State law requires that individuals using ionizing radiation have a certain core of knowledge about x-ray technology and radiation safety. Material presented in this class allows an excellent understanding of the factors necessary to create a good quality x-ray image in a safe manner. Also included is instruction in quality critique, patient management and all required legal issues related to the use of x-ray (see Syllabus tab).

Classroom academic material will be supplemented by the required 30 hours of in-person training in patient positioning. Our program is structured so that the “sponsoring doctor” — that is, the doctor sending the student to the class — will provide this hands-on training, using a curriculum that we provide. Doctors can review the FAQs here, and fill out the application to become an instructor.

The course is designed to meet the Washington state requirements for non-chiropractors to take x-rays in a chiropractic office.  It assumes no previous experience, and starts with the necessary basic concepts.

Personnel from non-chiropractic offices can contact us for a shorter training program.

No. You need to have access to x-ray equipment to complete the 30 hours of hands-on training, and you need a chiropractor to lead this part of the instruction.

Absolutely! Digital — both DR (no cassette) and CR (digital cassettes) — as well as film technology are covered in this class. In addition, whether you collect images on film or via digital detectors, there is a core of common information that needs to be learned. Understanding x-ray energy, exposure calculation, quality critique, radiation safety, and patient positioning apply to both film and digital technology.

No. The course is designed to start from the beginning so that a newcomer can learn the necessary material.

Yes. Experienced techs are universally surprised at what they learn by attending. Many limited x-ray techs function by rote and do not really understand how to control film quality. No one is bored in this class!

The entire course is 72 hours. including one weekend of live Zoom class (20 hours), in-house training led by your sponsoring doctor (30 hours), and online on-demand videos (22 hours). You must complete all 72 hours, and pass the final course exam, to qualify for the chiropractic x-ray technician license.

In 1991 the Washington state Chiropractic Quality Assurance Commission (CQAC, the chiropractic licensing board) enacted a 48-hour training requirement for chiropractic x-ray technicians. In 2023 CQAC passed a rule increasing the requirement to 72 hours, 30 of which must be done in person.

The development of seminars to provide training for chiropractic x-ray technicians was necessary to meet the terms of Washington state CQAC law. The 72-hour classes that provide this required training are the only available source of a condensed course in x-ray technology, short of a full 2-3 year college program.

No, not specifically. X-ray is generic to all of health care, and the course is taught to cover the x-ray needs of all specialties. All necessary material for chiropractic x-ray technicians is covered, however, including upright patient positioning.

Non-chiropractic x-ray technicians do not have the 72-hour requirement, and can contact us for a shorter training option.

The course covers plain film x-ray technology for the skeleton and chest. Other states would term this a “limited permit.” The course has been taught by Dr. Vlasuk for many years and is tightly-packed, highly refined, and covers just the material needed in practical usage.

Classroom academic material is supplemented by required in-person training, conducted by the student’s sponsoring doctor. This portion of the training is designed to familiarize the student with their equipment and to provide practice in patient positioning.

In 1991 the Washington Chiropractic Quality Assurance Commission (CQAC, the chiropractic licensing board) enacted a 48-hour training requirement for chiropractic x-ray technicians. In 2023, this requirement was increased to 72 hours. Chiropractic x-ray technicians must complete the entire 42 hours of academic training and 30 hours of in-person training, and pass an exam given at the end of the course.

Washington state law does not currently specify any educational requirements for limited x-ray technicians who work in medical, osteopathic, naturopathic, and podiatric practices. Students from those offices can contact us for a shorter training option!

Hospitals, radiology labs, and some larger group practices require that their x-ray personnel be fully-trained radiologic technologists (minimum 2-3 year college training program) and ARRT (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists) certified. This is done as a job requirement (and often for accreditation purposes), but not because state law requires it.

Overall, you’ll have one year from the date of your first Zoom class to complete all the hours and take the final exam.

The first 20 hours of the Zoom class are obviously on a fixed schedule, and you must attend all of those hours as scheduled. After that, the rest of the course can be completed at your own pace.

The in-house training from your sponsoring doctor can be done on whatever schedule works for you and the office. You might decide to cram it all into a couple of weekends, or you might decide to spend an hour after work every day for a month — it’s entirely up to you.

You can begin the on-demand videos any time after you finish the 20 hours of Zoom class.

Yes.

Yes, although you can also contact us for a shorter training option for non-chiropractic facilities.

Probably not in most cases. (See above answer on state requirements for x-ray techs.)

This course provides the necessary 42 hours of classroom training in x-ray technology and safety (20 hours live via Zoom, and 22 hours via self-paced videos). A certificate of attendance is provided for the actual number of hours attended.

Chiropractic personnel need to be certain to complete all 72 hours and must pass an examination given at the end of the class.

Chiropractic personnel must pay a fee and submit an application to the WA Chiropractic Quality Assurance Commission, after receiving their course completion certificate and passing the exam.

Personnel from fields other than chiropractic need to register with the WA Department of Health, and can contact us for a shorter course option.

Chiropractic x-ray technician.

The term “radiology technologist” (“radtech”) is reserved for individuals who complete a 2-3 year college training program in Radiologic Technology and are ARRT certified.

Yes. Chiropractic x-ray technicians can use any 6 out of the 48 hours for their required continuing education credit; however, Dr. Vlasuk also offers separate 6-hour x-ray CE courses twice each year that are designed for more advanced training.

(Experienced x-ray techs from all specialties, as well as doctors, are welcome to attend the 6-hour Continuing Education courses, but those are not designed for the beginning student.)

Yes. So do the 6-hour x-ray CE courses; however, Dr. Vlasuk also offers separate 12-hour courses specifically designed for doctors.

All of these seminars are automatically approved for Washington and Oregon.

All of these seminars are applied for and approved each year for Alaska.

Yes. So do the 6-hour x-ray CE courses.

The 20-hour Zoom class weekend is offered approximately once a month. Dates are listed on the seminar calendar. After you complete those 20 hours, the rest of the course is at your own pace.

Make sure you’ve joined our email list, to stay updated about the seminar schedule.

While these courses are designed for beginners, it helps reduce the burden of learning a large amount of new material in a short period of time if you first review skeletal anatomy, familiarize yourself with the x-ray equipment in your office, and observe x-rays being taken in the office. This is not an absolute prerequisite, but it just makes it easier on you.