OAR 337-010-0030
Limited X-Ray Machine Operator (LXMO) Permits

(1) Applicants for LXMO Permits Qualifications: An applicant for a LXMO permit must provide evidence of and complete all of the following:
(a) An applicant for a LXMO permit must be at least 18 years of age; and
(b) Pay a non-refundable application fee; and
(c) Have successfully passed a course of instruction that reflects the current Core Module of the “Content Specifications for the Examination for the Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography” published by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT); and
(d) Successfully attend a course of instruction which must be provided by a school that is approved by the Board and licensed by the Oregon Department of Education, Private Career School Section, or otherwise approved or accredited by the Oregon Department of Higher Education; and
(e) Attend a Board approved school with a curriculum that consists of not less than 52 hours of instruction approved by the Board in all of the following subjects:
(A) Radiation physics;
(B) Interaction of radiation with matter;
(C) Radiation exposure, monitoring, and radiation units;
(D) Principle of the radiographic equipment;
(E) Biological effects of radiation;
(F) Low-dose technique and minimizing patient exposure;
(G) Applicable Federal and State radiation regulations;
(H) Quality assurance;
(I) Image critique;
(J) Personnel protection;
(K) Digital and computer-generated radiographic imaging;
(L) Developing and using technique charts; and
(M) Patient care.
(f) Have received a course of instruction in laboratory practice approved by the Board that satisfies all of the following criteria:
(A) Meeting the requirements stated in the Board’s publication "Overview of Guidelines for Instructors of Courses in Preparation for the Limited Scope Examination in Diagnostic Radiologic Technology dated “December 2019” which is incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule; and
(B) Reflects the current Radiographic Procedure Module(s) of the “Content Specifications for the Examination for the Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography” published by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.; and
(C) Taught by a board-approved instructor; and
(D) Received the instructor’s certification that the applicant has demonstrated all the positions and projections described in the Behavioral Objectives as part of the "Overview of Guidelines for Instructors of Courses in Preparation for the Limited Scope Examination in Diagnostic Radiologic Technology dated “December 2019” for each category. The minimum hours in each category are as follows:
(i) Skull/Sinus, 18 hours;
(ii) Spine, 30 hours;
(iii) Chest, 12 hours;
(iv) Extremities, 60 hours;
(v) Podiatric 10 hours.
(2) Process and timeframe for obtaining a limited x-ray permit:
(a) Students currently enrolled in a Board approved school may, up to 30 days prior to course completion, submit an application to the Board to sit for the ARRT Limited Scope Examination in Diagnostic Radiologic Technology. The application must include a statement from the school indicating that the applicant is a student in good standing and expected to graduate. The applicant may not sit for the ARRT examination prior to the date on the applicant’s course completion certificate from the limited x-ray school.
(b) A graduate may qualify to sit for the ARRT Limited Scope Examination in Diagnostic Radiologic Technology by completing all of the following:
(A) Having successfully completed a Board-approved Core Module course; and
(B) Having successfully completed the didactic portion of a Radiographic Procedure Module (Skull/Sinus, Spine, Chest, Extremities, and/or Podiatric) relative to the anatomical area(s) for which the graduate wishes to be issued a permit.
(c) Graduate status begins on the date indicated on the student’s course completion certificate. After 24 months, from the date indicated on the student’s course completion certificate, graduate status is void and a person must retake the CORE module course and didactic portion of the Radiographic Procedure Module as described in this section.
(d) A graduate has no longer than 12 months starting from the date on the course completion certificate and ending on the date the applicant’s Temporary Initial LXMO Permit application is received by the Board to complete the following:
(A) Apply for, take and pass the ARRT Limited Scope Examination in Diagnostic Radiologic Technology in CORE with a score of 70 percent or above; and
(B) Apply for a Temporary Initial LXMO Permit. A temporary permit will only be issued for anatomic areas that the applicant successfully completed in school, as reflected on the course completion certificate. A graduate cannot perform a radiographic procedure on a patient without a temporary permit. With a temporary permit, a graduate may only perform a radiographic procedure on the anatomic area(s) for which the temporary permit is valid.
(C) A Graduate is allowed three attempts to pass the CORE section of the ARRT exam provided CORE is successfully passed within the one-year time frame.
(e) Graduates or Temporary permit holders may apply for the ARRT Limited Scope Examination in Diagnostic Radiologic Technology in the anatomic area(s) in which the applicant passed in school and wishes to include on the Permanent Permit.
(f) A temporary permit holder has no longer than 12 months starting from the date on the Temporary Initial Limited Permit and ending on the date the applicant’s Permanent Initial LXMO Permit application is received by the Board to complete the following:
