New York Portable X-ray Regulations

Dec 15, 2022 6:39:22 AM / by Chad Hutchison

The Department of Health is responsible for all portable x-ray-related licensing, regulation, and registration in the state of New York.

X-ray License in New York

The New York State Department of Health is responsible for certifying techs in the state. Here are some frequently asked questions.

Registering an X-ray Device

The NYSDH is also responsible for x-ray equipment registration in the state. 

The cost of registering x-ray equipment is $50/year plus an amount from the following table based on the number of modalities in operation at the installation site:

Regulations for Portable X-ray Equipment

New York Codes, Rules, and Regulations, Title: Section 16.57 - Portable, bedside, or mobile X-ray equipment, excluding dental, veterinary, and podiatric equipment. Regulations include:

  • The protective tube housing shall be of diagnostic type.
  • Collimating devices capable of restricting the useful beam to the area of clinical interest shall be used.
  • The X-ray films used as the recording medium during the X-ray examination shall show substantial evidence of cut-off (beam delineation).
  • A device shall be provided which terminates the exposure after a preset time interval or exposure.
  • All mobile, portable or beside equipment shall be provided with cones or metal frames so that the minimum source to skin distance is at least 12 inches.
  • The exposure switch shall be of the dead-man type.
  • If a mobile unit is used routinely in one location it shall be considered a fixed installation, and shall meet the requirements of section 16.56.
  • No person shall be regularly employed to hold patients or films during exposures nor shall such duty be performed by any individual occupationally exposed to radiation during the course of his/her other duties.
  • Gonadal shielding of not less than 0.5 mm lead equivalent. 

Disclaimer: The information in this document is solely for reference material. Regulations change often. To be sure of the most up-to-date laws, contact your local and state agencies.

Additional Resources

NYS Department of Health

Bureau of Environmental Radiation Protection

547 River St. Room 530

Troy, NY 12180-2216

(51) 402-7580

New York Radiology License

Bureau of Environmental Radiation Protection

New York State Department of Health

547 River St.

Flanigan Square, Room 530

Troy, New York 12180-2216

(800) 458-1158 ext. 27580

Tags: Portable X-ray Regulations

Chad Hutchison

Written by Chad Hutchison

Founder and CEO of Maven Imaging, Chad Hutchison has been in the medical imaging equipment market since 2003. As his business grew, he pioneered buying and selling medical equipment online and eventually began offering leasing and financing to meet market demands and help customers. His market expertise goes beyond traditional medical imaging and finance support, as he’s spearheading cloud-based lending solutions for vendors across the sector.