Montana Radiologic Technologist License — Requirements & Application

Montana requires a state Radiologic Technologist License for individuals performing diagnostic radiography who meet the state’s licensure requirements, which include ARRT certification in radiography for the standard license — see the At-a-Glance table above for the credential name, governing agency, and fee. The license is administered by the Montana Board of Radiologic Technologists within the Department of Labor and Industry. Once licensed, see our Montana Radiologic Technologist License Renewal Guide for how to keep it active.

The Board regulates diagnostic radiologic technologists licensed under Title 37, Chapter 14. Individuals practicing in other imaging disciplines — such as CT, MRI, mammography, or radiation therapy — may be credentialed through employers or other mechanisms depending on the role. Applicants should verify employer-specific credential requirements for any modality outside diagnostic radiography.

What Makes Montana Different

Montana licenses two distinct credentials for this field: the standard Radiologic Technologist License, which requires full ARRT radiography certification, and a separate Limited Permit, for technologists working within a narrower scope (such as chest, extremities, skull and sinuses, spine, or abdomen/GI/hip-pelvis categories) who complete a shorter, 104-hour board-approved course or half of an ARRT-recognized program instead. These aren’t tiers of the same credential — they’re genuinely different pathways with different education and exam requirements.

Montana’s continuing education structure also splits by credential type in a way worth understanding early: standard, ARRT-certified license holders don’t track a separate Montana-specific CE hour count — they simply affirm they hold a current ARRT pocket card (the rule’s term for what today functions as current ARRT certification status) at renewal. Limited Permit holders, who don’t carry full ARRT certification, have their own distinct Montana CE requirement instead. More detail on this is in our renewal guide.

Interstate Portability

Montana is not part of any interstate licensure compact for radiologic technologists — no such compact currently exists nationally for this profession. Montana’s regulations don’t describe a distinct endorsement or reciprocity pathway either; all applicants go through the same standard licensure process, though the application does require official license verification from every state or jurisdiction where you currently hold or have ever held a license. Travel RTs still need an active Montana license before performing diagnostic radiography in the state; ARRT certification alone does not substitute for it.

Requirements for Montana RT Licensure

• Education: Completion of a 24-month board-approved radiologic technology program
• National certification: Full ARRT certification in radiography
• License verification: Official verification from every state or jurisdiction where you hold or have ever held a license
• Application fee: $100, non-refundable (includes a temporary permit if requested at the same time)

Montana also issues a Limited Permit for a narrower scope of practice. Limited Permit applicants can qualify either by completing a 104-hour board-approved course or by completing half of an ARRT-recognized radiologic technology program, and must pass the ARRT limited scope core examination — sometimes alongside module or state combined exams depending on the specific scope sought. The Limited Permit application fee is also $100, with an additional $15 if a State Combined Exam is requested and a $15 re-examination fee if needed.

Temporary Permit

If you need to start working before your full application is processed, Montana allows you to request a temporary permit at the same time you apply for your standard license — there’s no separate fee, since it’s included in the $100 application fee. It’s designed to bridge the gap while your full application is under review, rather than serve as a long-term credential. The Board’s rules don’t publish a specific expiration duration for the temporary permit on the sources reviewed for this page, so confirm current terms directly with the Board when you apply.

How to Apply for a Montana RT License

1. Complete a board-approved 24-month radiologic technology program and obtain ARRT certification in radiography
2. Apply online through ebiz.mt.gov/POL, including a valid email address — email is the Department’s primary form of communication
3. Check the temporary permit box on your application if you need to begin working while your full application is under review
4. Arrange for official license verification to be sent directly from every state or jurisdiction where you hold or have held a license
5. Pay the $100 application fee — by credit card or e-check online, or by check (not cash) if applying on paper

Practical Notes for Montana Licensing

• Request your out-of-state license verifications early. Since these must come directly from the issuing state or jurisdiction rather than from you, they’re often the slowest-moving part of the application — start this process as soon as you decide to apply.
• Double-check whether you need the standard license or a Limited Permit. These are genuinely different credentials with different education paths and exams — not just different levels of the same license.
• Processing time isn’t published. The Montana Board does not publish a standard processing time. Applicants with employment deadlines should contact the Board before applying.
• Keep your ARRT certification current from day one. Montana’s own unprofessional conduct rule specifically calls out presenting a tampered or fraudulently produced ARRT pocket card — a reminder that your ARRT status and your Montana license are closely linked, not independent of each other.

Relevant Statutes

• Montana Board of Radiologic Technologists — Licensure
• Montana Code Annotated Title 37, Chapter 14 (Radiologic Technologists)
• Administrative Rules of Montana, Chapter 24.204 — Board of Radiologic Technologists, including ARM 24.204.401 (Fee Schedule)

Related Pages

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Montana require a state license for radiologic technologists?

Yes, for individuals who hold ARRT radiography credentials and perform diagnostic x-ray procedures. Individuals without an ARRT radiography credential don’t need this specific license — other imaging disciplines are handled through facility-level credentialing instead. Source: Montana Board of Radiologic Technologists

Do I need to pass a separate Montana state exam?

No, for the standard license — Montana requires full ARRT certification in radiography rather than a separate state exam. The Limited Permit pathway does involve the ARRT limited scope core examination, but that’s a distinct, narrower credential. Source: Montana Board of Radiologic Technologists

How much does a Montana RT license application cost?

$100, non-refundable, which also covers a temporary permit if requested with the same application. Source: Montana Board of Radiologic Technologists, ARM 24.204.401

Can I work in Montana with only ARRT certification?

No. ARRT certification alone does not authorize diagnostic radiography practice where Montana licensure is required — you need an active Montana Radiologic Technologist License in addition to your ARRT credential. Source: Montana Board of Radiologic Technologists

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

No. There is currently no interstate licensure compact for radiologic technologists in the United States, and Montana’s regulations don’t describe a distinct reciprocity pathway either — every applicant goes through the same standard licensure process, though out-of-state license verification is required as part of it. Source: Montana Board of Radiologic Technologists