New York rad tech license: x-ray and sonographer rules

New York rad tech license: an x-ray technologist needs a state license, a sonographer none; 28 programs.

The state rules apply where you take the images

Example: New York· change any figure to see your own result

New York: state license for an x-ray technologist

Yes

Yes, a state license · sonographer: no state license

Radiologic technologist (radiography)Yes, a state license
Sonographer (ultrasound)No state license
Limited x-ray operatorNo limited credential in the ASRT table
Other licensed modalitiesnuclear medicine, cardiac and vascular interventional, radiation therapy, radiologist assistant
AgencyNew York Bureau of Environmental Radiation Protection
Programs reported to IPEDS (2023-24)12 radiography, 16 sonography

Rule from the ASRT state table, checked against the page of New York Bureau of Environmental Radiation Protection on November 13, 2026.

How this is computed

Compiled by Radif Partners · How the rules were read

New York requires radiologic technologists to be licensed and registered by the State Department of Health, and unregistered technologists may not practice. The Bureau of Environmental Radiation Protection licenses radiography, radiation therapy and nuclear medicine, and certifies trained technologists to inject contrast media. Sonography is not licensed, yet New York trains a large number of sonographers in career schools. New York law requires radiologic technologists to be licensed and registered by the State Department of Health; its Bureau of Environmental Radiation Protection licenses radiography, radiation therapy and nuclear medicine, and unregistered technologists may not practice. Technologists with the right training can also be certified to inject contrast media, and the public registration database is updated weekly. By awards in 2023-24, the largest programs were New York Medical Career Training Center in Flushing (sonography, 178), Monroe University in Bronx (sonography, 128), Center for Allied Health Education in Brooklyn (sonography, 118), Center for Ultrasound Research & Education in White Plains (sonography, 70), Center for Allied Health Education in Brooklyn (radiography, 53), Hunter Business School in Levittown (radiography, 38), Hudson Valley Community College in Troy (radiography, 29) and Western Suffolk BOCES in Northport (sonography, 29).

How to get the New York rad tech license

Apply to the Bureau of Environmental Radiation Protection with the radiologic technologist license application and your national exam result, then keep your registration active: the bureau’s public database, updated weekly, shows whether it has expired. Also credentialed here: nuclear medicine, cardiac and vascular interventional, radiation therapy, radiologist assistant.

New York: imaging modalities with a state rule (ASRT table, read November 13, 2026)
ModalityState credential
RadiographyLicense
Nuclear medicineLicense
Cardiac and vascular interventionalCertified
Radiation therapyLicense
Radiologist assistantLicense
Fusion imagingNo license (standard)

New York rad tech and sonography schools

New York: the largest of 12 radiography and 16 sonography programs; public in-state median $6,694 and $8,083 a year (IPEDS 2023-24)
SchoolCityProgramAwards 2023-24In-state tuition and fees
New York Medical Career Training CenterFlushingSonography178n/a
Monroe UniversityBronxSonography128$17,922
Center for Allied Health EducationBrooklynSonography118n/a
Center for Ultrasound Research & EducationWhite PlainsSonography70n/a
Center for Allied Health EducationBrooklynRadiography53n/a
Hunter Business SchoolLevittownRadiography38n/a
Hudson Valley Community CollegeTroyRadiography29$6,694
Western Suffolk BOCESNorthportSonography29n/a
Trocaire CollegeBuffaloRadiography28$19,820
Hunter Business SchoolLevittownSonography28n/a

Tuition and exam: becoming a technologist in New York

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

Sonography in New York: tuition and exam

$16,741

$8,083 a year × 2 + ARDMS SPI and one specialty $575

Median public in-state tuition and fees in New York$8,083 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.

Is a license required for radiologic technologists in New York?

Yes. New York law requires a license and an active registration from the State Department of Health; the bureau’s page links to Article 35 of the law and Part 89 of the regulations on the practice of radiologic technology. The Bureau of Environmental Radiation Protection says unregistered technologists are prohibited from practicing.

Can New York technologists inject contrast?

Only with a separate certification: technologists with the proper training can apply to the Bureau of Environmental Radiation Protection for certification to inject contrast media, by e-mail or by phone at 518-402-7580, the contact printed on its page. Ask before you start.

How much does rad tech or sonography school cost in New York?

Yearly tuition and required fees for residents in 2023-24, from the IPEDS charges file, the five lowest: Orange County Community College in Middletown, $6,382 ($12,046 for nonresidents); Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, $6,694 ($11,750 for nonresidents); Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, $8,083 ($17,993 for nonresidents); SUNY College of Technology at Alfred in Alfred, $8,862 ($16,367 for nonresidents); Monroe University in Bronx, $17,922.

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.

Checked on · Editorial policy · Contact

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.