2016 North Dakota Century Code Title 43 Occupations and Professions Chapter 43-62 Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy
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CHAPTER 43-62
MEDICAL IMAGING AND RADIATION THERAPY
43-62-01. Definitions.
1. "Board" means the North Dakota medical imaging and radiation therapy board of
examiners.
2. "Certification organization" means a national certification organization that specializes
in the certification and registration of certification of medical imaging and radiation
therapy technical personnel and which has programs accredited by the national
commission for certifying agencies, American national standards institute or the
international organization for standardization, or other accreditation organization
recognized by the board.
3. "Licensed practitioner" means a licensed physician, advanced practice registered
nurse, surgeon, chiropractor, dentist, or podiatrist.
4. "Licensee" means an individual licensed by the board to perform medical imaging or
radiation therapy procedures and operate medical imaging or radiation therapy
equipment, including a nuclear medicine technologist, radiation therapist,
radiographer, radiologist assistant, or sonographer.
5. "Medical imaging" means the performance of any diagnostic or interventional
procedure or operation of medical imaging equipment intended for use in the diagnosis
or visualization of disease or other medical conditions in human beings, including
fluoroscopy, nuclear medicine, sonography, or x-rays.
6. "Medical physicist" means an individual who is certified by the American board of
radiology, American board of medical physics, American board of science in nuclear
medicine, or Canadian college of physics in medicine in radiological physics or one of
the subspecialties of radiological physics.
7. "Radiation therapy" means the performance of any procedure or operation of radiation
therapy equipment intended for use in the treatment of disease or other medical
conditions in human beings.
8. "Radiation therapist" means a nonphysician licensed by the board to perform radiation
therapy procedures and operate radiation therapy equipment.
43-62-02. License required.
After December 31, 2015, an individual may not perform or offer to perform medical imaging
or radiation therapy procedures on humans for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes as defined in
this chapter or otherwise indicate or imply that the individual is licensed to perform medical
imaging or radiation therapy unless that individual is licensed under this chapter.
43-62-03. Exemptions.
This chapter does not apply to the following:
1. A licensed practitioner performing medical imaging or radiation therapy.
2. A dental assistant or dental hygienist licensed under chapter 43-20.
3. A student enrolled in and attending a school or college of medicine, medical imaging,
or radiation therapy who performs medical imaging or radiation therapy procedures on
humans while under the supervision of a licensed practitioner or a radiographer,
radiation therapist, nuclear medicine technologist, radiologist assistant, or sonographer
holding a license in the medical imaging or radiation therapy modality which the
student is enrolled or attending under this chapter.
4. An individual administering medical imaging or radiation procedures and who is
employed by the United States government when performing duties associated with
that employment.
5. A nurse licensed under chapter 43-12.1 who performs sonography on a focused
imaging target to assess specific and limited information about a patient's immediate
medical condition or to provide real-time visual guidance for another procedure.
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A limited x-ray machine operator who meets the requirements of rules adopted by the
state department of health under section 23-20.1-04.
Medical imaging performed as a part of a post-mortem examination or on other
nonliving remains.
Medical imaging performed by emergency medical services personnel certified or
licensed under section 23-27-04.3.
43-62-04. North Dakota medical imaging and radiation therapy board of examiners.
1. The governor shall appoint a state board of medical imaging and radiation therapy
medical examiners consisting of nine members including:
a. Five medical imaging or radiation therapy professionals, one each from the areas
of radiography, radiation therapy, nuclear medicine technology, sonography, and
medical imaging or radiation therapy education;
b. One radiologist;
c. One medical physicist;
d. One physician from a rural area; and
e. One public member.
2. Each medical imaging or radiation therapy member of the board must:
a. Be a practicing medical imaging or radiation therapy licensee of integrity and
ability.
b. Be a resident of and currently licensed in the member's medical imaging or
radiation therapy modality in this state.
c. Be currently certified by a nationally recognized certification organization in the
member's medical imaging or radiation therapy modality.
d. Have been engaged in the active practice of the medical imaging or radiation
therapy profession within this state for a period of at least five years.
