What the District of Columbia'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 It is not comprehensive and not always accurate: rules change, and answers may be incomplete, out of date or wrong.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 DC Department of Health (DC Health), Health Regulation and Licensing Administration, Division of Radiation Control and Medical Devices (also called the Radiation Protection Division) as the agency that regulates X-ray and fluoroscopy equipment in the District of Columbia. District of Columbia is not a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Agreement State, so the NRC regulates radioactive materials there directly. The state still regulates X-ray machines.
DC Health posts Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD) model 'Suggested State Regulations' (Part D, March 2003; Part F, December 2001) with unfilled placeholders, so it is unconfirmed whether this is DC's adopted text. In that text, ALARA sits in the shared Part D covering both registrants and licensees. Dose limits match federal ones, including a 150 mSv/yr lens limit. Fluoroscopy staff must be protected by aprons or whole-body protective barriers of at least 0.25 mm lead equivalent. DC is not an NRC Agreement State. Law 25-191 (2024) will license radiologic technologists, including cardiovascular-interventional technologists, under physician or APRN supervision, with licenses required one year after implementing regulations. The 2024 Radiation Protection Act is marked Not Funded and is not in force.
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.
No. DC is not an NRC Agreement State; DC Health's radioactive material license application link goes to nrc.gov.
the term shall not include nuclear radiation regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory CommissionThis quote was matched word for word to the source page.
Unclear which text is legally in force. DC Health says it enforces DCMR Title 20, Chapters 20-22, but posts CRCPD model Parts A-X (Part F, Diagnostic X-Rays, Dec. 2001 text) with unfilled placeholders. The official DCMR X-ray chapter was not found.
The Radiation Protection Division enforces the Radiation Protection Standards (DCMR Title 20, Chapters 20-22)This quote was matched word for word to the source page.
Yes, in posted Part D: each licensee or registrant must use procedures and engineering controls to keep occupational doses ALARA, with a program review at least every 12 months. Adoption status of the text is unclear.
Where ALARA lives in the District of Columbia: Only in a rule shared with radioactive materials. ALARA wording appears only in the unified posted Part D, which applies to both licensees and registrants. Part F does not use the ALARA phrase but has an X-ray-specific rule (F.3a.ix) requiring procedures and equipment that minimize personnel exposure. DC is not an Agreement State, so NRC compatibility does not formally bind it, though Part D follows the CRCPD model based on 10 CFR Part 20. (Posted Part D § D.1101(b); posted Part F § F.3a.ix.)
occupational doses and doses to members of the public 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) TEDE per year (50 mSv), per posted Part D.
0.15 Sv (15 rem) per year (150 mSv), per posted Part D; no lower limit adopted and nothing reflecting the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) 20 mSv was found.
A lens dose equivalent of 0.15 Sievert (15 rem)This quote was matched word for word to the source page.
Shallow dose to skin or any extremity: 0.5 Sv (50 rem) per year (500 mSv), per posted Part D.
5 mSv (0.5 rem) to the embryo/fetus of a declared pregnant woman over the whole pregnancy, per posted Part D.
When a worker must wear a dosimeter, and where.
Dosimetry is required for adults likely to exceed 10% of the D.1201(a) limits, minors above lower thresholds, declared pregnant women likely to exceed 1 mSv (0.1 rem), entrants to high or very high radiation areas, and, listed separately, individuals working with medical fluoroscopic equipment (as written, without reference to the 10% threshold).
Individuals working with medical fluoroscopic equipmentThis quote was matched word for word to the source page.
Single badge: at the neck (collar) outside the apron; the reported deep dose counts as effective dose, multiplied by 0.3 if above 25% of the limit. Two badges: waist under the apron and neck outside it; effective dose = 1.5 × waist + 0.04 × neck; the second badge is required for a declared pregnant woman. Lens badge: at the collar or an unshielded spot closer to the eye. Fetal badge: under the apron at the waist. National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) 122 and Webster are not cited by name.
it shall be located at the neck (collar) outside the protective apronThis quote was matched word for word to the source page.
Protective apparel, how it is checked, and whether other systems are addressed.
Staff must be protected from scatter by aprons or whole-body protective barriers of at least 0.25 mm lead equivalent. Anyone whose body could be in the useful beam needs at least 0.5 mm. Sufficient leaded aprons and gloves must be available. For fluoroscopy, under-table scatter must be attenuated by at least 0.25 mm; above the table, staff must be 120 cm from the beam center or behind an extra 0.25 mm (drapes, Bucky-slot cover, curtains), with exemptions for sterile fields. No thyroid shield or eyewear requirement was found.
protective aprons or whole body protective barriers of not less than 0.25 millimeter lead equivalent materialThis quote was matched word for word to the source page.
not found
Each facility shall have leaded aprons and gloves available in sufficient numbersThis quote was matched word for word to the source page.
Engineered radiation protection systems are not addressed by name. Posted Part F accepts whole-body protective barriers (at least 0.25 mm lead equivalent) as an alternative to aprons for scatter protection; drapes and curtains count as additional shielding on top of the apron. Nothing comparable to Arizona SB 1121 or Illinois 32 Ill. Adm. Code 360 was found.
protective aprons or whole body protective barriers of not less than 0.25 millimeter lead equivalent materialThis quote was matched word for word to the source page.
Who may use fluoroscopy equipment and what training the rules ask for.
Posted Part F: equipment is used by, or under the supervision of, a licensed healing-arts practitioner, by adequately instructed and competent operators. D.C. Law 25-191 (effective July 19, 2024) creates medical radiation technologist licensure, including cardiovascular-interventional technologist, radiographer and radiologist assistant, practicing under supervision of a licensed physician or APRN. Licenses are not required until one year after implementing regulations take effect. No fluoroscopy-specific rule for PAs or NPs operating equipment themselves was found.
A person licensed under this title may only practice under the supervision of a licensed physician or a licensed advanced practice registered nurse.This quote was matched word for word to the source page.
Licensure requires graduation from an accredited program (e.g., JRCERT), passing a national certification exam recognized by the Board of Medicine, and other requirements set by rule; hours and continuing education are left to regulations, which were not found. Posted Part F requires instructed, competent operators, with Appendix A subject areas. No state fluoroscopy permit or required physician fluoroscopy training hours were found.
Passed a national certification examination from a body recognized by the BoardThis quote was matched word for word to the source page.
Rules, bills and guidance the research found from 2025 and 2026, with the ones that touch fluoroscopy teams first.
Effective Mar. 7, 2025 but every section marked [Not Funded]; not in force until its cost is included in an approved budget (Mar 7, 2025)
If funded, would require a license, certification or registration to operate ionizing radiation machines (exempting licensed medical radiation technologists), authorize new rules on use standards, and repeal the 1990 Low-Level Radioactive Waste Act.
Awaiting implementing regulations; could not determine whether proposed or adopted
Licensure of medical radiation technologists, including cardiovascular-interventional technologists, becomes mandatory one year after implementing regulations take effect.
Not directly binding on DC
Not directly binding on DC since it is not an Agreement State.
Enacted; changes not reviewed (Mar 24, 2026)
Both amended the health-occupation definitions in § 3-1201.02; the changes were not reviewed. The March 24, 2026 date is given for Law 26-105.
Questions the research could not settle. If you know the answer, tell us.
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