Maine Radiologic Technologist License Requirements (2026)
Who This Guide Is For
- Radiologic technologists seeking a Maine radiologic technologist license — sometimes searched as a “Maine radiologic technician license” — whether applying by national certification or by completing an approved course and exam.
- Traveling radiologic technologists comparing Maine’s fixed August 31 renewal cycle and reinstatement rules to other states before accepting an assignment.
- Recent graduates evaluating Maine’s Trainee Radiographer and Limited Radiographer pathways.
At a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| License Required? | Yes — individual licensure required to practice as a Radiologic Technologist (radiographer, radiation therapist, or nuclear medicine technologist) |
| Credential Name | Radiologic Technologist (RT). Individuals whose practice is limited exclusively to MRI are not licensed by this Board; dental radiographers are licensed separately by the Board of Dental Practice |
| Governing Body | Maine Radiologic Technology Board of Examiners, Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR) |
| Licensing Pathways | Standard RT license via ARRT/NMTCB credential or approved course plus exam; Trainee Radiographer and Limited Radiographer track; Temporary RT license |
| Application Fee | Full RT license $100; Limited Radiographer $100; Temporary $75; Trainee $30; Criminal History Check $21 (non-refundable) |
| Application Method | Online, through Maine’s licensing portal (licensing.web.maine.gov) |
| ARRT Required? | Yes (or NMTCB for nuclear medicine) — no separate Maine state examination for applicants who already hold current national certification |
| Background Check? | Yes — a Criminal History Check ($21) is required for initial licensure |
| Interstate Compact | Not applicable — no interstate compact for radiologic technologists exists nationally |
Maine licenses radiologic technologists through the Radiologic Technology Board of Examiners, part of the state’s Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation. The “Radiologic Technologist” credential itself covers three practice areas — radiographer, radiation therapist, and nuclear medicine technologist — under one license, rather than splitting them into separate licenses the way some states do. Maine specifically excludes certain practitioners from this Board’s licensing authority: individuals whose practice is limited exclusively to MRI are not licensed by this Board at all, and dental radiographers are licensed separately through the Board of Dental Practice.
Eligibility is generally based on national certification: applicants with current ARRT (or NMTCB, for nuclear medicine) credentials qualify directly, while applicants without one must complete an approved JRCERT/ARRT/NMTCB course of study and pass the relevant national exam. Maine does not administer its own separate licensing exam.
What Makes Maine Different
Maine runs a four-tier licensing structure that’s worth understanding before you apply, especially if you’re new to the field rather than transferring an existing credential. Beyond the standard RT license, Maine offers a Trainee Radiographer (TR) permit for students obtaining clinical training, which can lead to a Limited Radiographer (LT) license — a distinct, narrower credential from full RT licensure, not a lesser version of the same thing. There’s also a Temporary Radiologic Technologist (TP) license: per the Board’s own description, it may be issued in certain circumstances to individuals who meet all requirements for the full RT license except examination passage, provided the applicant demonstrates that special circumstances justify it, no danger to public health or safety exists, and a licensed practitioner is available to supervise them at each employment installation. A TP license expires automatically when exam results come in or after 90 days, whichever happens first. On the renewal side, Maine also stands out for how it defines “satisfying continuing education”: rather than one fixed CE-hour requirement, licensees can choose from four different routes — maintaining ARRT CEU compliance, passing a new entry-level national exam, passing a new advanced-level ARRT exam, or logging 24 hours of Board-approved CE under Chapter 9. Any one of the four satisfies the requirement.
Interstate Portability
Maine is not part of any interstate compact for radiologic technologists — no such compact currently exists nationally for this profession. Maine statutes and Board materials do not establish a separately named licensure-by-endorsement or reciprocity pathway; instead, applicants who have held a license in another state submit official license verifications for every license they hold or have ever held, sent directly from each issuing state, as part of the standard application.
Requirements
- Age and education: At least 18 years old with a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Approved education: For applicants without current national certification, completion of a JRCERT-accredited, ARRT-approved, or NMTCB-approved course of study.
- National examination/certification: Either current, valid ARRT or NMTCB certification, or a passing score on the relevant national exam following approved education.
- Criminal history check: Required for initial licensure, with its own $21 fee.
