Nebraska Medical Radiographer License — 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 licensing for radiologic technologists in Nebraska, where the credential is called “Medical Radiographer” and is administered by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit, under Nebraska’s Medical Radiography Practice Act. Data on this page is based on official Nebraska DHHS sources reviewed in July 2026. View the primary source at Nebraska DHHS.
Who this guide is for:
  • Radiologic technologists applying for their first Nebraska Medical Radiographer license
  • ARRT-certified technologists relocating to or accepting travel assignments in Nebraska
  • Recent graduates weighing a Temporary Medical Radiographer license while completing their program

Nebraska Medical Radiographer License — At a Glance

License Required Yes
Credential Name Medical Radiographer
Governing Body Nebraska DHHS, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit
Licensing Pathway ARRT examination (score 75+); no separately labeled endorsement pathway identified
Application Fee $146 (fee waivers available for qualifying applicants)
Application Method Online through Nebraska DHHS’s licensure system, or by mail
Processing Time Not published; applications left incomplete for 90 days after a request for missing information are closed
Criminal History Disclosure Required on application; a Preliminary Application Conviction Review is available before formally applying
ARRT Examination Required — a passing score of 75 or above on a Department-approved examination, which for most applicants is the ARRT Radiography Examination
Education Requirement 24 months of instruction in an approved radiography program
Jurisprudence Exam Not required
Interstate Compact None exists for radiologic technologists
Governing Law Neb. Rev. Stat. §§38-1901 to 38-1920; 172 NAC Chapter 93

Nebraska requires an individual license for radiologic technologists, called a Medical Radiographer license — see the At-a-Glance table above for the governing agency and fee. It’s issued by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit, under Nebraska’s Medical Radiography Practice Act. The Board of Medical Radiography advises the department on matters assigned by statute, such as approving alternative examinations. Once licensed, see our Nebraska Medical Radiographer License Renewal Guide for how to keep it active.

Nebraska licenses several related but distinct credentials in this field: the full-scope Medical Radiographer license, a narrower Limited Radiographer license restricted to specific body regions, and a Limited Computed Tomography Radiographer license. Each credential has distinct eligibility requirements, examination standards, and scope of practice.

What Makes Nebraska Different

Nebraska offers real fee relief that many states don’t: initial license and temporary license fees are waived entirely for three categories of applicants — “Young Worker” applicants between 18 and 25 (under 26) at the time the license is issued, low-income applicants enrolled in a qualifying public assistance program or with household income under 130% of the federal poverty guideline, and military family applicants. These waivers have been in place since January 1, 2020, and are based on your age or status when the license is actually issued, not when you apply.

Nebraska also has an unusually generous continuing education mechanism for full Medical Radiographers: rather than submitting individual CE certificates, you can submit a copy of your current, unrestricted ARRT registration card, which serves as evidence that the continuing competency requirement has been met. More detail on this is in our renewal guide.

Interstate Portability

Nebraska is not part of any interstate licensure compact for radiologic technologists — no such compact currently exists nationally for this profession. Nebraska DHHS does not publish a separately named endorsement or reciprocity application for Medical Radiographers; applicants already licensed elsewhere should contact DHHS regarding eligibility for their specific situation. Travel radiologic technologists are not exempt from Nebraska licensure — holding ARRT certification or another state’s license alone does not authorize practice in Nebraska.

Requirements for Nebraska RT Licensure

  • Education: 24 months of instruction in an approved radiography program, covering radiographic procedures, imaging equipment, image production and evaluation, film processing, radiation physics, radiation protection, radiation biology, radiographic pathology, and quality assurance
  • Examination: A passing score of 75 or above on a Department-approved examination, which for most applicants is the ARRT Radiography Examination
  • Transcript: An official transcript sent directly from your educational program verifying completion
  • Criminal history disclosure: Required on the application; applicants with concerns about a past conviction can request a Preliminary Application Conviction Review before formally applying
  • Application fee: $146, unless you qualify for the Young Worker, low-income, or military family fee waiver

If you’re not yet ARRT-certified but have completed at least 12 months of an approved radiography program, you may be eligible for a Temporary Medical Radiographer license to begin working while you finish — this license expires 18 months from the date it’s issued and cannot be renewed. A separate Temporary Limited CT Radiographer license is also available to those registered in nuclear medicine, expiring 24 months from issuance and also non-renewable. Bone Densitometry is available as an additional scope but requires a separate examination. The temporary license application fee is $15.

