Radiology Physician Extenders (RPEs), also called Radiologist Assistants (RAs), enhance patient care by extending the capacity of the radiologist in the diagnostic imaging environment. The RA performs patient assessment, patient management, fluoroscopy, and other radiology procedures.
An RA must be an ARRT-certified radiographer who has successfully completed an advanced academic program encompassing a nationally recognized radiologist assistant curriculum and a radiologist directed clinical preceptorship (Advanced Practice Advisory Panel, 2002).
RAs are certified as Radiology Practitioner Assistants (RPAs) through the Certfying Board for Radiology Practitioner Assistants (CBRPA) or as Registered Radiologist Assistant (RRA) through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
There are 37 states which recognize and/or license the RA.
| Arizona | Arkansas | Colorado |
Connecticut
|
Delaware
|
| Florida | Georgia | Illinois | Iowa | Kentucky |
| Louisiana | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota |
| Mississippi | Montana | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey |
| New Mexico | New York | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma |
| Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | Tennessee | Texas |
| Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | Washington D.C. |
| West Virginia | Wyoming |
