Professional Organizations, Certification, and Accreditation in Radiologic and Imaging Sciences

Vocabulary flashcards defining key terminology, accrediting agencies, certifying boards, and professional organizations within radiologic and imaging sciences.

Accreditation

A voluntary peer-review process through which an agency grants recognition to an institution for a program of study that meets specified criteria.

Certification

A voluntary process through which an agency grants recognition to an individual on demonstration, usually by examination, of specialized professional skills.

Essentials and Guidelines

A document specifying the minimum quality standards for the accreditation of an educational program as approved by the appropriate joint review committee sponsors.

Joint Review Committee (JRC)

A group of persons appointed by sponsoring organizations to oversee the accreditation process.

Licensure

The process by which a governmental agency (usually a state) grants permission to individuals to practice their profession.

Registry

A list of individuals holding certification in a particular profession, or the agency that carries out the certification function and maintains the list.

Sponsoring Organization

A professional organization that appoints members to a joint review committee board.

Standards

A document specifying the minimum requirements for accreditation of an educational program by a joint review committee.

American Association of Medical Dosimetrists (AAMD)

An international society established to promote and support the Medical Dosimetry and treatment planning profession, which publishes the journal Medical Dosimetry.

Association for Medical Imaging Management (AHRA)

An organization organized to promote management practice in the administration of imaging services, which offers the Certified Radiology Administrator (CRA) examination and publishes Radiology Management.

American Society of Echocardiography (ASE)

An organization founded in 1975 committed to excellence in cardiovascular ultrasound, publishing the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Imaging Case Reports.

American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT)

The national professional voice for R.T.s, founded in 1920, representing individual practitioners, educators, managers, and students across radiologic technology disciplines.

Association of Educators in Imaging and Radiologic Sciences (AEIRS)

A national association of educators founded in 1967 to encourage the exchange of teaching concepts, establish minimum standards for teaching radiologic technologies, and advance radiologic education.

Association of Vascular and Interventional Radiographers (AVIR)

An organization formed to represent radiographers and allied healthcare professionals specializing in cardiovascular and interventional radiology.

International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM)

An organization founded in 1994 to further the development and application of magnetic resonance techniques in medicine and biology.

Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI)

An independent non-profit organization established in 1968 for the purpose of certifying cardiovascular professionals.

Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board (MDCB)

An organization that credentials professionals practicing medical dosimetry and offers the Certified Medical Dosimetrist (CMD) credential.

American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)

An organization founded in 1922 that examines, certifies, and registers eligible candidates in radiologic technology, granting the registered trademark designation R.T.

Continuing Qualifications Requirements (CQR)

An ARRT process implemented in 2011, completed every 10 years by R.T.s and R.R.A.s who earned credentials on or after January 1, 2011, to determine knowledge gaps and prescribe remediation.

Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB)

An organization founded in 1977 to examine and certify technologists in nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, granting the Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist (CNMT) title.

Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS)

An accrediting body established in 1983 and sponsored by 10 organizations that accredits diagnostic medical sonography institutions and learning concentrations.

Joint Review Committee on Education in Cardiovascular Technology (JRC-CVT)

An accrediting body established in 1985 responsible for reviewing educational programs seeking accreditation in cardiovascular technology.

Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT)

An accrediting body established in 1970 and sponsored by four organizations that accredits nuclear medicine technology programs.

Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)

An accrediting body established in 1969 that accredits programs in radiography, radiation therapy, medical dosimetry, and magnetic resonance imaging.

American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS)

An organization founded in 1975 that offers voluntary certification through examination to sonographers and vascular technologists, granting credentials such as RDMS, RDCS, RVT, and RMSKS.

Section for Magnetic Resonance Radiographers and Technologists (SMRT)

A section of the ISMRM that publishes a newsletter and the journal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology.

International Society of Radiographers and Radiological Technologists (ISRRT)

An international organization founded in 1959 representing national societies of radiographers, holding World Congresses on a 2-year cycle and maintaining official relations with the WHO.

Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS)

The largest professional society for sonographers, founded in 1970 to represent nonphysicians performing diagnostic sonographic procedures and publisher of the Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI)

A multidisciplinary scientific organization founded in Seattle in 1954 dedicated to nuclear medicine, featuring an autonomous Technologist Section formed in 1970.

Society for Vascular Ultrasound (SVU)

A professional society founded in 1977 representing vascular technologists, physicians, and related professionals, publishing the Journal for Vascular Ultrasound.

American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM)

The most prominent organization of radiation physicists, with over 8,000 members, which holds its annual meeting in conjunction with the RSNA meeting in Chicago.

American Board of Radiology (ABR)

An organization established in 1934 to conduct certification of radiologists across diagnostic radiology, interventional radiology, and radiation oncology, as well as medical physics.