Interpreting Physicians, Technologists, and Medical Physicists

Mammography Interpreting Physicians
The initial qualification requirements for interpreting physicians are the same as the MQSA except that interpreting physicians are required to be board certified within 2 years of eligibility.

The state rules adopt the MQSA continuing experience and education regulations for interpreting physicians. Interpreting physicians must perform 960 mammographic exams in the prior 24 months to meet the continuing experience requirement. The state requirement to perform 520 exams in the prior 12 months will not be enforced. This was done to clear up a major inconsistency between previous state rules and the MQSA regulations. 

MIOSHA-RSS-895; Summary of Interpreting Physician Qualifications for Mammography

Mammography Radiologic Technologists
The new rules adopt the MQSA regulations for radiologic technologist qualifications, however, licensure from a different state will not be accepted in lieu of ARRT registration. This change means the Department will no longer maintain a list of approved training courses to meet the initial qualifications requirement.

MIOSHA-RSS-894; Summary of Radiologic Technologist Qualifications for Mammography

Mammography Medical Physicists
The new rules adopt the MQSA regulations for medical physicist qualifications. This change means the Department will no longer issue certificates of approval as a mammography physicist. Physicists who had valid state approval certificates prior to the effective date of the new rules will continue to be approved in lieu of board certification. After the effective date of the rules revisions, new physicists will have to qualify under the MQSA regulations.

MIOSHA-RSS-893; Summary of Medical Physicists Qualifications for Mammography

Question 1: Does the Department issue certificates of approval of mammography physicists?

Question 2: Do technologists need an advanced certificate in mammography?

Question 3: The American Board of Radiology (ABR) is implementing changes to their board certification examination process for medical residents beginning with the graduating classes of 2014. How will this effect the time frame for physicians to become board certified to meet the Michigan interpreting physician initial qualifications?

Question 1: Does the Department issue certificates of approval of mammography physicists?

The Department has not issued certificates of approval for mammography physicists since its last revision of the mammography rules in April 2013. Physicists having certificates of approval were issued non-expiring certificates at the time of that rule promulgation. Those certificates remain valid as an initial qualification in Michigan. Newly qualifying medical physicists must qualify under the MQSA.

Question 2: Do technologists need the advanced certificate in mammography?

No. Under the current Michigan rules, a technologist must meet the MQSA requirements of 40 hours of training including 25 supervised exams and 8 hours in each modality used by the technologist.

Question 3: The American Board of Radiology (ABR) is implementing changes to their board certification examination process for medical residents beginning with the graduating classes of 2014. How will this effect the time frame for physicians to become board certified to meet the Michigan interpreting physician initial qualifications?

To independently interpret mammograms, Michigan's regulations require the physician to be (1) board certified or (2) eligible for certification for not more than 2 years. Under the new ABR board certification requirements, a physician must complete 3 years of residency after which they will be board eligible. Newly graduated medical residents may begin independent interpretation of mammograms provided they:

• Have interpreted 240 mammographic examinations under direct supervision within any six month period during the last two years of the medical residency.
• Have completed 3 months of formal training in the interpretation of mammograms and in topics related to mammography (including instruction in radiation physics specific to mammography, radiation effects, and radiation protection).
• Have completed a minimum of 60 category I hours of documented medical education in mammography (including instruction in the interpretation of mammograms, basic breast anatomy, pathology, physiology, technical aspects of mammography, and quality assurance and quality control in mammography), with at least 15 of the category I hours having been acquired within the 3 years immediately prior to the date that the physician qualified as an interpreting physician.

The physician then has to wait 15 months after their residency ends to take the final certification exam. Michigan regulations give the physician 2 years after completing residency to become fully board certified. The ABR certification exam will be given every 6 months, therefore, the physician will have 2 chances to pass the exam during that 2 year period.

June 6, 2016