Radiologic Technology Act overview

Policy and governing framework

Section 2 declares the State policy to upgrade radiologic technology practice in the Philippines to protect the public from radiation hazards and to ensure safe and proper diagnosis, treatment, and research through machines and/or equipment using radiation.
The Act governs the practice of radiologic technology and x-ray technology in the Philippines (Sections 4, 5, 15, 26).
The Act ties the Board’s regulatory authority and examination administration to the Professional Regulation Commission (Section 3; Section 9).

Key definitions and covered titles

“X-ray technology” is defined as an auxiliary branch of radiology dealing with the technical application of x-rays as aid in diagnosis of diseases and injuries (Section 3).
“Radiologic technology” is defined as an auxiliary branch of radiology dealing with the technical application of radiation, including x-rays, beta rays, gamma rays, ultra sound and radio frequency rays, in diagnosis and treatment (Section 3).
“X-ray technologist” is defined as a bona fide holder of a certificate of registration for x-ray technology issued by the Board in accordance with the Act (Section 3).
“Radiologic technologist” is defined as a bona fide holder of a certificate of registration for radiologic technology issued by the Board in accordance with the Act (Section 3).
“Radiology” is defined as a branch of medical science dealing with use of radiation in diagnosis, treatment, and research (Section 3).
“Radiologist” is defined as a licensed physician specializing in diagnosis or treatment using radiation (Section 3).
“Medical physicist” is defined as a physicist specializing in application of physics principles and techniques in medicine (Section 3).
“Board” refers to the Board of Radiologic Technology; “Commission” refers to the Professional Regulation Commission (Section 3).

Board creation, composition, and qualifications

Section 6 creates a Board of Radiologic Technology composed of a Chairman and four (4) members, all appointed by the President upon recommendation of the Commission.
The Commission recommends three (3) radiologic technologists from a list submitted by the association of radiologic technologists; one (1) radiologist from a list submitted by the association of radiologists; and one (1) medical physicist from a list submitted by the association of medical physicists (Section 6).
The appointing lists by the associations must come from associations accredited under Presidential Decree No. 223 (Section 6).
Each Board member must be: (a) a citizen and resident of the Philippines; (b) of good moral character; (c) at least thirty (30) years of age; and (d) neither a faculty member (full time, part time, or lecturer) of any school teaching a regular course in radiologic technology nor has any pecuniary interest, directly or indirectly, in such institution during the Board term (Section 7).
Three (3) Board members (including the Chairman) must be radiologic technologists with at least ten (10) years practice as radiologic technologists; the three (3) appointed as members of the first Board are deemed automatically registered as radiologic technologists upon assumption of duties (Section 7).
One (1) Board member must be a radiologist with at least ten (10) years practice as a radiologist (Section 7).
One (1) Board member must be a medical physicist with at least ten (10) years practice as a medical physicist (Section 7).

Term, supervision, and Board powers

Board members hold office for a term of three (3) years from appointment until successors are appointed and duly qualified (Section 8).
For the first appointees, the Chairman serves three (3) years, two (2) members serve two (2) years, and two (2) members serve one (1) year; vacancies are filled only for the unexpired term (Section 8).
The Board is under the general supervision of the Commission (Section 12).
The Board enforces the Act, administers oaths, and issues certificates of registration after due investigation; it may suspend or revoke certificates of registration for radiologic technology and x-ray technology (Section 9).
The Board investigates violations of the Act or its rules and regulations, may issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum, and may compel attendance and production of books, papers, and documents; it may cite and punish for contempt (Section 9).
The Board conducts yearly board examinations for radiologic technology and x-ray technology examinees under supervision of the Commission (Section 9).
The Board adopts measures to maintain standards and ethics and promulgates rules and regulations necessary to carry out the Act, but such rules must be issued only after approval by the Commission (Section 9; also Section 13).
The Board adopts a seal to authenticate official documents (Section 9).
The Board’s annual report duty requires it to submit to the Commission, at the end of each calendar year, an annual report of activities and proceedings; the Commission may request other information or data as necessary and practicable (Section 14).
Board compensation is the same as members of other Boards under the supervision of the Commission as provided for in the General Appropriations Act (Section 10).

