- What RRA Means Here
- Who Issues the Credential and How It Is Delivered
- Who Qualifies to Sit for the Exam
- How the Exam Is Built: Two Sessions, Six Hours
- The Eight Reported Content Areas
- Scoring: What a Scaled 75 Really Means
- Fees, Attempts, and Deadlines
- Keeping the Credential Active
- Where the Credential Is Used
- Sequencing Your Preparation Around the Content Areas
- Frequently Asked Questions
- RRA here means Registered Radiologist Assistant, an ARRT credential styled R.R.A. and delivered at Pearson test centers.
- The exam has two sessions: four hours for selected response, two hours for objectively scored case studies.
- Passing requires a scaled score of 75 on a 1-99 scale, not 75% of questions correct.
- Case Study carries 25% of the exam, the largest single reported weight; Abdominal Section leads procedures at 16%.
What RRA Means Here
On this site, RRA stands for Registered Radiologist Assistant. It is an advanced-practice credential in medical imaging, awarded by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) and officially styled R.R.A. The acronym is shared by other, unrelated credentials in other fields, so it is worth being explicit: everything in this article concerns the radiology credential and nothing else. If you want shorter definitions of the term itself, our pages on what RRA stands for and RRA meaning cover the basics.
A Registered Radiologist Assistant is a radiologic technologist who has gone well beyond entry-level radiography. The credential sits on top of existing ARRT Radiography certification and signals that the holder completed a recognized Radiologist Assistant (RA) educational program, documented clinical work in a portfolio, and passed a demanding two-session examination. The exam tests patient management, pharmacology, radiation safety, and a broad range of imaging procedures, plus case-based reasoning.
Who Issues the Credential and How It Is Delivered
The ARRT administers the R.R.A. examination and maintains the registry. Testing is delivered through Pearson test centers rather than through a paper-and-pencil administration or a remote home setup. Candidates schedule an appointment after their application is approved, and the exam rules are strict: no personal reference materials and no personal calculator. An approved calculator is supplied or available on screen.
The exam content is defined by the Registered Radiologist Assistant Examination Content Specifications, implemented January 1, 2023. Administration rules are set out in the 2026 Registered Radiologist Assistant Handbook. Treat those two documents as your primary sources, and use the RRA certification overview for orientation.
Who Qualifies to Sit for the Exam
Eligibility is layered, and the details depend on when you completed your RA program. The standard route requires all of the following:
- Current ARRT Radiography certification and registration
- Completion of a recognized Radiologist Assistant program
- The applicable graduate-degree and clinical-experience requirements
- A clinical portfolio
- Current ACLS certification
- Compliance with ARRT ethics requirements
Degree and experience rules by completion date
| Program Completion | Degree Requirement | Experience Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| On or after January 1, 2023 | Master's or doctoral degree | Depends on the 2025 rule below |
| On or after January 1, 2025 | Master's or doctoral degree | Two years of full-time patient-care-related medical-imaging experience after Radiography credentials; cannot be earned concurrently with RA-program activities |
| Before 2025 (published exception) | See ARRT Education Requirements for earlier degree exceptions, which are separate from the current graduate-degree route | One year, with concurrent experience permitted |
Ordinary eligibility, including degree completion, must be established within three years of completing the professional program. A separate RPA-to-R.R.A. pathway exists for current Radiology Practitioner Assistants. It leads to the same R.R.A. examination, not a different credential. It requires current CBRPA and ARRT Radiography credentials and current clinical practice, along with one of three education-and-experience combinations: a master's or doctorate; a bachelor's plus two years of imaging experience; or an associate degree plus four years. The ordinary three-year post-program deadline is waived for that route.
For a fuller walkthrough of prerequisites, see our guide to RRA requirements and how to qualify.
