Massachusetts Radiologic Technologist Licensing Guide
License Snapshot
Board Processing Time
About 30 days
Board turnaround on a complete application — see lead time below
Application Fee
$150
Credential
ARRT
Required national certification
Renewal
24 hours
Every 2 years
State Overview
Massachusetts licenses radiology as more than a single credential. Alongside the general radiologic technologist license, it recognizes 2 separate base licenses (Radiation Therapist and Nuclear Medicine Technologist), plus 3 add-on authorizations (CT Technologist, Mammography, and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Technologist), plus a limited-permit tier (Limited-scope x-ray operator (Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography)).
A few other modalities are not licensed by the state at all, rather than carrying their own Massachusetts license. The specialty section below covers each, including where a single-modality candidate may not be placeable.
Across radiology, ARRT certification is the national credential that anchors state licensure. A license you hold in another state does not transfer automatically, so you apply directly to Massachusetts's licensing board for each assignment.
General Requirements
If you perform radiology procedures in Massachusetts, the baseline below applies regardless of where you trained or which modality you work in.
- National certification: an active ARRT credential is the prerequisite the state license is built on. The state credential sits on top of ARRT, not instead of it.
- Credential required: ARRT (Radiography) certification, or registration by another Department-recognized board (ASCP, Australian Institute of Radiography, British College of Radiographers, Canadian Association of Medical Radiologic Technologists). Graduation from a JRCERT-accredited program.
- Scope of the base license: General diagnostic radiography. Issued by the Massachusetts DPH Division of Radiation Control under 105 CMR 125 as a discipline-specific license in Radiography. Renews every 2 years with a minimum of 24 CEUs per cycle (single-discipline breakdown: 10 in discipline, 2 in radiation safety, 12 related).
- Verification: ARRT or direct board verification.
Fees & Credentials
Massachusetts issues more than one radiology credential, so fees vary by what you actually do. The table below is one row per state-recognized credential.
| Credential | Application | Renewal | Cycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radiographer (general radiologic technologist) | $150 | — | Every 2 years |
| Radiation Therapist | $150 | — | Every 2 years |
| Nuclear Medicine Technologist | $150 | — | Every 2 years |
| CT Technologist | $150 | — | Every 2 years |
| Mammography | $150 | — | Every 2 years |
| Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Technologist | $150 | — | Every 2 years |
| Limited-scope x-ray operator (Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography) | $150 | — | Every 2 years |
| Nuclear Medicine Advanced Associate (NMAA) | $150 | — | Every 2 years |
There is no state fee line for MRI Technologist, Sonographer (diagnostic medical ultrasound), and Medical Physicist, because Massachusetts does not license those modalities. Their absence from the table is the point, not an omission.
$150 total ($75 application + $75 prorated license), biennial. Apply by phone or email.
Renewal & Continuing Education
- Renewal cycle: every 2 years, based on date of initial issuance.
- Continuing education: Massachusetts requires 24 hours per 2-year cycle for the general license, alongside maintaining your ARRT credential.
- Radiation Therapist CE: 24 CEUs per 2-year cycle, allocated to the radiation therapy discipline (multi-discipline holders allocate 4 CEUs per discipline plus 2 in radiation safety).
- Nuclear Medicine Technologist CE: 24 CEUs per 2-year cycle allocated to the nuclear medicine discipline (4 CEUs per discipline for multi-discipline holders, plus 2 in radiation safety).
- CT Technologist CE: CEUs count toward the 24-per-cycle total; multi-discipline holders must earn at least 4 CEUs in each held discipline (including CT) plus 2 in radiation safety.
- Mammography CE: Mammography licensees must obtain 24 CEUs per cycle allocated as 12 in mammography, 4 in radiography, 2 in radiation safety, and the remainder in related topics, a discipline-specific allocation heavier than the general split.
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Technologist CE: CEUs count toward the 24-per-cycle total with at least 4 CEUs in each held discipline plus 2 in radiation safety.
- Limited-scope x-ray operator (Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography) CE: Subject to the 24-CEU biennial requirement; the limited scope is in the authorized procedures, not necessarily a reduced CE count.
- Nuclear Medicine Advanced Associate (NMAA) CE: NMAAs must include 50 CEUs that satisfy the NMTCB's continuing education requirements (more than the standard 24 CEUs).
Getting Licensed
Radiology licensure is ARRT-primary, so the path is shorter than the multi-step endorsement other professions run. For most candidates it is four steps:
- Hold the right ARRT credential for the work you will do (Radiography for general x-ray; the matching post-primary credential for a modality the state licenses).
