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Medical Physicist: CT (Revised 12-12-19)

Revision History


The qualified medical physicist:

  • Must be familiar with: the principles of imaging physics and of radiation protection; guidelines of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements; laws and regulations pertaining to the performance of the equipment being tested; function, clinical uses, and performance specifications of imaging equipment; and calibration processes and limitations of instruments used for performance testing.

  • Should be available for consultation regarding patient dosimetry issues within a reasonable period of time.

  • Is responsible for the conduct of all surveys of the equipment. The medical physicist may be assisted by properly trained individuals in obtaining data. The medical physicist is responsible for determining if the assisting individual is “properly trained.” These individuals must be approved by the medical physicist in the techniques of performing tests, the function and limitations of the imaging equipment and test instruments, the reasons for the tests, and the importance of the test results. Any assisting individual must be under the direct supervision of the medical physicist during the surveys (direct supervision means that the medical physicist must be present in the facility and immediately available to furnish assistance and direction throughout the performance of the procedure; direct supervision does not require that the medical physicist be present in the room when the procedure is being performed; teleconferencing does not constitute direct supervision).

  • Must: be present during the surveys; review, interpret, and approve all data; and provide a report of the conclusions with his/her signature.


Effective January 1, 2010, all medical physicists providing these services must meet the minimum criteria in the table below.


Initial Qualifications (One of these)

Board-Certified

Certified in Diagnostic Radiological Physics or Radiological Physics by the American Board of Radiology (ABR); in Diagnostic Imaging Physics by the American Board of Medical Physics (ABMP); or in Diagnostic Radiology Physics by the Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine (CCPM)

Not Board-Certified in Required Subspecialty

All of these:

  • Graduate degree in medical physics, radiologic physics, physics, or other relevant physical science or engineering discipline from an accredited institution

  • Formal coursework in the biological sciences with at least 1 course in biology or radiation biology and 1 course in anatomy, physiology, or similar topics related to the practice of medical physics

  • 3 years of documented experience in a clinical CT environment

Grandfathered

Conducted surveys of at least 3 CT units between January 1, 2007 and January 1, 2010

Continuing Experience Requirements (Upon renewal)

2 CT unit surveys in prior 24 months

Continuing Education Requirements (Upon renewal)

One of the following:


Additional information and clarification regarding initial qualifications, continuing experience and continuing education requirements for medical physicists is available here



Revision History for this Article

Date

Section

Description of Revision(s)

12-12-19

All

Article created; FAQs incorporated; No criteria changes



Previous: Radiologic Technologist: CTNext: QC: CT


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