Board Members are appointed by the Governor. The members of the Board of Radiologic Technology and the dates their terms expire are as follows (under the statute, Board members serve until a successor is appointed):

Kathy N. Whiting, RTR, RDMS, Chairperson (Term expires: 12/31/02); Lise Fradette, R.T.(R)(M) (Term expired: 06/30/96); Robert N. Naylor, M.D. (Term expires: 12/31/02); Cindy Boran, Public member (Term expires: 12/31/00); and Jan Fossum, P.E., Public member (Term expired: 06/30/97).

Board members may be contacted by writing to the Office (see page 4).

Introduction

The Board of Radiologic Technology is pleased to bring you its first Newsletter. We want you to know about proposed amendments to our laws and rules, and provide you with updated Board Policy statements. We encourage your feedback and input in these matters.

A copy of this newsletter is also available in electronic format on the Board's homepage at
www.vtprofessionals.org/opr1/radiologists

IMPORTANT
INFORMATION YOU SHOULD KNOW!

1. How fees are determined.
2. Proposed amendments.
3. Licensure requirements for persons operating Bone Densitometers.
4. Licensure requirements for persons you employ.
5. Continuing Education requirements, including requirements for failure to comply.
6. ARRT information.
7. Statistics
See below for details.

How fees are determined

A law adopted in 1990 requires that each professional licensing program must be self-sufficient, with revenue from application and renewal fees covering the program's biennial costs.

The Legislature annually appropriates a lump sum of money from the Professional Regulatory Fee Fund to the Office of Professional Regulation to finance the costs of regulating 36 professions. Those funds are then allocated among the programs based on an established formula using the number of licensees in each program, disciplinary caseload, and board activities.

Despite the Board's best efforts, the program's current costs exceed revenues. Fees must therefore, be increased. The Board and the Office have worked to keep the increase as low as possible, but must recommend an adjusted license renewal fee of $85.

Proposed Amendments

Legislation will be submitted for consideration in the 1999 Legislative Session regarding license fees, exemptions, competency, and Board powers and duties.

The proposed legislation would increase your biennial renewal fee from $70 to $85 for the next biennium - June 1, 2001 through May 31, 2003.

Other proposed statutory changes include: § 2803(1). Exemptions: is being amended to read: Licensed practitioners acting within the scope of practice for their licensed field, provided that their practice acts and rules promulgated thereunder make provisions for radiation safety and proper radiation practices determined in consultation with the board. §2803(2) is being amended to include naturopathic physicians.

Under § 2811, provisions will be added to the Board's powers and duties to include procedures for: mandatory reporting of unsafe radiologic conditions or practices; continued competency evaluation; radiation safety, and procedures for competency standards for license applications and renewals.

The inspection requirement under § 2812(8) was amended to a competency evaluation and may be performed by the VT Department of Health.

You may track the status of these bills at www.leg.state.vt.us

Persons utilizing Bone Densitometers

Bone Densitometers are x-ray machines, and therefore, must be operated by qualified persons. Bone densitometers are used for diagnostic purposes and must be:

1)Registered with the Vermont Department of Health's Radiological and Occupational Health Unit; and

2)Operated by licensed Radiologic Technologists or physicians holding ionizing privileges as an endorsement on his or her medical license.

For additional information, you may contact the Office of Professional Regulation at (802) 828-2875 and/or the Vermont Department of Health, Radiological and Occupational Safety Unit at (802) 865-7730.www.state.vt.us/health

Licensure Requirements for Professionals You Employ

The following Memorandum was recently sent to hospitals, clinics, and other facilities utilizing radiation.

Due to recent events, the Office of Professional Regulation and the Board of Radiologic Technology felt that it was necessary to remind employers and others of licensure requirements for Radiologic Technologists and other professions in the State of Vermont. During the past six months, the Board has had several applicants who applied for licensure after they began working. In one instance, an applicant had been working a year and a half before applying for licensure. This is unlicensed practice, and the individual as well as the employer or supervisor could face disciplinary action and penalties. Title 26 V.S.A. § 2831 (b) (4), unprofessional conduct, includes a provision for failure to comply with statutes governing the profession. You must have a license before you begin working in Vermont.

Other health care professions that require licensure are: Nurses, Physical Therapists, Chiropractors, Dentists, Mental Health Counselors, Naturopaths, Occupational Therapists, Optometrists, Clinical Social Workers, Osteopathic Physicians, and Medical Physicians. You may obtain information regarding these professions by contacting the Office of Professional Regulation at the above address, by calling (802) 828-2363, or by accessing our Web site at www.vtprofessionals.org

All licensees, including employers and supervisors, must comply with licensure requirements to avoid disciplinary action or other unwanted consequences. Licensing boards report disciplinary actions to other appropriate agencies, including other state boards, The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, and other national organizations for each profession.

Please share this information with the licensed occupations listed above that are employed in your facility.

