ARRT category · 10% of exam
Radiation Protection
Tests the cardinal rules (time, distance, shielding), ALARA, occupational and public dose limits, lead apron specifications, and dosimetry practices. Approximately 10% of the ARRT exam.
Sample question
One free question from the 109-question Radiation Protection bank. Read it, pick your answer, then expand the rationale.
A radiographer is performing a portable chest x-ray. The patient cannot be moved from the bed. According to standard protection practice, what is the minimum distance the radiographer should stand from the patient during exposure?
Show answer and full rationale
Correct answer: B. 6 feet (2 meters)
A, Incorrect: 3 feet is too close. The inverse square law penalizes short distances exponentially.
B, Correct: Correct. The standard rule is to stand at least 6 feet (2 meters) from the patient during portable imaging, perpendicular to the beam path. Distance is the most powerful protection lever, at 6 feet, scatter intensity is roughly 1/16 of intensity at 18 inches.
C, Incorrect: A lead apron is required, but distance is the primary protection tool. Apron alone is insufficient at close range.
D, Incorrect: 10 feet provides additional safety, but the established standard is 6 feet. 10 feet is not always practical in patient rooms.
Topics tested in this category
- ALARA principle
- Time, distance, shielding
- Inverse square law applied to protection
- Occupational dose limit (5 rem/year whole body)
- Public dose limit (0.1 rem/year)
- Pregnant radiographer limit
- Lead apron specifications (0.25 mm Pb minimum)
- Personal dosimetry (TLD, OSL)
- Fluoroscopy protection practices
Drill the full 109-question bank.
Free tier includes 50 mixed-category questions. Premium unlocks all 1,814 ARRT-style questions, 3 timed mock exams, and adaptive drill sessions in this category.
Frequently asked questions
How many Radiation Protection questions are on the ARRT Radiography Boards?
The Radiation Protection category accounts for approximately 10% of the ARRT Radiography Boards exam, that's roughly 20 of the 200 scored questions on each administration. The full Radtechprepper practice bank contains 109 questions in this category, giving you ample room to drill until the patterns are second nature.
What topics are tested in the Radiation Protection category?
The Radiation Protection category tests: ALARA principle; Time, distance, shielding; Inverse square law applied to protection; Occupational dose limit (5 rem/year whole body); Public dose limit (0.1 rem/year). The full topic list is in the ARRT Radiography Content Specifications 2025.
How should I study for the Radiation Protection category?
Start with the chapter overviews in this curriculum that map to Radiation Protection, they cover the core concepts in plain English. Then drill questions in the practice bank, pause on every miss, read the rationale, and re-drill the same topic the next day. The ARRT exam rewards spaced repetition more than cram studying.