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American Registry of Radiologic Technology
Chronicles of Small Beer
AMERICAN REGISTRY OF RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY I recently read the centennial-related history of the American Registry of Radiologic Technology (ARRT). It took me 13 years to get a copy, a couple of weeks to read it, and only a few minutes to realize that here is the story of one of the most solid and productive organizations in all of radiology. For those who knew less than I did, the ARRT is the organization that offers examinations to those who complete radiologic training programs and wish to attain national or state credentials in radiologic technology. It was founded in 1922 with the joint sponsorship of the Radiological Society of North America and the American Society of X-ray Technologists. It went through struggles and growth pains, a few lawsuits, and a sponsorship shift from the RSNA to the American College of Radiology. It set the national standard for education and proficiency in the basic branches of radiologic technology— diagnostic, therapeutic, and nuclear imaging—plus 12 subspecialty certifications. It provides the national standard and active examination for all of the state licensure programs as well as the voluntary credentialing program that is its patrimony. As of 1995, when the history was written, the ARRT had some 220,000 registrants who, among them, held 270,000 credentials in basic and subset criteria. In the decade and more since, the number of individuals with ARRT certificates rose to 278,668 as of spring 2008 with those people holding almost exactly 400,000 certificates. Just as the American Board of Radiology certifies physicians, the ARRT examines and certifies the technical staff of hospitals and radiology offices. There was a time when those passing the ARRT test were asked to sign a statement that they would only work for medical doctors. But that faded with time and reality. When the ARRT started, its board consisted of three radiologists named by the RSNA. Edward W. Rowe of Lincoln, Nebraska, was president; Byron C. Darling of New York City was vice president; and Benjamin Orndoff of Chicago was the third trustee. Much of the early organization and test construction were done by Edward Jerman, widely regarded as one of the pioneers of x-ray technology and author of several key textbooks and manuals. Its office was in Omaha, where H. S. Tyler served as exective secretary. The first certificant was a nun, Sister M. Beatrice Merrigan. By 1927, the registry had 432 registrants, 352 women, and 890 men. Of the women, 64% were nurses and 43% were nuns. In 1934, H. S. Tyler was ousted and the office was moved to St. Paul, Minnesota. Al Greene, a recovering tuberculosis patient, took on the management and ran things from a base-
ment room in the Glen Lake Sanitarium for several years. Then he was pronounced cured and continued to operate the registry until 1965. In 1936, the registry added two technologist trustees, Thomas W. Lough of Seattle, Washington, and Roy W. Colcott of Champaign, Illinois. By the 1950s, the question of possible state licensure for x-ray technologists began to arise. The registry offered a separate exam and certificate for therapy technologists and in 1963, it added certification in nuclear imaging technology. The ARRT went beyond its examinations of individuals and defined the scope of training required in technology schools. In the 1970s, the registry withdrew from the school accreditation process, although it had adopted the requirement that candidates be graduates of approved 2-year programs. In its 50th year, 1972, the registry had 70,015 certificants in diagnostic x-ray, 1932 in nuclear imaging, and 611 in therapy. The next year, a former technologist, Mrs. Pat Nixon, invited the officers to the White House to celebrate their anniversary. In 1964, the state of New York passed a technologist licensure bill and the registry worked with the state to persuade its adoption of ARRT standards for licensure. In a few years, state licensure programs in Arizona, Kentucky, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and West Virginia all endorsed the ARRT standards and examinations for licensure. Only California took a slightly different approach. At Al Greene’s retirement, Roland McGowan, himself a technologist, became executive director. He hired Jerry B. Reid, a psychometrician, and at his retirement in 1991, Jerry Reid became the executive director and remains in that position in 2008. Over the years, with added numbers and more complicated examinations and credentials, the registry moved around in the St. Paul area, building its own building and then a larger one, complete with computer-based systems and records. In the new century, all of the 38 state technologist licensure programs use the ARRT standards and examinations for their programs. The ARRT has paid its own way over the years, charging modest fees to those seeking examination and accreditation and an annual registration charge. In addition to the 15 technical certification examinations and credentials, the registry in 2005 became a program to recognise radiologist’s assistants. This is a success story with credit due to its sponsoring organizations, to hundreds of directors, and to thousands of volunteers who made it function effectively over these decades. Otha Linton, MSJ Potomac, MD
