Mammography Program - Qualifications & Forms

All interpreting physicians, mammography technologists, and medical physicists are required to meet initial and continuing qualifications specific to mammography. The rule reference regarding personnel qualification requirements can be found in the Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 41.6 rules via Rules and Information Notices.

Qualification Forms

These qualification checklists are provided to assist your facility in determining whether an interpreting physician, mammography technologist, or medical physicist meets the requirements outlined in rule.  Contact the Iowa HHS Mammography Program staff for more information.

Physicians

• Mammography Interpreting Physician Qualifications
• Mammography Interpreting Physician - Re-qualifications 
• Stereotactic Breast Biopsy Physician Qualification - Radiologist 
• Stereotactic Breast Biopsy Physician Requalification - Radiologist 
• Stereotactic Breast Biopsy Physician Qualification - Non-Radiologist 
• Stereotactic Breast Biopsy Physician Requalification - Non-Radiologist 

Mammography Technologists

• Mammography Technologist Qualifications 
• Mammography Technologist Requalification 
• Stereotactic Breast Biopsy Technologist Qualification 
• Stereotactic Breast Biopsy Technologist Requalification 

Medical Physicists

As proof for medical physicist qualifications, facilities must present a current approval letter issued to the medical physicist from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Mammography Program.

Registration for Medical Physicists

In order to provide medical physics surveys and consultations for mammography and stereotactic breast biopsy facilities in Iowa, medical physicists must apply to Iowa HHS for registration.

Instructions as well as the link to apply through the online portal for Mammography or Stereotactic Medical Physicist registration can be found at our Iowa HHS Regulatory Programs - Medical Physicists page.  Each Medical Physicist must register individually.

Annual Renewal Requirements

An annual registration renewal is required of all Medical Physicists providing services to mammography and stereotactic breast biopsy facilities in Iowa.  The renewal is due April 30 of every year.  A renewal notice is sent out to each registered Medical Physicist via email approximately 60 days prior to the expiration date of the active registration.  The electronic application should be completed and submitted through the online portal.  The Mammography program staff will review the application, continuing education and continuing experience for approval. Once approved, the Iowa HHS Approval Letter for Medical Physicists will be sent out via email.

• To avoid delays in the renewal process, proof of continuing requirements should be uploaded at the time the application is completed.
• Because the new expiration date will be April 30 of the following year, the Mammography program staff will look to ensure the Medical Physicist will continue to meet all continuing requirements through that next renewal cycle.  If continuing education or experience will not be met, the program staff may be in contact to ask for additional proof of qualifications if it is available.

Mammography Qualifications

The Medical Physicist Qualification Worksheet can be used as a guide for the documentation needed in order to meet initial qualifications.  The two tracks of training that could meet the initial qualification requirements are 1) with a Master’s Degree or higher (PhD) or 2) a Bachelor’s Degree.  Details for the requirements for each track are outlined below. The track used to qualify is dependent on the date all qualifications were met. Proof of these qualifications must be submitted at the time the initial Iowa application is submitted.

Master’s Degree or PhD (Initial Qualifications - use if qualifications obtained after 4/28/99)

Initial Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a physical science
• At least 20 hours of college level physics
• At least 20 contact hours of documented training in conducting surveys of mammography facilities.
• Experience conducting surveys of at least one (1) mammography facility and a total of at least 10 mammography units under supervision of an MQSA qualified medical physicist.
• Proof of ABR certification - OR - Unrestricted State Approval letter/licensure as a Diagnostic Medical Physicist.

Continuing Qualifications

Must provide proof of meeting these requirements at the time of annual Iowa registration renewal.

• Fifteen (15) hours of continuing education in the previous 36 months.
• Two (2) mammography facilities surveys performed in the previous 24 months.
• Six (6) mammography units in the previous 24 months.

Bachelor’s Degree (Alternative - use if qualified prior to 4/28/99)

Initial Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher obtained prior to 4/28/99 in a physical science.
• At least 10 semester hours of college level physics
• At least 40 contact hours of documented specialized training in conducting surveys of mammography facilities.
• Experience conducting surveys of at least one (1) mammography facility and a total of at least 20 mammography units under the supervision of an MQSA qualified medical physicist (training and surveys completed after degree and prior to 4/28/99).
• Proof of ABR certification - OR - Unrestricted State Approval letter/licensure as a Diagnostic Medical Physicist.

Continuing Qualifications

Must provide proof of meeting these requirements at the time of annual Iowa registration renewal.

• Fifteen (15) hours of continuing education in the previous 36 months.
• Two (2) mammography facilities surveys performed in the previous 24 months.
• Six (6) mammography units in the previous 24 months.

Stereotactic Breast Biopsy Qualifications

Initial Qualifications

To qualify for stereotactic biopsy, the medical physicist must meet all Iowa and MQSA initial and continuing mammography qualifications as outlined in IAC Chapter 41.6.

The medical physicist must also meet Iowa stereotactic qualification requirements following one of the tracks listed below.  The track used to qualify is dependent on the date all Iowa stereotactic qualifications were met:

1. If qualified prior to July 1, 1998, must provide proof of performance of three (3) hands on stereotactic procedures at the time of initial Iowa registration.
2. If qualified after July 1, 1998, must provide proof of performance of one (1) hands on stereotactic breast biopsy physics survey under the guidance of an MQSA qualified medical physicist at the time of initial Iowa registration.

Continuing Qualifications

Must provide proof of meeting these requirements at the time of annual Iowa registration renewal.

Three (3) Stereo Continuing Education Units in previous 36 months.
One (1) stereotactic unit survey in the most recent twelve (12) month time frame established by facility. 

Initial Modality Training

All medical physicists must meet the initial 8 hours of modality training for each modality they intend to survey.  This includes full field digital mammography (FFDM) and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT).

Example - If a facility has a FFDM and DBT mammography unit (2D/3D), the medical physicist must have proof of meeting 8 hours of initial digital training AND 8 hours of initial tomosynthesis training to be able to survey the facility’s FFDM/DBT unit.