Mammography Initial Training Next Steps
Below are resources to support mammography technologists and their breast imaging departments. Find information on mammography following completion of The Mammography Initial Training (MIT) 40-Hour Course, positioning techniques and problem-solving, regulatory requirements, breast cancer support and much more.
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I Live In California
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I Do Not Live In California
If you are a California resident, your steps are a little bit different:
- 1Download and review the California Mammography Requirements.
- 2Please go Here!
- 3Retain the California Radiologic Health Branch Contact Information for reference.
- 4Take the California mammography certification exam and pass it to receive your CRT(M) certification. Note: Applicants must have a current and valid California Diagnostic Radiologic Technology Certificate issued by the California Department of Public Health, Radiologic Health Branch (CDPH-RHB) to take this exam.
- 5Perform 25 mammograms under the direct supervision of a qualified instructor. This step is due to the FDA-MQSA regulations.
- 6Take the ARRT Mammography Exam.
After completing the steps above:
You will be eligible to apply for positions in the state of California as a mammography technologist. Note, qualifications vary by facility. You may encounter positions that just require the California mammography certification, CRT(M). Other positions may require that you hold the ARRT certificate in Mammography, ARRT(M). For example, here is a sample job posting for a position in California:
“Current CRT and ARRT certification. Must have current Mammography certification for both the State and ARRT. If no ARRT certificate in Mammography, they must obtain within six months of hire”.
As part of the application for ARRT(M), there is a clinical experience requirement which states that you must perform 75 mammographic examinations (these 75 examinations are in addition to the 25 examinations that are required by the initial MQSA mammography requirements).
For more information from ARRT on State Licensing click HERE.
We know this is a lot of information, but hope that it’s helpful! Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
For all other states, here are your next steps:
Perform a minimum of 25 mammography examinations under the direct supervision of a qualified mammography technologist or radiologist. These exams must be recorded and include the date, facility name and the name of the supervising technologist.
Upon completion of the above step, you will then be qualified under MQSA to perform mammography independently. Your certificate from the 40-hour course that you were provided upon completion, along with the above-mentioned documentation that you have completed your 25 supervised mammograms must be available for review by the MQSA inspector as evidence of MQSA qualifications. These two documents are to be kept for your records and on file at the location where you are performing mammograms as proof of MQSA compliance.
If you have any questions regarding MQSA regulations, you should call the FDA hotline at 1-800-838-7715.
Do I need an “M” to perform Mammography?
Under MQSA you do not need an “M” to perform mammography independently. You need to be a licensed x-ray technologist who has obtained 40 hours of mammography continuing education and performed 25 mammograms in the presence of a qualified mammographer. However, you should check with your particular state to find out if an “M” is required under your state law. Usually having your “M” is a facility driven issue and you will be more likely to obtain a job in mammography if you have taken the boards and received your “M”.
To remain actively qualified:
You must obtain a minimum of 15 CEUs in Mammography every 3 years. To keep up with demands, many technologists complete 5 CEUs per year. An MQSA inspector for your facility will verify that each technologist employed has kept current with these credits.
You must perform a minimum of 200 mammograms every 2 years to fulfill the requirement of adequate clinical experience. Documentation of these is required and is available by contacting your facility manager who can provide you with a printed report of all completed examinations.
Many employers will require that beyond MQSA qualifications, you receive ARRT certification in Mammography. Prior to registering for and taking your ARRT Examination:
- 1Please login or create a login to MY ARRT Info
- 2Download and review the ARRT Post-Primary Eligibility Pathway Handbook
- 3Download and review the ARRT(M) Clinical Experience Requirements
- 4Download and review the ARRT(M) Mammography Examination Content Specifications
- 5You will need to independently perform 75 mammograms in preparation for the ARRT exam. These procedures will need to be documented, verified and submitted via the online tool accessible through the MY ARRT Info account that you created as part of step 1. (Please note that these 75 mammograms are in addition to the 25 supervised mammograms that are part of the MQSA requirement.)
- 6Perform additional clinical experience requirements.
- Patient Preparation/Education
- Mammographic Procedure
- Quality Control (QC)
- QC Documentation
- Radiographic Critique/Interpretation
- Elective Procedures including Interventional/Special Examinations
Note: The tasks outlined in the ARRT Post-Primary Eligibility Pathway Handbook must be completed within 24 months of applying for the ARRT Mammography Exam.
Completing the application process:
Once your structured education has been approved by ARRT and your supervisor has signed off on your clinical experience requirements and all required documents have been uploaded to your MY ARRT Info portal.
The ARRT Mammography Exams are administered by the Pearson Vue Testing Centers. A list of test center locations can be found on their website at: www.pearsonvue.com/arrt
The ARRT requires radiologic technologists to obtain 24 CEUs during their biennium (every 2 years). Your biennium dates are listed on your ARRT membership card. The ARRT does not have specific requirements for mammography, so you can satisfy your MQSA CE requirements with your ARRT CE requirements. In example, as the ARRT requires 24 credits during your 2-year biennium, you may obtain at least 10 of them in Mammography. Many mammography technologists opt to receive all CE requirements in Mammography.
