Reference guide
ARRT CE requirements for radiologic technologists
If you're an ARRT-registered technologist, your continuing education rules come in two (sometimes three) layers: ARRT's biennial CE, the 10-year Continuing Qualifications Requirements (CQR) clock, and — separately — whatever your state license demands. Here's how they fit together.
On this page
How many CE credits do you need?
ARRT requires 24 Category A / A+ CE credits every 2-year biennium to keep your registration current. Your biennium is anchored to your birth month — your CE due date is the last day of your birth month, and the two-year window resets from there.
The practical trap most technologists hit isn't the number — it's the timing. A biennium that starts the month you were born is easy to lose track of, and credits earned outside the window don't count. Knowing exactly how many credits you have in the current window, and how many days remain, is the whole game.
One pool for every credential you hold
A common misconception: if you hold multiple ARRT credentials (say R, CT, and MR), you do not owe 24 credits each. ARRT CE is pooled — the same 24 Category A/A+ credits per biennium cover all the credentials you hold. That's good news, but it also means a single missed biennium affects every credential at once.
Category A vs. Category A+
ARRT recognizes two credit categories, and both count toward your 24:
| Category | What it is | Counts toward the 24? |
|---|---|---|
| Category A | Activities evaluated and approved by a Recognized CE Evaluation Mechanism (RCEEM). | Yes |
| Category A+ | A subset of Category A activities approved by an RCEEM specifically for advanced-level content. | Yes — and required for certain post-primary pathways. |
When you log a credit, it's worth recording the RCEEM / approval ID alongside the provider — that's the detail a renewal audit asks for, and it's tedious to reconstruct later.
The 10-year CQR clock
Technologists who earned a credential in or after 2011 also have a parallel, slower obligation: Continuing Qualifications Requirements (CQR), a 10-year cycle per post-2011 credential. CQR is built around a structured self-assessment (SSA) of your knowledge and skills, completed within the credential's 10-year window — it runs alongside your biennial CE, not instead of it.
Because the CQR clock is long, it's the one people forget entirely until it's close. Two timers, two cadences, per credential — tracking them by memory is where things slip.
State license CE stacks on top of ARRT
ARRT is a national certification body — but many states also license technologists, and those licenses often carry their own CE requirements, renewal cadence, and topic rules layered on top of ARRT's. Meeting ARRT's 24 credits does not automatically satisfy your state.
The table below shows a few high-population examples. These are starting-point reference values — confirm the current rules with your state board.
| State | Typical CE | Worth verifying |
|---|---|---|
| California (CRT) | 24 CE / 2 yr | Separate fluoroscopy and mammography permits carry their own requirements. |
| Texas (MRT) | 24 CE / 2 yr | Aligned to ARRT; confirm your renewal month with the Texas board. |
| Florida | 24 CE / 2 yr | Includes mandated topics such as HIV/AIDS and medical-error courses. |
| New York | 24 CE / 2 yr | Category and topic rules differ by license type. |
Fluoroscopy permits and MQSA (mammography) CE are real sub-requirements in several states — if you hold those, budget for them separately.
Track all of it in one place — MedTally Renew
MedTally Renew is a CE and license-renewal tracker built specifically for radiologic technologists. One screen answers "how many Category A/A+ credits do I still owe this biennium, which license renews next, and is a CQR clock running?" — with pooled-credit math, birth-month biennium timing, the state layer, and an audit-ready CE transcript you can export at renewal.
Coming soon to the App Store and Google Play. MedTally Renew records and reminds — it does not determine your compliance; you confirm every requirement against ARRT and your board.
Common questions
How many CE credits does ARRT require?
24 Category A / A+ credits every 2-year biennium, pooled across all credentials you hold.
When is my ARRT CE due?
Your biennium is anchored to your birth month; CE is due at the end of the biennium that ends in your birth month.
Do I need 24 credits for each credential?
No — CE is pooled. The same 24 credits cover every ARRT credential you hold.
What's the difference between ARRT CE and CQR?
CE is the 24-credit biennial requirement. CQR is a separate 10-year structured self-assessment cycle for credentials earned in or after 2011. They run in parallel.
Does meeting ARRT CE satisfy my state license?
Not necessarily. Many states impose their own CE requirements and mandated topics on top of ARRT. Check your state board.
Last reviewed 2026. Figures are reference defaults and may change — verify with ARRT and your state licensing board.