3. Each public member of the board must:
a. Be a resident of this state.
b. Be at least twenty-one years of age.
c. Not be affiliated with any group or profession that provides or regulates health
care.
4. The radiologist, medical physicist, and physician members of the board must:
a. Be a practicing radiologist, medical physicist, or physician of integrity and ability.
b. Be a resident of and be licensed to practice as a physician or registered as a
medical physicist in this state.
5. An individual appointed to the board shall qualify by taking the oath required of civil
officers.
43-62-05. Term of office.
The term of office of each member of the board is four years and until a successor is
appointed and qualified. The terms must be so arranged that no more than four terms expire on
the thirty-first of July of each year. The governor shall fill all vacancies by appointment. In case
of a vacancy before the expiration of a term, the appointment must be for the residue of the
term. A member of the board may not serve on the board for more than two successive
four-year terms.
43-62-06. Removal of members of the board.
The governor for good cause shown and upon the recommendation of three-fourths of the
members of the board may remove any member of the board for misconduct, incapacity, or
neglect of duty.
43-62-07. Officers of the board.
The board shall elect a president and vice president from its members and a secretarytreasurer. The secretary-treasurer need not be a member of the board. The secretary-treasurer
must be the general administrative and prosecuting officer of the board.
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43-62-08. Meetings of the board.
The board shall hold at least two meetings each year to conduct business and to review the
standards and rules for improving the administration of medical imaging or radiation therapy
procedures. The board shall establish the procedures for calling, holding, and conducting
regular and special meetings. A majority of board members constitutes a quorum.
43-62-09. Powers of the board.
In addition to any other powers, the board may:
1. Administer this chapter.
2. Issue interpretations of this chapter.
3. Adopt rules as may be necessary to carry out this chapter.
4. Employ and fix the compensation of personnel the board determines necessary to
carry into effect this chapter and incur other expenses necessary to effectuate this
chapter.
5. Issue, renew, deny, suspend, or revoke licenses and carry out any disciplinary actions
authorized by this chapter.
6. Set fees for licensure, license renewal, and other services deemed necessary to carry
out the purposes of this chapter.
7. Conduct investigations for the purpose of determining whether violations of this
chapter or grounds for disciplining licensees exist.
8. Develop standards and adopt rules for the improvement of the administration of
medical imaging or radiation therapy procedures in this state.
9. Employ or contract with one or more certification organizations known to provide
acceptable examinations leading to certification of technical personnel performing
medical imaging or radiation therapy procedures.
10. Impose sanctions, deny licensure, levy fines, or seek appropriate civil or criminal
penalties against anyone who violates or attempts to violate examination security,
anyone who obtains or attempts to obtain licensure by fraud or deception, or anyone
who knowingly assists in that type of activity.
11. Require information on an applicant's or licensee's fitness, qualifications, and previous
professional record and performance from recognized data sources, licensing and
disciplinary authorities of other jurisdictions, certification organizations, professional
education and training institutions, liability insurers, health care institutions, and law
enforcement agencies be reported to the board. The board or its investigative panels
may require an applicant for licensure or a licensee who is the subject of a disciplinary
investigation to submit to a statewide and nationwide criminal history record check.
The nationwide criminal history record check must be conducted in the manner
provided by section 12-60-24. All costs associated with the criminal history record
check are the responsibility of the licensee or applicant.
12. Require the self-reporting by an applicant or a licensee of any information the board
determines may indicate possible deficiencies in practice, performance, fitness, or
qualifications.
13. Establish a mechanism for dealing with a licensee who abuses or is dependent upon
or addicted to alcohol or other addictive chemical substances, and enter an agreement
with a professional organization possessing relevant procedures and techniques the
board has evaluated and approved for the organization's cooperation or participation.
14. Issue a cease and desist order, obtain a court order, or an injunction to halt unlicensed
practice, a violation of this chapter, or a violation of the rules of the board.
15. Issue a conditional, restricted, or otherwise circumscribed license as the board
determines necessary.
43-62-10. Conflict of interest.
