Texas rad tech license: x-ray and sonographer rules

Texas rad tech license: an x-ray technologist needs a state certification, a sonographer none; 83 programs.

The state rules apply where you take the images

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

Texas: 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 certification
Other licensed modalitiesnuclear medicine, cardiac and vascular interventional, radiation therapy, radiologist assistant
AgencyTexas Medical Board
Programs reported to IPEDS (2023-24)46 radiography, 37 sonography

Rule from the ASRT state table, checked against the page of Texas Medical Board on November 13, 2026.

How this is computed

Compiled by Radif Partners · How the rules were read

Texas has the largest radiography training market in the country, and it credentials through the Texas Medical Board: a general medical radiologic technologist certificate, limited and temporary permits, a registry for non-certified radiologic technicians and hardship exemptions. Sonography has no Texas credential. Career schools such as The College of Health Care Professions train the most radiographers. The Texas Medical Board offers a general medical radiologic technologist certificate and limited and temporary permits, keeps a registry of non-certified radiologic technicians, grants hardship exemptions and runs a limited technologist exam. By awards in 2023-24, the largest programs were The College of Health Care Professions-Northwest in Houston (radiography, 237), San Jacinto Community College in Pasadena (radiography, 133), The College of Health Care Professions-Fort Worth in Fort Worth (radiography, 108), Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls (radiography, 107), Austin Community College District in Austin (radiography, 95), The College of Health Care Professions-Southwest Houston in Houston (radiography, 80), Dallas College in Dallas (radiography, 79) and The College of Health Care Professions-San Antonio in San Antonio (radiography, 76).

How to get the Texas rad tech license

Apply to the Texas Medical Board for the general certificate with your ARRT result, or for a limited permit after the board’s limited technologist exam. Renew online through the board. Also credentialed here: nuclear medicine, cardiac and vascular interventional, radiation therapy, radiologist assistant.

Texas: imaging modalities with a state rule (ASRT table, read November 13, 2026)
ModalityState credential
RadiographyCertified
Nuclear medicineCertified
Cardiac and vascular interventionalCertified
Radiation therapyCertified
Limited x-rayCertified
Radiologist assistantCertified
FluoroscopyNo license (standard)

Texas rad tech and sonography schools

Texas: the largest of 46 radiography and 37 sonography programs; public in-state median $4,344 and $4,080 a year (IPEDS 2023-24)
SchoolCityProgramAwards 2023-24In-state tuition and fees
The College of Health Care Professions-NorthwestHoustonRadiography237n/a
San Jacinto Community CollegePasadenaRadiography133$3,456
The College of Health Care Professions-Fort WorthFort WorthRadiography108n/a
Midwestern State UniversityWichita FallsRadiography107$9,950
Austin Community College DistrictAustinRadiography95$8,580
The College of Health Care Professions-Southwest HoustonHoustonRadiography80n/a
Dallas CollegeDallasRadiography79$4,050
The College of Health Care Professions-San AntonioSan AntonioRadiography76n/a
The College of Health Care Professions-AustinAustinRadiography73n/a
Galveston CollegeGalvestonRadiography67$3,266

Tuition and exam: becoming a technologist in Texas

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

Sonography in Texas: tuition and exam

$8,735

$4,080 a year × 2 + ARDMS SPI and one specialty $575

Median public in-state tuition and fees in Texas$4,080 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.

What is a non-certified radiologic technician in Texas?

Someone listed on a Texas Medical Board registry who performs radiologic procedures without holding the general or limited certificate, under the conditions the board sets. The board also grants hardship exemptions; both appear on its medical radiologic technologist page. Read the conditions there before you apply.

Is there a sonographer license in Texas?

No. The ASRT table lists no Texas credential for sonography. Texas schools reported sonography awards to IPEDS for 2023-24, led by Austin Community College and Pima Medical Institute in Houston, and employers rely on ARDMS or ARRT credentials. Compare their prices.

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

Yearly tuition and required fees for residents in 2023-24, from the IPEDS charges file, the five lowest: Lamar Institute of Technology in Beaumont, $2,844 ($12,924 for nonresidents); Alvin Community College in Alvin, $3,058 ($4,330 for nonresidents); Amarillo College in Amarillo, $3,168 ($4,704 for nonresidents); Galveston College in Galveston, $3,266 ($5,726 for nonresidents); El Paso Community College in El Paso, $3,274 ($5,314 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.