SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 2355
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Health & Long Term Care, February 16, 2024
Title: An act relating to establishing a primary certification process for magnetic resonance imaging technologists.
Brief Description: Establishing a primary certification process for magnetic resonance imaging technologists.
Sponsors: House Committee on Health Care & Wellness (originally sponsored by Representatives Nance, Ybarra and Reed).
Brief History: Passed House: 2/9/24, 97-0.
Committee Activity: Health & Long Term Care: 2/16/24 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Adds magnetic resonance imaging technologists to those who may be certified as a radiologic technologist.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG TERM CARE
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Cleveland, Chair; Robinson, Vice Chair; Muzzall, Assistant Ranking Member; Conway, Dhingra, Holy, Padden, Randall and Van De Wege.
Staff: Greg Attanasio (786-7410)
Background:

The Department of Health (DOH) certifies radiologic technologists who practice as a:

  • diagnostic radiologic technologist;
  • therapeutic radiologic technologist;
  • nuclear medicine technologist;
  • radiologist assistant; or
  • cardiovascular invasive specialist.

 

To be certified as a diagnostic radiologic technologist, therapeutic radiologic technologist, or nuclear medicine technologist, an applicant must:

  • graduate from an approved school or successfully complete alternate training that meets the criteria established by the Secretary of Health (Secretary);
  • satisfactorily complete a radiologic technologist examination approved by the Secretary; and
  • have good moral character.

 

To be certified as a radiologist assistant an applicant must:

  • satisfactorily complete an approved radiologist assistant program;
  • satisfactorily complete a radiologist assistant examination approved by the Secretary; and
  • have good moral character.

 

To be certified as a cardiovascular invasive specialist an applicant must:

  • satisfactorily complete a cardiovascular invasive specialist program or alternate training approved by the Secretary;
  • satisfactorily complete a cardiovascular invasive specialist examination approved by the Secretary; and
  • have good moral character.

 

The DOH may provide educational materials and training to registered X-ray technicians, certified radiologic technologists, licensed practitioners, and the public concerning, but not limited to, health risks associated with ionizing radiation, proper radiographic techniques, and X-ray equipment maintenance. 

Summary of Bill:

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologist is added to the list of professions that may be certified as a radiologic technologist. An MRI technologist is a person who, under the direct supervision of a physician, uses a nonionizing radiation process on a human by which certain nuclei, when placed in a magnetic field, absorb and release energy in the form of radio waves analyzed by a computer thereby producing an image of human anatomy and physiological information.

 

To be certified as an MRI technologist, an applicant must:

  • graduate from an approved school or successfully complete alternate training that meets the criteria established by the secretary;
  • satisfactorily complete a radiologic technology examination approved by the secretary; and
  • have good moral character. 

 

No person may adopt or use a title of certified magnetic resonance imaging technologist or certified radiologic technologist (CRT) unless certified by DOH.

 

DOH may provide educational materials and training to registered X-ray technicians, CRTs, licensed practitioners, and the public concerning, but not limited to, health risks associated with ionizing and nonionizing radiation, proper radiographic techniques, and x-ray and other imaging equipment maintenance. 

Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

No public hearing was held.

Persons Testifying: No one.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.