LAC 46:LXVI.1131. Limited X-ray Machine Operator Permit (LXMO)

A. The board may issue a temporary permit to an applicant seeking to practice as a limited x-ray machine operator for the purpose of obtaining the clinical experience requirements in order to qualify to sit for the required American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) Limited Scope of Radiography certification examination. 1. Necessity of Limited X-ray Machine Operator Permit (LXMO) a. No person shall assume or use the title or designation "limited x-ray machine operator" unless he holds a current permit in accordance with the provisions of these rules and regulations. b. Every Limited x-ray machine operator shall have his permit at work. It shall be displayed or shall be on file. The permit shall be available for inspection at any time upon request by the board. 2. Scope of Practice for Limited X-ray Machine Operator (LXMO). The limited x-ray machine operator permit allows the individual to perform the following exams: a. chest; b. extremities; i. upper—fingers, hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, humerus and shoulder girdle; ii. lower—toes, foot, calcaneus, ankle, tibia/fibula, knee/patella, femur, and hip; c. abdomen; d. skull/sinuses; i. skull; ii. paranasal sinuses; iii. facial bones (orbits, nasal bones); e. spine; i. cervical spine; ii. thoracic spine; iii. lumbar spine; iv. sacrum, coccyx, and sacroiliac joints. 3. Qualifications. To be eligible for a permit under this Chapter, an applicant shall: a. be at least 18 years of age; b. be of good moral character; c. have successfully completed a four-year course of study in a secondary school approved by the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, passed an approved equivalency test, or have graduated from a secondary school outside Louisiana having comparable approval; d. shall submit evidence of enrollment in an official LXMO program approved by the board; e. be a citizen of the United States or possess valid and current legal authority to work in the United States duly issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of the United States, Department of Homeland Security, under and pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act (66 stat. 163) and the commissioner's regulations thereunder (8 CFR); f. self-report any legal, regulatory, licensing, permitting, transgression, and/or accusation and the outcome of such proceedings to the board. 4. Exemption. A limited licensed Private Radiologic Technologist (PRT) with the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners who was licensed between January 1, 2025, and the effective date of this rule shall be issued a temporary permit to practice as a limited x-ray machine operator, however in order to obtain a two-year limited x-ray machine operator permit, the PRT must comply with the requirements as stated in this Rule. 5. Educational Requirements a. An applicant shall have attended and successfully completed an educational program and formal training meeting the following standards in preparation for the position of limited x-ray machine operator prior to making an application for a permit: i. a board-approved course of radiological study and safety; ii. a board-approved clinical training program; iii. paid the applicable fees prescribed in these rules. 6. Application for Permit a. Temporary Work Permit. Requests for application for a temporary permit form shall be requested and submitted to the state board. b. Limited X-ray Machine Operator Permit. Requests for application for a Limited X-ray Machine Operator permit form shall be requested and submitted to the state board. 7. Follow-Up to Application Submission a. Incomplete Applications. Applications which are received with incomplete data may cause postponement. "Incomplete notices" are provided to those who did not submit all information requested on the application form. b. Finding of Ineligibility. If information is received indicating ineligibility, the applicant is notified of the deficiencies. The application is retained on an inactive basis and may be reactivated at the applicant's request whenever the requirements have been met. The application fee is not refundable, however, there is no additional charge for reactivating the application. 8. Modifications to Submitted Information a. Address or Name Changes. If a temporary limited x-ray machine operator permit applicant must change the mailing address which was entered on the application form, the individual must inform the board in writing. Changes in the permitter’s name are to be handled in the same manner, but must be accompanied by documentary evidence of the change (e.g., copy of marriage certificate, legal name change form, etc.). 9. Re-Examination a. An applicant who fails to pass the ARRT examination in Limited Scope of Radiography within the issued one-year time frame of the temporary permit shall become ineligible for an extension of that temporary permit. The Board will hold the original application for permit up to one year with no additional fee. 10. Issuance of Limited X-ray Machine Operator Permit (LXMO). If the qualifications, requirements and procedures prescribed or incorporated by these rules and regulations are met to the satisfaction of the board, the board shall issue to the applicant a permit to engage in the practice of limited x-ray machine operation in the state of Louisiana. a. The board may issue a temporary permit to an applicant seeking to practice limited x-ray machine operation for the purpose of obtaining the clinical experience requirements in order to qualify to sit for the required American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography certification examination, provided that the applicant: i. has submitted a board approved clinical training agreement to the board; ii. satisfies the applicable fees prescribed in these rules. iii. upon payment a temporary one-year work permit shall be issued one time only and for the time listed on the temporary work permit. b. The temporary permit issued under this section shall expire, and thereby become null and void and to no effect on the earliest of the following dates: i. 12 months from the date on which it was issued; ii. the date on which the board gives notice to the permit holder of its final action granting or denying issuance of a limited x-ray machine operator permit; c. The temporary permit holder who has: i. successfully and competently completed the required clinical training; ii. has successfully passed the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) Limited Scope of Radiography exam for Louisiana will then be granted a two-year limited x-ray machine operator permit. 