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Roentgen's discovery of X-rays was accidental while he was working in his Wurzburg, Germany lab. He was testing whether cathode rays could pass through glass when he noticed a glow coming from a nearby chemically coated screen. Roentgen named the rays causing this glow "X" rays because their nature was unknown. Roentgen soon learned X-rays could penetrate flesh but not bone or lead. Roentgen was later awarded the first Nobel prize in physics in 1901 for his discovery of X-rays. -
In October 1920, a man named Eddy C. Jerman, met with 13 fellow technicians (half being women) in Chicago to establish the first society for radiologic technicians. The purpose of the society was for technicians to meet and discuss ideas related to radiologic techniques. Jerman knew there was a need for technical training because physicians not trained in its use themselves, would then delegate X-ray responsibilities to untrained and uneducated staff members. -
Sister M. Beatrice Merrigan of St. Anthony’s hospital in Oklahoma City, was the first Radiologic Technologist to be certified. In that same year 89 certificates were given out, but the first was given to Sister Beatrice. The registry test included 20 essay questions and the completion of 10 films. That early test was very different from the 200 multiple choice question registry today. -
In September 1924, while in a meeting of the American
Roentgen Ray Society, Arthur Mutscheller was the
first person to recommend a “tolerance” dose rate for use as guide to limiting exposure to radiation workers. A tolerance dose was an assumed radiation dose that the body can be subjected to without harmful effects. Mutscheller based his recommendation on observations of physicians and technologists that had shielded work areas. -
In 1934, the U.S. Advisory Committee on X-ray and Radium Protection proposed the first formal standard guidelines for protecting people from radiation sources. The U.S. Advisory Committee on X-ray and Radium Protection is known today as the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NRCP). The quantitative measurement of ionizing radiation had become standardized in units of roentgens, the recommended limit on dose rate was .1 roentgen/day. -
In 1964, the American Society of X-Ray Technicians changed their name to the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT). The members of the ASRT believed the shift from "technician" to "technologist" placed a stronger emphasis on professionalism and education. The same year, the ASRT also changed the name of its journal to Radiologic Technology. -
In 1981, Congress passed the Consumer-Patient Radiation Health and Safety Act. The Secretary of Health and Human Services was ordered to develop federal standards for the certification of radiologic technologists and the accreditation of educational programs in the radiologic sciences. The Act made compliance voluntary and did not impose penalties for states that ignored the standards. The principle of ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) was part of the act. -
In 1995, the ARRT made continuing education (CE) a requirement to renew a radiologic license. The requirement is 24 CE credits every two years to keep your license current. -
Any RT(R) that received their certification on or after 01/01/2011 must complete a CQR every 10 years. If an RT(R) is found to be lacking in a certain are they will be assigned CEUs related to that information. According to the ARRT, CQR's help show that an RT(R) is skilled, knowledgeable, and up to date on best practices. -
Today an RT(R) has various options for their career. These options include CT, MRI, Interventional radiology, Nuclear Medicine, and Ultrasound. An RT(R) can also cross train to work in the Cardiac Cath Lab or Electrophysiology Lab.