Radiation Technologists Board
Pursuant to sections 11 and 12 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (“the Act”), the following notice is given.
This notice amends the Medical Radiation Technologists Board’s Notice dated the 17th day of August 2004 and published in a Supplement to the New Zealand Gazette,
15 September 2004, page 2954, setting out scopes of practice and qualifications for registration.
The amendments are:
? the addition of three new scopes of practice (6, 7 and 8) and qualifications for registration in them; and
? inclusion of the board’s competency based assessment registration examination in any one of scopes of
practice 1–5.
Otherwise the scopes of practice and qualifications are as currently exist.
Scopes of Practice
Pursuant to section 11 (1) of the Act, the board specifies eight scopes of practice as follows:
1. Scope of Practice – Medical Radiation Technologist
Practises Diagnostic Imaging – General:
Involves the use of ionising radiation to gain a diagnostic image for evaluation.
2. Scope of Practice – Radiation Therapist
Practises Radiation Therapy:
Involves the use of treatment planning systems, ionising radiation and radionuclides for radiation treatment planning and delivery.
3. Scope of Practice – Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Practises Diagnostic Imaging – Nuclear Medicine:
Involves the use of radionuclides to gain a diagnostic image for evaluation.
4. Scope of Practice – Sonographer
Practises Diagnostic Imaging – Ultrasound:
Involves the use of ultrasound waves to gain a diagnostic image for evaluation.
5. Scope of Practice – Magnetic Resonance Technologist
Practises Diagnostic Imaging – Magnetic Resonance Imaging:
Involves the use of magnetic resonance to gain a diagnostic image for evaluation.
6. Scope of Practice – Trainee Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Undertaking post-graduate training in an approved medical radiation technology programme in nuclear medicine imaging, which involves the use of radionuclides to gain a diagnostic image for evaluation.
7. Scope of Practice – Trainee Sonographer
Undertaking post-graduate training in an approved medical radiation technology programme in ultrasound, which involves the use of ultrasound waves to gain a diagnostic image for evaluation.
8. Scope of Practice – Trainee Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist
Undertaking post-graduate training in an approved medical radiation technology programme in magnetic resonance imaging, which involves the use of
magnetic resonance to gain a diagnostic image for evaluation.
Qualifications Prescribed for Registration in the Eight Scopes of Practice
Pursuant to section 12 of the Act, the following qualifications are prescribed for registration as a medical radiation technologist:
1. Diagnostic Imaging – General
Medical radiation technologists registered in diagnostic imaging have a minimum of a Medical Radiation Technologists Board approved undergraduate degree in medical diagnostic imaging.
2. Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapists registered for radiation therapy have a minimum of a Medical Radiation Technologists Board approved undergraduate degree in radiation therapy.
3. Diagnostic Imaging – Nuclear Medicine
Nuclear medicine technologists registered in nuclear medicine have a minimum of a Medical Radiation Technologists Board approved undergraduate degree in medical diagnostic imaging, a post graduate qualification and 3360 hours’ clinical experience in nuclear medicine.
4. Diagnostic Imaging – Ultrasound
Sonographers who undertake ultrasound examinations will have a minimum of a Medical Radiation Technologists Board approved under graduate degree,
a post graduate qualification and 3360 hours’ clinical experience in ultrasound.
5. Diagnostic Imaging – Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Magnetic resonance technologists registered in magnetic resonance imaging have a minimum of a Medical Radiation Technologists Board approved undergraduate degree in medical diagnostic imaging, a post graduate qualification and 3360 hours’ clinical experience in magnetic resonance imaging.
Alternatively, at the board’s discretion on a case-by-case basis, other persons who have performed medical radiation technology by virtue of exemption approved by the board under Regulation 11 (1) (e) of the Medical Radiation Technologists Regulations 1995, will have passed the board’s competency based assessment registration examination in any one of scopes of
practice 1–5.
6. Training – Nuclear Medicine
7. Training – Ultrasound
8. Training – Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Medical radiation technologists registered in a training scope of practice in nuclear medicine, ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging have a minimum of a Medical Radiation Technologists Board approved undergraduate degree in medical diagnostic imaging.
Other health professionals registered in a training scope of practice in nuclear medicine, ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging have a minimum of a Medical Radiation Technologists Board approved undergraduate degree in an appropriate health science.
Dated at Wellington this 24th day of March 2005.
HELEN MARTIN, Registrar, Medical Radiation Technologists Board.