- Complete a board-approved program if the state requires one for your credential.
- Apply to Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
- Have ARRT verify your credential to the board directly. You do not self-attest the certification.
Common slip-ups travelers hit here: mismatched credential verification between ARRT records and previous state board submission causing multiple round-trips.
Processing & Timing
Board processing time is how long the board takes once it has a complete application. In Massachusetts: About 30 days. Boards rarely publish a guaranteed turnaround, so treat this as a planning number rather than a promise.
Recommended lead time before your start date is the total runway, and it runs longer than the board's processing window. Start the application as early as you can, because your ARRT verification has to reach the board before it can act.
If you need more than one credential here, for example a base license plus an add-on authorization, they may process as separate items rather than in one pass. Do not assume you can layer the second credential on at the last minute.
Massachusetts requires permanent license issuance before practice begins with no temporary authorization option. 4-5 week processing time plus application preparation time necessitates extended lead time to avoid assignment delays. Moderate risk if application timeline not carefully managed.
Specialty Differences
Most of the radiology family in Massachusetts runs on the general license. A handful of credentials genuinely diverge, and those are the ones worth reading closely. Below is one subsection per real difference, then roll-up lines for everything else.
Radiation Therapist
Divergence: separate license. Radiation therapy. Issued as its own primary discipline license under 105 CMR 125.004; not a prerequisite-dependent add-on.
- Fee: $150 application, every 2 years
- Credential: ARRT (Radiation Therapy) certification, or another Department-recognized board; graduation from an accredited program
- CE: 24 CEUs per 2-year cycle, allocated to the radiation therapy discipline (multi-discipline holders allocate 4 CEUs per discipline plus 2 in radiation safety)
How it differs from the general license: Massachusetts licenses radiation therapy as a distinct primary discipline separate from radiography; a radiographer license does not authorize radiation therapy practice and vice versa. Each requires its own discipline-specific ARRT credential and its own license.
Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Divergence: separate license. Nuclear medicine technology. Issued as its own primary discipline license under 105 CMR 125.004; serves as the prerequisite for the PET and Nuclear Medicine Advanced Associate add-on disciplines.
- Fee: $150 application, every 2 years
- Credential: NMTCB certification or ARRT (Nuclear Medicine); graduation from a JRCNMT/accredited program. Temporary license available for graduates eligible to sit the NMTCB or ARRT exam
- CE: 24 CEUs per 2-year cycle allocated to the nuclear medicine discipline (4 CEUs per discipline for multi-discipline holders, plus 2 in radiation safety)
How it differs from the general license: Nuclear medicine is a distinct primary discipline; the radiographer license does not authorize it. It requires a separate NMTCB or ARRT(N) credential and its own discipline license, and it is the required base for PET and NMAA add-ons.
CT Technologist
Divergence: add-on authorization. Computed tomography. Classified in 105 CMR 125 as an 'advanced practice discipline' that is added on top of an active primary license.
- Fee: $150 application, every 2 years
- Credential: Pass the Computed Tomography examination administered by the ARRT or the NMTCB (105 CMR 125.006), AND hold a full license in Radiography, and/or Nuclear Medicine, and/or Radiation Therapy
- CE: CEUs count toward the 24-per-cycle total; multi-discipline holders must earn at least 4 CEUs in each held discipline (including CT) plus 2 in radiation safety
How it differs from the general license: CT cannot be held on its own. It is an advanced-practice add-on discipline requiring a full primary license (Radiography, Nuclear Medicine, or Radiation Therapy) plus a passing ARRT or NMTCB CT examination, unlike the standalone radiographer license.
Mammography
Divergence: add-on authorization. Mammography. An advanced-practice add-on discipline requiring an active Radiography license as the base.
- Fee: $150 application, every 2 years
- Credential: Pass the Mammography Technologist examination administered by the ARRT (105 CMR 125.006), AND hold a license in Radiography
- CE: Mammography licensees must obtain 24 CEUs per cycle allocated as 12 in mammography, 4 in radiography, 2 in radiation safety, and the remainder in related topics, a discipline-specific allocation heavier than the general split
How it differs from the general license: Unlike many states where mammography is performed under the general radiographer license, Massachusetts issues it as a separate advanced-practice discipline that requires an active Radiography license plus the ARRT Mammography examination, with its own mandated CE allocation.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Technologist
Divergence: add-on authorization. PET imaging. An advanced-practice add-on discipline layered on an active primary license.
