Mississippi Radiologic Technologist Registration — Requirements & Application

Mississippi requires individual credentialing for radiologic technologists — but the state calls it “registration,” not a license, and that terminology carries through the entire regulation. See the At-a-Glance table above for the credential name, governing agency, and fee. The credential is administered by the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), Office of Licensure, under Chapter 7 of the Professional Licensure regulations. Once registered, see our Mississippi Radiologic Technologist Registration Renewal Guide for how to keep it active.

The pathway is narrow and specific: Mississippi requires applicants to already be an ARRT-registered Medical Radiologic Technologist. There’s no separate state exam and no distinct endorsement or reciprocity track described in the regulation — the same ARRT-based requirement applies to every applicant, regardless of where they previously practiced.

What Makes Mississippi Different

Mississippi’s registration requirement includes a citizenship provision not every state spells out explicitly: applicants must be a United States citizen or hold status as a legal resident alien, and this is a continuing requirement verified under oath — not just a one-time checkbox at initial application. The same oath-verified disclosure also covers mental competency, freedom from drug or alcohol dependency, and whether the applicant has had a license or registration suspended or revoked in another state, jurisdiction, or country — all as continuing, not just initial, requirements.

Mississippi also draws a sharp line between this registration and a separate, narrower credential: the Limited X-Ray Machine Operator (LXMO) permit. LXMO is regulated by a completely different agency — the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure — not MSDH. If you’re researching Mississippi radiography credentials and come across LXMO-specific information, know that it’s a different permit, different agency, and different rules from the general Radiologic Technologist Registration this page covers.

Interstate Portability

Mississippi is not part of any interstate licensure compact for radiologic technologists — no such compact currently exists nationally for this profession. Mississippi’s regulation does not describe a distinct endorsement or reciprocity pathway for technologists already registered or licensed elsewhere; the same ARRT-based registration process applies to everyone. Travel RTs still need an active Mississippi registration before practicing in the state; ARRT certification alone does not substitute for it.

Requirements for Mississippi RT Registration

• National certification: Registered Medical Radiologic Technologist through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)
• Citizenship or legal residency: U.S. citizen or legal resident alien status — a continuing requirement, not just verified at application
• Oath-verified disclosures: No history of being declared mentally incompetent (without subsequent restoration); freedom from alcohol or drug dependency; no license or registration suspended or revoked in another state, jurisdiction, or country — all continuing requirements
• Registration fee: $50, non-refundable

Separate registration types exist for Nuclear Medicine Technologist and Radiation Therapist, each requiring the corresponding national certification (ARRT and/or NMTCB, depending on specialty). A 6-month temporary permit is available for applicants who’ve completed a JRCERT- or JRCNMT-accredited program and qualified to sit for the appropriate ARRT or NMTCB exam — the application must be submitted within 1 year of graduation, and if the registration requirements aren’t completed within 6 months of filing, the application is considered abandoned.

How to Apply for Mississippi RT Registration

1. Obtain ARRT registration as a Medical Radiologic Technologist
2. Submit your application to MSDH’s Office of Licensure, Professional Licensure Division, with written evidence — verified under oath — of your ARRT registration and the citizenship, competency, and disciplinary-history disclosures
3. Pay the $50 registration fee by certified check, cashier’s check, or money order (fees are non-refundable)
4. Once registered, you’ll receive a Certificate of Registration (kept on record at your place of employment) and a Registration Identification Card (which you must carry at all times while providing services and show upon request)

Practical Notes for Mississippi Registration

• Mississippi regulations require registrants to carry the Registration Identification Card while providing services and present it upon request. Keep it accessible, not just filed away with your other paperwork.
• Watch for LXMO-specific information that doesn’t apply to you. Because Mississippi splits radiography credentialing across two agencies — MSDH for full Radiologic Technologist Registration, and the Board of Medical Licensure for the narrower LXMO permit — it’s easy to accidentally pull requirements, fees, or contact information meant for the other credential.
• The citizenship/residency requirement is ongoing, not one-time. If your immigration or residency status could change, be aware this is listed as a continuing requirement for registration, not just a box checked at initial application.
• Processing time isn’t published — plan accordingly. The regulation doesn’t specify a standard turnaround. Contact MSDH’s Professional Licensure Division directly for a current estimate if you’re coordinating a start date.

Relevant Statutes

• Regulations Governing Registration of Medical Radiation Technologists — Mississippi Administrative Code Title 15, Part 19, Subpart 60, Chapter 7 (amended June 27, 2023, effective July 27, 2023)
• Miss. Code Ann. § 41-58-1 et seq. — legal authority for the regulation

Related Pages

• Mississippi Radiologic Technologist Registration Renewal — Requirements and Process
• Radiologic Technologist Licensing by State — Complete Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Mississippi require a license for radiologic technologists?

Yes, though Mississippi calls it “registration” rather than a license. No person may practice medical radiation technology in Mississippi without being registered by MSDH, subject to limited statutory exceptions. Source: MSDH Regulations Governing Registration of Medical Radiation Technologists

Do I need to pass a separate Mississippi state exam?

No. Mississippi requires applicants to be a Registered Medical Radiologic Technologist through ARRT and does not administer its own separate exam for this credential. Source: MSDH Regulations Governing Registration of Medical Radiation Technologists

How much does Mississippi RT registration cost?

The initial registration fee is $50, non-refundable, payable by certified check, cashier’s check, or money order. Source: MSDH Regulations Governing Registration of Medical Radiation Technologists, Rule 7.9.2

Does Mississippi require proof of citizenship for RT registration?

Yes. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or hold legal resident alien status, and this is a continuing requirement, not just a one-time check at application. Source: MSDH Regulations Governing Registration of Medical Radiation Technologists, Rule 7.3.2

Is there an interstate compact for radiologic technologists that includes Mississippi?

No. There is currently no interstate licensure compact for radiologic technologists in the United States, and Mississippi’s own regulation does not describe a distinct reciprocity or endorsement pathway either — the same ARRT-based process applies to every applicant. Source: MSDH Regulations Governing Registration of Medical Radiation Technologists

Is the Limited X-Ray Machine Operator (LXMO) permit the same as RT registration?

No. LXMO is a separate, narrower credential regulated by the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure, not MSDH. It’s a different permit with different requirements and a different governing agency from the Radiologic Technologist Registration covered on this page. Source: MSDH Regulations Governing Registration of Medical Radiation Technologists, Rule 7.1.2