California rad tech license: x-ray and sonographer rules

California rad tech license: an x-ray technologist needs a state certification, a sonographer none; 69 programs.

The state rules apply where you take the images

Example: California· change any figure to see your own result

California: state license for an x-ray technologist

Yes

Yes, a state certification · sonographer: no state license

Radiologic technologist (radiography)Yes, a state certification
Sonographer (ultrasound)No state license
Limited x-ray operatorYes: a limited permit
Other licensed modalitiesnuclear medicine, radiation therapy, fluoroscopy, mammography, bone densitometry
AgencyCalifornia Department of Public Health, Radiologic Health Branch
Programs reported to IPEDS (2023-24)37 radiography, 32 sonography

Rule from the ASRT state table, checked against the page of California Department of Public Health, Radiologic Health Branch on November 13, 2026.

How this is computed

Compiled by Radif Partners · How the rules were read

California runs the largest imaging training system in this table, with more sonography graduates in 2023-24 than any other state and dozens of radiography programs. The state certifies radiologic technologists and issues limited permits through the Radiologic Health Branch of the Department of Public Health; sonography has no state credential. For residents, the in-state tuition of its public colleges is among the lowest reported to IPEDS. The California Department of Public Health, through its Radiologic Health Branch (RHB), certifies radiologic technologists and runs a state exam for limited permits. The branch warns that, because of a software update, its pages are not updated from October 2 to November 13, 2026, while the certificate and permit search tool keeps working. By awards in 2023-24, the largest programs were Smith Chason College in Los Angeles (sonography, 275), Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts in San Jose (radiography, 169), High Desert Medical College in Lancaster (sonography, 153), CBD College in Los Angeles (sonography, 139), Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa (radiography, 110), Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts in San Jose (sonography, 95), Platt College-Riverside in Riverside (sonography, 95) and Platt College-Anaheim in Anaheim (sonography, 92).

How to get the California rad tech license

Apply to the Radiologic Health Branch for a certificate (full technologist) or a limited permit (limited scope), after the ARRT exam or the state’s limited permit exam. Use the branch’s certificate and permit search to check the status of yours. Also credentialed here: nuclear medicine, radiation therapy, fluoroscopy, mammography, bone densitometry.

California: imaging modalities with a state rule (ASRT table, read November 13, 2026)
ModalityState credential
RadiographyCertification
CTNo license (equipment rule: certification)
Nuclear medicineCertification
Radiation therapyCertification
Limited x-rayPermit
FluoroscopyPermit
Fusion imagingNo license (equipment rule: certification)
MammographyCertification
Bone densitometryPermit

California rad tech and sonography schools

California: the largest of 37 radiography and 32 sonography programs; public in-state median $1,238 and $1,208 a year (IPEDS 2023-24)
SchoolCityProgramAwards 2023-24In-state tuition and fees
Smith Chason CollegeLos AngelesSonography275$19,100
Gurnick Academy of Medical ArtsSan JoseRadiography169n/a
High Desert Medical CollegeLancasterSonography153n/a
CBD CollegeLos AngelesSonography139n/a
Orange Coast CollegeCosta MesaRadiography110$1,208
Gurnick Academy of Medical ArtsSan JoseSonography95n/a
Platt College-RiversideRiversideSonography95$14,804
Platt College-AnaheimAnaheimSonography92$14,804
Cypress CollegeCypressRadiography78$1,146
American Medical Sciences CenterGlendaleSonography77n/a

Tuition and exam: becoming a technologist in California

Example: sonography, 2 years in California· change any figure to see your own result

Sonography in California: tuition and exam

$2,991

$1,208 a year × 2 + ARDMS SPI and one specialty $575

Median public in-state tuition and fees in California$1,208 a year (2023-24)
Years of study2
Exam fees$575
State licenseNo state license
Full calculator: Sonographer: the job and the route →

Questions students and technologists ask

Tap a question to see the answer.

Do I need a California license to be a radiology tech?

Yes. California requires a state certificate for radiologic technologists and a limited permit for limited scope operators, both from the Radiologic Health Branch. Note that the branch said its web pages would not be updated between October 2 and November 13, 2026, during a software change.

Is sonography licensed in California?

No state license or certificate exists for sonographers in California, according to the ASRT table we read. Employers ask for ARDMS or ARRT sonography credentials. California schools reported the largest number of sonography awards of any state to IPEDS for 2023-24.

How much does rad tech or sonography school cost in California?

Yearly tuition and required fees for residents in 2023-24, from the IPEDS charges file, the five lowest: Antelope Valley Community College District in Lancaster, $1,124 ($8,228 for nonresidents); Yuba College in Marysville, $1,128 ($8,208 for nonresidents); El Camino Community College District in Torrance, $1,144 ($7,144 for nonresidents); Cypress College in Cypress, $1,146 ($9,399 for nonresidents); San Diego Mesa College in San Diego, $1,150 ($9,094 for nonresidents).

Next steps

Rad tech license by state

39 jurisdictions issue a credential to radiographers; the word each uses, and the 12 that do not.

Sonographer license by state

Only 5 places license sonographers; the agency of each, and what the other states ask instead.

Moving to another state

Licensed in one state, moving to another: whether you need a new state credential, and where to apply.

Radiology tech schools

482 radiography programs with graduates in 2023-24: find those of your state with tuition and fees.

State tables, agency pages, fee pages and federal files behind this page (4)

Each form number, fee, length and signer list was read on these official documents on November 13, 2026.

Compiled by

Independent publisher of state-by-state licensing rules and exam cost calculators for sonographers and radiologic technologists. Paid by no one: no school lead, no affiliate link, no paid placement.

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The answers apply the ASRT state table and the agency pages read on November 13, 2026, and the IPEDS files for 2023-24. Rules change: your state agency decides.