Delaware Radiologic Technologist Certificate — Requirements & Application

ByAllied License Guide Editorial Team
Editorial Note: This page is editorially reviewed by an ARDMS-credentialed sonographer as part of AlliedLicenseGuide.com’s allied health licensing database. This page covers initial certification for radiologic technologists in Delaware, where the credential is a Radiation Technologist/Technician certificate administered by the Office of Radiation Control on behalf of the Authority on Radiation Protection. The governing regulation was amended as recently as March 2025, so if you’ve seen older information about Delaware requirements elsewhere, some of it may now be out of date. Data on this page is based on official Delaware sources reviewed in July 2026. View the primary source at the Delaware Administrative Code.
Who this guide is for:
  • Radiologic technologists applying for their first Delaware certificate
  • ARRT-certified technologists relocating to or accepting travel assignments in Delaware
  • Anyone who’s seen conflicting information about Delaware’s renewal cycle — this page reflects the current, post-March-2025 regulation

Delaware Radiologic Technologist Certificate — At a Glance

Certificate Required Yes
Credential Name Radiation Technologist/Technician certificate (Medical Radiologic Technologist category)
Governing Body Delaware Authority on Radiation Protection, administered by DHSS Office of Radiation Control
Certification Pathway National credential recognition (a current credential from an Authority-recognized organization, including ARRT); Authority-approved examination for those without one
Application Fee $50, non-refundable
Application Method Paper form, mailed to the Office of Radiation Control — no online application portal identified
Processing Time Allow a minimum of 3 weeks
Background Check No fingerprint-based criminal background check requirement was identified in the official regulations or application materials reviewed
ARRT Certification A current credential from an Authority-recognized national credentialing organization, including ARRT, satisfies this pathway
Education Requirement A JRCERT- or JRCCVT-approved program plus a national credentialing exam, for the “technologist” tier
Jurisprudence Exam Not required
Interstate Compact None exists for radiologic technologists
Governing Law 16 Del. C. §7406 (Chapter 74); 16 DE Admin. Code 4466, amended effective March 11, 2025

Delaware requires certification for individuals who apply ionizing radiation to human patients — see the At-a-Glance table above for the credential name, governing agency, and fee. The credential is issued by the Office of Radiation Control on behalf of the Delaware Authority on Radiation Protection. The governing regulation, 16 DE Admin. Code 4466, was most recently amended effective March 11, 2025 — a meaningful update that changed the certificate term, so double-check any Delaware information you’ve seen elsewhere against this current version. Once certified, see our Delaware Radiologic Technologist Certificate Renewal Guide for how to keep it active.

Delaware’s regulation draws a precise distinction between two tiers: a “radiation technologist” has completed a JRCERT- or JRCCVT-approved educational program and passed a national credentialing exam, while a “radiation technician” has passed an Authority-approved exam without necessarily having completed an approved program. Most ARRT-certified RTs fall into the technologist tier.

What Makes Delaware Different

Delaware issues certificates under specific legal titles rather than one generic license — Medical Radiologic Technologist, Medical Radiation Technician, Nuclear Medicine Technologist, Radiation Therapist, Cardiovascular Radiologic Technologist, Radiologist Assistant, Dental Radiation Technician, and narrower Bone-Densitometry-Only or CT-Only variants are all distinct, named categories under the same regulation. Certificate holders are required to display their official certificate (or a copy) in public view at their workplace.

Delaware’s certificate term recently changed. As of the March 2025 regulatory amendment, certificates are valid for 3 years — down from the 4-year term some older Delaware materials, including at least one other state business-registration page, still describe. If you’ve seen “4 years” referenced for Delaware elsewhere, that’s outdated.

Interstate Portability

Delaware is not part of any interstate licensure compact for radiologic technologists — no such compact currently exists nationally for this profession. The regulation provides for certification based on recognized national credentials and also allows Delaware to verify an existing Delaware certificate for use toward licensure in another jurisdiction. The current regulation does not describe a separate reciprocity or endorsement process based solely on holding another state’s license. Individuals performing medical radiation procedures in Delaware must hold the applicable Delaware certificate unless an exemption in the regulation applies.

