Limited Permit X-Ray Technician.
Build patient-care, back-office, and limited radiography skills through classroom instruction, hands-on lab practice, and supervised externship experience. CCI’s program prepares graduates to apply for California limited-permit examinations in Chest, Extremities, and Torso-Skeletal radiography.
No pressure. Just answers.
- Program length
- 12 months
- Campuses to Serve our Communities.
- 3
- Limited Permit X-Ray Technician program
- CDPH-RHB Approved
01 | 06
Your imaging path, closer to home.
The Limited Permit X-Ray Technician program is offered at CCI campuses in Lancaster, Moreno Valley, and Oxnard. Compare locations, then review the current schedule and start dates for the campus you’re considering.
Choose the campus that works for you
Theory schedules vary by campus. Externship sites and hours are assigned separately and commonly require weekday daytime availability. Confirm current details with Admissions and in the campus Quick Facts.
How You’ll Learn
Learn. Practice. Apply.
The program moves from patient-care and radiography foundations to equipment practice and a supervised clinical externship.
- learn
Classroom Foundations
Build medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, patient-care knowledge, radiation science, and the principles behind safe limited radiography.
- practice
Radiography Lab Practice
Practice equipment operation, image evaluation, exposure techniques, radiation protection, and positioning for chest, extremity, and torso-skeletal examinations.
- apply
Supervised Externship
Apply radiography and back-office skills at an approved clinical site, complete required procedures, and return for the final review course.
What you’ll build
Patient care. Focused imaging skills.
Limited Permit X-Ray Technician training combines patient support, safe equipment use, positioning, image-quality review, documentation, and back-office clinical skills within a defined limited-scope radiography role.
Patient Preparation and Care
Practice patient histories, vital signs, positioning, communication, and infection control.
Radiation Safety and Protection
Build dose awareness, protective practices, and safe equipment-use skills.
Equipment and Digital Imaging
Practice equipment operation, technical factors, digital image acquisition, and quality control.
Anatomy and Radiographic Positioning
Learn positioning for chest, upper and lower extremities, and torso-skeletal examinations, including age-related considerations.
Image Evaluation and Documentation
Review image quality, positioning and exposure issues, procedure records, and clinical workflow without interpreting or diagnosing from radiographs.
Back-Office Clinical Skills
Build instruction in EKG, venipuncture and injections, urinalysis, and ancillary procedures.
Your Journey
Back-office foundations to exam preparation
The 1,120-hour program progresses from foundational patient-care skills into limited-radiography coursework, supervised procedures, and a final review course.
- 144 Hours
Basic Back-Office Foundations
Begin with patient-care and ancillary skills that support the limited-radiography curriculum.
- Patient histories and vital signs
- Infection control
- EKG
- Venipuncture and injection instruction
- Urinalysis and BLS/CPR training
Build the patient-care foundation for limited-radiography training.
- 235.5 Hours
Limited Radiography I
Develop radiography fundamentals while beginning category-specific positioning and image-quality practice.
- Radiology foundations
- Physics
- Image quality
- Digital imaging
- Chest and upper extremities
Move from radiography principles into guided positioning practice.
- 232.5 Hours
Limited Radiography II
Advance radiation-safety, positioning, and patient-care knowledge across the remaining program categories.
- Radiation biology and protection
- Lower extremities
- Torso-skeletal positioning
- Pediatric and geriatric considerations
- Final competencies
Complete category-focused instruction before supervised procedures.
- 472 Hours
Supervised Externship
Apply program skills at an approved clinical site while completing documented procedure requirements.
- 50 chest examinations
- 50 upper-extremity examinations
- 50 lower-extremity examinations
- 200 torso-skeletal examinations
- Clinical documentation and workflow
Complete supervised category procedures in an approved setting.
- 36 Hours
Review and Exam Preparation
Return from externship for comprehensive review, assignments, and the program exit examination.
- Comprehensive review
- Category review
- Radiation-protection review
- Assignments
- Exit examination
Complete the program and prepare for the separate California permit process.
