About Us
Our website may be new, but the West Virginia Society of Radiologic Technologists (WVSRT) has been a recognized affiliate of the ASRT since April 1952. Area and regional societies formed, especially during the years of our licensure legislation. Over time, most have dissolved but our state organization has remained viable and continues today.
West Virginia is one of 34 states with a licensure requirement for medical imaging (RE: radiographers, radiation therapy, nuclear medicine, magnetic resonance imaging). The licensure bill Chapter 30, Article 23, Section 1 of the West Virginia Code was passed by HB 483 on July 1, 1977. The Code was revised during the 2007 Legislative session. (See the WVRTboard.org for the complete legislation—or our link to this site—) West Virginia accepts the American Registry of Radiologic Technologist (ARRT) examinations as the qualification to obtain a license.
The members of the West Virginia Society of Radiologic Technologists, who helped in the formulation, primary passage, and revision of this law, have received little recognition beyond the doors of the WV legislature. Those movers and shakers of our profession who were instrumental in the passage of our licensure bill were visionaries.
Excerpt of Article, 23, Section 1: “The Legislature finds that in the interest of public health that:
- The people of this state should be protected from excessive and improper exposure to ionizing radiation, radioactive isotopes, radio waves, and magnetic fields energy; and
- A person performing medical imaging or radiation therapy technology in this state shall be licensed. Therefore, it is the purpose of this article to regulate the practice of medical imaging or radiation therapy in this state by requiring that a person have a license, apprentice license or permit when practicing medical imaging or radiation therapy technology
West Virginia was one of the first ten states to introduce the licensure and it remains one of the more comprehensive legislations, now encompassing other imaging modalities
that did not exist in 1977.
CARE bill link: http://capwiz.com/asrt/home/
As an affiliate of the ASRT, two members are selected to attend the annual ASRT governance meeting. They participate in commission reports, modality meetings, practice standards, position statements, and bylaw revisions; and cast votes to give West Virginia technologists a voice in our professional society. Participation in this national meeting is an opportunity to interact with our fellow technologists and it provides enrichment to the individuals who attend and to the state society as they help WVSRT remain active within the ASRT.
A similar activity, RT in DC, allows West Virginia technologists the opportunity to address our senators and representatives with issues supported by the ASRT in a national convergence of technologists in Washington.
As an affiliate of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, we share a common mission and purpose with the ASRT. We recently composed and adopted the following mission statement:
The mission of the West Virginia Society of Radiologic Technologists is to advance professional development by providing educational opportunities to imaging professionals that will include advances in health care in relation to technology, thus ensuring quality patient care within the scope of practice.
As our mission states, the WVSRT provides educational opportunities to imaging professionals in our annual conference. Traditionally held in the later part of October, the conference is rotated into various locations to offer closer proximity to the technologists of this geographically challenging state.
Joining the WVSRT
To those who are not currently members of the WVSRT, let this be a welcoming letter. If you haven’t attended a conference before, please come and join us in Morgantown this November. Come be a part of this organization and the next chapter in the WVSRT story could be about you.