902 KAR 105:081. Limited X-Ray machine operator.

902 KAR 105:081. Limited X-Ray machine operator.

RELATES TO: KRS 211.890, 211.993

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 211.090(3), 211.870

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: The Cabinet for Health and Family Services is authorized by KRS 211.870 to regulate an operator of a source of radiation other than a licensed practitioner of the healing arts, including but not limited to: the classification and certification of operators; examinations; standards of training and experience; curricula standards for institutions teaching persons to operate sources of radiation; issuance, renewal, and revocation of certificates; and to set other standards as may be appropriate for the protection of health and safety. The purpose of this administrative regulation is to establish uniform requirements for the certification of limited certificate holders.

Section 1. Applicability. (1) This administrative regulation shall apply to individuals who perform limited human diagnostic radiography while under the supervision of a medical, osteopathic, or chiropractic licensed practitioner, or a certified radiation operator.

(2) Limited human diagnostic radiography shall include routine chest and thorax, cranium, extremity, podiatric, vertebral column radiography, and bone densitometry procedures.

Section 2. Limited Certificate Holder Employment Prohibitation. An individual who holds a limited certificate shall not be employed as an operator of a source of radiation at a facility where contrast studies, fluoroscopy, mammography, computed tomography, bedside radiography, nuclear medicine, or radiation therapy procedures are preformed.

Section 3. Eligibility for a Limited X-ray Machine Operator Certificate. (1) No person shall be eligible for a limited x-ray machine operator certificate for human diagnostic radiographic purposes unless the individual has:

(a) Completed a four (4) year course of study in a secondary school or passed a standard equivalency test;

(b) Completed a course of study in limited x-ray machine operations approved by the cabinet from a postsecondary institution or an approved independent study course; and

(2) The approved postsecondary course of study shall meet the requirements for the limited x-ray machine operator course of study in 902 KAR 105:030, Section 4(6).

(4) An approved independent study course shall be completed within twelve (12) months and shall meet the requirements for the limited x-ray machine operator independent course of study in 902 KAR 105:030, Section 4(7).

(6) The clinical education required by 902 KAR 105:030, Section 4(7) shall be obtained at the student’s place of employment, an alternate facility, or a combination. The employer shall be responsible for providing or arranging for the required clinical education and for providing the appropriate supervision of the student by a licensed practitioner of the healing arts or a certified radiation operator. Clinical education shall begin only after the student has successfully completed the first six (6) chapters in the provided textbook and has received an authorization letter issued by the cabinet. Course requirements shall be completed within one (1) year from date of enrollment.

Section 4. Eligibility for a Limited Podiatry X-ray Machine Operator Certificate. (1) No person shall be eligible for a limited podiatry x-ray machine operator certificate for human diagnostic radiographic purposes unless the individual has:

(a) Completed a four (4) year course of study in a secondary school or passed a standard equivalency test;

(b) Completed an independent course of study in limited podiatric radiography approved by the cabinet; and

(2) The approved independent study course shall be completed within twelve (12) months and shall meet the requirements for the limited podiatry x-ray machine operator independent course of study in 902 KAR 105:030, Section 4(8).

(b) The clinical education required by 902 KAR 105:030, Section 4(8) shall be obtained at the student’s place of employment. The employer shall be responsible for providing or arranging for the required clinical education and for providing the appropriate supervision of the student by a licensed practitioner of the healing arts or a certified operator. Clinical education shall begin only after the student has successfully completed the first six (6) chapters in the textbook and has received an authorization letter issued by the cabinet. Course requirements shall be completed within one (1) year from date of enrollment.

Section 5. Eligibility for a Limited Bone Densitometry X-ray Machine Operator Certificate. (1) No person shall be eligible for a limited bone densitometry x-ray machine operator certificate for human diagnostic radiographic purposes unless the individual has:

(a) Completed a four (4) year course of study in a secondary school or passed a standard equivalency test;

(b) Completed an independent course of study in limited bone densitometry approved by the cabinet; and

(2) The approved independent study course shall be completed within twelve (12) months and shall meet the requirements for the limited bone densitometry x-ray machine operator independent course of study in 902 KAR 105:030, Section 4(9).

(b) The clinical education required by 902 KAR 105:030, Section 4(9) shall be obtained at the student’s place of employment. The employer shall be responsible for providing or arranging for the required clinical education and for providing the appropriate supervision of the student by a licensed practitioner of the healing arts or a certified radiation operator. Clinical education shall begin only after the student has successfully completed the first six (6) chapters in the textbook and has received an authorization letter issued by the cabinet. Course requirements shall be completed within one (1) year from date of enrollment.

1. Manufacturer’s training will be conducted by a representative of the company who produces the x-ray machine used for bone densitometry.

2. Training shall include the proper techniques for operation and safety.

Section 6. Temporary Certificate. (1) The cabinet may, upon application and payment of the appropriate fees, issue a temporary certificate to an applicant who has completed an approved course of instruction in limited medical radiography, limited podiatric radiography, or limited bone densitometry, and who meets the requirements of this administrative regulation, but has not taken the required examination.

(2) Applications for certification shall be filed with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services on Form KR-300, Radiation Operator Certification Diagnostic X-Ray Application Form.

(3) Temporary certificates for all certifications shall expire on the last day of the month, one (1) year after the date of issuance and shall not be renewable.

Section 7. Approved Radiographic Procedures for the Limited X-ray Machine Operator. An individual who holds a limited certificate is limited to performing the procedures authorized for his or her certificate as described in this section:

(1) An individual holding a limited x-ray machine operator certification may perform only the following procedures:

(a) Radiography of the thorax, lungs and ribs;

(b) Radiography of the skull and facial structures;

(d) Radiography of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spines.

(2) An individual holding a limited podiatry x-ray machine operator certification may perform radiographic procedures on the foot and ankle only.

(3) An individual holding a limited bone densitometry x-ray machine operator certification may perform bone densitometry radiographic procedures only.

Section 8. Incorporation by Reference. (1) Form "KR-300, Radiation Operator Certification Diagnostic X-Ray Application Form", edition 7/97, is incorporated by reference.

(2) This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Department for Public Health, Cabinet for Health and Family Services, 275 East Main Street, Frankfort, Kentucky 40621, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (34 Ky.R. 145; Am. 610; 771; eff. 10-17-2007.)