CT
Computed Tomography (CT)
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ExploreAbout this exam
ARRT certification and registration in Computed Tomography (CT) is a postprimary credential. ARRT describes its purpose as recognizing individuals who are qualified to perform the role of a computed tomographer. It is aimed at technologists who already hold ARRT credentials in an approved supporting discipline; in some cases the supporting credential may be earned through another organization, and ARRT notes that holders of a Nuclear Medicine Technology credential from the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) who are not already R.T.s can submit an online account access form to get started. Day to day, CT technologists commonly work in a hospital or imaging center, scanning all parts of the body for disease diagnosis, acute conditions, and emergency injury assessment, while balancing image quality against radiation dose and helping inform and calm nervous patients. ARRT publishes several documents that define what you must complete and what the exam covers: Clinical Experience Requirements, Structured Education Requirements, Examination Content Specifications, and a Task Inventory. The versions currently posted are labeled as valid through August 31, 2026, and a revised Structured Education Requirements document takes effect September 1, 2026, so confirm you are studying from the version that applies to your test date. Preparation should combine supervised clinical scanning experience with structured education and review of the content specifications and task inventory, then practice questions in the same domains. This page is independent study material and is not affiliated with or endorsed by ARRT.
What you'll study
About CT preparation
Who is eligible to sit for the ARRT CT exam?
CT uses the postprimary eligibility pathway. ARRT states this requires, among other things, that you already hold ARRT credentials in an approved supporting discipline. In some cases the supporting credential may come from another organization; ARRT specifically notes NMTCB Nuclear Medicine Technology credential holders who are not R.T.s can submit an online account access form to begin.
What does the CT exam cover?
ARRT points candidates to its Examination Content Specifications, which outline the topics that appear on the CT exams, and to the Task Inventory, which lists the job responsibilities typically required of technologists working in CT. Use both as your syllabus rather than guessing at topic areas. The content specifications page was unavailable when this page was built, so verify current domain weights directly with ARRT.
Which version of the requirements documents should I use?
The Clinical Experience Requirements, Structured Education Requirements, Examination Content Specifications, and Task Inventory currently posted are labeled through August 31, 2026. A revised Structured Education Requirements document is effective September 1, 2026. Match the document version to your anticipated test date and re-download before you apply, since revised versions are expected.
How hard is the CT exam?
ARRT describes earning certification as challenging yet very achievable, requiring time and commitment across education, ethics, and examination requirements. The realistic difficulty driver is breadth: physics and instrumentation, image production and evaluation, procedures, and patient care and safety all appear, so candidates who only know protocol routines often struggle with physics and dose concepts.
How should I order my study?
Start with the Task Inventory to see what the job actually requires, then work through the Examination Content Specifications topic by topic. Build physics and instrumentation fundamentals first, since image quality, dose, and artifact questions depend on them, then move to procedures and patient care. Finish with mixed practice questions under time pressure and review every miss back to its underlying concept.
What are the most common failure modes?
Candidates typically lose points by memorizing protocols without understanding why parameters change image quality and dose, confusing CT dose index and dose-length product concepts, and misreading artifact descriptions. Weakness in reconstruction and display concepts also costs marks. Another common problem is studying from an outdated requirements or content specification document instead of the version in force for the test date.
How do I apply, and who do I contact with questions?
ARRT directs candidates to download the postprimary eligibility pathway application handbook and follow the detailed application steps it contains. For questions about eligibility, requirements, or applying, ARRT asks you to call 651.687.0048 and choose the option for earning an ARRT credential. Existing R.T.s can log into their online account and select Pursue Postprimary.
Where does ARRT list fees, exam length, and retake rules?
Those specifics are not stated on the CT credential page used to build this page, so confirm them with ARRT directly through the application handbook, the application fees page, and the exam preparation and exam day pages. ARRT's mailing address is listed as 1255 Northland Drive, St. Paul, MN 55120-1155, and the toll-free number is 877.560.ARRT (2778).
Is this page affiliated with ARRT?
No. This is independent study material written for candidates preparing for the CT certification exam. It is not produced, reviewed, endorsed, or sponsored by ARRT, and it does not reproduce any official question bank. Always treat ARRT's own published documents and handbook as the authoritative source for requirements, dates, and application steps.