machine operator, radiographer, radiation
therapy technologist, or nuclear medicine technologist in a state
that does not issue that license.
Sec.
4773.06.
(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
,
certified nurse practitioner, or physician assistant
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
to
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
to
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.
This
division does not subject a registered nurse who is also a certified
nurse practitioner to a requirement to be supervised.
Section
2.
That
existing sections 4773.01, 4773.02, 4773.03, and 4773.06 of the
Revised Code are hereby repealed.