How the Exam Is Built: Two Sessions, Six Hours
The exam is split into two sessions with different formats and different time limits.
| Feature | Session 1 | Session 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Time allowed | Four hours | Two hours |
| Content | 200 scored selected-response questions plus 30 pilot questions | At least 30 scored case-study questions plus a variable pilot allocation |
| Format | Selected response | Case study, objectively scored |
Total testing time is six hours. The handbook describes a full appointment of 410 minutes once you include the break and non-testing activities such as check-in procedures. The handbook table for 2026 displays 30+ scored and 20+ pilot items for Session 2 and labels the overall total as approximately 280 questions. Because the pilot allocation in Session 2 is variable, treat that overall figure as approximate rather than fixed.
What changed with case studies
Since January 2023, case-study responses are objectively scored. The essay format used before that date is gone. This matters for preparation: you are selecting answers about clinical scenarios, not composing written responses, so practice should emphasize reading a case quickly, identifying the decision point, and eliminating options that conflict with safe practice.
Selected response contributes 75% of points and case study contributes 25%. If you are wondering how this feels in practice, our article on how hard the RRA exam is breaks down where candidates tend to struggle.
The Eight Reported Content Areas
The ARRT's Annual Exam Report publishes eight whole-exam reporting categories with weights. These are the categories candidates see reflected in score reporting. They are distinct from the three top-level groupings in the 2023 content specification, which organizes selected-response objectives under Patient Care (56 scored items), Safety (28), and Procedures (116). Those item counts are not percentage weights, so do not convert them into a study allocation.
| Reported Content Area | Weight |
|---|---|
| Patient Management | 14% |
| Pharmacology | 7% |
| Patient Safety, Radiation Protection, and Equipment Operation | 11% |
| Abdominal Section | 16% |
| Thoracic Section | 9% |
| Musculoskeletal and Endocrine Sections | 9% |
| Neurological, Vascular, and Lymphatic Sections | 9% |
| Case Study | 25% |
Case Study is the largest separately reported weighted category, and Abdominal Section is the largest separately reported procedural category at 16%. Within the selected-response portion, Procedures is the largest parent category. For a deeper breakdown of each area, read the complete guide to all eight RRA content areas.
Patient Management and Pharmacology (14% and 7%)
These areas cover the clinical judgment that distinguishes an assistant from a technologist.
- Assessing patients before and after procedures
- Recognizing and responding to adverse reactions
- Medication knowledge relevant to imaging, including contrast-related considerations
Patient Safety, Radiation Protection, and Equipment Operation (11%)
Safety content connects directly to the exam's Safety grouping in the specification.
- Radiation protection principles for patients and staff
- Safe operation of imaging and procedural equipment
- Risk recognition during procedures
The Procedural Sections (16%, 9%, 9%, 9%)
Abdominal, Thoracic, Musculoskeletal and Endocrine, and Neurological, Vascular, and Lymphatic sections together make up a large share of the exam.
- Know indications, contraindications, and anatomy for each region
- Expect Abdominal Section to be the single heaviest procedural area
- Be able to connect procedure steps to patient preparation and follow-up
Case Study (25%)
Case-based items integrate everything above into clinical scenarios.
- Read the scenario for the actual decision being tested
- Weigh patient safety against procedural convenience
- Expect cross-over between pharmacology, management, and procedures
Scoring: What a Scaled 75 Really Means
Passing is a scaled score of 75 on a 1-99 scale. It is not 75% of questions answered correctly. Scaled scoring adjusts for differences in difficulty between exam forms, so the raw number of correct answers needed can vary. Pilot questions are unscored, which is why you should answer every item with equal care since you cannot tell which ones count. Our dedicated piece on the RRA passing score explains the scaling in more detail.
On results data: for calendar 2025, the ARRT reported a first-time pass rate of 75.0% among 24 first-time candidates. That is a small cohort, so avoid over-reading it, and note that the 37 total administrations that year is not the first-time cohort size. For context and caveats, see what the pass-rate data shows.
Key Takeaway
Do not study toward "75% correct." Study toward consistent, confident performance across all eight reported areas, because scaled scoring means you cannot reliably game a raw-score target.
