What Arizona's rules say about ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable), dose limits in millisieverts (mSv), dosimeters, aprons and training for the people who work in fluoroscopy labs.
Please double-check this information. This is an ORSIF research summary, researched November 3, 2026. It is not comprehensive and not always accurate: rules change, and answers may be incomplete, out of date or wrong. It is education, not legal advice. Not yet reviewed by a regulatory expert. Confirm each requirement at the source linked beside the answer, with the state program and with your facility's radiation safety officer. How this was made
ORSIF's research identified the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), Public Health Licensing Services, Bureau of Radiation Control as the agency that regulates X-ray and fluoroscopy equipment in Arizona. Arizona is a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Agreement State: it has signed an agreement with the NRC to regulate certain radioactive materials itself.
ADHS Bureau of Radiation Control regulates X-ray under 9 A.A.C. 7. ALARA applies to licensees and registrants through the shared Article 4. Dose limits are the standard US values: 50 mSv whole body, 150 mSv lens, 500 mSv skin and extremities, and 5 mSv embryo/fetus. Rules require 0.25 mm Pb aprons in the fluoroscopy room, annual apron checks, and dosimeters for fluoroscopy staff. SB 1121 (2026) bars hospitals from requiring aprons in cardiac cath rooms with radiation protection systems, but R9-7-606 has not been visibly amended. Article 4 and 6 text came from Cornell LII, and post-2022 amendments were not checked.
Every answer names the rule it comes from. Open "Rule text and source" to read the citation, the source page and, where it could be matched, the exact wording.
Which rules apply, and whether ALARA is among them.
Yes. Arizona is an NRC Agreement State; an ADHS rulemaking document also says so.
9 A.A.C. 7, Article 6, "Use of X-rays in the Healing Arts" (R9-7-601 to -615), with fluoroscopy at R9-7-606. Standards for protection are in Article 4 (R9-7-401 to -455). The official chapter is Supp. 22-3. The Article 4 and 6 text was read on Cornell LII.
This Chapter contains rules that were filed to be codified in the Arizona Administrative Code between the dates of July 1, 2022 through September 30, 2022This quote was matched word for word to the source page.
Yes. R9-7-407(B) applies to licensees and registrants, so X-ray registrants are covered. Class B and C X-ray registrants are exempt only from the program record-keeping rules.
Where ALARA lives in Arizona: In a shared rule and in X-ray-specific language. The regulatory ALARA requirement is in the shared Article 4 (R9-7-402, -407(B)), which applies to licensees and registrants. No ALARA wording was found in the Article 6 sections read. A.R.S. § 36-420.06 separately uses the ALARA standard for hospital cardiac cath rooms. (R9-7-402; R9-7-407(B); A.R.S. § 36-420.06(A))
The licensee or registrant shall use, to the extent practical, procedures and engineering controls based upon sound radiation protection principles to achieve occupational doses and public doses that are as low as is reasonably achievable (ALARA).This quote was matched word for word to the source page.
The annual limits for workers, written in millisieverts (mSv). Ten mSv equal one rem.
0.05 Sv (5 rem) = 50 mSv TEDE per year
0.15 Sv (15 rem) = 150 mSv per year. No lower lens limit or 20 mSv International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) limit was found.
a. A lens dose equivalent of 0.15 Sv (15 rem), and b. A shallow dose equivalent of 0.5 Sv (50 rem) to the skin of the whole body or to the skin of any extremity.This quote was matched word for word to the source page.
0.5 Sv (50 rem) = 500 mSv shallow dose equivalent to the skin or any extremity
a. A lens dose equivalent of 0.15 Sv (15 rem), and b. A shallow dose equivalent of 0.5 Sv (50 rem) to the skin of the whole body or to the skin of any extremity.This quote was matched word for word to the source page.
5 mSv (0.5 rem) to the embryo/fetus of a declared pregnant woman for the pregnancy
When a worker must wear a dosimeter, and where.
A dosimeter is required for adults likely to get more than 10% of a limit in a year. It is required regardless of dose for open-beam fluoroscopy operators and staff in the room, unless a registration condition relieves them. Declared pregnant women likely to exceed 1 mSv (0.1 rem) must also be monitored.
