Continued qualifications.

The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists announced in June that, effective in 2011, all new certifications awarded by the ARRT will be time limited. That is, certifications will be good for 10 years provided that all other requirements, such as continuing education (CE) and ethics, are met. Requirements for Continued Qualifications (CQ) must be met before the end of the 10-year period to maintain certification for additional 10-year periods. Certifications awarded prior to 2011 are unaffected by this policy change. The following questions and answers address the concerns we anticipate registered technologists will have regarding the "CQ2011" initiative. You are encouraged to send any other questions to the ARRT office for future publication and to periodically check www.arrt.org for updates on CQ2011.

Q: Why is the ARRT going to issue time-limited certificates beginning in 2011?

A: It's the right thing to do and is consistent with our mission of promoting high standards of patient care. The ARRT's requirements for initial certification are linked closely to what it takes to be qualified at entry level. For several years the ARRT has been considering what it means to be qualified at points beyond entry into the profession. Although at one time the shelf life of knowledge was sufficiently long that the "once certified, forever qualified" approach was reasonable, this proposition no longer can be defended. The reality is that the rate of technological change is so rapid that knowledge has a limited shelf life, and we want consumers to know that ARRT certification means that the individual has relevant, current knowledge that enhances his or her ability to provide high-quality patient care.

Q: When did the ARRT decide to introduce time-limited certification?

A: The ARRT has been considering the issue of continued qualifications for several years and has been gathering information. For example, an invitational conference was held in November 2005 to discuss the issue of ensuring ongoing qualifications. Representatives of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, the American College of Radiology, the SNM Technologist Section (formerly known as the Society of Nuclear Medicine Technologist Section) and the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography participated. ARRT representatives have attended various conferences on continuing competence and have reviewed the mechanisms used by other organizations. The decision to introduce time-limited certification is the result of information gathering and discussions over a long period of time.

Q: Are there external forces causing the ARRT to go to time-limited certification?

A: There is no current requirement imposed by an external authority that is causing the ARRT to introduce time-limited certification for all of its programs, but we are going ahead with this plan because the writing is on the wall. Consumer and regulatory activism are leading to more accountability for all professions, and the continuous quality improvement movement has set the tone in health care. Time-limited certification is not an externally imposed requirement for certification organizations today, but it's likely to be an expectation on the part of regulators, third-party payers and the marketplace tomorrow. We want the ARRT and the profession to be prepared.

Q: To whom will the Continued Qualifications requirements apply?

A: Not so much to whom, but to what-any new certifications awarded in 2011 or thereafter will fall under the CQ requirements.

Q: I'm already a registered technologist. Will the requirements apply to me?

A: All certifications awarded prior to 2011 are exempt from the CQ2011 requirements. If you earn new certifications after that time, you will be issued a time-limited certificate for that category even though the certifications earned earlier do not fall under the requirements.

Q: How does CQ2011 affect my current certificates?

A: It doesn't. And it won't, unless you fail to maintain your registration of the certifications. Any certificate earned before January 1, 2011, is exempt from the CQ2011 requirements, provided that registration is maintained.

Q: Will the CE requirements be discontinued? Continuing education credits will continue to be required to maintain registration of your certifications. The ARRT currently distinguishes between certification and registration as follows:

* Certification is the process of initially recognizing individuals who have satisfied certain standards within a profession. A person is certified by the ARRT after completing educational preparation standards, complying with ethics standards and passing a certification exam.

* Registration is the annual process required to maintain registration of the certification. ARRT registrants are those who, having already fulfilled the requirements for initial certification, continue to meet the requirements for annual registration. Continuing education credits still will be required of all R.T.s on a biennial basis to maintain registration of certifications. On the other hand, CQ will be required every 10 years for certificates awarded on January 11, 2011, and thereafter to maintain certification, which is a prerequisite for registration. The ARRT's current distinction between certification and registration will be updated to reflect the CQ2011 requirements.

Q: Do any other medical certification bodies issue time-limited certification?

A: The ARRT is joining a number of other health care certification agencies that already are or soon will be requiring periodic recertification for newly issued certificates. For example, several years ago the American Board of Medical Specialties adopted the requirement that all of its boards, including the American Board of Radiology, institute a mandatory process for periodic quality control checks as a component of ongoing certification for newly issued certificates.

Q: What will I be required to do if I earn a new certification in 2011?

A: Details are being finalized, but generally the model will include an assessment component tailored to your particular practice pattern, an activities component specific to your areas of need and a verification component ensuring that the areas of need have been addressed. The CQ2011 model will recognize a variety of activities to document that areas of need have been addressed effectively, including CE.

Q: What do yon mean by "tailored to my practice pattern"?

A: Let's say that you are employed primarily in mammography. Your assessment will focus on mammography, and your activities will be mammography specific. Other certifications held outside your current practice activities will be addressed in some manner, but will not be the primary focus.

Q: What if I want to maintain my registration, but I no longer do imaging or radiation therapy?

A: The "R.T." designation is not like an academic degree that simply signifies completion of a course of study at some point in time. The "R.T." designates that you have demonstrated qualifications (as specified by the ARRT) in imaging, interventional procedures or radiation therapy. Those who are not employed in direct delivery of these services will be able to select activities covering the fundamentals or core knowledge for general imaging, interventional procedures or radiation therapy to demonstrate that they have maintained what they learned and have kept up with changes in the core knowledge underlying the discipline.

Q: Can I participate in the CQ program even though I earned my certification before 2011?

A: Yes, voluntary compliance will be encouraged, but not required, for certifications earned prior to 2011 and subsequently registered annually.

Q: Will retired status still be allowed?

A: There are no plans at this time to discontinue retired status. Note that the retired status is intended only for those who will not return to active practice in any capacity related to radiologic technology, including teaching, management or sales. *

Jerry Reid, Ph.D., is the regular contributing columnist for RE:Registry, which addresses issues concerning the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. Dr. Reid is executive director of the Registry. Questions or comments may be sent to his attention at the ARRT, 1255 Northland Drive, St. Paul, MN 55120-1155.