- License verifications: Applicants must provide official verification, sent directly from the issuing state, for every professional license they hold or have ever held — including expired ones. Copies of the license itself are not accepted in place of a verification.
How to Apply
- Go to Maine’s online licensing portal and select the Radiologic Technology Board (board number 4430).
- Complete the online application for the license type that matches your situation — standard RT, Limited Radiographer, Temporary RT, or Trainee Radiographer.
- Provide documentation of valid ARRT or NMTCB certification, or documentation of your approved course of study and qualifying exam score.
- Arrange for official license verifications to be sent directly from any state where you hold or have held a professional license.
- Pay the applicable application fee plus the $21 Criminal History Check fee, by credit card authorization form or check/money order payable to “Maine State Treasurer.”
- Monitor your application status through the portal’s status-check tool, since Board staff can only discuss a pending application with the applicant themselves. Maine does not publish a standard processing timeline, so build in extra time rather than expecting a firm turnaround.
- Line up your out-of-state license verifications early — they must come directly from each state where you’ve held a license, and this is typically the slowest-moving part of a Maine application.
- If you’re applying without current ARRT/NMTCB certification, double-check that your training program is specifically JRCERT-, ARRT-, or NMTCB-approved before you invest time in it — Maine’s board page is explicit that unapproved programs won’t qualify.
- If your duties are limited exclusively to MRI, you don’t need a license from this Board at all — confirm that’s actually the case before assuming you need to apply, since Maine draws that line more narrowly than some other states.
Relevant Statutes
- Source: 32 M.R.S. Chapter 103 — Medical Radiation Health and Safety Act.
- Source: 32 M.R.S. §9855 — Qualifications for licensure by category.
- Source: Radiologic Technology Board of Examiners, Licensing & Forms — official fees, forms, and application information.
Related Pages
FAQ
Does Maine require a state license for radiologic technologists?
Yes. Maine requires a Radiologic Technologist license from the Radiologic Technology Board of Examiners to practice as a radiographer, radiation therapist, or nuclear medicine technologist. Source: 32 M.R.S. Chapter 103
Does Maine require a separate state exam for radiologic technologists?
No. Applicants qualify with current ARRT or NMTCB certification, or by completing an approved course of study and passing the relevant national exam; Maine does not administer its own licensing exam. Source: 32 M.R.S. §9855
How much does an initial Maine radiologic technologist license cost?
The full RT license fee is $100, plus a separate $21 Criminal History Check fee. Limited Radiographer is also $100; Temporary is $75; Trainee is $30. Source: Radiologic Technology Board of Examiners, Licensing & Forms
Can I apply for a Maine radiologic technologist license online?
Yes. Maine’s initial applications are submitted online through the state’s licensing portal. Source: Radiologic Technology Board of Examiners, Licensing & Forms
Do MRI technologists need a license from Maine’s Radiologic Technology Board?
No. Individuals who only perform MRI do not need a license from this Board. Dental radiographers are also excluded, since they are licensed separately by the Board of Dental Practice. Source: Radiologic Technology Board of Examiners, Licensing & Forms
Is Maine part of an interstate compact for radiologic technologists?
No. No interstate compact for radiologic technologists currently exists nationally, and Maine does not publish a named endorsement or reciprocity pathway — out-of-state applicants submit license verifications as part of the standard application. Source: 32 M.R.S. Chapter 103
2026-07-22 — Editorial review pass: verified the Temporary RT license description against the Board’s exact page language (confirmed accurate — “meet all requirements for the full RT license except examination passage,” plus the special-circumstances and supervision conditions, which were added for precision). Tightened MRI-exclusion, reciprocity, and eligibility wording for legal precision. Split the requirements list into separate education and national-examination/certification bullets. Added an explicit statement that Maine does not publish a standard processing timeline.
2026-07-22 — Initial publish-ready draft completed. Fees ($100 full/limited, $75 temporary, $30 trainee, $21 criminal history check), governing statute (32 M.R.S. Chapter 103, §§9854–9856), and application structure confirmed directly against the Board’s official Licensing & Forms page and the Maine Legislature’s statute text. Confirmed MRI-only personnel and dental radiographers fall outside this Board’s licensing authority. Confirmed no named endorsement/reciprocity pathway exists; out-of-state applicants use standard license verification instead.