Nevada Radiologic Technologist Licensing Guide

Most of the radiology family in Nevada 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. Administration of ionizing radiation for therapeutic purposes (NRS 653.380).

• Fee: $200 application, $200 renewal, every 2 years
• Credential: ARRT (Radiation Therapy) certification

How it differs from the general license: Radiation therapy is a separate practice authorization defined apart from diagnostic radiologic imaging (NRS 653.380 vs 653.390). It is conferred under the full Chapter 653 license (NRS 653.510) and requires ARRT Radiation Therapy certification rather than the diagnostic radiography credential.

CT Technologist

Divergence: add-on authorization. Performance of computed tomography. A person may not perform CT except as authorized by NRS 653.630 and NRS 653.620.

• Fee: $200 application
• Credential: ARRT or NMTCB Computed Tomography certification (or registration with the Division while obtaining it)

How it differs from the general license: CT is not covered by the base radiographer license alone; NRS 653.630 requires CT-specific ARRT/NMTCB certification (or Division registration while pursuing it) layered on top of an active Chapter 653 license. Nuclear medicine and radiation therapy licensees may perform CT within their authorized scope.

Limited-Scope X-Ray Operator (Limited License)

Divergence: limited-scope tier. Restricted radiologic imaging in one or more areas: chest, extremities, spine, skull/sinus, podiatric, and bone densitometry. Holders may NOT use contrast media or perform nuclear medicine or radiation therapy.

• Fee: $200 application, $200 renewal, every 2 years
• Credential: ASRT Limited X-Ray Machine Operator Curriculum + ARRT limited-scope-of-practice examination

How it differs from the general license: A reduced-scope credential below the full radiographer license: it is limited to enumerated body-region categories (NRS 653.520), requires only the ASRT limited curriculum and ARRT limited-scope exam rather than full JRCERT-program graduation and full ARRT registration, and prohibits contrast, nuclear medicine, and therapy.

Mammographer

Divergence: separate license. Operation of a radiation machine for mammography under the cancer-control statutes, separate from the Chapter 653 radiologic-imaging scheme.

• Fee: Included application, Included renewal, every 3 years
• Credential: Certificate of authorization to operate a radiation machine for mammography (NRS 457.183), or licensure under NRS chapter 630/633
• CE: CE requirements and a 3-year certificate cycle are governed by NRS 457.183, distinct from the Chapter 653 2-year license cycle

How it differs from the general license: Mammography is carved out of the general radiologic-imaging license entirely: it is exempt from Chapter 653 (NRS 653.430) and governed by a separate certificate of authorization under NRS 457.183 with a 3-year (not 2-year) cycle. The fee is waived for those who also hold a Chapter 653 license.

MRI Technologist

Divergence: no state credential. Magnetic resonance imaging uses no ionizing radiation and is therefore outside the scope of NRS/NAC Chapter 653.

How it differs from the general license: MRI is not regulated by the Nevada Radiation Control Program because it involves no ionizing radiation; Chapter 653 governs only ionizing-radiation modalities (NRS 653.390). No state license or authorization is issued; employers typically require ARRT-MR or ARMRIT certification.

Sonographer (Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound)

Divergence: no state credential. Diagnostic medical ultrasound uses no ionizing radiation and is outside Chapter 653.

How it differs from the general license: Sonography is not licensed by the state because it does not use ionizing radiation, placing it outside Chapter 653 (NRS 653.390). No state credential is issued; employers typically require ARDMS/ARRT-S certification.

Medical Physicist

Divergence: no state credential. No medical physicist license is issued under Chapter 653.

How it differs from the general license: Nevada does not license medical physicists under the radiologic technologist scheme; no medical-physicist credential is established in NRS or NAC Chapter 653 (only a handful of states such as TX/FL/HI/NY license this role). Marked not_licensed as a confirmed negative for Chapter 653, though a separate facility/RAM-license requirement may exist outside this chapter.

Specialties that follow the general Nevada license

These run under the general radiologic technologist license and need no separate state credential: Nuclear Medicine Technologist.

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 Nevada 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 Nevada 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.