Virginia Radiologic Technologist Licensing Guide

Most of the radiology family in Virginia 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.

Radiologic Technologist-Limited (Limited-Scope X-ray Operator)

Divergence: limited-scope tier. Diagnostic radiographic procedures using ionizing radiation limited to specific anatomical areas the applicant is credentialed for. Lower-cost, reduced-scope tier below the full RT license. CE: 12 contact hours per biennium (vs 24 for full RT).

• Fee: $90 application, $70 renewal, every 2 years
• Credential: Completion of a board-accepted program (50 clock hours: 25 image production/equipment, 15 radiation protection, 10 radiographic procedures) and passing the ARRT Limited Scope of Practice core exam plus the relevant anatomical-region procedure section(s)
• CE: 12 contact hours per biennium, half the 24 hours required for the full radiologic technologist license

How it differs from the general license: A reduced-scope, lower-fee permit issued to operators limited to specific anatomical regions rather than the full diagnostic scope. It requires a shorter board-accepted course and the ARRT Limited Scope exam instead of full R.T.(R) certification, and carries lower fees and a 12-hour (not 24-hour) CE obligation.

CT Technologist

Divergence: facility-credentialed. Computed tomography uses ionizing radiation, so it falls within the regulated radiologic technologist scope, but Virginia issues no distinct CT license or supplemental authorization. Facilities credential CT competency against the ARRT(CT) post-primary certificate.

• Credential: No separate Virginia credential. Practitioners operate under the general Radiologic Technologist license; CT competency is established via the holder's ARRT post-primary certification (CT) and verified by the hiring facility

How it differs from the general license: Virginia does not issue a separate CT license or add-on. A CT technologist works under the base RT license, with CT-specific competency credentialed by the employer against the ARRT post-primary CT certification rather than by the state.

MRI Technologist

Divergence: no state credential. Magnetic resonance imaging is non-ionizing and is not within the regulated radiologic technologist scope. Virginia issues no MRI license or permit.

• Credential: No Virginia credential. MRI uses no ionizing radiation, so it falls outside the radiologic technology licensing scheme entirely; competency is credentialed by the employer (commonly ARRT(MR) or ARMRIT)

How it differs from the general license: MRI is entirely outside the Virginia radiologic technology license because it uses no ionizing radiation. The Board of Medicine page and the staffing guidance confirm MRI-only work does not require Virginia RT licensure.

Sonographer (Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound)

Divergence: no state credential. Diagnostic medical ultrasound is non-ionizing and not within the regulated radiologic technologist scope. Virginia issues no sonography license or permit.

• Credential: No Virginia credential. Diagnostic ultrasound uses no ionizing radiation and falls outside the radiologic technology licensing scheme; competency is credentialed by the employer (commonly ARDMS or ARRT(S))

How it differs from the general license: Sonography is outside the Virginia radiologic technology license because it uses no ionizing radiation. Ultrasound-only work does not require Virginia RT licensure; ARDMS-style certification is credentialed by the facility, not the state.

Medical Physicist

Divergence: no state credential. Virginia issues no medical physicist license under the Board of Medicine radiologic technology scheme. Any radiation-machine quality/safety oversight is handled through the state's radiation control regulations and facility/board-certification (e.g., ABR) credentialing rather than an individual practice license.

• Credential: No Virginia license. Virginia is not among the states (commonly TX, FL, HI, NY) that license medical physicists; 18VAC85-101 (Board of Medicine) does not regulate the profession

How it differs from the general license: Unlike the handful of states that license medical physicists, Virginia does not, so there is no state credential, fee, or CE cycle for the role under the radiologic technology board.

Specialties that follow the general Virginia license

These run under the general radiologic technologist license and need no separate state credential: Mammography, Radiation Therapist, and 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 Virginia 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 Virginia 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.