N.J. Admin. Code § 7:28-19.13

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 7:28-19.13 - Requirements for schools of radiologic technology

(a) A school in diagnostic radiologic technology shall provide a course of study that is at least 24 months in length or its equivalent as determined by the Board. The educational curriculum shall include ethics and law in radiologic technology; medical terminology; patient care management; human anatomy and physiology; radiographic procedures; imaging and processing; imaging equipment; image analysis; radiation production and characteristics; radiation physics; radiation protection; radiation biology; radiologic pathology; computers in radiologic technology; pharmacology and drug administration; quality assurance; and shall provide for competency-based clinical education in accordance with the Board's accreditation standards. The curriculum shall be a JRCERT-recognized curriculum, provided that it does not conflict with this subchapter.

(b) A school of radiation therapy technology shall provide a course of study that is at least 24 months in length or its equivalent as determined by the Board. This course of study can be 12 months in length if the applicant has successfully completed a Board-approved or equivalent diagnostic radiologic technology program. The educational curriculum shall include ethics and law in radiation therapy; medical terminology; patient care management in radiation therapy; radiation protection; pathology; radiation physics; radiation therapy physics; medical imaging and processing; sectional anatomy; operational issues in radiation therapy; treatment planning, beam modification devices and dosimetry; simulation and therapy procedures and technique; quality management; and shall provide for competency-based clinical education. The curriculum shall be a JRCERT-recognized curriculum, provided that it does not conflict with this subchapter.

(c) A school of dental radiologic technology shall follow the Board's approved curriculum in dental radiologic technology, which is available from the Department by written request to the address listed at 7:28-19.10(f). In the alternative, the curriculum shall be the American Dental Association's or any nationally recognized published curriculum, provided that it does not conflict with this subchapter or the Board's approved curriculum.

(d) A school of podiatric radiologic technology shall follow the Board's approved curriculum in podiatric radiologic technology, which is available from the Department by written request to the address listed at 7:28-19.10(f). In the alternative, the curriculum shall be the American Podiatric Medical Assistants Association's or any nationally recognized published curriculum, provided that it does not conflict with this subchapter or the Board's approved curriculum.

(e) A school of chest, orthopedic, or urologic radiologic technology shall follow the Board's approved curriculum in that category of radiologic technology, which is available from the Department by written request to the address listed at 7:28-19.10(f). In the alternative, the curriculum shall be any nationally recognized published curriculum, provided that it does not conflict with this subchapter or the Board's approved curriculum.

(f) Each school of radiologic technology shall:

1. Comply with 7:28-19.11 and 19.12 and the Boards accreditation standards, which are available from the Departments Bureau of X-ray Compliance;

2. Prepare and maintain a current and accurate written course syllabus and other educational documents for each content area delineated in the program's Board approved curriculum. These documents shall include, but are not limited to, lesson plans, learning objectives, classroom schedules, and student evaluation instruments. These documents shall be on file at the school and shall be produced for review by the Department or its representative during an inspection, and shall be submitted to the Department upon request;

3. Employ and/or appoint only Board-approved program directors, clinical coordinators, clinical instructors and clinical supervisors;

4. Issue to each candidate prior to admission a current and dated course catalog, bulletin, or other written statement, which shall include, but not be limited to, a description of the curriculum as a whole, the requirements for admission, requirements for graduation, and information concerning amounts and terms of payment of any tuition and fees or expenses to be incurred. The information contained in these documents shall accurately reflect the program offered;

5. Issue to each enrolled student a current and dated catalog, handbook, or policy manual that includes all program and school policies, which shall include, but not be limited to, policies regarding conduct, dismissal, grading, and pregnancy as it relates to radiation protection. All policies and procedures shall accurately reflect the program offered;

6. Enroll only students who meet the school's requirements for admission;

7. Report in writing to the Department, within 30 calendar days of any student's matriculation date, the name and address of each new student enrolled and, within 30 calendar days of the date the student completes the course of study (as set forth on the certificate issued in accordance with (f)15 below), the name and address of each student graduated;

8. Have and comply with an educational plan for didactic and laboratory instruction and clinical assignments, with objectives relating to the specific practice of radiologic technology;

9. Maintain current student records that accurately reflect the student's didactic and clinical progress;

10. Permanently maintain an official course transcript for each graduate;

11. Maintain all academic and clinical records for at least six months for each student who has left, withdrawn, or was dismissed from the program;

12. Ensure that it has adequate administrative, clerical, clinical, faculty, financial and physical resources to support all enrolled students;

