ISRRT

Radiographer / Radiological
Technologist Definition

Adopted by ISRRT Council

August 2021
 ISRRT Radiographer/Radiological Technologist Definition
Adopted by ISRRT Council August 2021

The ISRRT acknowledges there are differing terms used nationally and by intergovernmental
organizations such as the WHO, ILO and the IAEA to describe the radiography profession
around the globe. The International Standard Classifications of Occupations (ISCO) organisation
and the International Safety Standards publication have used differing terms to describe
persons in the radiography profession according to tasks and duties performed or according to
responsibilities for application of the principles of radiation protection and safety during
exposure situations. The ISRRT agrees to use the term radiographer/radiological technologist in
ISRRT documents.
The ISRRT will advocate the use of the term radiographer/radiological technologist to the public
and at international, regional or national professional stakeholder’s meetings.
Radiographers/radiological technologists are medical imaging and radiotherapy healthcare
professionals who play a vital part of the multidisciplinary healthcare team. These professionals
play a critical role in the delivery of health services to patients for diagnostic, therapeutic and
research purposes and those who support the delivery of these services using ionizing radiation
(x-ray), sound waves, magnetically induced radio signals, or radioactive materials to produce a
diagnostic image or treat a patient. Radiographers/radiological technologists are educationally
prepared and clinically competent with legal authorization to perform imaging or therapeutic
procedures. Where permissible by regulation or law, radiographers/radiological technologists
are fully accountable autonomous practitioners. The following are examples
radiographers/radiological technologist modalities and specialties:

• Bone Densitometry
• Cardiac-Interventional and Vascular-Interventional Radiography
• Conventional Radiography (including Dental Radiography)
• Computed Tomography (CT)
• Delivery of Radiation Therapy Treatments
• Emergency Radiography
• Fluoroscopy
• Lithotripsy

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 • Magnetic Resonance (MR)
• Mammography
• Nuclear Medicine
• On Treatment Review and Support
• Radiation Safety and Quality Assurance
• Treatment Planning
• Ultrasound or Sonography
These Modalities or Specialties include all respective subspecialties under them e.g., SPECT,
PET, PET CT, etc. under nuclear medicine
Radiographers/radiological technologists:

• think critically, use independent, professional and ethical judgment while integrating
scientific knowledge, interdisciplinary communications, technical competence and
patient interaction skills to provide safe and accurate procedures as an integral member
of a multidisciplinary healthcare team.
• are professionally accountable to patients’ physical and psychosocial wellbeing, prior to,
during and following procedures.
• take an active role in justification and optimization of medical imaging and
radiotherapeutic procedures and act as an interface between the patient and the
technology in medical imaging and radiation therapy.
• are essential healthcare workers in radiation safety for patients, healthcare personnel
and the public in accordance with the “As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA)”
principle and relevant legislation.
• practice independently and where permissible are accountable autonomous
practitioners and provide safe, high quality, person-centered care while maintaining
knowledge about radiation protection and safety and adhering to all rules and standards
within their country’s ethical legal practice framework.
• have responsibility for the outcome of the procedure and for patient-centered care
before, during and after the procedure, and for the timely authorized distribution of
clinical information (including medical images) to promote the progress of the care
pathway and allow for consultation with other health practitioners.
• have responsibility for quality assurance, quality control and quality improvement as
part of the multidisciplinary healthcare team.
• are responsible to engage in evidence-based practice and critically monitor their actions
through a range of reflective processes.

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References and Suggested Further Reading:

"20th International Conference of Labor Statisticians in Geneva during 10-19 October,

2018" https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_646530/lang--
en/index.htm

International Labor Office (ILO) report, radiographers are defined in the sub-group 3211
as “Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Equipment Technicians”, (PART III:
DEFINITIONS OF MAJOR GROUPS, SUB-MAJOR GROUPS, MINOR GROUPS AND
UNIT GROUPS [Internet]. [cited 2020/01/25]. Available from:
URL https://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/stat/isco/docs/groupdefn08.pdf

What is a radiographer? What is a radiologist? [Internet]. Healthdirect.gov.au. 2020

[cited 26 January 2020]. Available from: "Healthdirect.gov.au" links
to https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/what-is-a-radiographer-what-is-a-radiologist

The ASRT Practice Standards for Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy
https://www.asrt.org/main/standards-and-regulations/professional-practice/practice-
standards-online
Medical imaging technologist -Allied Health Professions Australia
https://ahpa.com.au/allied-health-professions/diagnostic-radiographer-medical-imaging-
technologist
CAMRT MRT Profession
Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists | MRT Profession (camrt.ca)
https://www.camrt.ca/mrt-profession/

UK HCPC Standards of proficiency for radiographers Radiographers | (hcpc-uk.org)

SCOR ‘Working as a radiographer in the United Kingdom’ Working in the UK | SoR

"EFRS" links to https://api.efrs.eu/api/assets/publications/348

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"Wikipedia.com" links to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiographer

"Encyclopedia.com" links to https://www.encyclopedia.com/medicine/encyclopedias-

almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/radiologic-technology

"TheFreeDictionary.com" links to https://medical-

dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Radiology+technologist

Note:

Links to external websites may change without notice.