Did you know that California is only one of a few states that require surgeons to take and pass a fluoroscopy test prior to being able to use fluoroscopy during surgery. California has a very paper-driven manual process that can take 6 months to get through and receive your certification. COA has been urging the Radiologic Health Branch to modernize the process or look for other ways for surgeons to meet this requirement, but to-date the system has not been updated.
Temporary Fluoroscopy Permit
In 2021, COA sponsored legislation that was passed and signed into law requiring the Radiologic Health Branch to implement a Temporary Fluoroscopy Permitting Process to avoid delays in surgeons getting into practice. It’s a 12-month temporary permit while you get scheduled to take the state-mandated fluoroscopy test. Click to learn more about the temporary fluoroscopy process.
The test is not specialty-specific and is heavily weighted towards testing your knowledge of physics. Even though orthopaedic surgeons have a high pass rate, it’s a tough test, so be well-prepared.
Resources to Help you Prepare to Take the Test
The Process:
Preparing to Take the Radiography Supervisor’s or Fluoroscopy Certification Test?
What to Study?
Radiation Safety Fluoroscopy – UC San Diego
FluoroSafety.com
Practice Tests:
FluoroPrep.com
Other Radiation Safety Tools:
Dose Reduction Reference Card
Radiation Protection Reference Card
RHB Improves Communications with Surgeons
Questions regarding the status of your application should be directed to the Radiologic Health Branch: Yvonne Baker: Phone: 916-440-7901 yvonne.baker@cdph.ca.gov
Other questions should be directed to COA: admin@coa.org Phone: 916-454-9884