CONTINUING EDUCATION

6.1 Continuing Education Standard

All persons licensed by the Board to practice radiologic technology, including persons holding limited radiography licenses, must earn a minimum of 24 hours of continuing education credits during a two-year period and must report these credits at the time of license renewal. Persons holding more than one license issued by the Board are not required to obtain more than the minimum 24 credit hours during a two-year period.

6.2 Guidelines For Continuing Education Credit Courses

The 24 credit hours earned during each two-year period must be obtained from educational activities which follow the guidelines for acceptable course content as described by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). The American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT/ECE), the Society of Nuclear Medicine Technologists (SNM-TS/VOICE), the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (SDMS), and the Vermont Society of Radiologic Technologists (VSRT) are acceptable, recognized continuing education evaluation mechanisms (RCEEM) from which to receive course approval. Credits will be accepted at the rate of one credit per 50 to 60 minutes of instruction. Educational activities of 30 to 49 minutes' duration will be accepted as one-half of a continuing education credit. Activities lasting less than 30 minutes will receive no credit.

At least 50 percent of the continuing education credits earned during each two-year period must be assigned Category A credit as defined by the ARRT. The remaining 50 percent may be assigned Category A or Category B credit as defined by the ARRT.

The distinction between Category A and Category B activities is based upon whether the activity has been reviewed and pre-approved by an RCEEM. Category A activities have been pre-approved by an RCEEM. Category B activities have not been pre-approved by an RCEEM. Activities which a licensee intends to use for Category B credits must satisfy the ARRT's definition as a continuing education activity even though they have not been submitted to an RCEEM for approval.

The Board will recognize examination exemptions as defined by the ARRT as satisfying continuing education requirements for the two-year period at issue.

At the time of license renewal, each licensee must certify on the renewal form that he or she is currently complying with the continuing education requirements as set forth in these rules. Each licensee must successfully complete 24 credit hours of continuing education within a two-year period which will begin with the licensee's birth month and end 24 months later. Licensees who do not follow the birth-month biennium may follow the Board's May license renewal biennium. During any biennial renewal period, the Board may randomly audit not more than 20 percent of licensees to ensure compliance with continuing education rules.

A licensee who is audited will be notified in writing by the Board and will be required to produce written documentation showing successful completion of 24 hours of continuing education during the two-year period at issue.

6.3 Failure to Meet Continuing Education Requirement

A licensee who fails to comply with the continuing education requirement may be subject to investigation and possible charges of unprofessional conduct under 26 V.S.A. §2831 (b)(4) (failing to comply with provisions of federal or state statutes or rules governing the profession).

6.4 Effective Date of Continuing Education Requirement

The reporting of continuing education credits required under this part will begin with the 1997 license renewal period. This means beginning with the licensee's birth month of 1995, the licensee then has 24 months to accrue the 24 continuing education credits. Any licensee granted a license during any given two-year period will begin to accrue credits in the next full two-year period.

Please Note: Not all continuing education programs are acceptable for radiologic technologists. If you are unsure of a program's validity, please contact the Board to determine whether or not it will be accepted, before you spend valuable time and money in vain.

Technologists' have the same renewal biennium in Vermont, May 31 to June 1, odd years. You must renew your license before May 31 odd years.

However, a licensee may choose whether to use the Board's biennium or his or her birth-month biennium for continuing education credits. An audit would be performed no earlier than January (even year) following the renewal year. This allows sufficient time for all licensees to comply (24 credits) before audited. You do not need to officially notify the Board of your preference.

This renewal system differs slightly from the American Registry of Radiologic Technology (ARRT). Keep in mind that you must satisfy both the Board's, and the ARRT's (if applicable) renewal system if you are certified by the ARRT.

To easily accomplish this, the Board recommends you earn 12 credits each year.

As indicated in 6.4, if you were licensed within the biennium, you are not required to earn continuing education credits for this renewal. For example, if you were licensed in December of 1997, you will not need to report any continuing education credits to the Board for your renewal in May 1999. Any credits you did earn within that period cannot be carried over for the next period.

ARRT

For information about continuing education, registration renewal, examination dates and deadlines, contact them via: Mail: ARRT, 1255 Northland Drive, St. Paul, MN 55120-1155, Phone: (651) 687-0048,
fax: 687-0349, or via their Web site at www.arrt.org

By the year 2000, the examination(s), except the limited scope, will be computer adaptive.

Statistics

License statistics are as follows: 25 active Radiation Therapists, 6 of whom are non-residents.

501 active licenses in Radiography, 91 of whom are non-residents. 43 active Nuclear Medicine Technologists, 8 of whom are non-residents. 18 active Limited Licensure (Chest and/or Extremities) Technologists. None of whom reside out-of-state.

If you would like a complete copy of the current laws and rules, you may access them via the Board's homepage: Vermont Board of Radiologic Technology, or write to:

Office of Professional Regulation, 26 Terrace Street, Drawer 09, Montpelier, VT 05609-1106.

You may call (802) 828-2875, or fax 828-2465. You may also reach us via E-mail: "cpreston@sec.state.vt.us"