1. A. A registrant shall not allow an individual to act as a radiographer until the individual has received training in the subjects in subsection (G), has participated in a minimum of two months of on-the-job training, and is certified through a radiographer certification program by a independent certifying organization in accordance with the criteria specified in Appendix A.

   1. 1. A registrant shall provide the Department with proof of an individuals’s certification upon request.
   2. 2. A registrant shall maintain proof of an individual’s certification at the job site where the individual is performing field radiography.

   3. 3. A registrant that employs a certified radiographer in Arizona shall ensure that:

      1. a. The radiographer has obtained initial certification or recertification within the last five years; and
      2. b. An uncertified radiographer works only as a radiographer’s assistant until certified.

   4. 4. A radiographer shall recertify every five years by:

      1. a. Taking an approved radiography certification examination in accordance with this subsection; or
      2. b. Providing written evidence that the radiographer is active in the practice of industrial radiography and has participated in continuing education during the previous five-year period.
   5. 5. If an individual cannot provide the written evidence required in subsection (4)(b), the individual shall retake the certification examination.

   6. 6. A radiographer shall provide the registrant with proof of certification in the form of a card issued by the certifying organization that contains:

      1. a. A picture of the certified radiographer,
      2. b. The radiographer’s certification number,
      3. c. The date the certification expires, and
      4. d. The radiographer’s signature.

2. B. A registrant shall not allow an individual to act as a radiographer until the individual:

   1. 1. Receives copies of and instruction in the requirements of this Article, applicable Sections of Articles 4 and 10 and R9-7-107, the Department registration or registrations under which the individual will perform industrial radiography, and the registrant’s operating and emergency procedures;
   2. 2. Demonstrates an understanding of the registrant’s registration and operating and emergency procedures by successful completion of a written or oral examination that covers the relevant material;

   3. 3. Receives training in:

      1. a. Use of the registrant’s radiation machine,
      2. b. Daily inspection of the radiation machine, and
      3. c. Use of radiation survey instruments; and
   4. 4. Demonstrates an understanding of the use of the radiation machines and survey instruments described in subsection (B)(3) by successful completion of a practical examination covering this material.

3. C. A registrant shall not allow an individual to act as a radiographer’s assistant until the individual:

   1. 1. Receives copies of and instruction in the requirements of this Article, applicable Sections of Articles 4 and 10 and R9-7-107, the Department registration or registrations under which the radiographer will perform industrial radiography, and the registrant’s operating and emergency procedures;
   2. 2. Develops competence to use, under the personal supervision of the radiographer, the registrant’s radiation machine and radiation survey instruments; and
   3. 3. Demonstrates understanding of the instructions provided under subsection (C)(1) by successfully completing a written test on the subjects covered and demonstrates competence using the hardware described in subsection (C)(2) by successfully completing a practical examination.
4. D. A registrant shall provide refresher safety training for each radiographer and radiographer’s assistant at intervals that do not exceed 12 months.

5. E. Except where an individual serves both as a radiographer and an RSO, the RSO or the RSO’s designee shall design and implement an inspection program to examine the job performance of each radiographer and radiographer’s assistant and ensure that the Department’s rules and registration requirements, and the registrant’s operating and emergency procedures, are followed. The inspection program shall:

   1. 1. Include observation of the performance of each radiographer and radiographer’s assistant during an actual industrial radiographic operation, at intervals that do not exceed six months; and
   2. 2. Provide that, if a radiographer or a radiographer’s assistant has not participated in an industrial radiographic operation for more than six months since the last inspection, each radiographer shall demonstrate knowledge of the training requirements in subsection (B)(3) and each radiographer’s assistant shall demonstrate knowledge of the training requirements of subsection (C)(2) by a practical examination before these workers can participate in a radiographic operation.
6. F. A registrant shall maintain records of the training required in this Section, including certification documents, written and practical examinations, refresher safety training documents, and inspection documents, in accordance with subsection (I).

7. G. A registrant shall include the following subjects in the training required under subsection (A):

   1. 1. Fundamentals of radiation safety, including:

      1. a. Characteristics of x-ray radiation;
      2. b. Units of radiation dose and quantity of radioactivity;
      3. c. Hazards of exposure to radiation;
      4. d. Levels of radiation from x-ray machines; and
      5. e. Methods of controlling radiation dose (time, distance, and shielding);

   2. 2. Radiation detection instruments, including:

      1. a. Use, operation, calibration, and limitations of radiation survey instruments;
      2. b. Survey techniques; and
      3. c. Use of personnel monitoring equipment;

   3. 3. Equipment topics, including:

      1. a. Operation and control of radiation machines; and
      2. b. Inspection and maintenance of each radiation machine and survey instrument;
   4. 4. The requirements of pertinent Department rules; and
   5. 5. Case histories of accidents in radiography.
8. H. A registrant shall maintain records of radiographer certification in accordance with subsection (I)(1) and provide proof of certification as required in subsection (A)(1).

