Radiation licences for medical and dental practitioners

Introduction

You need a radiation licence to use x-ray equipment. The criteria you must meet to get a radiation licence will vary depending on your qualifications, experience and the type of work you do.

This section has radiation licence information for:

This section also explains how to monitor your exposure to radiation.


Chiropractors

If you are a chiropractor you need a radiation licence to use x-ray equipment.

Before you apply

You must be registered as a chiropractor with the Chiropractic Board of Australia under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

You also need to have completed one of the following:

  • graduated in Chiropractic from RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria - forerunner to Phillip Institute of Technology
  • graduated in Chiropractic from Macquarie University, New South Wales - forerunner to Sydney College of Chiropractic
  • received satisfactory assessment by RMIT University or Macquarie University - if you trained as a chiropractor overseas.

How to apply

To apply follow these steps.

Step 1. Fill in the application for a licence to the Chief Health Office
Step 2. Check the fee.
Step 3. Submit your application and fee in one of the following ways:

In person

Submit your application and fee at your nearest Receiver of Territory Monies Office.

Email or mail

Phone the Receiver of Territory monies and pay the fee by credit card.

Enter your payment receipt number on the application form and do one of the following:

Contact

For more information contact Radiation Protection by phone on 08 8922 7152 or email at radiationprotection@nt.gov.au.


Dental practitioners

If you are a dental practitioner you must be licensed to use dental x-ray equipment.

This includes:

  • dentists
  • dental hygienists
  • dental therapists
  • dental assistants.

Before you apply

Dentists, dental hygienists and dental therapists

You must be registered as a dental practitioner with the Dental Board of Australia under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) to use intra-oral x-ray equipment.

If you want to use orthopantomograms (OPG) and dental cone beam CT (CBCT), you must provide evidence of appropriate training to operate OPG and CBCT equipment. Nationally recognised training is available.

Go to the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency website (ARPNSA) for a list of nationally recognised training providers.

Dental assistants

You can use intraoral equipment to x-ray teeth and facial bones if you have completed an accredited certificate level IV course that includes OPG.

How to apply

To apply follow these steps.

Step 1. Fill in the application for a licence to the Chief Health Officer.
Step 2. Check the fee.
Step 3. Submit your application and fee in one of the following ways:

In person

Submit your application and fee at your nearest Receiver of Territory Monies Office.

Email or mail

Phone the Receiver of Territory Monies and pay the fee by credit card.

Enter your payment receipt number on the application form and do one of the following:

Contact

For more information contact Radiation Protection by phone on 08 8922 7152 or email at radiationprotection@nt.gov.au.


Diagnostic radiographers

If you are a diagnostic radiographer registered with the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), you do not need a separate radiation licence. 

AHPRA registration is taken as a radiation licence in the Northern Territory. 

Diagnostic radiographer responsibilities

It is your responsibility to ensure that medical staff remain outside the CT scanning room during procedures. For unusual circumstances staff may remain inside the scanning room in an appropriate location.

You must also ensure that you do not duplicate radiographic procedures unnecessarily.


Nuclear medicine technologists

You need a radiation licence to work in nuclear medicine.

Before you apply

To get a radiation licence for nuclear medicine, you must provide evidence of one of the following:

  • registration with the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
  • a statement of accreditation by the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nuclear Medicine (ANZSNM)
  • a provisional statement of accreditation from ANZSNM.

How to apply 

To apply follow these steps.

Step 1. Fill in the application for a licence to the Chief Health Officer.
Step 2. Check the fee.
Step 3. Submit your application and fee in one of the following ways:

In person

Submit your application and fee at your nearest Receiver of Territory Monies Office.

Email or mail

Phone the Receiver of Territory monies and pay the fee by credit card.

Enter your payment receipt number on the application form and do one of the following:

Contact

For more information contact Radiation Protection by phone on 08 8922 7152 or email at radiationprotection@nt.gov.au.


Radiation therapists

Radiation therapists must be licensed to use radiation equipment.

Before you apply

You must provide evidence of one of the following:

  • registration with the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
  • statement of accreditation in therapeutic radiography from Australian Institute of Radiography (AIR)
  • certificate of competency in therapeutic radiography from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) and AIR joint board
  • diploma of qualification in therapeutic radiography issued by the RANZCR and AIR joint board.

