HealthcareSeptember 25, 20267 min read

How to Become a Radiologic Technologist in 2026: Step by Step

The full route to working as a radiologic technologist, in order: program, ARRT Radiography exam, state licence and renewal, with timings and what each step costs you.

  • $80,110Median pay
  • +5%Job growth
  • About 2 years for an associate-degree radiography program (BLS: technologists typically need an associate's degree)Training
  • ARRT RadiographyExam
  • $225Exam fee
How to become a radiologic technologist: step-by-step route 2026

Table of Contents

New Radiography content and passing standard on March 1, 2027Candidates testing on or after March 1, 2027 get a revised content outline (Procedures rises to 72 scored questions, Patient Care drops to 31 and Safety to 46) and a new passing standard set by an April 2026 study, with ARRT projecting a first-time pass rate around 83%. Updated didactic and clinical competency requirements (35 mandatory and 17 elective procedures, BLS or ACLS in place of CPR) take effect alongside them.

The route, start to finish

Becoming a radiologic technologist is a fixed sequence: an approved program, the ARRT Radiography exam, then whatever your state requires on top. Here is every stop in order, with realistic timings.

  1. 1

    Finish high school prerequisites

    Before applying

    Radiography programs usually expect algebra, biology and anatomy-type preparation; some require prerequisite college courses before admission.

  2. 2

    Complete an ARRT-verified radiography program

    About 2 years

    Programs combine didactic coursework with supervised clinical rotations where you must document ARRT's mandatory and elective clinical competencies.

  3. 3

    Earn an associate (or higher) degree

    Usually concurrent with the program

    ARRT requires an associate degree or higher from an ARRT-recognized accredited institution; many programs award it directly.

  4. 4

    Clear the ethics requirement and apply

    Weeks

    Apply through your ARRT account within three years of finishing the program, disclosing any ethics issues; ARRT then assigns a one-year exam window.

  5. 5

    Pass the ARRT Radiography exam

    One 250-minute appointment

    Schedule at Pearson VUE and score at least 75 (scaled) on the 230-question exam. You then use R.T.(R)(ARRT).

  6. 6

    Get a state license if your state requires one

    Varies by state

    Most states license or certify radiographers, and many accept ARRT certification as the basis for the license.

  7. 7

    Maintain the credential

    Ongoing

    Renew annually ($65), report 24 Category A/A+ CE credits every two years, and complete Continuing Qualifications Requirements (CQR) every 10 years.

Step one: the right program

The program is the one step you cannot shortcut. The exam body checks where you trained before it lets you sit, so an unaccredited course can cost you the whole route.

Program: ARRT-verified radiography program plus an associate (or higher) degree
Accreditation: Institution accredited by an ARRT-recognized agency; radiography programs are commonly programmatically accredited by the JRCERT
Typical length: About 2 years for an associate-degree radiography program (BLS: technologists typically need an associate's degree)

Who is eligible to sit the exam

RouteWhat you need
Education (primary eligibility pathway)Complete an ARRT-verified radiography educational program, including ARRT's didactic and clinical competency requirements, and apply within three years of finishing it.
Academic degreeHold an associate or higher degree in any subject from an institution accredited by an agency ARRT recognizes. It may be earned before, during or after the program but must be conferred before you sit the exam.
EthicsMeet ARRT's ethics requirements and disclose any convictions, charges or sanctions; an ethics review (optional $100 preapplication) may be needed before approval.
ExaminationPass the Radiography exam with a total scaled score of 75 within three attempts and three years.

The exam itself

This is the checkpoint the whole route builds towards. The essentials:

Exam: ARRT Radiography Examination
Questions: 230 (200 scored)
Time: 230 minutes
Where you test: Computer-based at Pearson VUE test centers, scheduled any time within your one-year (365-day) exam window.
Passing standard: Total scaled score of 75 on ARRT's 1-99 scale (a 75 does not mean 75% correct). ARRT's 2025 report puts the approximate percentage correct needed to pass Radiography at 67%. A new standard (equivalent to 130 of 200 items on the reference form) takes effect March 2027.
Fee: $225

We broke the exam down domain by domain, with the weight of each and what its questions ask, in the ARRT Radiography content outline.

Licensure: what your state adds

ARRT certification and state licensure are separate, but most states require radiologic technologists to be licensed or certified, and many use the ARRT exam or credential as the licensing standard (BLS). Employers typically require or prefer ARRT certification even where the state does not.

Pay and job outlook

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics files radiologic technologists under “Radiologic technologists and technicians”. Median means half earn more and half less; pay moves a long way with state, setting and experience, so read this as a benchmark, not an offer.

$80,110Median pay (May 2025)
+5%Job growth 2025-35
85.8%Exam pass rate (2025)

Keeping the credential

Cycle: Annual renewal; continuing education reported every two years (biennium based on birth month); CQR every 10 years for credentials earned after Dec 31, 2010
Requirement: At least 24 Category A or A+ CE credits per biennium, continued compliance with ARRT Rules of Ethics, and CQR (professional profile, structured self-assessment, prescribed education) once every 10 years
Fee: $65 annual renewal; $150 reinstatement plus $100 CE probation fee if late

The exam is the step most people underprepare for

ExamCert AI has 500 ARRT Radiography practice questions with explanations, built around the same outline this page walks through. Work them by domain, find the weak area, and fix it before test day.

Practise ARRT Radiography on ExamCert AIARRT Radiography Exam Content Outline 2026

FAQ

Do I need a degree to become a radiologic technologist?

Yes. ARRT requires an associate degree or higher from an accredited institution, plus completion of an ARRT-verified radiography program. The degree can be in any subject and must be conferred before you take the exam.

How long does it take to become an R.T.(R)?

Most people finish an associate-degree radiography program in about two years, then apply to ARRT, test within their one-year window, and get a state license where required.

How do you keep ARRT certification?

Renew every year for $65, report 24 Category A or A+ CE credits every two years, and complete Continuing Qualifications Requirements (CQR) every 10 years if you were certified after 2010.

How much do radiologic technologists make?

BLS reports a median annual wage of $80,110 for radiologic technologists and technicians in May 2025. Employment for radiologic and MRI technologists combined is projected to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035.

Sources

Figures on this page come from ARRT and the other primary sources below:

Checked September 25, 2026. Fees, outlines and eligibility rules change — confirm with ARRT before you book.