Georgia CommonsHB 571: Professions and businesses; licensing of radiologist assistants; provide
Last action May 5, 2026 · Effective Date 2026-05-05
House Bill 571 creates a new state license for radiologist assistants in Georgia, setting education, certification and supervision rules under the Georgia Composite Medical Board, effective July 1, 2026.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Enrolled version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
Georgia law previously had a definition of 'radiologist assistant' but no formal licensing system for the role. House Bill 571 repeals that old definition and instead creates a full licensing structure for radiologist assistants, who are advanced radiologic technologists that assist radiologists with certain imaging and invasive procedures under supervision. The bill sets qualification requirements (age 21+, national certification, registration with recognized radiology credentialing bodies), creates a two-year renewable license with continuing education requirements, and bars anyone from calling themselves a radiologist assistant or practicing in that role without a license after July 1, 2026. People already working as radiologist assistants can keep practicing while they apply for a license. The Georgia Composite Medical Board gets authority to set rules, issue and discipline licenses, and appoint an advisory committee of radiologists, radiologist assistants, and a consumer representative. The law takes effect once the Governor signs it or it becomes law without his signature.
What the bill does
- Creates a new licensing system for radiologist assistants under the Georgia Composite Medical Board, replacing the old bare definition of the role.
- Requires applicants to be at least 21, hold specific national radiology certifications, and pay required fees before the board issues a license.
- Makes it illegal after July 1, 2026 to practice as, or call yourself, a radiologist assistant without a board-issued license.
- Lets currently employed radiologist assistants keep working legally while their license application is pending, if they notify the board.
- Adds radiologist assistants to the list of professions subject to the board's biennial continuing education requirements.
- Creates a five-member advisory committee, including radiologists, radiologist assistants, and a consumer representative, to advise the board on licensing and rules.
Who it affects
Radiologist assistants currently working in Georgia, people seeking to enter that profession, radiologists who supervise them, hospitals and imaging centers that employ them, and the Georgia Composite Medical Board, which will administer the new licensing and disciplinary process.
Why it matters
Once the law takes effect, radiologist assistants in Georgia will need a state license to keep working, with ongoing education requirements and board oversight. This formalizes a role that assists with imaging procedures, potentially affecting staffing and training at hospitals and radiology practices statewide.
Key provisions
- Section 1 adds radiologist assistants to the professions subject to the board's continuing education rules under O.C.G.A. § 43-34-11.
- Section 2 repeals the old Code Section 43-34-12 that simply defined 'radiologist assistant' without a licensing framework.
- Section 3 creates new Article 13 ('Radiologist Assistant Act'), defining key terms and setting licensure qualifications in Code Section 43-34-332, including age, certification, and registration requirements.
- Code Section 43-34-333 sets a two-year renewable license term, continuing education rules, and procedures for restoring expired or inactive licenses.
- Code Section 43-34-334 bans unlicensed practice or use of the title 'radiologist assistant' starting July 1, 2026, but grandfathers in currently employed assistants who apply for licensure.
- Code Section 43-34-335 limits radiologist assistants from interpreting images, making diagnoses, or prescribing medications or therapies.
- Code Section 43-34-337 creates a five-member advisory committee including at least one radiologist, three radiologist assistants, and one consumer representative.
- Section 4 makes the Act effective upon the Governor's signature or upon becoming law without signature.
From the bill
“A person shall not hold himself or herself out as a radiologist assistant unless he or she holds a license issued by the board in accordance with this article.”
“A radiologist assistant shall not interpret images, make diagnoses, or prescribe medications or therapies.”
“A person who verifies to the board that he or she is employed in this state as a radiologist assistant as of the effective date of this article shall by operation of law be authorized to practice as a radiologist assistant in this state on or after July 1, 2026, contingent upon such individual having applied with the board for appropriate licensure.”
Status timeline
- Effective Date 2026-05-05
- Act 404
- House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- House Sent to Governor (House)
- House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House)
- Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
- Senate Third Read (Senate)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
Show full history (16 actions)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Lee Hawkins (R, HD-027)
- Rick Jasperse (R, HD-011)
- Katie Dempsey (R, HD-013)
- Mack Jackson (D, HD-128)
- Deborah Silcox (R, HD-053)
- Darlene Taylor (R, HD-173)
- John Albers (R, SD-056)
Votes
- House voteMarch 6, 2025
162 yea, 11 nay (5 not voting, 2 absent)
- Senate voteFebruary 25, 2026
51 yea, 2 nay (1 not voting, 1 absent)
- House voteMarch 18, 2026
164 yea, 2 nay (3 not voting, 7 absent)
Topics
- medical licensing
- radiology
- health care workers
- professional regulation