Individuals operating open beam fluoroscopic systems and ancillary personnel working in the room when the fluoroscopic system is in use, except when relieved of this requirement by registration conditionThis quote was matched word for word to the source page.
Single badge: neck outside the apron, with deep dose × 0.3 if the reading exceeds 25% of the limit. Two badges: waist under the apron × 1.5 plus neck outside × 0.04. Lens dose: badge at the neck or a closer unshielded spot. Declared pregnant women: second badge under the apron at the waist, with a qualified expert consulted if it reads more than 0.5 mSv in a month. Department-approved methods are allowed. National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) 122 and Webster are not named.
If only one individual monitoring device is used and it is located at the neck outside the protective apron, and the reported dose exceeds 25% of the limit specified in subsection (A), the reported deep-dose equivalent value multiplied by 0.3 is the effective dose equivalentThis quote was matched word for word to the source page.
Protective apparel, how it is checked, and whether other systems are addressed.
Aprons of at least 0.25 mm lead equivalent are required in the fluoroscopy room for each person except the patient likely exposed to 50 µSv/hr (5 mR/hr) or more. Drapes and panels are required for some systems and may not substitute for an apron. Thyroid shields and eyewear are not specifically required, but the Department may specify additional devices. SB 1121 changes the apron rule for hospital cardiac cath rooms.
Ensure that protective aprons of at least 0.25 millimeter lead equivalent are worn in the fluoroscopy room by each person, except the patient, whose body is likely to be exposed to 50 µSv/hr (5 mR/hr) or more.This quote was matched word for word to the source page.
Yes, annually. Aprons, gloves and shields must be checked for holes, tears and breaks. Defective items must be replaced or removed from service, and records kept for 3 years. No method is specified.
The registrant shall check radiation protective equipment for reliability and integrity defects on an annual basis, as follows: a. Aprons, gloves, and shields shall be checked for holes, tears, and breaks.This quote was matched word for word to the source page.
Yes, by statute. A.R.S. § 36-420.06 (SB 1121) bars hospitals from requiring lead aprons in cardiac catheterization rooms when a radiation protection system (at least as protective as a 0.25 mm Pb apron) is in use. The radiation safety officer (RSO) may still require aprons under ALARA. Staff who skip the apron must wear a real-time dosimeter. R9-7-606(E)(3) has not been visibly amended.
Who may use fluoroscopy equipment and what training the rules ask for.
Licensed practitioners (MD, DO, dentists, podiatrists, chiropractors, naturopaths) and certificate holders working at their direction. PAs and NPs are listed in § 30-672(G); whether they may do fluoroscopy is unclear. Radiologist assistants may do fluoroscopy under radiologist supervision. Practical technologists may not use fluoroscopy. Residents and students are exempt under direction.
RT certificate: 24 months of approved study plus a national exam, and 24 hours of continuing education (CE) every 2 years. Radiologist assistants: 50 hours of CE every 2 years. Practical technologists: 6 hours every 2 years and no fluoroscopy. Registrants must give operators safety rules. No state fluoroscopy permit or physician fluoroscopy training requirement was found.
Rules, bills and guidance the research found from 2025 and 2026, with the ones that touch fluoroscopy teams first.
effective (Feb 4, 2025)
Technologist certification rules.
enacted (Jun 19, 2026)
Adds A.R.S. § 36-420.06, which bars hospitals from requiring aprons in cardiac cath rooms that have a radiation protection system and requires real-time dosimeters for staff who skip the apron. Effective September 12, 2026, the legislature's general effective date for 2026 bills.
dead; failed on a tie vote in March 2026 (Jun 14, 2026)
Would have required hospitals to equip at least 50% of real-time X-ray procedure rooms with radiation protection systems, including real-time dosimetry, by July 1, 2027.
enacted (Apr 13, 2026)
Covers radiologic technologists and radiologist assistants, and the § 30-672(G) list including PAs and NPs.
Questions the research could not settle. If you know the answer, tell us.
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