11. Renewal. The board will require that those limited x-ray machine operators applying for renewal of permits shall have, in the preceding two-year period, participated in and completed the continuing education requirements, and/or board-approved alternatives as set forth in these rules. Every person permitted under the provision of this Chapter, shall maintain certification and document of on-going compliance with the board. 12. Biannual Application for Permit Renewal a. Notification for the renewal of the permit will be mailed to each limited x-ray machine operator whose permit to practice limited x-ray machine operation will expire that May 31 with the permit fee due. Renewal season is March 1 through May 31. b. Notification for renewal of permit shall be mailed prior to expiration by the board to each person holding a permit issued under these rules and regulations. Such notification shall be mailed to the most recent address as reflected in the official records of the board. c. The Limited x-ray machine operator is responsible for renewal in the event of not receiving mailed notification. Every limited x-ray machine operator permitted by this board shall renew his/her permit every two years upon application and payment of a renewal fee. d. Limited x-ray machine operator permits issued under this Section which have expired may be renewed by the board. The Limited x-ray machine operator permit issued under this section shall expire, and thereby become null and void and to no effect on the earliest of the following dates: i. 24 months from the date on which it was issued; ii. the date on which the board gives notice to the permit holder of its final action granting or denying issuance of a Limited X-Ray Machine Operator Permit B. LXMO Continuing Education Requirements 1. Any limited x-ray machine operator who fails to meet the continuing education requirements for renewal and pay appropriate fees by May 31 shall be placed on expired status. The limited x-ray machine operator shall no longer be considered as holding a valid permit in the state of Louisiana. 2. Limited X-ray Machine Operator. Twelve hours of continuing education credits must be earned per permitting term to meet the continuing education requirements. Credits earned in excess of 12 per permitting term may not be carried over into the next permitting term. 3. Documentation. A limited x-ray machine operator is required to maintain proof of participation in continuing education activities and is required to attest to this participation on the form provided. Said documentation shall be submitted to the board as part of the renewal process. Failure to provide documentation acceptable to the board will result in an expired status. The board will accept copies of documents. Original documents shall be kept by the limited x-ray machine operators for two years after the end of the permitting term for the purpose of further verification should the board choose to audit the permitters’ submissions. C. Permitting Term Schedule. Since the permitting term is defined as that period from June 1 of the renewal or issuance of permit year to the second May 31 to occur after that date, the continuing education credits must be earned in the two years prior to the second occurrence of May 31. D. Expiration of Limited X-ray Machine Operator Permit. Every permit issued by the board under this Chapter, the expiration date of which is not stated thereon or provided by these rules, shall become null and void on May 31, of the second year following the year of issuance. The timely submission of an accurate and complete application for renewal of a permit, appropriate documentation of completion of required continuing education hours and payment of appropriate fees shall operate to continue the expiring permit pending issuance of the renewal permit. E. Complaint. If a complaint is made to the board, the board shall notify the limited x-ray machine operator of the complaint and determine if there should be any action taken on the permit issued under this section. The board shall require the permit holder to abide by a code of ethics adopted by the board. F. Applicants for LXMO Renewal Who Fail to Meet CE Requirements. A limited x-ray machine operator who applies for renewal of permit, but who fails to meet the renewal requirements within the previous permitting term, will automatically be transferred to an expired status. Individuals who are listed as having an expired status, due to failure to meet these renewal requirements, will be published on the website managed by the board and will be reported in response to any inquiries regarding the limited x-ray machine operator’s status with the Louisiana State Radiologic Technology Board of Examiners. 1. A limited x-ray machine operator whose permit has been placed on expired status for failure to meet continuing education requirements may be returned to an approved status by payment of the appropriate fees and expenses as specified in this section and completing the required continuing education hours in the six months (on or before December 31) following the May 31 expiration date and paying the delinquency fee. Any hours completed or other requirements met while the permit is expired may not be used to meet the continuing education requirements for the subsequent permit term. G. Minimum Standards for the Accreditation of LXMO Education Programs. Limited x-ray machine operator programs must be approved by the board. The licensed technologist and/or program director shall submit evidence of compliance with minimum standards of education for the accreditation of educational programs to the board upon forms provided by the board. H. LXMO Code of Ethics. A LXMO Code of Ethics will be adopted by the board and shall be sent to each limited x-ray machine operator candidate.