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Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography Examination
The Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography Examination is the module-based computer exam developed and administered by The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists on behalf of state licensing agencies for limited-scope (limited X-ray) licensure: every candidate takes a 100-question Core module (Patient Care, Safety, Image Production) plus one or more state-assigned procedure modules (Chest, Extremities, Skull/Sinuses, Spine, Podiatric) covering radiography of specific body regions, delivered at Pearson test centers, with ARRT reporting per-module raw scores to the state, which makes the pass/fail decision.
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QuestionsMandatory Core module of 100 scored questions plus 15 unscored pilot questions, plus one or more state-assigned procedure modules of 20–25 scored questions each with 5 additional unscored questions: Chest 20, Extremities 25, Skull/Sinuses 20, Spine 25, Podiatric 20 (total ranges from 120 scored questions for Core + one 20-item module to 190 scored for all modules)
Testing timeEach module is separately timed: Core module 1 hour 55 minutes; Chest 25 minutes; Extremities 30 minutes; Skull/Sinuses 25 minutes; Spine 30 minutes; Podiatric 25 minutes — plus, once per exam regardless of module count, an 8-minute tutorial, a 2-minute nondisclosure agreement, and a 10-minute post-exam survey; ARRT allows approximately one minute per question and the exam clock continues between modules
ScoringNo universal passing score: ARRT scores the modules and reports the number of questions answered correctly in each module to the candidate's state licensing entity, and the state entity determines whether the candidate passed or failed and notifies the candidate of the results
Exam feeUSD 150 examination fee paid to ARRT (per the ARRT examination fee schedule, effective January 1, 2022), directed by the candidate's state entity
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Exam overview
What to know before choosing your prep
- Who runs it
- ARRT
- Category
- Medical Imaging & Radiation Therapy
- Current version
- Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography Examination Content Specifications — ARRT board approved January 2022, implementation date January 1, 2023; a revised edition is scheduled for January 1, 2028
- Where it applies
- United States — national exam, local rules vary
- Exam languages
- English
- Score scale
- Raw number of correct answers per module; this exam is not reported on the ARRT scaled-score scale used for other ARRT exams
- Testing provider
- Pearson VUE (Pearson test centers)
- Format
- Computer-based at Pearson test centers; modules presented sequentially with no scheduled breaks between modules, and a candidate cannot return to a module's questions once its review session ends
- Availability
- By appointment at Pearson test centers within the candidate's exam window; scheduling opens 24 hours after ARRT posts the Candidate Status Report to the candidate's online account, and the handbook refers to a 90-day exam window
- Results
- No preliminary score at the test center and no score released to the candidate by ARRT; ARRT forwards the score to the state entity, which determines pass/fail and notifies the candidate (contact the state entity to learn how to receive results)
Exam structure
One computer-delivered exam presented in modules: a mandatory Core module (100 scored questions: Patient Care 18, Safety 40, Image Production 42) covering radiography in general, plus one or more state-assigned procedure modules applying radiography to particular body regions (Chest 20, Extremities 25, Skull/Sinuses 20, Spine 25, Podiatric 20); most questions are multiple choice with one best answer, presented in random order, with unscored pilot items mixed in
Where rules vary
A single national exam specification with one content outline and one fee; it exists only for state licensing, and the module set a candidate takes plus the pass/fail decision are determined by the candidate's state licensing entity. It is not an ARRT certification exam ('This examination is not associated with any type of certification and registration by the ARRT.').
Eligibility
Eligibility is established by the candidate's state licensing entity, not by ARRT: the candidate applies for a state license with the state entity, and once the state determines eligibility it notifies the candidate, assigns the required exam modules, and directs payment of the ARRT exam fee
Retake policy
Determined by the state entity: candidates who fail, miss the appointment, let the 90-day exam window expire, or are turned away for invalid ID must ask their state entity about its re-exam process; if the state approves re-exam it submits the candidate's information to ARRT and the candidate pays fees through the state