What is the best resource for preparing for the exam content?

The single most authoritative resource is the ARRT's own *Content Specifications for the Examination in Computed Tomography*. This document provides the official exam blueprint, detailing every topic and subtopic covered, along with the relative weight of each domain. Your study plan, textbooks, and review courses should be explicitly aligned with this blueprint to ensure comprehensive preparation.

ARRT: Computed Tomography (CT) Certification Examination Practice Test

140 questions available

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The ARRT Computed Tomography (CT) Certification Examination is the nationally recognized credential for radiologic technologists specializing in computed tomography. Administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), this certification validates a technologist's advanced knowledge, technical proficiency, and commitment to patient safety in CT imaging. Earning the credential demonstrates mastery across the entire CT process, from patient preparation and contrast administration to protocol optimization, image acquisition, and advanced post-processing. It signifies adherence to the highest professional standards in radiation safety, anatomy, pathology, and instrumentation. In an era of rapid technological advancement and increasing clinical complexity, the ARRT CT certification distinguishes technologists as experts capable of producing high-quality diagnostic images essential for accurate patient diagnosis and treatment planning. This credential is often a prerequisite for employment in hospital-based CT departments, outpatient imaging centers, and specialized facilities, solidifying the holder's role as a critical member of the diagnostic imaging team.

Certification exam

165 Exam questions

3 hours 15 minutes Time Limit

ARRT |85% Recognition |Valid: Ongoing

Career Opportunities & Salary

Entry $57,874 - $84,874

Mid-Career $82,874 - $120,874

Senior $117,874 - $172,874

stable market

Why This Certification Opens Doors

Achieving ARRT CT certification is a pivotal career milestone that signifies specialized expertise and a commitment to professional excellence. It directly impacts career advancement by qualifying technologists for specialized CT positions, often leading to increased responsibility, supervisory roles, and higher earning potential. Beyond individual growth, certification is a mark of industry recognition, providing employers, physicians, and patients with confidence in the technologist's competency. In many states and healthcare institutions, this credential is either required or strongly preferred for practicing in CT, making it essential for job security and mobility. It elevates the standard of patient care by ensuring practitioners possess the validated knowledge to perform complex procedures safely and effectively, ultimately contributing to improved diagnostic outcomes.

Required

certification Active primary ARRT certification (e.g., R, N, or other qualifying credential); structured education or clinical experience in CT

Exam Blueprint

Each domain is weighted to match the real certification exam, so a full practice simulation predicts your result.

01Image ProductionCT unit components, detector arrays, DAS, slip rings, and acquisition geometry, axial, helical, volumetric, cine, dual-energy, dual-source, and photon-counting CT, filtered back projection, vendor iterative reconstruction, model-based IR, and deep learning reconstruction, reconstruction slice thickness, interval, kernel, raw data, image data, interpolation, and MPR, HU values, matrix, pixel, voxel, DFOV, SFOV, window width, window level, and ROI measurement, beam hardening, partial volume, motion, ring, metal, edge-gradient, and cone-beam artifacts

22%

02Patient Care and Education

03Procedureshead, stroke, brain perfusion, CTA, CTV, temporal bone, sinus, orbit, maxillofacial, and spine CT, neck, chest, CTPA, HRCT, low-dose lung screening, cardiac CT, airway, mediastinum, and chest wall CT, abdomen and pelvis including liver, pancreas, renal mass, CT urogram, renal stone, appendicitis, trauma, and bowel protocols, vascular CTA and CTV including dissection, runoff, mesenteric ischemia, venous thrombosis, and active bleeding, musculoskeletal CT, arthrography, fracture assessment, joint planning, and multiplanar or 3D orthopedic reconstructions, CT-guided biopsy, drainage, aspiration, procedural consent, coagulation status, monitoring, and complication recognition

32%

04SafetyALARA, Image Gently, Image Wisely, and pediatric protocol optimization, CTDIvol, DLP, SSDE, phantom size, diagnostic reference levels, and dose reports, kVp, mA, mAs, pitch, rotation time, collimation, scan length, and dose modulation, dose notification, dose alert, Dose Check, and dose-management review, pregnancy, occupational exposure, shielding, AEC, centering, and overranging, repeat prevention through motion control, breath-hold coaching, and validated protocols

24%

Exam Details ARRT-CT | 3 hours 15 minutes

Exam Code ARRT-CT

Vendor ARRT

Passing Score 75/75 on scale of 1–99

Time Limit 3 hours 15 minutes

Exam questions 165

Question Types Multiple Choice (100%), Scenario-Based (75%)

Exam Format Linear fixed-form computer-based test (CBT)

Available In

English

Schedule Real Exam

Study Resources

ARRT Exam Content SpecificationsOfficialPDF

ARRT$0

Free downloadable content specifications per credential; lists content categories and subcategories

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the eligibility requirements to sit for the ARRT CT certification exam?

To be eligible, you must first hold a primary ARRT certification in Radiography, Radiation Therapy, or Nuclear Medicine Technology. You must also complete an ARRT-recognized educational program in CT or document substantial clinical experience through the ARRT's Structured Education and Clinical Experience pathways. Adherence to the ARRT's ethical standards (Standards of Ethics) is mandatory. All specific requirements are detailed in the ARRT's CT Postprimary Eligibility Requirements guide.

How is the exam structured, and what is the passing score?

The computer-based exam consists of 220 scored questions, covering the domains outlined in the ARRT CT content specifications: Patient Care, Safety, Image Production, and Procedures. A scaled scoring system is used, with a passing score set at 75. The scaled score is not a percentage but a conversion that accounts for minor variations in exam difficulty, ensuring a consistent standard across all test forms.

How does CT certification differ from a state license?

A state license is a legal requirement to practice radiologic technology within that state, establishing minimum competency. ARRT CT certification is a voluntary, nationally recognized credential that signifies advanced, specialized expertise beyond entry-level licensure. While licensure permits you to practice, certification demonstrates a higher standard of knowledge and skill, which is often required or preferred by employers for advanced modalities like CT.

What are the continuing education requirements to maintain the CT credential?

To maintain your ARRT CT certification, you must complete 24 continuing education (CE) credits every two years as part of the ARRT's Continuing Qualifications Requirements (CQR). A portion of these credits must be directly related to computed tomography. You must also renew your annual registration and continue to comply with the ARRT Standards of Ethics.

Can I use this certification to work in CT if my primary ARRT credential is in Nuclear Medicine?

Yes. The ARRT allows technologists with primary certification in Nuclear Medicine Technology to pursue postprimary certification in CT. You must meet all the same eligibility requirements, including structured education and clinical experience in CT. This pathway enables NM technologists to expand their skill set, particularly valuable in hybrid PET/CT and SPECT/CT environments.

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