1211
AMERICAN REGISTRY OF RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY I recently read the centennial-related history of the American Registry of Radiologic Technology (ARRT). It took me 13 years to get a copy, a couple of weeks to read it, and only a few minutes to realize that here is the story of one of the most solid and productive organizations in all of radiology. For those who knew less than I did, the ARRT is the organization that offers examinations to those who complete radiologic training programs and wish to attain national or state credentials in radiologic technology. It was founded in 1922 with the joint sponsorship of the Radiological Society of North America and the American Society of X-ray Technologists. It went through struggles and growth pains, a few lawsuits, and a sponsorship shift from the RSNA to the American College of Radiology. It set the national standard for education and proficiency in the basic branches of radiologic technology— diagnostic, therapeutic, and nuclear imaging—plus 12 subspecialty certifications. It provides the national standard and active examination for all of the state licensure programs as well as the voluntary credentialing program that is its patrimony. As of 1995, when the history was written, the ARRT had some 220,000 registrants who, among them, held 270,000 credentials in basic and subset criteria. In the decade and more since, the number of individuals with ARRT certificates rose to 278,668 as of spring 2008 with those people holding almost exactly 400,000 certificates. Just as the American Board of Radiology certifies physicians, the ARRT examines and certifies the technical staff of hospitals and radiology offices. There was a time when those passing the ARRT test were asked to sign a statement that they would only work for medical doctors. But that faded with time and reality. When the ARRT started, its board consisted of three radiologists named by the RSNA. Edward W. Rowe of Lincoln, Nebraska, was president; Byron C. Darling of New York City was vice president; and Benjamin Orndoff of Chicago was the third trustee. Much of the early organization and test construction were done by Edward Jerman, widely regarded as one of the pioneers of x-ray technology and author of several key textbooks and manuals. Its office was in Omaha, where H. S. Tyler served as exective secretary. The first certificant was a nun, Sister M. Beatrice Merrigan. By 1927, the registry had 432 registrants, 352 women, and 890 men. Of the women, 64% were nurses and 43% were nuns. In 1934, H. S. Tyler was ousted and the office was moved to St. Paul, Minnesota. Al Greene, a recovering tuberculosis patient, took on the management and ran things from a base-
ment room in the Glen Lake Sanitarium for several years. Then he was pronounced cured and continued to operate the registry until 1965. In 1936, the registry added two technologist trustees, Thomas W. Lough of Seattle, Washington, and Roy W. Colcott of Champaign, Illinois. By the 1950s, the question of possible state licensure for x-ray technologists began to arise. The registry offered a separate exam and certificate for therapy technologists and in 1963, it added certification in nuclear imaging technology. The ARRT went beyond its examinations of individuals and defined the scope of training required in technology schools. In the 1970s, the registry withdrew from the school accreditation process, although it had adopted the requirement that candidates be graduates of approved 2-year programs. In its 50th year, 1972, the registry had 70,015 certificants in diagnostic x-ray, 1932 in nuclear imaging, and 611 in therapy. The next year, a former technologist, Mrs. Pat Nixon, invited the officers to the White House to celebrate their anniversary. In 1964, the state of New York passed a technologist licensure bill and the registry worked with the state to persuade its adoption of ARRT standards for licensure. In a few years, state licensure programs in Arizona, Kentucky, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and West Virginia all endorsed the ARRT standards and examinations for licensure. Only California took a slightly different approach. At Al Greene’s retirement, Roland McGowan, himself a technologist, became executive director. He hired Jerry B. Reid, a psychometrician, and at his retirement in 1991, Jerry Reid became the executive director and remains in that position in 2008. Over the years, with added numbers and more complicated examinations and credentials, the registry moved around in the St. Paul area, building its own building and then a larger one, complete with computer-based systems and records. In the new century, all of the 38 state technologist licensure programs use the ARRT standards and examinations for their programs. The ARRT has paid its own way over the years, charging modest fees to those seeking examination and accreditation and an annual registration charge. In addition to the 15 technical certification examinations and credentials, the registry in 2005 became a program to recognise radiologist’s assistants. This is a success story with credit due to its sponsoring organizations, to hundreds of directors, and to thousands of volunteers who made it function effectively over these decades. Otha Linton, MSJ Potomac, MD
1211