Permit & Career
What comes next
Program completion prepares graduates to begin a separate California permit process.
From Program Completion to a California Limited Permit
- Complete CCI’s LPXT program
- Receive the applicable program completion credentials
- Apply to CDPH/RHB for the desired permit categories
- Pass Radiation Protection/Safety Core and each requested category examination
- Meet remaining RHB requirements and receive the permit before working as an LPXT
Completing the program or passing examinations alone does not authorize practice. Graduates must obtain a current permit from CDPH/RHB and may perform only procedures within the categories shown on that permit. CCI’s Quick Facts also describes a separate opportunity to take the NCMA examination; NCMA is not part of California’s LPXT permit process.
Review California LPXT permit requirementsWhere Limited Permit X-Ray Technicians May Work
- Physicians’ offices
- Urgent care facilities
- Outpatient clinics
- Ambulatory care centers
- Orthopedic offices
- Some imaging centers
- Other facilities using limited-scope radiography within the holder’s permit categories
Getting Started
Admissions and student support
Admissions guides applicants through enrollment, while lab, externship, examination-preparation, and career support continue throughout the program.
Admissions stages
- Meet with Admissions and tour the campus
- Review age, education, entrance, and transfer-credit requirements
- Complete entrance testing and the Program Director interview
- Submit required education, identity, health, background, and drug-screen documentation
- Complete orientation and pre-program requirements
Student support
- Instructor and lab guidance
- Radiography skills practice
- Externship coordination
- Review-course and California examination preparation
- Tutoring and academic support
- Career-services assistance
- Financial-aid guidance for those who qualify
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Approximately 12 months, 52 weeks, and 1,120 clock hours.
Lancaster, Moreno Valley, and Oxnard.
A California permit authorizing specific limited-radiography procedures and body-area categories. It is not the same as a full Certified Radiologic Technologist credential.
Chest, Extremities, and Torso-Skeletal.
Patient-care and back-office skills, radiation science and protection, equipment operation, digital imaging, anatomy, positioning, image evaluation, and related clinical procedures.
A 472-hour supervised experience at an approved clinical site, generally at least 40 hours per week during regular business hours, with required procedure totals.
No. Graduates must apply to CDPH/RHB, pass the required Core and category examinations, meet remaining requirements, and receive the permit.
Review California LPXT permit requirementsRadiation Protection/Safety Core plus each category examination for which the applicant seeks a permit.
The catalog describes a Certificate of Completion in Limited Permit X-Ray Technology for Chest, Extremities, and Torso-Skeletal, plus a Certificate of Instruction in Venipuncture and Injections. Confirm the current credential package with CCI.
No. CCI’s Quick Facts describes a separate opportunity to take the NCMA examination. NCCT controls its own eligibility and certification requirements.
Credit is evaluated before enrollment. The catalog describes transcript review and written/practical competency testing for Basic Back Office credit.
Financial aid is available to those who qualify. Students should review current costs and eligibility with Financial Aid.
Official documents
Program resources
Review the current schedule, curriculum, admissions requirements, costs, disclosures, and California permit requirements for the campus you are considering.
- LancasterLancaster LPXT Quick FactsPDFRevised May 1, 2025Open PDF
- Moreno ValleyMoreno Valley LPXT Quick FactsPDFRevised May 1, 2025Open PDF
- OxnardOxnard LPXT Quick FactsPDFRevised May 1, 2025Open PDF
- InstitutionalCCI Student CatalogPDFEffective June 1, 2025–May 31, 2026Open PDF
- InstitutionalGeneral DisclosuresConsumer information and institutional reportsView disclosures
- RegulatoryCalifornia LPXT Permit InformationCurrent CDPH/RHB permit categories, examinations, and requirementsView requirements
Your next step
See where your imaging training could begin.
Explore the campus, review the current schedule, and get answers about the program, externship, and California permit process.
No pressure. Just answers.