A member of the board may not participate in the making of any decision or the taking of
any action by the board or a board committee which affects the member's personal,
professional, or pecuniary interest, or that of a known relative or business or professional
associate.
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43-62-11. Records of the board.
The board shall keep a record of its proceedings and applications for licensure. An
application record must be preserved for at least six years beyond the disposition of the
application or the last annual registration of the licensee, whichever is later.
43-62-12. Biennial report.
The board may submit a biennial report to the governor and the secretary of state in
accordance with section 54-06-04.
43-62-13. Compensation - Expenses of board.
A member of the board is entitled to receive for each day during which the member actually
is engaged in the performance of the duties of the member's office per diem as determined by
the board and mileage as provided in section 54-06-09. The secretary of the board is entitled to
receive salary or other compensation and allowance for clerical and other expenses of the
board as the board determines.
43-62-14. License requirements.
1. The board may issue a license to any applicant who has submitted satisfactory
evidence, verified by oath or affirmation, that the applicant:
a. At the time of the application is at least eighteen years of age.
b. Has successfully completed a four-year course of study in a secondary school
approved by the state board of higher education or passed an approved
equivalency test.
2. In addition to the requirements of subsection 1, an individual seeking to obtain a
license for a specific modality of medical imaging or radiation therapy shall comply with
the following requirements:
a. Provide satisfactory completion of a course of study in radiography, radiation
therapy, nuclear medicine technology, radiologist assistant, or sonography, or its
equivalent to be determined by the board. The curriculum for each course of
study may not be less stringent than the standards approved by the joint review
committee on education in radiologic technology, joint review committee on
nuclear medicine technology, commission on accreditation of allied health
education programs, or any other appropriate accreditation agency approved by
the board, provided the standards are not in conflict with board policy.
b. Pass a certification examination established or approved by the board given by a
certification organization recognized by the board.
c. Show evidence of compliance with continuing education or recertification
requirements required for registration of certification by a certification organization
recognized by the board.
3. The board, upon application and payment of proper fees, may grant a license to an
individual who has been licensed, certified, or registered to perform or administer
medical imaging or radiation therapy procedures in another jurisdiction if that
jurisdiction's standards of licensure are substantially equivalent to those provided in
this chapter in accordance with rules adopted by the board.
43-62-15. Scope of practice.
1. The board shall establish licensure standards for the following medical imaging and
radiation therapy modalities:
a. Nuclear medicine technologist.
b. Radiation therapist.
c. Radiographer.
d. Radiologist assistant.
e. Sonographer.
2. An individual holding a license under this chapter may perform medical imaging or
radiation therapy procedures on humans for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes only
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by written, facsimile, electronic, or verbal prescription of an individual authorized by
this state to prescribe medical imaging or radiation therapy procedures and under the
supervision of a licensed practitioner.
An individual holding a license under this chapter may perform medical imaging and
radiation therapy procedures on humans for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes only
within the scope of that license as specified under the rules adopted by the board.
43-62-16. Fees.
1. The board shall set all fees by rules adopted under this chapter. All fees payable to the
board must be deposited in the name of the board in financial institutions designated
by the board as official depositories and must be used to pay all expenses incurred in
carrying out the purposes of this chapter.
2. The board may issue a temporary license to an individual whose licensure or license
renewal may be pending or if issuance is for the purpose of providing medical imaging
or radiation therapy services to medically underserved areas as determined by the
board. A temporary license may be issued only if the board finds it will not violate the
purpose of this chapter or endanger the public health and safety. A temporary license
expires when the determination is made either to issue or deny the applicant a regular
license. A temporary license may not be issued for a period longer than one hundred
eighty days.
43-62-17. Renewal.
1. A license issued under this chapter must be renewed before January second every
two years. The license must be renewed upon the payment of a renewal fee if the
licensee is not in violation of this chapter and has complied with any continuing
education requirements adopted by rule of the board.
2. The board shall notify a licensee at least thirty days in advance of the expiration of the
licensee's license. The licensee shall inform the board of any change of the licensee's
address. Each licensee is responsible for renewing the licensee's license before the
expiration date. A license that is not renewed automatically lapses.