(A) Complete all practical experience requirements as documented by obtaining a signed practical experience certification form in all anatomic area(s) the permit holder wishes to have designated on the Permanent Limited Permit. The practical experience component must consist of experience with live patients with one of the following people present in the room during the radiographic exposures: a licensed radiographer; radiologist; or licensed physician, licensed nurse practitioner or licensed physician assistant with adequate training in radiography in accordance with RPS rules; or a person who has been actively taking radiographs under the authority of a permanent LXMO permit within the immediate previous twelve months in the same anatomic area that is being imaged. Processed images made by the graduates are evaluated and critiqued by an Evaluator with one of the following credentials: an ARRT-registered, Oregon-licensed radiographer Practical Experience Evaluator; licensed radiographer; radiologist; licensed physician, licensed nurse practitioner or licensed physician assistant with adequate training in radiography in accordance with RPS rules; or a person who has been actively taking radiographs under the authority of a permanent LXMO permit within the immediate previous twelve months. The graduate shall be evaluated for imaging by using either the On-Site or Peer Positioning Practical Experience Evaluation Form developed by the Board. The Practical Experience Evaluator must provide the graduate with a certificate of completion in the categories in which the graduate has successfully completed practical experience; and
(B) Pass the ARRT exam in all anatomic area(s) the temporary permit holder wishes to have designated on the Permanent Limited Permit.
(C) Temporary Permit holders are allowed three attempts to pass an individual section of the ARRT exam within the 12-month time frame
(D) A temporary limited permit is required to complete the practical experience program approved by the Board specific to each category for which the applicant seeks a Permanent Initial LXMO permit.
(E) A temporary initial limited permit holder may apply to renew a temporary limited permit in an anatomic area in order to have additional time to complete the practical experience requirements. The following steps must be taken to apply for a temporary limited permit renewal:
(i) The applicant must provide documentation of having taken the ARRT Limited Scope Examination in Diagnostic Radiologic Technology in the anatomic area in which more time is needed to complete practical experience; and
(ii) The applicant must deliver the renewal application to the Board no later than the expiration date indicated on the initial temporary permit; and
(iii) The applicant must complete all practical experience requirements and apply for a Permanent Permit within the twelve-month time-frame starting from the date of the Initial Temporary Permit and ending with the date the applicant’s Permanent Initial Permit is received at the Board office
(g) A Permanent Initial LXMO Permit must be obtained within the 24-month time frame as outlined in this section. A temporary permit holder must submit an application for a Permanent Initial LXMO Permit to the Oregon Board of Medical Imaging within seven days of completing all requirements to obtain a Permanent Initial Limited Permit as outlined in this section. This seven-day deadline begins when the following two steps are completed in any order:
(A) The graduate obtains a signed practical experience certification form in an anatomic area, and
(B) The graduate receives notification from the Board of successfully passing the ARRT exam in the same anatomic area
(3) The Board, at its discretion and upon a showing of good cause, upon written request, may extend specific deadlines established in this section to a later specified date, based upon a demonstration of compelling circumstances by the individual making the request for an extension. The Board may grant an extension that is based upon factors including but not limited to pregnancy, military service, or disability. This provision only applies to time limitations established by the board, and cannot be applicable to time limitations governed by entities other than the Board or that are otherwise governed by statute.
(4) ARRT Limited Scope Examination in Diagnostic Radiologic Technology Fees and application process:
(a) The examination fee consists of:
(A) $20 for each examination category for which the student is tested; and
(B) An administration fee set by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
(b) All listed fees, along with the necessary certifications and verifications that the applicant has completed Board-approved Core Module course and Radiographic Procedure Module courses, must be submitted to the Board. Upon submission and acceptance of the application materials, OBMI shall register the graduate applicant with the ARRT for the ARRT exam.
(c) Graduates are allowed three attempts to pass an individual section of the ARRT exam.
(d)The Board, upon advance request, may approve a student to submit an application for the examination prior to the timeline specified in subsection (2), based upon school verification that the student is expected to complete all coursework. Verification must include a preliminary course completion certificate, endorsed by a responsible school official, indicating the courses for which the student is enrolled, expected completion date, and the student’s status in each course. The final approved course completion certificate is required as part of the application for a temporary limited permit. A temporary limited permit will only be issued for anatomical areas for which the applicant has successfully completed coursework and obtained a passing score on the ARRT Core examination.
