REDUCTION OF UNNECESSARY EXPOSURE THROUGH LICENSING OF X-RAY TECHNICIANS

I. Introduction In 1964 the New York State legislature enacted, and the Governor signed into law, a bill establishing a licensing system for X-ray technicians for the purpose of reducing unnecessary radiation exposure during the use of medical X-ray. The law established a seven member Board of X-ray Technician Licensing including a health physicist, defined as “a person who is certified by the American Board of Health Physics, or the American Board of Radiology in Physics”. The New York State Commissioner of Health appointed the author as the health physicist member for a four term commencing October 1964. II. Health department activities Recognizing the major interest of such licensing as being the promotion of public health, the law directs the State Health Department to administer the program. The agency responsible for this administration is the Bureau of X-ray technology in the Department of Health directed by Howard Goldman, a former X-ray technician and previously responsible for the radiological health control program associated with the medical and dental use of X-ray. Mr. Goldman serves as secretary of the Board. Dr. John Roach, a radiologist, was elected the first Chairman of the Board. III. Examination of applicants The law established three initial classifications of applicants: present practitioners having more than five years of practice, individuals with one to five years of service, and those with less than one year's experience and also set up a system of examinations for each group. In addition, the law authorized the Health Department to decide whether to license directly X-ray technicians who were registered with the American Registry of Radiation Technologists, an action followed after the Board recommended it at its first meeting. There was no automatic licensing of any “grandfathers” in the law. The over-five-year group was required to take a modest practical examination. The intermediate group was required to take a special written examination and oral exam. The beginning group was required to take a regular written examination. Included in the procedure was a system for review. Health physics questions were a major component in each examination. IV. X-ray technician schooling Although the New York State law reduces the number of hours of formal training required of X-ray technicians in state-approved schools, greater emphasis has been placed on radiation protection in the curriculum and in the operation of the schools. For example, the New York State program requires each school to have a staff radiation safety officer and must be in compliance with applicable state radiation regulations. More hours for radiation protection have been added to the basic curriculum. Standards of exposure for students are also stipulated. V. Conclusions The New York State program to license X-ray technicians provides a direct opportunity to improve radiation protection to patients as well as the technicians themselves during medical use of X-ray. Reduction of unnecessary exposure is consistent with obtaining the best possible radiograph through the employment of qualified personnel.