Follow the link to register to take the CBRPA Radiologist Assistant Certification Examination
Below are links to the Radiologist Assistants (RA) Certification Application Requirements and Educational Program Approval Policy
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February 15, 2005
The CBRPA Board of Directors announced today that the CBPRA will offer a certification examination for the upcoming Radiologist Assistants (RA).
The Radiology Assistant occupation is included in at least two state laws; therefore, precedence has been set for the usage of the title. During the 1970s there were several Radiology Assistant Programs. There are still some graduates of these programs practicing in the workforce. Therefore, given the history and common usage of the Radiology Assistant title, the CBRPA Board of Directors decided to continue the use of it.
The RPA is a certification awarded by the CBRPA, by means of an examination that qualifies the RPA to practice at a level above the currently defined Radiologist Assistants. The RPAs who pass the RPA exam are qualified to perform at a level of advanced practice that includes tasks and responsibilities beyond the role delineation of the RA (ARRT). Therefore, the CBRPA Board has determined that the RPA has also earned the credential of RA (CBRPA).
The RPA (CBRPA) requires a higher skill level than the RA (ARRT). This statement is based upon the RPA (CBRPA) education, clinical competencies, Scope of Practice and their CBRPA certification test. The RPA currently practices at a level that includes more complex procedures than the current drafts of the role delineation, proposed test content specifications, and definitions that the ARRT/ASRT/ACR documents allow for the Radiologist Assistant. For example, the RPA clinical competencies require invasive exams that the ARRT/ASRT/ACR RA draft documents do not. The CBRPA has a RA examination already available, since the CBRPA tests at a higher level and the current RPA test includes RA functions. The CBRPA will soon post the Radiology Assistant information on our web site at www.cbrpa.org. We are currently in the process of upgrading the web site.
The CBRPA is an organization that has supported the education of Radiologic Technologists by approving programs and testing RPA's since 1998 and are ready to cooperate with other involved organizations and indeed have been throughout the years. The model curriculum used in the developing Radiologist Assistant programs was developed by Weber State University and WSU is an approved CBRPA program. There are RPA's (CBRPA) who are on the ARRT committee developing the Radiologist Assistant certification requirements. There are some certified RPA's (CBRPA) who are teaching in the RA programs. The CBRPA is making every effort to help the profession and the RA as a viable career path for the technologist.