LAC 46:LXVI.1201. Definitions

ACR―American College of Radiology. AHRA―American Healthcare Radiology Administrators. AMA/CME―American Medical Association/Continuing Medical Education. ANA―American Nursing Association. ARDMS―American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. ARRT―American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. ASRT―American Society of Radiologic Technologists. Active Status―radiologic technologists or limited x-ray machine operators who maintain their license or permit by submitting appropriate continuing education, paying an initial or renewal fee, and are listed in good standing with the LSRTBE. Approved Academic Course―a formal course of study offered by an accredited post-secondary educational institution in the biological sciences, physical sciences, radiologic sciences, health and medical sciences, social sciences, communication (verbal and written), mathematics, computers, management or education methodology. Activities meeting the definition of an approved academic course will be awarded credit at the rate of 16 CE credits for each academic semester credit and 12 CE credits for each academic quarter credit. An official transcript showing a grade of "C" or better is required to receive CE credit for an academic course. Official transcript must come from a recognized United States Department of Education (USDE) or Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) institution authorized to grant degrees by the U.S. Congress, state government, or a recognized sovereign Indian tribe. Approved Continuing Education Activity― an educational activity which has received approval through a recognized continuing education evaluation/mechanism. 1. Other activities that meet the definition of an approved continuing education activity are the approved entry-level exams. Examples are: a. ARRT examination in radiography; b. ARRT examination in Limited Scope of Radiography for Limited X-ray Machine Operator permits only c. ARRT or NMTCB examination in nuclear medicine technology; d. ARRT examination in radiation therapy technology; e. MDCB examination in dosimetry; f. ARDMS examination in diagnostic medical sonography; vascular technology or diagnostic cardiac sonography. 2. The advanced-level examinations considered acceptable continuing education activity are: a. ARRT examination in cardiovascular-interventional technology; b. ARRT examination in mammography; c. ARRT or NMTCB examination in computed tomography; d. ARRT examination in magnetic resonance imaging; e. other ARRT examinations as developed and implemented. 3. Within their licensing period, technologists who pass an entry-level examination for a discipline in which they are not certified and for which they are eligible, or one of the advanced-level examinations that they have not previously passed and for which they are eligible, have met the continuing education requirement for that licensing period. CAMRT―Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists. Category A and A+ Credit―educational activity which is planned, organized, and administered to enhance the knowledge and skills of the licensed or permitted individual and provides services to patients, the public, or medical profession. Continuing Education (CE)―educational activities which serve to improve and expand the knowledge and skills underlying professional performance that a radiologic technologist or limited x-ray machine operator uses to provide services for patients, the public or the medical profession. A contact hour credit is awarded for each 50 to 60 minute educational activity. Activities longer than one hour will be assigned whole or partial CE credit based on the 50-minute hour. Educational activities of 30 to 49 minutes of duration will be awarded half a credit. An activity that lasts less than 30 minutes will receive no credit. Continuing Education (CE) Activity—a learning activity that is planned, organized, and administered to maintain and enhance the professional knowledge and skills underlying professional performance that a technologist or limited x-ray machine operator uses to provide services for patients, the public, or the medical profession. Activities meeting this definition may qualify as either category A or A+ credit depending upon whether they have been submitted to review and approval. 1. Continuing education is recognized from the following: Louisiana Society of Radiologic Technologists, American Society of Radiologic Technologists, American Medical Association, American College of Radiology, American Nursing Association, Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, American Society of Medical Dosimetrists, and the Society of Nuclear Medicine Technologists. All of these organizations and societies provide documentation of attendance for activity that they sponsors. Continuing Education (CE) Credit—unit of measurement for CE activities. One CE credit is awarded for one contact hour (50-60 minutes). Activities longer than one hour are assigned whole or partial credits based on the 50-60 minute hour. Educational activities of 30-49 minutes duration will be awarded one-half of one CE credit. CE activities that last 15-29 minutes will receive one-quarter credit. Activities lasting less than 15 minutes receive no CE credit. Directed Reading―reading of recent professional journal articles and self-assessment testing to demonstrate comprehension of the material read. The directed readings must be offered through a post-secondary educational institution or as an approved continuing education activity. Documentation―proof of participation in a particular educational activity. Documentation must include: dates of attendance, hand written dates are not accepted; title and content of the activity; number of contact hours for the activity; name of sponsor; signature of the instructor or an authorized representative of the sponsor issuing the documentation; and a reference number, if the activity has been approved by a recognized continuing education evaluation mechanism (RCEEM). Board reserves the right to verify all continuing education documents. Educational Activity―a learning activity which is planned, organized, and administered to enhance professional knowledge and skills. These include, but are not limited to, meetings, seminars, workshops, courses programs. Eligible for Renewal Status―a radiologic technologist or limited x-ray machine operator who has completed all requirements for the renewal of a Louisiana radiologic technologist license or limited x-ray machine operator permit is considered to be eligible for renewal status. Expired Status―a radiologic technologist or 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 radiologic technologist or limited x-ray machine operator shall no longer be considered as holding a valid license or permit in the state of Louisiana. Inactive Status―classification of license or permit where the LSRTBE waives renewal fees to those licensees or permitted individuals who confirm in writing to the board that they are not actively employed in the state of Louisiana as radiologic technologists or limited x-ray machine operators. Independent Study―an educational activity offered by an accredited post-secondary educational institution or a comparable sponsor wherein the participant independently completes the objectives and submits the required assignments for evaluation. Independent study may be delivered through various formats such as directed readings, videotapes, audiotapes, computer-assisted instruction and/or learning methods. In-Service Education―a planned and organized educational activity provided by an employer in the work setting. Ionizing Radiation―commonly known as x-rays or gamma rays, they remove electrons from the atoms of matter lying in their path (e.g., ionization). LSRT―Louisiana Society of Radiologic Technologists. LSRTBE―Louisiana State Radiologic Technology Board of Examiners. Licensing―the process of granting a license attesting to the demonstration of qualifications in a profession. Licensing Term―the LSRTBE issues licenses to radiologic technologists for two-year terms. All renewal licenses are issued on June first and expire on May 31 of the second year of its issuance. MDCB―Medical Dosimetry Certification Board. NMTCB―Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board. Permitting―the process of granting a permit attesting to the demonstration of limited qualifications in a profession. Permitting Term―the LSRTBE issues permits to limited x-ray machine operators for two-year terms. All renewal permits are issued on June first and expire on May 31 of the second year of its issuance. Reinstatement―those radiologic technologists on inactive status or those radiologic technologists who have been placed on expired status may be eligible to become licensed again by applying for reinstatement. Reinstatement and the requirements thereof shall be determined by the board on an individual basis. SDMS―Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. SNM-TS/VOICE―Society of Nuclear Medicine Technologist Section/Verification of Involvement in Continuing Education. Sponsor―an organization responsible for the content, quality and integrity of the educational activity, which plans, organizes, supports, endorses, subsidizes and/or administers educational activities. Sponsors may be, but are not limited to, state, national, regional and district professional societies, academic institutions, health care agencies, health care facilities, federal or state government agencies. Sponsors must apply and receive approval from a RCEEM in order to offer credit for activities. Suspension/Suspended―license status whereby the radiologic technologist is not allowed to practice where a license is required by law. Teleconference―an approved educational activity delivered by electronic means. Temporary Permit for Limited X-ray Machine Operator―a LSRTBE issued permit that is granted to qualified applicants for one year. Temporary Permit for Radiologic Technologists― a LSRTBE issued permit that is granted to qualified individuals for 90 days.