3. The board may provide for the late renewal of an automatically lapsed license upon
the payment of a reinstatement fee.
43-62-18. Disciplinary action.
The board may take disciplinary action against a licensee by any of the following means:
1. Revocation of license.
2. Suspension of license.
3. Probation.
4. Imposition of stipulations, limitations, or conditions relating to the performance of
medical imaging or radiation therapy procedures.
5. Letter of censure.
6. Imposition of a penalty, not to exceed one thousand dollars for any single disciplinary
action.
Any fines collected by the board must be deposited in the state general fund.
43-62-19. Grounds for disciplinary action.
Disciplinary action may be imposed against a licensee upon any of the following grounds:
1. The use of any false, fraudulent, or forged statement or document, or the use of any
fraudulent, deceitful, dishonest, or immoral practice, in connection with any of the
licensing requirements.
2. The conviction of any misdemeanor determined by the board to have a direct bearing
upon an individual's ability to serve the public as a licensee or of any felony. A license
may not be withheld contrary to chapter 12.1-33.
3. Habitual use of alcohol or drugs.
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Physical or mental disability materially affecting the ability to perform the duties of a
medical imaging or radiation therapy professional in a competent manner.
The performance of any dishonorable, unethical, or unprofessional conduct likely to
deceive, defraud, or harm the public.
Aiding or abetting the performance of medical imaging or radiation therapy by an
unlicensed, incompetent, or impaired individual.
The violation of any provision of this chapter or any rule of the board, or any action,
stipulation, limitation, condition, or agreement imposed by the board or its investigative
panels.
The performance of medical imaging or radiation therapy under a false or assumed
name.
The willful or negligent violation of the confidentiality between medical imaging or
radiation therapy professional and patient, except as required by law.
Gross negligence in the performance of medical imaging or radiation therapy.
Sexual abuse, misconduct, or exploitation related to the licensee's performance of
medical imaging or radiation therapy.
The use of any false, fraudulent, or deceptive statement in any document connected
with the performance of medical imaging or radiation therapy.
The failure to maintain in good standing, including completion of continuing education
or recertification requirements, a certification from a nationally-recognized certification
organization recognized by the board for the medical imaging or radiation therapy
modality for which a license has been issued by the board.
The imposition by another state, jurisdiction, or certification organization recognized by
the board of disciplinary action against a license, certification, or other authorization to
perform medical imaging or radiation therapy based upon acts or conduct by the
medical imaging or radiation therapy professional which would constitute grounds for
disciplinary action under this section. A certified copy of the record of the action taken
by the other state, jurisdiction, or certification organization is conclusive evidence of
that action.
The failure to furnish the board or the investigative panel or investigators or
representatives of the board or investigative panel information legally requested by the
board or the investigative panel. The board shall keep a record of its proceedings in a
disciplinary action or refusal to issue a license, together with the evidence offered.
43-62-20. Costs of prosecution - Disciplinary proceedings.
In any order or decision issued by the board in resolution of a disciplinary proceeding in
which disciplinary action is imposed against a medical imaging or radiation therapy professional,
the board may direct any medical imaging or radiation therapy professional to pay the board a
sum not to exceed the reasonable and actual costs, including reasonable attorney's fees,
incurred by the board and its investigative panels in the investigation and prosecution of the
case. When applicable, the medical imaging or radiation therapy professional's license may be
suspended until the costs are paid to the board. A medical imaging or radiation therapy
professional may challenge the reasonableness of any cost item in a hearing under chapter
28-32 before an administrative law judge. The administrative law judge may approve, deny, or
modify any cost item, and the determination of the judge is final. The hearing must occur before
the medical imaging or radiation therapy professional's license may be suspended for
nonpayment.
43-62-21. Practicing without a license - Violation of chapter - Penalty.
An individual who performs medical imaging or radiation therapy in this state without
complying with this chapter, and any individual who violates any provision of this chapter for
which another penalty is not specified is guilty of a class B misdemeanor. In addition to the
criminal penalties provided, the civil remedy of injunction is available to restrain and enjoin
violations of any provision of this chapter without proof of actual damages sustained by any
person.
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