Detailed information regarding continuing experience requirements is provided in modality-specific articles regarding personnel requirements. The information presented here applies across multiple modalities.
Continuing experience requirements for all programs except mammography are based on previous full calendar years. For example, if a site renews its accreditation in July 2017, the physicians at that site must have met the full requirement for continuing experience from 1/1/14 to 12/31/16. If they did not meet this requirement in the given timeframe, the ACR will accept continuing experience obtained in 2017. For mammography, "...the interpreting physician shall have interpreted or multi-read at least 960 mammographic examinations during the 24 months immediately preceding the date of the facility’s annual MQSA inspection or the last day of the calendar quarter preceding the inspection or any date in-between the two. The facility will choose one of these dates to determine the 24-month period." This information for Mammography can be found in the FDA’s Policy Guidance Help System.
Double-reading (2 or more physicians interpreting the same exam) is acceptable. An interpreting physician may also re-interpret an exam initially interpreted by another physician and count it toward the continuing experience requirement. A log should be kept for each physician to document double-reads and that the continuing experience requirements are met. Both names need not be on the patient’s report.
Examinations reviewed and evaluated for RADPEER™ or an alternative physician peer review program may count toward continuing experience numbers.
Interpretations for an unaccredited outside facility may be counted toward initial and continuing experience.
Interpreting physicians who have not maintained experience must requalify in order for their facility to apply for accreditation. This can be accomplished by completing the total number of examinations required for the given modality for the last 36 months (24 months for mammography). For Stereotactic Breast Biopsy Accreditation and the Breast Biopsy module of Breast Ultrasound Accreditation, double reading does not apply. Instead, the interpreting physician must requalify according to the requirements for those programs. Specific requalification information for Mammography can be found in the FDA’s Policy Guidance Help System.
A large case engine has been developed through the Education Center. A workgroup is looking at ways to make those cases available via the web to enable members to increase the number of cases they have reviewed.
Revision History for this Article |
Date | Section | Description of Revision(s) |
12-12-19 | All | Article created; FAQs incorporated; No criteria changes |
| 05-20-2022 | All | Clarification of requalifying for Stereotactic Breast Biopsy Accreditation and the Breast Biopsy module of Breast Ultrasound Accreditation. |
| 10-05-2023 | First bullet | Clarification of continuing experience timeframes for mammography. |