(e) The examination shall consist of sections:
(A) Core Section (Radiation Use and Safety, Equipment Operation, Quality Control, Image Production, Image Evaluation, and Patient Care); and
(B) Specific Radiographic Procedures (positioning and techniques) in the category or categories (Skull/Sinus, Spine. Chest, Extremities, and Podiatric).
(C) A score of 70 percent constitutes a minimum passing score for each section of the limited scope examination;
(D) Limited scope examinations will be administered at computer-based testing sites identified by ARRT. The graduate is subject to rules regarding test administration at the testing site.
(E) The application fee for the LXMO permit examination is non-refundable.
(5) A permanent LXMO permit will only be issued to graduates who have passed the ARRT CORE exam, and will only be issued in anatomic areas for which the graduate has passed the respective ARRT exam and completed clinical experience requirements. A permanent limited permit can only be issued to applicants who have passed CORE and at least one anatomic area.
(6) To add an anatomic area to an existing permit: Once a permanent LXMO permit holder completes an approved educational program to add an anatomic area to their permit, the applicant may apply to OBMI for a temporary permit to complete practical experience requirements in that anatomic area. The applicant can only work on live patients in the added anatomic area if the applicant has a temporary permit in the added anatomic area. The applicant has one year from the date on the course completion certificate to complete practical experience requirements as specified in rule for that specific anatomic area, pass the ARRT examination for that anatomic area, and notify OBMI to add the anatomic area to their permanent permit. The applicant is eligible for one six-month temporary permit, which may be renewed one time and can extend no longer than 12 months from the date on the course completion certificate. To qualify for a temporary permit renewal, the applicant must show that they have taken the ARRT exam in the relevant anatomic area. A permanent limited permit holder does not need to pass the CORE exam to add an anatomic area.
(7) Bone densitometry permit application process:
(a) An applicant for a limited permit in x-ray bone densitometry must complete all of the following and adhere to all time frames indicated:
(A) Must be at least 18 years of age; and
(B) Have successfully passed a Board approved 24-hour course of instruction which includes not less than 20 hours of radiation protection, equipment operation and quality control specific to x-ray bone densitometry, and meets the didactic and practical experience requirements stated in the Board’s publication "Behavioral Objectives and Teaching Guide Bone Densitometry Equipment Operators” dated October 2019 which is incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule; and
(C) Obtain a signed course completion certificate from the Board approved course
(i) Graduate status begins with the date indicated on the course completion certificate. A graduate has no longer than 12-months to complete all requirements.
(ii) Graduate status ends after 12 months or seven days after the date on which an applicant becomes eligible for a permanent bone densitometry permit
(iii) A Graduate has 12 months to complete all of the requirements starting from the date on the course completion certificate and ending on the date the applicant’s Permanent Initial LXMO Permit application is received by the Board.
(D) Apply for, take and pass the ARRT Bone Densitometry Equipment Operators Examination.
(i) The passing score is 70 percent
(ii) A graduate is allowed three attempts to pass the exam provided the one-year time frame is adhered to; and
(E) Apply for and obtain a bone densitometry Permanent Initial limited permit from OBMI including paying the fee set by the Board.
(b) Every person who performs bone densitometry procedures must have passed the ARRT Bone Densitometry Equipment Operators Examination and be in possession of an active bone densitometry limited permit from OBMI, except for a person who has a radiography license from OBMI or who is exempted from OBMI’s licensure requirements.
(8) The Board, at its discretion and upon a showing of good cause, upon written request, may extend specific deadlines established in this section to a later specified date, based upon a demonstration of compelling circumstances by the individual making the request for an extension. The Board may grant an extension that is based upon factors including but not limited to pregnancy, military service, or disability. This provision only applies to time limitations established by the Board, and cannot be applicable to time limitations governed by entities other than the board or that are otherwise governed by statute. The extension may be provided through authorization for an additional temporary permit for a period of time specified by the Board.

Source: Rule 337-010-0030 — Limited X-Ray Machine Operator (LXMO) Permits, https://secure.­sos.­state.­or.­us/oard/view.­action?ruleNumber=337-010-0030.

Last Updated

Jun. 8, 2021

Rule 337-010-0030’s source at or​.us