Removal, records, and Board rules

A Board member may be removed by the President upon the Commission’s recommendation for neglect of duty, incompetence, or unprofessional, immoral, or dishonorable conduct, or commission or toleration of irregularities in the conduct of examinations; removal requires the member be given opportunity to defend himself in an administrative investigation conducted by the Commission (Section 11).
No Board record may be removed, altered, or examined without prior Board authorization (Section 12).
All records, including examination papers, examination results, minutes of deliberation, and records of administrative cases and investigations of the Board, are kept by the Commission (Section 12).
The Board sets ethical and professional standards and adopts rules and regulations subject to Commission approval; such standards and rules take effect one (1) month after publication in any newspaper of general circulation (Section 13).

Practice requirement, titles, and examination system

No person may practice or offer to practice as a radiologic technologist and/or x-ray technologist in the Philippines without obtaining the proper certificate of registration from the Board, unless exempt from examinations under Sections 16 and 17 (Section 15).
A person may not use the title “X-ray Technologist” or any title conveying the impression that he is an x-ray technologist without having been issued a certificate of registration as x-ray technologist by the Commission in the manner provided in the Act (Section 4).
A person may not use the title “Radiologic Technologist” or any title conveying the impression that he is a radiologic technologist without having been issued a certificate of registration as radiologic technologist by the Commission in the manner provided in the Act (Section 5).

What constitutes “practice” of technology

The practice of x-ray technology includes any and all acts by which one renders, furnishes, or contracts to render or furnish professional service as an x-ray technologist (Section 4).
X-ray technologists are also deemed practicing when employment requires professional knowledge in x-ray technology and requires that the holder be an x-ray technologist (Section 4).
The Act does not disqualify other professionals duly registered with the Commission from performing the acts described in Sections 4 and 5, provided their professions’ governing laws allow them (Sections 4, 5).
The practice of radiologic technology includes any and all acts by which one renders, furnishes, or contracts to render or furnish professional service as a radiologic technologist (Section 5).
Radiologic technologists are also deemed practicing when employment requires professional knowledge in radiologic technology and requires that the holder be a radiologic technologist (Section 5).

Exemptions from examinations and registration

Examinations are not required of: (a) the first members of the Board as provided in Section 7(b); and (b) those who, prior to approval of the Act, passed certain civil service or private sector or chest x-ray technician examinations, or proficiency examination for medical radiation technicians administered by the Department of Health through specified offices (Section 16).
Persons exempt under Section 16 must register with the Board after complying with registration requirements as radiologic technologists (Section 16).
Examinations are not required of: (a) the first members of the Board as provided in Section 7(b); (b) radiologic technologists from other countries invited for lectures or consultation or as visiting or exchange professors to government-recognized colleges or universities, provided they are legally qualified to practice in their own state or country and first secure a special from the Board valid as the Board determines; and the privilege applies only if their countries give similar privilege to Filipino counterparts (Section 17).
Radiologic technologists exempt under Section 17 in categories (a), (c), and (d) must register with the Board after complying with registration requirements as radiologic technologists (Section 17).
Examinations are also not required of those who, prior to approval of the Act, passed specified Department of Health medical radiation technologist proficiency examinations and those who passed specified x-ray technician/civil service or private sector or medical radiation technologist proficiency examinations with ten (10) years continuous practice of radiologic technology after passing one of the listed examinations (Section 17).

