2006 Nebraska Revised Statutes - § 71-3515.02 — Educational programs; testing; requirements; provisional licenses.

Section 71-3515.02
Educational programs; testing; requirements; provisional licenses.

(1) The educational program for medical radiographers shall consist of twenty-four months of instruction in radiography approved by the department which includes, but is not limited to, radiographic procedures, imaging equipment, image production and evaluation, film processing, radiation physics, radiation protection, radiation biology, radiographic pathology, and quality assurance activities. The department shall recognize equivalent courses of instruction successfully completed by individuals who are applying for licensure as medical radiographers by the department when determining if the requirements of section 71-3515.01 have been met.

(2) The examination for limited radiographers shall include, but not be limited to:

(a) Radiation protection, equipment maintenance and operation, image production and evaluation, and patient care and management; and

(b) The anatomy of, and positioning for, specific regions of the human anatomy. The anatomical regions shall include at least one of the following:

(i) Chest;

(ii) Extremities;

(iii) Skull and sinus;

(iv) Spine; or

(v) Ankle and foot.

(3) The examination for limited radiographers in bone density shall include, but not be limited to, basic concepts of bone densitometry, equipment operation and quality control, radiation safety, and dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning of the finger, heel, forearm, lumbar spine, and proximal femur.

(4) The department shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations regarding the examinations required in subdivisions (1)(a)(ii) and (2)(a) of section 71-3515.01. Such rules and regulations shall provide for (a) the administration of examinations based upon national standards, such as the Examination in Radiography from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists for medical radiographers, the Examination for the Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography or the Bone Densitometry Equipment Operator Examination from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists for limited radiographers, or equivalent examinations that, as determined by the department, meet the standards for educational and psychological testing as recommended by the American Psychological Association, the American Educational Research Association, and the National Council on Measurement in Education, (b) procedures to be followed for examinations, (c) the method of grading and the passing grades for such examinations, (d) security protection for questions and answers, and (e) for medical radiographers, the contents of such examination based on the course requirements for medical radiographers prescribed in subsection (1) of this section. Any costs incurred in determining the extent to which examinations meet the examining standards of this subsection shall be paid by the individual or organization proposing the use of such examination.

(5) Any person employed in medical radiography before and on June 2, 1995, who is not otherwise licensed may apply for a license as a provisional limited radiographer before January 1, 1996. A person licensed as a provisional limited radiographer may perform the duties of a limited radiographer licensed in all anatomical regions listed in subdivision (2)(b) of this section and the anatomical region of Abdomen. A provisional limited radiographer shall not radiograph children under the age of six months, except (a) upon a finding by the department that continued provision of service for a community would be in jeopardy if this provision is enforced, (b) for an employee of a hospital licensed and in good standing under the Health Care Facility Licensure Act and located in a rural area as defined in section 71-5653, or (c) in a bona fide emergency situation. No examination shall be required of individuals applying for a license as a provisional limited radiographer. All provisional limited radiographer licenses expire January 1, 2005. A license as a provisional limited radiographer is subject to discipline for violations of the Radiation Control Act and rules and regulations adopted pursuant to the act, including, but not limited to, revocation for nonpayment of fees or failure to meet continuing competency requirements as required by the department pursuant to section 71-3507.

(6) No applicant for a license as a limited radiographer may take the examination for licensure, or for licensure for any specific anatomical region, more than three times without first waiting a period of one year after the last unsuccessful attempt of the examination and submitting proof to the department of completion of continuing competency activities as required by the department pursuant to section 71-3507 for each subsequent attempt.

(7) The department shall establish and collect fees as provided in section 71-162 for the implementation of this section and section 71-3515.01, including an examination fee, initial and renewal fees for licenses for persons performing medical radiography, and a fee for approval of courses of instruction.

Source:

Laws 1987, LB 390, § 24

Laws 1990, LB 1064, § 21

Laws 1995, LB 406, § 47

Laws 1996, LB 1044, § 656

Laws 2000, LB 1115, § 74

Laws 2002, LB 1021, § 76

Laws 2003, LB 242, § 115

Laws 2006, LB 994, § 105.

~ Revised Statutes Cumulative Supplement, 2006