13. Ensure that each student is provided with a personnel radiation-monitoring device during his or her period of attendance. Student exposure to radiation shall not exceed any of the occupational limits prescribed in 7:28-6.1. Within 30 calendar days of the school's receipt of any radiation dosimetry report, the school shall inform all students of their most recent exposure readings. In the event that a student receives an exposure of 50 millirem (mrem) (0.5 millisievert (mSv)) or greater on any monthly radiation dosimetry report, or 100 mrem (1.0 mSv) or greater on any bimonthly radiation dosimetry report, or 150 mrem (1.5 mSv) or greater on any quarterly report, or an exposure that exceeds any of the occupational limits in 7:28-6.1, the school shall begin an investigation to find the cause and prevent recurrence of the exposure. The investigation report shall be completed within 30 calendar days of the school's receipt of notification of the exposure. This investigation report shall include any action to be taken to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure. The investigation report shall be given to the student and shall be maintained in the student's file. If any of the occupational limits in 7:28-6.1 is exceeded, a copy of the investigation report must be submitted to the Department. Within 90 calendar days of departure from the school, the school shall provide each student with a complete record of his or her radiation exposure history;

14. For each student who has declared her pregnancy in writing, with an approximate date of conception, a school shall:

i. Provide instruction regarding radiation exposure and risks as they relate to the embryo-fetus and pregnancy;

ii. Provide program enrollment options to accommodate pregnancy while allowing the student to complete the curriculum. If the student elects to continue with her education within the radiologic technology program, the school shall ensure that a personnel radiation-monitoring device is worn at the waist level during the term of her pregnancy;

iii. If the student has the potential of engaging in fluoroscopic or portable radiographic procedures, provide to the student with and require her to wear two personnel radiation-monitoring devices. One device shall be worn at the neck level outside the protective apron and the other under the protective apron at the waist level;

iv. Limit the student's exposure, as registered on the personnel radiation-monitoring devices, in order that the exposure of the embryo-fetus does not exceed the most recent recommended limit published by the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP), incorporated herein by reference. As of August 18, 2008, the recommended limit is contained in NCRP Report #116 entitled Limitation of Exposure to Ionizing Radiation, published in 1993. The publication can be obtained from NCRP by contacting them at 7910 Woodmont Ave., Suite 400, Bethesda, MD 20814 or at: www.ncrponline.org. This report recommends a monthly equivalent dose limit of 50 mrem (0.5 mSv) to the embryo-fetus (excluding medical and natural background radiation) once the pregnancy is known. The Deep Dose Equivalent value reported for the device worn at the student's waist will be considered the initial estimated dose received by the embryo-fetus;

v. Within seven calendar days of the school's receipt of a radiation dosimetry report, the school shall inform the pregnant student of her most recent exposure readings. If the Deep Dose Equivalent in any month is 50 mrem (0.5 mSv) or higher, the school and student shall consult with a medical physicist or health physicist, who is certified by the American Board of Radiology, American Board of Medical Physics, American Board of Health Physics or the equivalent as determined by the Commission; and

vi. Submit to the Department, with a copy to the student, a report of the consultation provided in (f)14v above, if required, including any recommendation(s), assignment modifications and the student's exposure history, within 21 calendar days of the school's receipt of the radiation dosimetry report;

15. Issue to each student who satisfactorily completes a course of study a dated certificate that specifies the particular course of study completed;

16. Inform the Department within 15 calendar days of any change that could adversely affect the school's ability to fulfill its ability to provide students with appropriate didactic and laboratory instruction and clinical assignments, or has altered how the school operates since its last review and approval by the Board. Such changes include, but are not limited to, a change in status or loss of any official or faculty member, change of curriculum, loss of a clinical affiliate, the sequencing of courses, length of the program or sponsorship of the program;

17. If the school's curriculum is in diagnostic radiologic technology or radiation therapy technology, have no more than two consecutive years in which the pass rate for students taking the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) examination for the first time is below 75 percent;

18. If the schools curriculum is in chest, dental, orthopedic, podiatric, or urologic radiologic technology, have no more than two consecutive years in which both the first-time mean score and pass rate are below the Boards published minimum standards. Such standards are published on the Bureau of X-ray Compliance website, www.xray.nj.gov, and are available in hard copy upon request; and

19. Ensure that a student's total academic and clinical instruction does not exceed 40 hours per week.

(g) In addition to (f) above, schools of diagnostic radiologic technology and radiation therapy technology shall comply with the JRCERT Standards for an Accredited Educational Program in Radiologic Sciences (JRCERT Standards), incorporated herein by reference, as amended and supplemented. The Board, if it determines that a national accrediting agencys standards are equivalent to the JRCERT Standards, may recognize the national agencys standards. In case of conflict with this subchapter or the Boards accreditation standards, this subchapter and the Boards accreditation standards shall supersede the JRCERT Standards. Copies of the JRCERT Standards and the Boards accreditation standards may be obtained by contacting the Departments Bureau of X-ray Compliance at Mail Code 25-01, PO Box 420, Trenton, NJ 08625-0420 or the JRCERT at 20 N. Wacker Dr., Suite 2850, Chicago, Il, 60606 or www.jrcert.org.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:28-19.13

Amended by 46 N.J.R. 768(a), effective 5/5/2014.