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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
podiatric medical assistants; radiation; exemption
Purpose
Exempts podiatric medical assistants who are certified in podiatric radiology, from a course approved by the State Board of Podiatry Examiners (Board), from ionizing radiation certification requirements.
Background
Statute prohibits a person from using ionizing radiation on a human unless the person is a licensed practitioner or holds a certificate, issued by the Department of Health Services, to use ionizing radiation. Any person holding a certificate may use ionizing radiation on humans, only for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes, while operating at the direction of a licensed practitioner. The application of ionizing radiation and the direction to apply it are limited to persons or parts of the human body for which the practitioner is licensed. Various professionals are exempted from the certification requirement, including: 1) hospital residents specializing in radiology; 2) students applying ionizing radiation under the direction of a licensed practitioner; 3) technologists employed by an agency, bureau or division of the Federal government; 4) dental hygienists and dental assistants holding a valid certificate in dental radiology; 5) persons providing assistance during an ionizing radiation procedure under the direction of a licensed person; and 6) persons employed by or acting on behalf of the Department of Corrections or a county jail who uses a body scanning device to detect contraband (A.R.S. § 32-2811).
A podiatric medical assistant is an unlicensed person who has completed a Board-approved education program who assists in a podiatric medical practice under the supervision of a podiatrist and who performs delegated procedures commensurate with the assistant's education and training but who does not diagnose, interpret, design or modify established treatment programs or perform any functions that would violate any statute applicable to the practice of podiatric medicine (A.R.S. § 32-801).
Ionizing radiation means gamma rays and x-rays, alpha and beta particles, high speed electrons, neutrons, protons and other nuclear particles or rays (A.R.S. § 32-2801).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Exempts podiatric medical assistants who are certified in podiatric radiology by a Board-approved course from ionizing radiation certification requirements.
2. Makes technical and conforming changes.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 27, 2023
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