9. I. A registrant shall maintain the following records for three years after each record is made:

   1. 1. Records of training for each radiographer and each radiographer’s assistant. For radiographers, the records shall include radiographer certification documents and verification of certification status. All records shall include copies of written tests, dates of oral and practical examinations, and names of individuals who conducted and took the oral and practical examinations; and
   2. 2. Records of annual refresher safety training and semi-annual inspections of job performance for each radiographer and each radiographer’s assistant. The records for the annual refresher safety training shall list topics discussed during training, the date of training, and names of each instructor and attendee. For inspections of job performance, the records shall include a list of items checked during the inspection and any non-compliance observed by the RSO.

10. I. Requirements for an Organization that Provides
    Radiographer Certification

    To qualify to provide radiography certification, an organization shall:

11. A. Be a society or association, with members who participate in, or have an interest in, the field of industrial radiography;
12. B. Not restrict membership because of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, or disability;
13. C. Have a certification program that is open to nonmembers, as well as members;
14. D. Be an incorporated, nationally recognized organization that is involved in setting national standards of practice within its fields of expertise;
15. E. Have a staff comparable to other nationally recognized organizations, a viable system for financing its operations, and a policy-and decision-making review board;
16. F. Have a set of written, organizational by-laws and policies that address conflicts of interest and provide a system for monitoring and enforcing the by-laws and policies;
17. G. Have a committee, with members who can carry out their responsibilities impartially, review and approve the certification guidelines and procedures, and advise the organization’s staff in implementing the certification program;
18. H. Have a committee, with members who can carry out their responsibilities impartially, review complaints against certified individuals, and determine sanctions;
19. I. Have written procedures that describe all aspects of the organization’s certification program;
20. J. Maintain records of the current status of each individual’s certification and administration of the certification program;
21. K. Have procedures to ensure that certified individuals are provided due process with respect to administration of the certification program, including a process for becoming certified and a process for imposing sanctions against certified individuals;
22. L. Have procedures for proctoring examinations and qualifying proctors. The organization, through these procedures, shall ensure that an individual who proctors an examination is not employed by the same company or corporation (or a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company or corporation) that employs an examinee;
23. M. Exchange information about certified individuals with the Department, other independent certifying organizations, the NRC, or Agreement States and allow periodic review of its certification program and related records; and

24. N. Provide a description to the Department of its procedures for choosing examination sites and providing a favorable examination environment.

    II. Requirements for a Certification Program

    An independent certifying organization shall ensure that its certification program:

25. A. Requires an applicant for certification to:

    1. 1. Obtain training in the subjects listed in R9-7-1146(G), and
    2. 2. Satisfactorily complete a written examination that covers these subjects;

26. B. Require an applicant for certification to provide documentation demonstrating that the applicant has:

    1. 1. Received training in the subjects listed in R9-7-1146(G);
    2. 2. Satisfactorily completed the on-the-job training required in R9-7-1146(A); and
    3. 3. Received verification from a registrant that the applicant has demonstrated the capability of independently working as a radiographer;
27. C. Provides procedures that protect examination questions from disclosure;
28. D. Provides procedures for denying certification to an applicant and revoking, suspending, and reinstating a certificate;
29. E. Provides a certification period that is not less than three years or more than five years, procedures for renewing certifications and, if the procedures allow renewals without examination, a system for assessing evidence of recent full-time employment and annual refresher training; and

30. F. Provides a timely response to inquiries, by telephone or letter, from members of the public, about an individual’s certification status.

    III. Requirements for a Written Examination

    An independent certifying organization shall ensure that its examination:

31. A. Is designed to test an individual’s knowledge and understanding of the subjects listed in R9-7-1146(G) or equivalent NRC or Agreement State requirements;
32. B. Is written in a multiple-choice format; and
33. C. Has psychometrically valid questions drawn from a question bank and based on the material in R9-7-1146(G).

Appendix A. Standards for Organizations that Provide Radiography Certification

Note: For purposes of this Article an “independent certifying organization” means an organization that meets all of the criteria in this Appendix.

Historical Note

New Article 11, Appendix A, recodified from 12 A.A.C. 1, Article 11, Appendix A at 24 A.A.R. 813, effective March 22, 2018 (Supp. 18-1).

Historical Note

New Section R9-7-1146 recodified from R12-1-1146 at 24 A.A.R. 813, effective March 22, 2018 (Supp. 18-1).