West Virginia Radiologic Technologist License — Requirements & Application

West Virginia requires an individual license for radiologic technologists, administered by the West Virginia Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Technology Board of Examiners. See the At-a-Glance table above for the current fee and processing time. The Board’s governing rule was filed April 2, 2026, and took effect July 1, 2026 — a substantial rewrite that changed several longstanding requirements, so if you’ve seen older information about West Virginia RT licensing elsewhere, some of it may now be out of date. If you come across an older Board form or a third-party site showing a $100 application fee, that reflects the prior fee schedule; $92 is the figure under the rule effective July 1, 2026. Once licensed, see our West Virginia Radiologic Technologist License Renewal Guide for how to keep it active.

West Virginia relies on national certification rather than a separate state exam. ARRT certification is required for the Radiologic Technologist category (with NMTCB, ARMRIT, or ASPMA required for the other license categories the Board covers), and the Board verifies that certification directly rather than administering its own clinical exam.

What Makes West Virginia Different

West Virginia’s out-of-state pathway isn’t a profession-specific reciprocity rule — it runs through the state’s broader Universal Professional and Occupational Licensing Act of 2025, via a “Universal Licensing Application” ($92, the same as the standard application fee). This is a structural difference worth knowing if you’re researching reciprocity: you won’t find a dedicated radiologic-technology-specific endorsement provision, because the pathway for out-of-state licensees is handled through general state licensing-portability law instead.

West Virginia also offers fee waivers not common in every state: low-income individuals in the local labor market and military families can have their initial licensure fees waived entirely, and military families on active duty can additionally request a waiver of renewal fees while serving.

Interstate Portability

West Virginia is not part of any interstate licensure compact for radiologic technologists — no such compact currently exists nationally for this profession. The state’s Universal Licensing Application, available to technologists already licensed in another state, functions as its practical alternative to a compact, though it’s a general state law rather than a profession-specific portability agreement. Travel RTs still need an active West Virginia license before practicing in the state; ARRT certification alone does not substitute for it.

Requirements for West Virginia RT Licensure

• National certification: Active ARRT certification (or NMTCB, ARMRIT, or ASPMA, depending on license category)
• Education: Completion of an approved program meeting current JRCERT standards, or a program the Board has determined programmatically equivalent
• Application fee: $92, paid by credit card or other electronic means
• Criminal history: Disclosed on the application; the Board evaluates any prior conviction using a “rational nexus” test rather than an automatic bar — considering the nature and seriousness of the offense, time elapsed, its relationship to fitness to practice, and evidence of rehabilitation

If you have a criminal record and want to know where you stand before formally applying, West Virginia allows you to petition the Board for an eligibility determination in advance; if you’re found eligible and proceed to apply, the petition fee is credited toward your application fee.

Applicants with a disqualifying conviction may still apply for initial licensure if five years have passed since the conviction or incarceration (whichever is later), no other crime has been committed since, and the conviction wasn’t violent or sexual in nature.

How to Apply for a West Virginia RT License

1. Obtain ARRT certification (or the appropriate national certification for your license category)
2. Complete the online application through the Board’s Online Applications portal, submitting verification of your current national certification status
3. Pay the $92 application fee by credit card or other electronic means
4. If applicable, submit a low-income or military family waiver request in the Board’s prescribed format to have the application fee waived
5. The Board issues eligible applicants a license within 30 days of receiving a properly completed application and fee

If you’re already licensed in another state, you’ll apply through the Universal Licensing Application pathway instead, under West Virginia’s Universal Professional and Occupational Licensing Act of 2025 — the fee is the same $92.

Practical Notes for West Virginia Licensing

• If you researched West Virginia licensing before July 2026, check your information again. The Board’s governing rule was substantially rewritten and took effect July 1, 2026. Fees, the renewal structure, and the reciprocity pathway all changed — older guides, including automated or AI-generated summaries, may not reflect the current rule.
• Display your license at work — you don’t need to carry it personally. West Virginia’s requirement is to prominently display your license at your place of employment (or provide documentation of current licensure on request), not carry a card with you at all times the way some states require.
• Ask about fee waivers if you qualify. Low-income applicants and military families can have initial licensure fees waived entirely — this isn’t always advertised prominently, so it’s worth asking about directly if it applies to you.
• Keep your contact information current with the Board. You’re required to notify the Board within 30 days of any change to your legal name, address, contact information, or place of employment — not just at renewal time.

Relevant Statutes

• Title 18, Series 1 — West Virginia Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Technology Board of Examiners (filed April 2, 2026; effective July 1, 2026)
• W. Va. Code §30-23 — Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Technology practice act

Related Pages

• West Virginia Radiologic Technologist License Renewal — Requirements and Process
• Radiologic Technologist Licensing by State — Complete Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Does West Virginia require a state license for radiologic technologists?

Yes. The West Virginia Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Technology Board of Examiners issues licenses required to practice medical imaging or radiation therapy in the state. Source: Title 18, Series 1

Do I need to pass a separate West Virginia state exam?

No. West Virginia requires verification of active national certification (ARRT for radiography) rather than administering its own separate exam. Source: Title 18, Series 1

How much does a West Virginia RT license application cost?

$92, per the current fee schedule effective July 1, 2026. Source: Title 18, Series 1, §18-1-4.6

Does West Virginia offer reciprocity for technologists licensed in another state?

Yes, through a Universal Licensing Application under West Virginia’s Universal Professional and Occupational Licensing Act of 2025, rather than a profession-specific endorsement rule. The fee is the same $92 as a standard application. Source: Title 18, Series 1

Is there an interstate compact for radiologic technologists that includes West Virginia?

No. There is currently no interstate licensure compact for radiologic technologists in the United States. West Virginia’s Universal Licensing Application serves a similar practical purpose for out-of-state licensees, but it’s general state law rather than a profession-specific compact. Source: Title 18, Series 1