ARRT Limited Scope study plan
ARRT Limited Scope · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Anatomy and Positioning of the Chest, Extremities, and Spine & Patient Care and Safety
Map the bony landmarks of the upper extremity (shoulder, humerus, elbow, forearm, wrist, hand) from memory on a blank diagram
List the standard and alternate projections for each upper extremity routine and state the central ray entry point for each
Identify the patient-care precautions that apply before, during, and after an upper extremity exam (immobilization, shielding, communication)
Practice positioning the wrist, hand, and forearm on a phantom or peer and self-correct rotation and angulation errors
Your checkpoint
Completed self-quiz of 40 upper-extremity landmark and projection items with 85% or higher accuracy
Anatomy and Positioning of the Chest, Extremities, and Spine & Radiation Protection and Equipment Operation
Map the bony landmarks of the lower extremity (pelvis, femur, knee, tibia/fibula, ankle, foot) from memory on a blank diagram
State the central ray entry point and patient position for each lower extremity routine projection
Explain how collimation, gonadal shielding, and beam restriction reduce dose during extremity and pelvic exams
Demonstrate correct cassette/IR placement and centering for an AP knee and lateral ankle
Your checkpoint
Completed self-quiz of 40 lower-extremity landmark and projection items with 85% or higher accuracy
Anatomy and Positioning of the Chest, Extremities, and Spine & Image Production and Evaluation
Map vertebral anatomy by region (cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum) and label the parts of a typical vertebra
State the positioning routine and central ray for C-spine, T-spine, and L-spine projections
Evaluate sample spine images for rotation, coverage, and penetration and write a correction for each fault
Apply the criteria for acceptable vs. repeatable images to at least 10 practice spine radiographs
Your checkpoint
An image-evaluation log of 10 spine radiographs with written positioning corrections for each
Patient Care and Safety & Image Production and Evaluation
Explain patient identification, consent, and communication standards that apply to every exam
Describe the factors that affect image quality: density/brightness, contrast, recorded detail, and distortion
Identify the technical adjustments needed when a patient cannot cooperate (trauma, pediatric, mobility-limited)
Summarize radiation protection practices for the patient and the technologist in routine radiography
Your checkpoint
Midpoint practice exam of 50 mixed items across Domains 1-4 with a score of 75% or higher
Anatomy and Positioning of the Skull, Abdomen, and Pelvis & Image Production and Evaluation
Map the anatomy of the abdomen and pelvis, including the bony pelvis and abdominal quadrants
State the routine projections and central ray for KUB, AP abdomen, and AP pelvis
Map the bones of the skull and facial bones and identify the standard skull projections
Evaluate abdominal and pelvic images for coverage, rotation, and artifact and document corrections
Your checkpoint
Completed self-quiz of 40 abdomen/pelvis/skull anatomy and positioning items with 85% or higher accuracy
Anatomy and Positioning of the Skull, Abdomen, and Pelvis & Radiation Protection and Equipment Operation
State the positioning routine and central ray for skull, facial bones, and sinus projections
Explain how exposure factors, filtration, and collimation affect dose in skull and abdominal radiography
Describe equipment checks (tube warm-up, detector/IR condition, collimator alignment) performed before an exam
Identify common equipment faults that produce artifacts and describe the corrective action for each
Your checkpoint
A one-page equipment and dose checklist covering skull, abdomen, and pelvis exams, reviewed against course notes
Image Production and Evaluation & Radiation Protection and Equipment Operation
Classify the causes of repeat images and describe prevention for each category
Apply the ALARA principle to at least 5 scenario-based dose-reduction questions
Evaluate a set of mixed radiographs for positioning, exposure, and artifact faults and assign a pass/repeat decision
Explain how image processing and display affect the final diagnostic image
Your checkpoint
An image-evaluation portfolio of 15 mixed radiographs with pass/repeat decisions and written rationale
Patient Care and Safety & Radiation Protection and Equipment Operation & Image Production and Evaluation & Anatomy and Positioning of the Chest, Extremities, and Spine & Anatomy and Positioning of the Skull, Abdomen, and Pelvis
Review all five domains using a timed full-length practice exam
Identify the three weakest content areas from practice results and complete targeted review of each
Rehearse patient-care and safety scenarios under time pressure
Confirm exam-day logistics, identification requirements, and testing rules
Your checkpoint
A full-length timed practice exam with a score of 80% or higher and a written weak-area review plan
Milestones
Week 2: Score 85% or higher on both the upper- and lower-extremity self-quizzes
Week 4: Score 75% or higher on the 50-item midpoint practice exam
Week 6: Complete all domain self-quizzes at 85% or higher and submit the equipment/dose checklist
Week 8: Score 80% or higher on the full-length timed practice exam and submit the weak-area review plan