Mammography Continuing Education Requirements: A Comprehensive Guide

Mammography technologists play a vital role in early breast cancer detection. To ensure they maintain the highest standards of practice, continuing education (CE) is essential. This article breaks down the mammography continuing education requirements set by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) and the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA).

The Role of ARRT and MQSA

The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) is a leading credentialing organization that recognizes qualified individuals in medical imaging, interventional procedures, and radiation therapy. This organization offers certification and registration in a wide range of disciplines, helping people who work in medical imaging and radiation therapy develop their careers. The ARRT currently has over 348,000 registrants. Certification and registration is a method of assuring the medical community and the public that an individual is qualified by knowledge and skills to practice within the profession. The purpose of the CE Requirements is to provide a mechanism for Registered Technologists to fulfill their responsibility to maintain competence in their categories of certification and registration. Participation in CE demonstrates accountability to peers, physicians, healthcare facilities, and the public.

The Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) is a federal law enacted to ensure quality mammography services across the United States. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) oversees the MQSA, setting standards for mammography equipment, personnel, and practices.

Initial Qualifications for Mammography Technologists in the USA

The FDA regulations for employment as a Mammography Technologist first became effective on April 28, 1999. These regulations outline the necessary qualifications in order to perform mammography exams.

Licensure or Board Certification

In order to perform radiographic procedures, a full / general state license or mammography certification from either The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) or The American Registry of Clinical Radiography Technologists (ARCRT) is required.

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Initial Training

A minimum of 40 hours of initial mammography training are required in order to qualify to work as a Mammography Technologist. This training should include breast anatomy and physiology, breast positioning and compression, special techniques for imaging patients with breast implants, as well as techniques for quality control/quality assurance. The Mammography Technologist must also perform 25 supervised mammograms, with the time spent on supervised examinations being eligible to count toward the 40-hour total. If a radiologic technologist qualified for certification before April 28, 1999, this does not apply.

If a Mammographic Modality is new to the Mammography Technologist, the technologist must undergo a minimum of 8 hours of training in each modality of mammography in which they had no previous training. This ensures competency when new technologies are introduced.

Continuing Experience

The Mammography Technologist must have performed a minimum of 200 mammograms in the 24 months preceding the date of the facility’s annual MQSA inspection. This time period can also be calculated as 24 months from the last day of the calendar quarter, immediately preceding the annual MQSA inspection.

MQSA Continuing Education Requirements

MQSA mandates continuing education to ensure technologists stay up-to-date with the latest advancements and best practices. The FDA MQSA policy guidelines require the Radiologic Technologist to have completed or taught a minimum of 15 CEUs in mammography in the 36 months immediately before a facility’s annual MQSA inspection. At least 6 of these continuing education units required must be related to each mammographic modality used by the technologist. These credits ensure that technologists are proficient in the specific techniques they utilize.

ARRT Continuing Education Requirements

In addition to the completion of mammography CE credits, the ARRT requires that you attend 24 hours of general continuing education every two years. In this case, the education time is quantified as credits or units, with one credit equaling one hour of education in mammography schools. Fortunately, your mammography CE credits do count towards this goal, so you can use the 15 mammography credits and only need another 9 to complete the 24 required credits.

Per the ARRT, CE credits must be earned during the biennium that ends on the last date of the month preceding the individual's birth month.

Approved Continuing Education Activities

The American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) is a recognized credentialing body for continuing education activities and those activities pertaining to the application of X-ray of the human body will be acceptable to the RHB. Note: Issuance of a certificate through the State of California where a state examination was taken does not qualify for CE credits. However, training courses taken in preparation for these exams may be approved by one of the credentialing organizations listed above and therefore would qualify. Activities meeting the definition of an ‘approved academic course’ as defined by the ARRT may be awarded CE credit at the rate of 12 CE credits for each academic quarter credit or 16 CE credits for each academic semester credit. The ‘approved academic course’ must also pertain to the application of X-ray to the human body to qualify as a CE credit for California.

Each person who has been issued a Mammographic CRT certificate must, in the two years immediately preceding the expiration date of the certificate, must earn 10 of the 24 Approved CE credits in mammography. The advanced credential certificate for mammography will meet the 10 CE credits specific to mammography requirement. CRTs with a RTF permit are required to earn 24 approved continuing education credits; four of which are required to be in radiation safety for the clinical uses of fluoroscopy. Limited Permit X-Ray Technicians (XTs) with digital authorization must earn four (4) of the twenty-four (24) CE credits in digital radiography.

Documentation and Record Keeping

Each individual is required to maintain documents that evidence the completion of approved continuing education credits for four (4) years following the dates the credits were earned. These documents must be made available to the RHB upon request. This underscores the importance of proper record-keeping for all CE activities.

Staying Compliant

To perform mammography exams, a Mammography Technologist is required to meet both the MQSA and state licensing requirements. The following continuing education credit information is provided by the Radiologic Health Branch (RHB) and was updated on February 2014. Please note that while CSRT strives to provide the most current information, CSRT is not the official resource or governing body for continuing education.

Additional Information

The ACR follows MQSA’s Final Regulations. MQSA does not require a registered technologist to hold the ARRT’s Advanced Registry in Mammography. As long as a licensed or certified technologist becomes and remains qualified, he/she may perform mammography independently. Please review the guidance regarding “Radiologic Technologist Overview” in the FDA's Policy Guidance Help System.

Personnel changes (other than changes in lead interpreting physician, which should be reported to the ACR immediately) should be reported when your facility renews its accreditation.

Mammography CE Courses

Many organizations offer mammography CE courses that meet MQSA requirements. These courses often cover topics such as:

Breast anatomy and physiology
Positioning and compression techniques
Quality assurance and quality control
Imaging patients with breast implants
Digital mammography and tomosynthesis
Radiation safety

Some courses even include downloadable transcripts for offline study. Group discount rates are often available, and satisfaction guarantees may be offered. For example, a full refund may be available within 30 days of purchase if you’re not completely satisfied and haven’t passed any quizzes or downloaded certificates.All mammography CE courses include a CQR distribution table on the individual course page.

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