Your Step-by-Step Guide to Completing the CQR Process

CQR isn't something to fear or dread — but it is something to plan for. Here's exactly what to expect, what to do, and how to make the process work in your favor.

If you earned your ARRT credential on or after January 1, 2011 — or if you hold an R.R.A. designation — your certification and registration is time-limited to ten years. That means at some point in your career, you will encounter the Continuing Qualifications Requirements, better known as CQR. And if you're like most technologists I talk to, your first question is: what exactly do I have to do?

The good news is that CQR is far more straightforward than it sounds. It's not a re-examination of everything you've ever learned. It's a structured, guided process designed to help you identify any gaps between your current knowledge and today's entry-level standards — and then address them. Think of it less as a hurdle and more as a professional tune-up. Here's how to get through it, step by step.

First: do you even need to complete CQR?

Before we get into the process, make sure it applies to you. CQR is required if you earned any ARRT credential on or after January 1, 2011, or if you hold the R.R.A. credential regardless of when it was earned. If your credential predates January 1, 2011 and has never lapsed or been reinstated, you are not subject to CQR — at least not for that particular credential.

One more thing worth knowing upfront: CQR applies even if you are not currently working in the profession. The requirement follows the credential, not the job.

If you hold multiple time-limited credentials, each one has its own separate CQR process and its own timeline based on when you originally earned it. You can't batch them together — they each need to be completed individually.

When does your CQR window open?

Your CQR compliance window opens during the final three years of your 10-year credentialing period. ARRT will send you notifications as that window approaches, and when it opens, a link to the CQR tool will appear directly on your ARRT account dashboard. You don't have to go hunting for it.

Once your compliance window is open, the CQR process follows three sequential steps. You complete the first two, and the third — additional CE — may or may not be required depending on your results.

Do I need to study for the SSA?

Not necessarily — and not in the way you studied for your boards. Since you can't fail the SSA, there's no score to chase. That said, it may be helpful to review the current content specifications for your discipline before sitting for the assessment. Familiarity with the content outline gives you a clearer picture of what the SSA will cover and can help you engage with the questions more confidently.

Can CQR CE count toward my biennial requirements?

Yes — and this is one of the most underutilized advantages of starting CQR early. In most cases, the CE activities ARRT prescribes for CQR can also be applied toward your regular biennial CE requirements. That means your prescribed CQR credits aren't extra work stacked on top of what you already owe — they're integrated into it.

The practical implication: start your CQR process at the beginning of your three-year compliance window, not at the end. By completing the SSA early, you'll know exactly how many (if any) prescribed CE credits you need — and you can time them to overlap with your current biennium. If ARRT approves CE submitted for CQR that also qualifies for your biennial requirements, it will automatically be applied to both.

What to keep track of:

This post is based on ARRT's published CQR FAQ and official guidance for registrants. Requirements are subject to change — always verify current deadlines and process details in your ARRT online account at arrt.org. Questions? Contact ARRT at 651.687.0048 and select the CQR option.

To get your CE credits done, go to https://www.radtechregistry.com/buy-1-asrt-course-get-3-free