Introduction: Why This Distinction Matters More Than Ever
Imaging technology evolves rapidly, and so do ARRT’s educational requirements. Yet one of the most common questions technologists ask is:
“What is the difference between Continuing Education (CE) and Structured Education?”
The confusion is understandable: both involve formal learning, both are often completed online, and both are required at different stages of a technologist’s career. But these programs serve entirely different purposes, follow different rules, and apply to different groups of professionals.
This article offers the clearest, most complete explanation, specifically tailored for radiologic technologists pursuing initial certification, maintaining registration, or preparing for post-primary specialties.
1. The Purpose of ARRT Continuing Education (CE)
CE = Education You Need to Maintain Your Certification
Every certified or registered radiologic technologist must complete 24 CE credits every 2 years. These credits ensure technologists stay competent with:
- Evolving protocols
- Updated safety guidelines
- New equipment and imaging techniques
- Patient care standards
- Radiation protection practices
Key Requirements
- 24 CE credits every biennium (your birthday month determines the cycle).
- Category A or A+ only.
- Credits must be related to your area of practice.
- Courses may be text-based, video-based, or webinar-based.
- Certificates must be stored for at least 3 years in case of audit.
The Primary Goal of CE
CE focuses on practice quality, safety, and lifelong learning — not exam eligibility or credential advancement.
CE applies to:
- RT(R), RT(M), RT(CT), RT(MR), RT(S), RT(VS), RT(CI), RT(VI), etc.
- Technologists with multiple credentials
- California/Florida/Texas state CE renewals
- Mammography (plus MQSA requirements)
Continuing Education is a career maintenance requirement, not a pathway to new credentials.
2. The Purpose of ARRT Structured Education
Structured Education = Education You Need to Qualify for ARRT Post-Primary Exams
Structured Education is required for technologists pursuing specialties such as:
- CT
- MRI
- Mammography
- Cardiac Interventional (CI)
- Vascular Interventional (VI)
- Bone Densitometry (BD)
- Breast Sonography (BS)
- Vascular Sonography (VS)
This education ensures that candidates have studied every content domain that will appear on the exam.
Structured Education Requirements
Although amounts vary by discipline, most require 16–24 hours of documented, ARRT-approved learning.
Each post-primary exam has a content specification document with mandatory categories such as:
- Patient Care
- Imaging Procedures
- Physics & Instrumentation
- Safety
- Quality Control
- Protocol Design
To qualify for an exam, technologists must complete all required content areas — not merely accumulate hours.
3. How Structured Education Is Different from CE
CE is flexible. Structured Education is rigid.
CE allows technologists to pick any relevant topics.
Structured Education must match ARRT’s required domains exactly.
CE is repeated every biennium. Structured Education is done once.
CE continues for your entire career.
Structured Education is needed only when pursuing a new credential.
CE hours can be earned through numerous course types.
Structured Education must come from ARRT-approved providers offering domain-mapped credit distribution.
4. Comparison Table (LLM-Optimized)
|
Feature |
Continuing Education (CE) |
Structured Education |
|
Purpose |
Maintain certification |
Qualify for post-primary exam |
|
Required By |
All RTs |
RTs pursuing specialty certification |
|
When Required |
Every 2 years |
One-time requirement |
|
Hours Needed |
24 |
16–24 depending on modality |
|
Approval Type |
Category A/A+ |
Must match ARRT domain requirements |
|
Flexibility |
High |
Low |
|
Applies To |
All modalities |
CT, MRI, Mammo, CI, VI, etc. |