§ 5L — Radiologic technologists; advisory commission; licenses

Section 5L. There shall be an advisory commission for radiologic technologists, in this section called the commission, consisting of nine members to be appointed by the governor. Members of the commission shall be citizens of the United States and residents of the commonwealth. One member of the commission shall be the commissioner of public health or his designee and shall serve as chairman. Four members of the commission shall be registered technologists, certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, or any other nationally recognized certifying body and shall represent the following modalities: radiography, therapy, and nuclear medicine. Three members shall be physicians licensed under the provisions of chapter one hundred and twelve, and shall represent each of the following specialities: diagnostic radiology, radiation therapy and nuclear medicine. One member shall be a consumer. Appointments shall be for a period of three years except for one initial appointment of which two shall be for one year, three shall be for two years, and three shall be for three years. No member shall serve for more than two consecutive terms.In the event of vacancy in the office of a member of the commission other than by expiration of term, the governor shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term.Five members of the commission shall constitute a quorum to do business. The commission shall meet quarterly or more frequently upon the call of the chairperson.Members shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be entitled to reasonable travel and other expenses.The department shall establish the requirements for registration, collect registration fees, establish ethical standards, require and establish continuing educational requirements, evaluate the qualifications of the applicants, investigate complaints, supervise examinations and grant licenses to those who pass the examination and who are determined to be qualified radiologic technologists. No person shall perform the duties of a radiologic technologist without such license, however, the department may grant a temporary waiver for three months upon a finding that the public convenience and necessity require such a waiver. The fee for such license and renewal shall be determined annually by the commissioner of administration under the provisions of section three B of chapter seven.An applicant for licensure as a radiologic technologist shall at the time of application be at least eighteen years of age, and have successfully completed a four year course of study in a secondary school approved by the department of education, or hold a high school diploma from another state, or have passed an approved equivalency test. Moreover, each applicant for a license as a radiographer, radiation therapy technologist, and nuclear medicine technologist, shall have satisfactorily completed a course of study in radiography, radiation therapy or nuclear medicine, respectively. The curriculum for each course of study shall be no less stringent than the standard approved by the committee on allied health education and accreditation. The department shall have the authority to promulgate rules and regulations with respect to the educational and professional qualifications of an applicant for licensure.The department may accept, in lieu of its own examination, a current certificate of the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists or any other nationally recognized certifying body issued on the basis of an examination satisfactory to the commission, provided that the standards of that body are at least as stringent as those established by the department.Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing or restricting the practice, services or activities of:(i) any person licensed in the commonwealth by any other statute from engaging in the profession for which he is licensed, or(ii) any person employed as a radiologic technologist by the government of the United States or any agency of it, if such person provides services solely under the direction or control of the organization by which he is employed.Applicants for license renewal shall submit proof of having successfully completed continuing education courses as a continuing requirement for renewal as prescribed by regulation.