Fees, Attempts, and Deadlines
| Item | Amount or Rule |
|---|---|
| Initial application/examination fee | USD 225 |
| Reapplication fee | USD 200 |
| Annual renewal | USD 65 |
| Attempts allowed | Three attempts within three years |
No member versus nonmember price difference is listed for the exam. The ordinary annual renewal fee covers the registrant's ARRT credentials rather than charging separately for each discipline. These are the ARRT's published exam fees only; your education, ACLS certification, and preparation materials are separate costs. See the full RRA certification cost breakdown for planning.
Testing windows
The ARRT announced an additional October 2026 administration. The next published window after October 14, 2026 is January 13-16, 2027, with an application postmark deadline of November 11, 2026. Windows and deadlines can change, so confirm against the ARRT's exam-dates page, and see our RRA exam dates guide for scheduling strategy.
Keeping the Credential Active
Earning the R.R.A. is not the finish line. Maintenance has two parts:
- Annual renewal is normally due by the end of your birth month, and the supporting Radiography credentials must be maintained.
- Biennial continuing education totals 50 credits. Within those 50, at least 25 must be Category A+ and at least 35 must be RRA-relevant. These are overlapping requirements, not additive, so one credit can count toward more than one minimum.
All RRA credentials carry a ten-year Continuing Qualifications Requirements (CQR) cycle. Plan your CE around procedures and safety topics you actually use so that maintenance doubles as practice.
Where the Credential Is Used
Registered Radiologist Assistants work alongside radiologists, typically in hospital radiology departments, academic medical centers, and larger imaging practices, performing and assisting with procedures and patient assessment under radiologist supervision. Scope varies by employer and by state or jurisdictional rules, so confirm what a specific role permits before assuming duties. Because the credential is relatively specialized, the number of RRA registrants is small, which is why the pass-rate cohort was only 24 first-time candidates in 2025.
If you are weighing the career side, the RRA jobs and RRA salary guide pages cover roles and earnings qualitatively, and the return-on-investment analysis helps you decide whether the graduate-level path fits your goals.
Sequencing Your Preparation Around the Content Areas
Rather than a generic schedule, tie your calendar to how this exam is weighted and how its sessions behave. A sample progression:
Foundations
- Patient Management and Pharmacology, since these concepts reappear inside case studies
- Patient Safety, Radiation Protection, and Equipment Operation
Procedural Sections
- Abdominal Section first, as the heaviest procedural area at 16%
- Thoracic, then Musculoskeletal and Endocrine, then Neurological, Vascular, and Lymphatic
Case Study Integration
- Practice objectively scored scenarios that blend all areas
- Review missed items by identifying which underlying area caused the error
Full-Length Simulation
- Sit a timed run that mirrors four hours then two hours
- Practice flagging and finalizing Session 1 before moving on
Because Case Study is 25% and draws on every other area, weak foundations in pharmacology or patient management will hurt you twice. For a fuller plan, use the RRA study guide, keep the RRA cheat sheet handy for last-week review, and check your readiness with timed questions on the RRA practice test site.
Frequently Asked Questions
It stands for Registered Radiologist Assistant, an ARRT credential styled R.R.A. The acronym is used by other unrelated credentials elsewhere, but this site covers only the radiology credential. See also what RRA certification is.
Yes. Current ARRT Radiography certification and registration are required, and those supporting credentials must be maintained for the R.R.A. to remain active.
No. Passing is a scaled score of 75 on a 1-99 scale. Scaling accounts for differences between exam forms, so it does not translate to 75% of items correct.
Testing time is six hours: four hours for Session 1 (200 scored selected-response questions plus 30 pilot questions) and two hours for Session 2 (at least 30 scored case-study questions plus variable pilot items). The full appointment is 410 minutes including the break and non-testing activities. Session 1 cannot be reopened once Session 2 starts.
Three attempts are allowed within three years. The initial fee is USD 225 and reapplication is USD 200, so a failed attempt has both a financial and a timeline cost.
No. Since January 2023, case-study responses are objectively scored rather than graded as essays. Case Study makes up 25% of the exam.