How to apply

To apply follow these steps.

Step 1. Fill in the application form for a licence to the Chief Health Officer.
Step 2. Check the fee.
Step 3. Submit your application and fee in one of the following ways:

In person

Submit your application and fee at your nearest Receiver of Territory Monies Office.

Email or mail

Phone the Receiver of Territory monies and pay the fee by credit card.

Enter your payment receipt number on the application form and do one of the following:

Contact

For more information contact Radiation Protection by phone on 08 8922 7152 or email at radiationprotection@nt.gov.au.


Registered nurses and general practitioners

If you are a registered nurse or general practitioner you must obtain a remote operator's licence to take chest and extremity x-rays.

Any x-rays you take must be reported by a radiologist.

To apply for a remote operator's licence, you must meet all of the following criteria:

  • be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
  • successfully complete an x-ray training course at Royal Darwin Hospital.

X-ray conditions

If you hold a remote operator's licence, you must:

  • only take chest and extremity x-rays except in an emergency
  • record each radiographic view and number of repeats
  • ensure that examinations are reported by a radiologist unless advised otherwise.

Contact

For more information about x-ray conditions for registered nurses and general practitioners, and advice relating to remote operator use licence conditions, contact Radiation Protection on 08 8922 7152.


Personal radiation monitoring

Personal radiation monitoring is a way to keep track of your radiation dose. Radiation exposure has a cumulative effect and lifetime monitoring may be needed.

If you work in the following areas or positions your organisation's radiation licence holder must provide you with a personal monitoring device:

  • diagnostic imaging
  • dentistry
  • chiropractic
  • veterinary
  • general practice
  • nursing
  • anyone who operates CT and fluoroscopic equipment 
  • orthopaedic surgeon
  • nuclear medicine technologist
  • medical physicist
  • industrial radiographer or NDT technician
  • soil technician
  • anyone who handles or transports unsealed radioactive material
  • researcher using radiation sources
  • anyone who installs, services, tests or decommissions radiation sources
  • trainees learning how to use radiation sources
  • uranium and mineral sand industry workers
  • any other professions that may be exposed to radiation sources.

Your licensee may apply for a personal radiation monitoring exemption if the radiation dose received by an employee is less than 1 mSV per year.

Radiation monitoring service providers

These organisations provide radiation monitoring services in the Northern Territory (NT). 

This is not a complete list. Other providers may also provide an appropriate service.

Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA)
Phone: 1800 678 112

SGS Radiation Services
Phone: (03) 9574 3370
au.radiation.prms@sgs.com 

Landauer Australasia
Phone: (02) 9713 0000

Personal radiation monitoring resources

Go to the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency website for personal radiation monitoring information.

You can also phone Radiation Protection on (08) 8922 7152.


Radiation safety training

This page has information for professionals who use radiation apparatus or sources.

You need to provide evidence of appropriate qualification, experience and training to use or operate a radiation source. This includes people in the following professions:

  • registered nurses
  • general practitioners or doctors working in remote clinics
  • dental practitioners
  • people who use handheld XRF
  • industrial radiographers or NDT technicians
  • soil technicians
  • borehole loggers or engineers
  • research students
  • people who transport radiation sources
  • people training to use or operate radiation apparatus or sources.

Nationally recognised radiation safety training courses are generally accepted in the Northern Territory (NT). These courses are listed on the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency website.

For more advice about training contact Radiation Protection.

X-ray courses for remote health workers

The x-ray department at Royal Darwin Hospital runs courses for doctors and nurses who work in remote health clinics in the NT.

The courses gives doctors and nurses basic radiographic skills so that patients don’t have to travel to regional centres for chest, arm or leg x-rays.

Phone the Royal Darwin Hospital x-ray department on (08) 8922 8512 to book a course.


Fees and contacts

This page has information about radiation licence fees and contacts.

Radiation licence fees

If you apply for a licence you may have to pay a fee. Northern Territory Government applicants do not have to pay fees.

GST is not charged on radiation licence fees.

ItemRevenue unitsFee
Apply for a single licence100$135

Contact Radiation Protection

For more information about radiation licences for professionals, contact Radiation Protection.

Mail

Radiation Protection
Department of Health
PO Box 40596
Casuarina NT 081
radiationprotection@nt.gov.au

Phone: 08 8922 7152