Requirements for Delaware RT Certification

  • Age or enrollment: At least 18 years old, or currently enrolled in and attending an educational program in radiation technology
  • National credential or exam: A current credential from an Authority-recognized national credentialing organization (including ARRT), or passage of an Authority-approved examination
  • Application fee: $50, non-refundable — waived for applicants enrolled in a Delaware vocational-technical high school Dental Assisting Program

If you fail the Authority-approved certification exam, you may retest up to twice per calendar year, submitting a new application and fee each time. A Temporary Certificate is available to students enrolled in a post-secondary accredited radiation technology school who are approved to sit for a national credentialing exam — the regulation limits applicants to one Temporary Certificate each, and it grants the same rights as the credential the applicant is awaiting. Source: 16 DE Admin. Code 4466, Section 7.2

How to Apply for a Delaware RT Certificate

  1. Obtain a national credential from an Authority-recognized organization (such as ARRT), or prepare to sit for an Authority-approved examination
  2. Complete the appropriate paper application form and mail it to the Office of Radiation Control — Delaware does not offer an online individual application portal
  3. Pay the $50 application fee by check or money order made payable to the State of Delaware — cash is not accepted
  4. Allow a minimum of 3 weeks for processing

Practical Notes for Delaware Certification

From the field: These notes reflect practical considerations beyond the official requirements — things that affect your application timeline and planning as a working RT.
  • Double-check any Delaware information against the current, post-March-2025 rule. The certificate term recently dropped from 4 years to 3, and at least one other official-looking Delaware page still shows the old figure. When in doubt, check the regulation itself rather than a general business-registration summary page.
  • There’s no online application — plan for mail time. Between mailing your application and the 3-week minimum processing window, build in more lead time than you would for a state with an online system.
  • Pay by check or money order only. Delaware’s application materials are explicit that cash isn’t accepted, and no credit card option was identified either.
  • Know which legal title applies to you. Delaware’s certificate categories are specific and named — make sure you’re applying for the correct one (Medical Radiologic Technologist, for most diagnostic RTs) rather than an adjacent category like Radiologist Assistant or a modality-limited variant.

Relevant Statutes

  • 16 DE Admin. Code 4466 — Radiation Technologists/Technicians (Certification), amended effective March 11, 2025
  • 16 Del. C. §7406 (Chapter 74) — statutory authority for the Authority on Radiation Protection

Related Pages

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Delaware require certification for radiologic technologists?

Yes. Delaware requires a Radiation Technologist/Technician certificate, issued by the Office of Radiation Control on behalf of the Authority on Radiation Protection, before anyone may apply ionizing radiation to human patients. Source: 16 DE Admin. Code 4466

Do I need to pass a separate Delaware state exam?

Not if you hold a current credential from an Authority-recognized national credentialing organization, including ARRT. An Authority-approved exam exists for applicants without a qualifying national credential. Source: 16 DE Admin. Code 4466

How much does a Delaware RT certificate application cost?

$50, non-refundable, payable by check or money order. It’s waived for applicants enrolled in a Delaware vocational-technical high school Dental Assisting Program. Source: 16 DE Admin. Code 4466

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

No. There is currently no interstate licensure compact for radiologic technologists in the United States. The regulation provides for certification based on recognized national credentials and allows Delaware to verify an existing certificate for another jurisdiction, but the current regulation does not describe a separate reciprocity or endorsement process based solely on holding another state’s license. Source: 16 DE Admin. Code 4466

Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and is based on the Delaware Administrative Code, as amended effective March 11, 2025, reviewed in July 2026. Certification requirements, fees, and processing details are subject to change. Always verify current requirements directly with the Office of Radiation Control before submitting an application. This page does not constitute legal or professional licensing advice. Verify at the Delaware Administrative Code →
Change Log: 2026-07-19 — Page created. Data collection sources conflicted directly on the certificate term (3 years vs. 4 years) and fee structure ($50 flat vs. $10+$50 split). Direct retrieval of the current regulation text (16 DE Admin. Code 4466, amended effective March 11, 2025) confirmed the 3-year term and $50 flat fee. The conflicting “4 years” and “$10+$50” figures were traced to a separate Delaware business-registration directory page (“Business First Steps”) last substantively dated 2019 — six years before the 2025 amendment — and are treated as outdated rather than current. 2026-07-19 — Editorial review pass: confirmed the “one Temporary Certificate per applicant” limit directly against current regulation text (Section 7.2), strengthening a claim previously inferred only from a 2005 proposed-rule summary; tightened reciprocity, ARRT, and background-check language for legal precision; bolded the certificate display requirement. This page is reviewed periodically for regulatory updates, and given the rule’s recent amendment, an earlier-than-usual follow-up review is recommended.

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