About this Program

Our students have a 97% pass rate when taking the board exam. Help others maintain their strength through screenings that promote better bone health.

This 2-day course is a comprehensive review of the role of bone densitometry for technologists and other health professionals in osteoporosis diagnosis and treatment. Rather than teaching yourself, you'll go through the course material with a DXA expert. The course covers the technology, clinical applications, interpretation of results, clinical procedures, handling of problem cases, safety, quality assurance, bone health, and the establishment and operation of a bone densitometry service in adherence with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT®) bone densitometry educational standards, as well as bone densitometry certification exam requirements. 

This course is appropriate for anyone wanting to learn about bone densitometry including technologists, physicians, managers and allied health personnel. It would also be useful for individuals from companies offering products related to bone densitometry or those setting up, managing or operating a bone densitometry service. 

NEW FOR 2025! Two Learning Formats to Meet Your Needs:

1. Live Webinar – The FAST-TRACK to Certification 

  • Complete the didactic portion and apply it toward the 16 hours of structured education required for ARRT® and ISCD certification.
  • Enjoy the convenience of remote learning with live instruction.
  • Participate in real-time Q&A sessions.
  • Experience a personal touch while learning from home. 

2. Online Self-Paced – Ultimate Flexibility 

  • Start any time with immediate access upon registration.
  • Complete the didactic portion and apply it toward the 16 hours of structured education required for ARRT® and ISCD certification.
  • Learn at your own pace and on your own schedule.
  • Access the same expert-led curriculum for up to one year.
  • Ideal for self-motivated learners balancing busy schedules. 

Licensing & Certification Information 

This bone density for technologist course offers participants CE credits and bone densitometry exam prep, making it ideal for those interested in becoming certified, or renewing ISCD certification or ARRT® (DEXA) certification credentials. 

This activity can be used towards the 16 hours of structured education for ARRT® and ISCD certification and registration requirements related to bone densitometry content specifications.

Need more information about requirements and the registry exam? 

CLICK HERE and visit the ARRT® website. All clinical requirements and eligibility requirements to sit for the registry exam are listed! 

State licensing requirements for Bone Densitometry vary. Contact your state agency to ensure you are compliant. Visit the Visit the ARRT® Individual State Licensure Information to learn more.

California Only: California licensed radiologic technologists may take this course toward structured education to sit for the ARRT® Bone Densitometry Post-Primary exam. This course does not fulfill the training needs for limited licensure in bone densitometry in the State of California. Contact the California Department of Public Health for limited licensure training. 

Educational Objectives

At the competition of this Bone Densitometry Training Course, participants will:

  • Be able to describe the pathology & physiology of osteoporosis
  • Know all the risk factors involved in the development of osteoporosis
  • Describe the difference between pencil and fan beam technologies
  • Understand T & Z scores and their role
  • Understand the principles of photon absorptiometry and DXA scans in determining bone mineral density and identifying osteoporosis

Schedule

What this course will cover

Note: Topics in the online self-paced program are comprehensive and equivalent to our live webinar course.

Day 1

8:00 am

Bone Densitometry Overview
Patient Care and Management

  • What is Bone Densitometry?
  • Why Bone Densitometry?
  • The History and Present Techniques
  • Advantages and Disadvantages
  • DXA Technology in Vertebral Fracture Assessment
  • DXA Technology in Body Composition Assessment

Suggestions for Setting Up a Bone Densitometry Room/Office/Laboratory
Procedures and Image Production

  • Discuss What is Expected from Reception Staff
  • Educational Materials
  • Bone Densitometer Room Set-up
  • Apply State Rules/Regulations for Record-keeping
  • Understand the Importance of Archiving and Backing Up
  • Communication with All Operators of the Equipment
 

An Overview of Osteoporosis
Patient Care

  • Stats and Facts
  • Definition(s)
  • Bone Physiology
  • Risk Factors
  • BMMA
  • Evaluation
  • Prevention and Treatment
  • Laboratory Tests
 Lunch Break
 

