What New Jersey'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 It is not comprehensive and not always accurate: rules change, and answers may be incomplete, out of date or wrong.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 New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Radiation Protection Element, Bureau of X-Ray Compliance as the agency that regulates X-ray and fluoroscopy equipment in New Jersey. New Jersey is a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Agreement State: it has signed an agreement with the NRC to regulate certain radioactive materials itself.
New Jersey's X-ray rules (N.J.A.C. 7:28) contain their own operator ALARA requirement (7:28-15.9(a)12) and also incorporate 10 CFR Part 20 by reference with automatic updating, so an NRC rule removing ALARA from Part 20 could change the shared part but not the X-ray-specific sentence. Dose limits are federal: 50 mSv whole body, 150 mSv lens, 500 mSv skin/extremities, and 5 mSv embryo/fetus; no lower eye limit has been adopted. Everyone in a fluoroscopy room during exposure must wear a 0.25 mm lead-equivalent apron, and aprons must be checked annually for breaks. Engineered shielding alternatives are not addressed. Licensed practitioners may operate fluoroscopy; technologists may only assist with a physician present; radiologist assistants may perform delegated fluoroscopy; nurses, NPs, and PAs are not licensed practitioners.
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. New Jersey is an NRC Agreement State; N.J.A.C. 7:28-1.6 builds NRC regulations into state law.
N.J.A.C. 7:28, Radiation Protection Programs: Subchapter 15 (Medical Diagnostic X-ray Installations; 15.5 fluoroscopy, 15.9 individual radiation safety), plus 7:28-7, 7:28-19, 7:28-22, and Subchapter 6 incorporating 10 CFR Part 20 by reference. DEP courtesy copy last amended October 20, 2025; chapter expires February 19, 2027.
this subchapter incorporates by reference 10 CFR Part 20, Standards for Protection Against Radiation.This quote was matched word for word to the source page.
Yes, as an operator requirement: no one may operate an X-ray machine unless they understand and use ALARA principles. Whether the federal ALARA program duty (10 CFR 20.1101(b), written for 'the licensee') binds X-ray registrants is unclear.
Where ALARA lives in New Jersey: In a shared rule and in X-ray-specific language. X-ray-specific ALARA in 7:28-15.9(a)12 is independent of Part 20. Subchapter 6 also incorporates Part 20's ALARA definition (amended to cover registered machines) and 20.1101. Under the automatic-update clause in 7:28-1.6(c), an NRC removal of ALARA from Part 20 could change the shared part, but not 15.9(a)12. (N.J.A.C. 7:28-1.6(c); 7:28-6.1(d)2; 7:28-15.9(a)12)
No person shall operate an ionizing-radiation-producing machine unless that person understands and uses the principles of radiation safety to keep radiation exposure as low as reasonably achievable.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.
5 rem (50 mSv) per year total effective dose equivalent, via 10 CFR 20.1201 applied to licensees or registrants.
10 CFR 20.1201, replace “licensee” with “licensee or registrant,” except in 10 CFR 20.1201(e)This quote was matched word for word to the source page.
15 rem (150 mSv) per year; no lower limit adopted.
A lens dose equivalent of 15 rems (0.15 Sv)This quote was matched word for word to the source page.
50 rem (500 mSv) per year shallow dose to skin or extremities.
0.5 rem (5 mSv) to the embryo/fetus of a declared pregnant worker over the pregnancy; declared-pregnant students reference National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) Report 116's 50 mrem (0.5 mSv) per month.
When a worker must wear a dosimeter, and where.
Registrants must supply and require dosimeters for anyone in a controlled area likely to exceed 25 mrem (0.25 mSv) in any 7 consecutive days, minors likely to exceed 10 mrem (0.1 mSv) in 7 days, anyone entering a high radiation area, and at least one visitor per group. Whether the federal 10% rule also applies to registrants is uncertain.
Each individual who enters a controlled area under such circumstances that he receives, or is likely to receive, a dose in excess of 25 millirems in any period of seven consecutive days;This quote was matched word for word to the source page.
No general placement rule for fluoroscopy staff. Handheld-unit operators wear a collar badge outside protective garments plus a ring badge; declared-pregnant students in fluoroscopy wear one badge at the neck outside the apron and one at the waist under it. No state-approved effective dose method found.
One device shall be worn at the neck level outside the protective apron and the other under the protective apron at the waist level;This quote was matched word for word to the source page.
Protective apparel, how it is checked, and whether other systems are addressed.
Everyone in a radiographic or fluoroscopic room during any exposure must wear an apron of at least 0.25 mm lead equivalent. Gloves of at least 0.25 mm lead equivalent are required when hands must be in the beam. A drape of at least 0.5 mm lead equivalent is required between patient and fluoroscopist. Thyroid shields are required only for handheld-unit operators. No eyewear requirement found.
Individuals who are present in a radiographic or fluoroscopic room during any exposure shall wear protective aprons of at least 0.25 mm lead equivalent during every exposure.This quote was matched word for word to the source page.
Yes. The fluoroscopy QC program requires an integrity check of aprons, gloves, gonadal and thyroid shields initially and annually (no breaks), done by appropriately trained facility personnel. The method (visual or fluoroscopic) is not specified.
Lead Aprons, Gloves, Gonadal and Thyroid Shield Integrity Check Initially and annually No breaks in protective garmentsThis quote was matched word for word to the source page.
Not addressed. The rules do not mention engineered radiation protection systems instead of aprons, and the apron rule has no exception.
Protective shielding, such as a drape, shall be in place between the patient and fluoroscopist and shall provide protection equivalent to at least 0.5 millimeters of lead;This quote was matched word for word to the source page.
Who may use fluoroscopy equipment and what training the rules ask for.
Licensed practitioners (physicians, osteopaths, podiatrists, dentists, chiropractors) may operate within their licenses without a technologist license. Licensed diagnostic technologists may only assist in fluoroscopy with a licensed physician physically in the room directing. Limited licenses exclude fluoroscopy. Radiologist assistants may perform delegated fluoroscopy under a radiologist. Students may not start exposures during fluoroscopy. Nurses, NPs, and PAs are not licensed practitioners.
Licensed practitioners do not include dental hygienists, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants or radiologist assistants.This quote was matched word for word to the source page.
Technologists need a state diagnostic license (Board exam, or Board acceptance of American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) or another state's license). Radiologist assistants need an RA license, a diagnostic license, and ARRT (or Board-approved) RA certification. No continuing education, separate fluoroscopy permit, or physician fluoroscopy training requirement was found.
the Board may accept a valid active certificate issued by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) or a valid active certificate or license as a radiologic technologist issued by another stateThis 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.
Adopted October 20, 2025
Proposed May 19, 2025. Changed 15.5 and 15.9 and added handheld-unit rules; the 0.25 mm apron rule and the ALARA sentence remain.
Introduced; in Senate Commerce Committee; appears pending (Feb 12, 2026)
Would change age and education requirements for technologists.
Appears pending
Would change age and education requirements for technologists.
Potential automatic carryover
Because of the automatic-update clause in 7:28-1.6(c), the NRC's final Part 20 rule could carry over into Subchapter 6.
Readoption due; no proposal found (Feb 19, 2027)
Chapter expires February 19, 2027, so a readoption is due.
Questions the research could not settle. If you know the answer, tell us.
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