- Fee: $150 application, every 2 years
- Credential: Pass the Positron Emission Tomography examination administered by the NMTCB (105 CMR 125.006), AND hold a full license in Nuclear Medicine, Radiography, or Radiation Therapy
- CE: CEUs count toward the 24-per-cycle total with at least 4 CEUs in each held discipline plus 2 in radiation safety
How it differs from the general license: PET is not a standalone license; it is an advanced-practice add-on requiring a full primary license plus the NMTCB PET examination, whereas the base radiographer license stands alone.
Limited-scope x-ray operator (Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography)
Divergence: limited-scope tier. Limited radiography in up to two procedure categories (e.g., chest, extremities, skull/sinuses). Excludes fluoroscopy, contrast media, and mobile/remote imaging. Formally established as a license category by Public Health Council vote on December 10, 2025.
- Fee: $150 application, every 2 years
- Credential: Passing score set by the Commonwealth on the Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography examination administered by the ARRT (or another Department-approved national/international certifying board)
- CE: Subject to the 24-CEU biennial requirement; the limited scope is in the authorized procedures, not necessarily a reduced CE count
How it differs from the general license: A reduced-scope credential below the full radiographer license: it permits only up to two designated procedure categories and bars fluoroscopy, contrast media, and mobile/remote imaging, whereas a full Radiography license covers general diagnostic radiography.
Nuclear Medicine Advanced Associate (NMAA)
Divergence: advanced credential. Advanced nuclear medicine practitioner working under physician supervision; an advanced-practice discipline analogous on the nuclear-medicine side to the Radiologist Assistant.
- Fee: $150 application, every 2 years
- Credential: Pass the Nuclear Medicine Advanced Associate examination administered by the NMTCB (105 CMR 125.006), AND hold a full license in Nuclear Medicine
- CE: NMAAs must include 50 CEUs that satisfy the NMTCB's continuing education requirements (more than the standard 24 CEUs)
How it differs from the general license: An advanced-practice discipline built on a full Nuclear Medicine license (not the radiographer license) plus the NMTCB NMAA examination, with a heightened 50-CEU requirement.
MRI Technologist
Divergence: no state credential. Magnetic resonance imaging uses no ionizing radiation and is not a discipline under 105 CMR 125. Massachusetts issues no MRI technologist license; employers typically credential staff against ARRT(MR) or ARMRIT certification.
How it differs from the general license: Massachusetts does not issue any state credential for MRI. It is outside the 105 CMR 125 discipline list (which covers ionizing-radiation modalities), so no license, fee, or state CE requirement applies; the radiographer license neither covers nor is required for MRI.
Sonographer (diagnostic medical ultrasound)
Divergence: no state credential. Diagnostic medical sonography uses no ionizing radiation and is not a discipline under 105 CMR 125. Massachusetts does not require a state license; employers generally require ARDMS (RDMS) credentials. A licensure bill (H.3946, 2023-2024 session) remains pending and was not enacted as of January 2026.
How it differs from the general license: No Massachusetts state credential exists for sonography; it is not in the 105 CMR 125 scheme. The radiographer license neither covers nor is required for ultrasound, so no state license, fee, or CE requirement applies.
Medical Physicist
Divergence: no state credential. Medical physicists are not a discipline under 105 CMR 125 (Licensing of Radiologic Technologists). Massachusetts is not among the small set of states (commonly TX/FL/HI/NY) that license medical physicists as such.
How it differs from the general license: Outside the radiologic technologist licensing scheme entirely; the radiographer license has no bearing on medical physics practice and Massachusetts issues no medical physicist license under this chapter.
Before you pay: confirm your modality
Within radiology, whether a modality needs its own state credential is not consistent, and it is the thing travelers most often get wrong. MRI, nuclear medicine, radiation therapy, sonography, and CT can each be a separate state license in one state, a facility credential checked against your ARRT registration in the next, and nothing extra in a third.
The divergences we verified for Massachusetts are above. What we cannot see is your specific assignment and the site you land at. Before you submit any application fee for an advanced modality, confirm with your recruiter whether Massachusetts issues a state credential for it or whether the facility handles that against your certification. We would rather you ask first than pay for something the role never required.
Official Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Please note that while Fusion Medical Staffing strives to provide the most current and accurate information, we cannot guarantee the completeness or timeliness of the information provided. Requirements and processes can change frequently. Healthcare professionals are strongly encouraged to verify details directly with Massachusetts Department of Public Health's official website.
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