Principles and Instrumentation of DXA Equipment
Image Production

  • DPA
  • DXA
  • What are X-rays?
  • Two Methods of X-ray Production
  • Radiation Detection
  • Pencil Beam vs. Fan Beam
  • Variables Measure in DXA
  • Precision
  • Equipment Characteristics
  • Operator and Patient Characteristics
  • Follow-up Scanning
 

Quality Control
Image Production

  • Define Quality Control
  • Phantoms
  • Utilize the Phantoms to Make Control Tables/Charts
  • Types of QC
  • Relocation of DXA Unit
  • Cross Calibration
  • Upgrades
4:00 pmAdjourn for the Day

Day 2

8:00 am

Radiation Safety
Patient Care

  • State Regulations
  • ALARA
  • Principles of Radiation Protection
  • Radiation Quantities
  • Patient Preparation
 

Procedures:

Forearm DXA Scanning

 

Procedures:

Proximal Femur DXA Scanning

 

Procedures:

PA Lumbar Spine DXA Scanning

 Lunch Break
 Case Studies
 ARRT® Exam Preparation/Content Specifications
3:00 pmAdjourn

 

 

Audience

Who should attend?

This course is appropriate for anyone wanting to prepare for bone densitometry certification including technologists, managers and allied health personnel. It would also be useful for vendors offering products related to bone density. This activity can be used towards the 16 hours of structured education for ARRT® and ISCD certification and registration requirements related to bone densitometry content specifications and is designed to ready students for ISCD certification or ARRT® DEXA certification.

Program Faculty

Meet your presenter(s)

Michelle Heater

RT(R)(M)(BD), CBDT

Michelle Heater has over 45 years of experience in Medical Imaging. Michelle has been a dedicated bone densitometrist for 25 years. She graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in applied science. Michelle is certified by both the ARRT and the ICSD. She was an item writer for the ARRT exam and a member of the expert panel that reviewed the exam.Michelle has spoken at international meetings and has served on several boards regarding bone densitometry. She has extensive clinical experience having worked on Hologic and GE Healthcare/Lunar scanners. Michelle has participated in several community outreach programs aimed at educating the public and healthcare professionals about bone health. Her friendly teaching style and extensive knowledge of bone densitometry will make this a very enjoyable educational experience.

Credits

Accredited training programs

ASRT Category A Credit Information

ASRT Category A

This program provides 16 hour(s) of Category A continuing education credit for radiologic technologists approved by ASRT and recognized by the ARRT® and various licensure states. Category A credit is also recognized for CE credit in Canada. You must attend the entire program to receive your certificate of completion.  

CQR credits have been applied to this activity.

Tuition

Convenient payment options available

AudiencePriceEarly PriceMember PriceMember Early Price
Live Webinar$579.00$535.00$549.00$519.00
Online Self-Paced$579.00$549.00

Learn about membership

Partial refunds may be available for ONLINE SELF-PACED purchases if Reach 360 registration has not be completed.


Early Pricing Guidelines

Qualifying 'Early' registrations must be made at least 21 days in advance for the live webinar program.


Cancellation Policy

Courses

Refunds, minus a $50 processing fee, will be granted for cancellations received prior to 3 days before the program. Cancellations received within 3 days of the program will receive a credit toward a future MTMI program, minus the $50 processing fee. No refunds will be made after the program starts. MTMI reserves the right to cancel any scheduled program because of low advance registration or other reasons. MTMI’s liability is limited to a refund of any program tuition paid. MTMI recommends that attendees use refundable airline tickets. In case of cancellation of a program for any reason, MTMI is not responsible for travel costs incurred by attendees including non-refundable airline tickets. When offered, WEBINAR ATTENDEES that cannot log in due to unsolvable technical issues beyond their control will be eligible for a full refund.