Mandatory examinations, prerequisites, and scope

Applicants for registration as radiologic technologists and x-ray technologists must undergo an examination given once a year by the Board through the Commission, according to the Commission’s rules and at the time and place determined by the Commission, except where exempted under the Act or other existing laws (Section 18).
Before admission to examination, every applicant must establish to the Board’s satisfaction that he: (a) is a Filipino citizen; (b) is of good moral character and has not been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude; and (c) holds the required degree/diploma: a baccalaureate degree in radiologic technology from a government-recognized school/college/university for radiologic technology examination, or an associate in radiologic technology diploma from a government-recognized school/college/university for x-ray technology examination (Section 19).
The x-ray technology examination covers subjects with weights unless the Board changes or modifies them: Radiation Physics (10%); Radiobiology and Radiation Protection (10%); Equipment Maintenance (10%); Radiographic Positioning (10%); Radiographic Technique (10%); Special Procedures (10%); Anatomy, Physiology and Medical Terminology (15%); Photochemistry and Darkroom Procedures (10%); Film Analysis (5%); Nursing and Department Procedures in Radiology (5%); Professional Ethics (5%) (Section 20).
The radiologic technology examination covers subjects with weights unless the Board changes or modifies them: Radiation Physics and Equipment Maintenance (10%); Radiobiology and Radiation Protection (10%); Radiographic Positioning (10%); Radiographic Technique (10%); Special Procedures (10%); Anatomy, Physiology and Medical Terminology (10%); Photochemistry and Film Analysis (10%); Nursing and Departmental Procedures in Radiology and Professional Ethics (5%); Ultrasound (5%); Radiation Therapy (5%); Nuclear Medicine (5%); Radiologic Pathology (5%); Computed Tomography/Magnetic Resonance Imaging (5%) (Section 21).

Ratings, passing rules, and reexamination

The Board must report each candidate’s examination rating to the Commission within one hundred twenty (120) days from completion of the examination; the Commission must submit the report to the President for approval (Section 22).
A candidate passes the examination by obtaining a weighted average of at least 75% with no rating below 60% in any subject (Section 22).
If a candidate achieves a weighted average of 75% or higher but gets a rating below 60% in any subject, he is allowed a reexamination only in the subjects where he obtained below 60%; the reexamination is taken in the next scheduled examination, as far as practicable (Section 22).
For the second examination, the examinee must obtain a rating of 75% in each repeated subject (Section 22).
If the examinee still fails the reexamination, he is required, as far as practicable, to repeat the failed subjects in the succeeding examination (Section 22).
If an applicant fails to qualify after the third examination, the applicant must repeat the entire examination (Section 22).

Oath, certificates, and registration fees

Successful examinees must take a professional oath before the Board or before any person authorized by the Board to administer oaths prior to practice as radiologic technologists and/or x-ray technologists (Section 23).
Every applicant who passes the required examination is issued a certificate of registration as radiologic technologist and/or x-ray technologist upon payment of the registration fee under Section 25 (Section 24).
The Board issues corresponding certificates to persons applying who are exempt from examination under Sections 16 and 17, subject to review by the Commission (Section 24).
Each certificate of registration must contain the registrant’s full name, serial number, the Commissioner’s signature, date of issuance, and the Board’s official seal duly affixed (Section 24).
Registration and examination-related fees are fixed as follows unless otherwise fixed by the Commission (Section 25):
- For application for examination: P 350.00
- For registration after passing the board examinations: P 250.00
- For registration without examination: P 250.00
- For replacement of lost or destroyed certificate of registration: P 100.00
- For re-issuance of revoked certificate: P 100.00

Penal sanctions for unlawful practice

Section 26 punishes any person who practices radiologic technology and/or x-ray technology in the Philippines within the meaning of the Act with any of the enumerated attending circumstances, upon conviction by final judgment, with a fine of not less than Ten thousand pesos (P 10,000) nor more than Forty thousand pesos (P40,000), or imprisonment of not less than one (1) year nor more than six (6) years, or both, at the discretion of the court.
Punishable attending circumstances include: practicing without a certificate of registration in accordance with the Act (Section 26).
Punishable attending circumstances include presenting or using as one’s own the certificate of registration of another person (Section 26).
Punishable attending circumstances include using an expired license, or a suspended or revoked certificate of registration (Section 26).
Punishable attending circumstances include giving any false or forged evidence to the Board to obtain a certificate of registration (Section 26).
Punishable attending circumstances include posing or advertising as a registered radiologic and/or x-ray technologist or using any other means tending to convey the impression of being a registered radiologic and/or x-ray technologist (Section 26).
Punishable attending circumstances include any violation of any provision of the Act (Section 26).

Appropriations, repeal, and effectivity

The compensation of Board members is included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following approval of the Act and thereafter (Section 27).
All laws, decrees, orders, and other issuances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the Act are repealed or modified accordingly (Section 28).
The Act takes effect one (1) month after its publication in any newspaper of general circulation (Section 30).