ARRT Mammography study guide
ARRT Mammography · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
Mammography is one of the postprimary credentials offered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), a credentialing organization that provides certification and registration across a wide range of radiologic disciplines. It is designed for technologists who already hold an ARRT primary credential and want to document competence in breast imaging; it is not an entry route into radiologic technology. Credentialed mammographers typically work in screening centers, hospital breast-imaging suites, and mobile or specialty practices where positioning accuracy, dose awareness, and image critique matter every day. The exam samples the knowledge a mammographer actually uses: patient education and assessment, including history taking, explaining the procedure, and communicating results follow-up; breast anatomy, physiology, and pathology; mammographic equipment, technique, and quality control; and imaging procedures with image evaluation - positioning, artifacts, and recognizing when additional or repeat views are needed. The ARRT Mammography study guide has 4 sections and about 1,185 words.
01Patient Education and Assessment
Patient education and assessment covers communication, history taking, risk assessment, and recognizing when a patient needs diagnostic rather than screening imaging. Candidates should understand informed consent concepts and how to explain compression, radiation dose, and positioning in plain language.
297 words, about 1 min02Breast Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathology
This domain tests normal breast structure, hormonal physiology, lymphatic drainage, and the imaging appearances of benign and malignant disease. Expect questions that link anatomy to where cancers arise and how pathology appears on mammography.
299 words, about 1 min03Mammographic Equipment and Quality Control
This domain covers mammography unit components, image acquisition, dose, and the quality control program required under MQSA. Candidates should connect equipment settings to image quality and patient dose.
299 words, about 1 min04Mammographic Imaging Procedures and Image Evaluation
This domain covers standard and additional mammographic views, positioning, image evaluation, and rejection criteria. The candidate must recognize when an image is adequate and when it must be repeated.
290 words, about 1 min