Compliance with NRC Regulations
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AU-E Designation Discontinued
In March 2022, the ABR informed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of the Board’s intent to discontinue including Authorized User-Eligible (AU-E) designations on ABR certificates issued after December 31, 2023. Please review the Frequently Asked Questions for additional information on this transition. You can also view a recording of our March 30, 2022, informational webinar regarding the changes to the AU-E designation.
The ABR AU-Eligible Designation
The ABR Authorized User-Eligible designation is available for interventional radiology/diagnostic radiology (IR/DR) certificates issued by December 31, 2023. Please contact us at information@theabr.org if you have questions.
Radioisotope Safety Content (RISC)
The exam content that makes up the Radioisotope Safety Exam (RISE) is an integral part of the domain of diagnostic radiology and interventional radiology. There are no plans to change those questions in the Qualifying (Core) and Certifying exams. However, starting in 2024, the RISE content will not be scored separately, and the section will be called Radioisotope Safety Content (RISC). The questions will continue to count toward the overall exam score. Pass rates on the Qualifying (Core) and Certifying exams will not be affected by this change.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is “Authorized User-Eligible (AU-E)”?
This is an ABR certificate designation that allows a candidate to submit training and experience documentation to the ABR as part of the process for eventually requesting, if needed, the Authorized User designation from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
What is an “Authorized User” [of Radioactive Materials]?
This is a designation by the NRC for an individual who meets the training and experience requirements and is added to the institution/facility/practice upon request and approval of the required credentials. Many radiologists are not Authorized Users. “A person named as an authorized user on an NRC license is responsible for ensuring that radioactive materials are handled and used safely and in accordance with NRC regulations and the terms and conditions of the NRC license.” https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/radiation/protects-you/hppos/hppos145.html
Why did the ABR decide to stop issuing AU-E designations?
- It was outside the defined focus of the ABR’s mission.
- It diverted resources from fundamental objectives (e.g., refinement of remote exams, high reliability customer service).
- A direct pathway exists with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and Agreement States. (An Agreement State has signed an agreement with the NRC authorizing the State to regulate certain uses of radioactive materials within the State).
- An individual may be an AU without being board certified. Conversely, an individual may be board certified without being an AU.
When were these changes implemented?
The ABR discontinued including AU-E designations on certificates issued after December 31, 2023. Candidates in all disciplines who received initial board certification before that date and met other criteria, such as passing the RISE for DR and IR/DR, received AU-E on their certificates.
What ABR certificates were impacted by this change?
All ABR specialty certificates were impacted. AU-E designations on ABR certificates are diagnostic radiology (AU-Eligible), interventional radiology/diagnostic radiology (AU-Eligible), radiation oncology (AU-Eligible), diagnostic medical physics (RSO-Eligible), nuclear medical physics (RSO-Eligible), and therapeutic medical physics (AMP-Eligible).
Where can I find information about becoming an NRC Authorized User?
Detailed information about the training, experience, and documentation required to become an NRC Authorized User is available on the NRC website.
If a candidate is board eligible but not board certified, can they become an NRC Authorized User?
Yes. ABR board certification is not a requirement to become an NRC Authorized User.
Does the ABR require residency programs to keep NRC-related training records for a certain period of time?
No. The ABR does not require residency programs to keep NRC-related training records. However, it would be in the best interest of the residents and programs to retain these records to help those interested in becoming an NRC Authorized User.
As an interventional radiologist, may I interpret nuclear medicine/nuclear radiology studies without being an AU?
Yes, if granted practice privileges to do so.
Do DR and IR/DR residents still need to do 700 hours of training in Nuclear Radiology?
Yes. The ACGME (i.e., “residency”) requires 700 hours.
Will the Radioisotope Safety Exam (RISE) still be given as part of the Qualifying (Core) and Certifying exams for DR and IR/DR?
The exam content that makes up the RISE is an integral part of the domain of diagnostic radiology and interventional radiology, so there are no plans to change those in the exams. However, starting in 2024, that part of the exam will not be scored separately. This section will now be called Radioisotope Safety Content (RISC). The questions will continue to be scored toward the overall exam score. Pass rates on the Qualifying (Core) and Certifying exams will not be affected by this change.
What was the last date for DR or IR/DR diplomates to take the separate RISE to get AU-E added to their certificates?
The last date diplomates could take the RISE was December 2023.
Is there a change to the required documentation (record keeping) by the residency program?
No. As of June 2023, documentation is no longer submitted to the ABR. However, residents and programs should continue to be consistent with meeting RRC and NRC requirements. The graduate may request that the program complete and attest to their training and experience in their NRC Preceptor Statement; the documentation requirements are very similar to what was previously provided to the ABR. The government form looks different, but the information needed for completion is very similar to what was needed for completion of the ABR forms prior to 2024.
Is documentation still needed for the ABR 16-Month Nuclear Radiology Pathway or Nuclear Radiology/Nuclear Medicine Fellowship?
Yes. The documentation requirements for the 16-month pathway and the nuclear radiology/nuclear medicine fellowship pathway will be unchanged; however, the documentation will only be used to determine eligibility for the Nuclear Radiology Subspecialty Exam. This documentation will not be used for AU-E designation after 2023.
