Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) FAQ

Ask your facility supervisor for the date of your upcoming MQSA inspection. Typically, MQSA inspectors count credits for the 36 months prior to the inspection. Please note that some inspectors may use a quarterly reporting system, which could modify the time frame. Your facility supervisor should be prepared to answer this question.

It depends on your biennium start date. If your biennium began on or before Dec. 31, 2017, you will earn 24 Category A credits once you become certified in mammography. To add the credits to your CE record, refer to our track and transfer guidelines. These credits can count toward the 15 mammography credits required by the MQSA during your 36-month period as determined by the date of your facility inspection.

If your current ARRT biennium begins on or after Jan. 1, 2018, you will not earn CE credits if you receive a post-primary ARRT certification. Please refer to the ARRT Continuing Education Requirements Section 8 for more information on this change.

ASRT membership gives you the freedom to choose your own CE credits from hundreds of options, including dozens of mammography-specific CE opportunities to help you meet MQSA and state licensure requirements.

No. However, you must complete the initial MQSA and applicable state requirements.

1. You must have one of the following:
   • A general radiography state license. Both initial and continuing education requirements vary by state, so please check with your state licensing agency to confirm if your state requires specific courses and which CE credits your state accepts.
   OR
   • A radiography certification through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists or the American Registry of Clinical Radiography Technologists.
2. Complete 40 hours of initial training in mammography, which includes breast anatomy, physiology, positioning, compression, quality assurance and quality control techniques, and imaging of patients with breast implants.
3. Complete 25 mammography examinations under the supervision of an MQSA-qualified individual.
4. Obtain 8 hours of initial mammography modality-specific training prior to using any modality independently. The modalities include full-field digital mammography, digital breast tomosynthesis, screen film mammography and xeromammography. For more information about modalities, read the FDA Definition of Modalities.

At the time of inspection, you must provide state licensure, board certification and initial training requirement documents as well as certificates of completion for the 36-month period prior to the inspection. At least 6 of these CEUs must be in each of the mammographic modalities you practice. You also will need to produce continuing experience documentation for the completion of 200 mammograms performed during the 36 months prior to the inspection.

You must meet the MQSA ongoing CE requirements to earn 15 credits in mammography every three years. The credits may be in either analog or digital mammography. There is an initial one-time only digital mammography requirement for 8 hours of digital mammography training prior to performing digital mammography exams.

To get a quick response to your questions about MQSA or other concerns, call the MQSA Facility Hotline at 1-800-838-7715. If you can wait for a response, you can also fill out a contact form at the MQSA Program Contact page.