(a) The Medical Ionizing Radiation Licensure Committee shall license any applicant who shall:
(1) Make application and pay a nonrefundable fee established by the State Board of Health; and
(2) Submit satisfactory evidence verified by oath or affirmation that the applicant:
(A) Is qualified to administer radioactive materials or operate medical equipment emitting or detecting ionizing radiation upon human beings;
(B) Is at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time of application; and
(C) Has been awarded a high school diploma or has passed the General Educational Development Test or the equivalent.
(b) In addition to the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, any person seeking to obtain a license in a specific area of radiologic technology must comply with the following requirements:
(1) Each applicant for a license as a radiologic technologist, radiation therapist, or nuclear medicine technologist shall have satisfactorily completed an approved course of study in radiography, radiation therapy, or nuclear medicine, respectively, that is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology, or regional or national accreditation as deemed acceptable by the board; and
(2) The curriculum for each course of study shall follow the standards approved by the United States Department of Education, provided that the standards do not conflict with board policies.
(c) The board shall establish criteria and standards within the state for educational programs in radiologic technology, which are not covered under §§ 6-51-601 — 6-51-617, and recognize these programs upon finding that the criteria and standards have been met.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section previously set forth, for a period not to exceed one (1) year after July 30, 1999, upon application and the payment of the fee equivalent of that required for the written examination and initial licensing fee, the board shall issue a license without examination to any person currently employed as a person using radioactive materials or medical equipment emitting and detecting ionizing radiation on a human being.
(e) Licensees shall submit proof of having successfully completed at least six (6) hours of continuing medical education annually for license renewal. Continuing education may be provided by the licensed practitioner or a hospital in-service education department according to the rules prescribed by the board.