How to Apply for a Nebraska RT License

  1. Complete a 24-month approved radiography program and pass a Department-approved examination — for most applicants, the ARRT Radiography Examination — with a score of 75 or above
  2. Apply through Nebraska DHHS’s online licensure system, or submit a paper application by mail
  3. Have your official transcript and exam score report sent directly from your program and testing organization — these can’t be submitted by the applicant
  4. Pay the $146 application fee by credit or debit card (Visa or MasterCard) online, or by check or money order made payable to the DHHS Licensure Unit if applying by mail — or claim your fee waiver if you qualify
  5. Respond promptly if the Licensure Unit contacts you about missing information — incomplete applications are closed and all documents destroyed after 90 days, requiring a completely new application

Practical Notes for Nebraska Licensing

From the field: These notes reflect practical considerations beyond the official requirements — things that affect your application timeline and planning as a working RT.
  • Check the fee waivers before you pay. Between the Young Worker, low-income, and military family waivers, some applicants may qualify to have their entire initial fee waived — it’s worth checking before assuming you owe the full $146.
  • Nebraska doesn’t publish a standard processing time. However, if requested information isn’t received within 90 days, the application is closed and a new application must be submitted — don’t let your application sit incomplete.
  • Your transcript and exam scores must come directly from the source. Nebraska won’t accept these from the applicant directly — build extra lead time into your timeline for your school and testing organization to send these on your behalf.
  • Consider the Temporary Medical Radiographer license if you’re close to finishing your program. Completing at least 12 months of an approved program may be enough to start working sooner rather than waiting for full ARRT certification.

Relevant Statutes

Related Pages

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Nebraska require a state license for radiologic technologists?

Yes. Nebraska requires a Medical Radiographer license, issued by the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit, to practice medical radiography in the state. Source: Nebraska DHHS

Do I need to pass a separate Nebraska state exam?

No separate state-specific exam — Nebraska requires a passing score of 75 or above on a Department-approved examination, typically the ARRT radiography exam. Source: Title 172 Nebraska Administrative Code, Chapter 93

How much does a Nebraska RT license application cost?

$146, though it’s waived entirely for qualifying Young Worker (ages 18–25), low-income, or military family applicants. Source: Nebraska DHHS, Application Information for Nebraska Radiography Licenses

Can I transfer my radiography license from another state to Nebraska?

Nebraska’s publicly available licensing materials don’t identify a separately labeled reciprocity or endorsement pathway. Applicants already licensed elsewhere should contact DHHS to determine the appropriate application process for their situation. Source: Nebraska DHHS

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

No. There is currently no interstate licensure compact for radiologic technologists in the United States, and the sources reviewed for this page did not identify a separately labeled Nebraska reciprocity pathway either. Source: Nebraska DHHS

Can I start working before I’m fully ARRT-certified?

Possibly. Nebraska offers a Temporary Medical Radiographer license for applicants who have completed at least 12 months of an approved radiography program, and a separate Temporary Limited CT Radiographer license. Source: Title 172 Nebraska Administrative Code, Chapter 93, Section 003.02

Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and is based on Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services sources reviewed in July 2026. Licensing requirements, fees, and processing details are subject to change. Always verify current requirements directly with Nebraska DHHS before submitting an application. This page does not constitute legal or professional licensing advice. Verify at Nebraska DHHS →
Change Log: 2026-07-19 — Page created. One data-collection source referenced a specific online portal name (“Luminate/MyLicense” at nebraska.mylicense.com”) that could not be independently confirmed on any official Nebraska source reviewed and is not used on this page. A separate claimed $100 fee for the Preliminary Application Conviction Review was also not independently confirmed and is presented cautiously. Confirmed directly: the “Young Worker,” low-income, and military family fee waivers (the military family waiver was not identified in the original data collection); the precise 24-month education curriculum; specific Nebraska Administrative Code section numbers for each licensing topic; and the exact temporary-license durations (Temporary Medical Radiographer: 18 months, non-renewable; Temporary Limited CT Radiographer: 24 months, non-renewable), which were unconfirmed at initial drafting and verified directly on the DHHS Medical Radiography page during editorial review. 2026-07-19 — Editorial review pass: replaced all Justia citations with the official DHHS-hosted Nebraska Administrative Code index; distinguished criminal history disclosure from a fingerprint background check; softened the ARRT continuing-education wording so it doesn’t imply ARRT certification exempts a licensee from the underlying requirement; strengthened travel-RT and no-endorsement-pathway language for legal precision. This page is reviewed periodically for regulatory updates.

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