Bureau of Radiological Health

The mission of the Bureau of Radiological Health programs is to protect Iowans from excessive exposure to radiation. Each year, Iowans are exposed to an average of 300 millirem of natural radiation and 60 millirem of manmade radiation. The Bureau functions under legislative mandates found in the Iowa Code, Chapters 136B, C and D.

Program activities include:

• licensing of facilities using radioactive materials;
• registration of facilities using radiation-producing machines or operating tanning units;
• inspection of facilities using radioactive materials;
• credentialing of persons using radioactive material or operating radiation-emitting machines;
• approval of training courses and continuing education; and
• emergency response as it relates to radioactive materials and nuclear power plant incidents.

How to get to the website to print off Iowa Rules

• Chapter 37: Physical Protection of Category 1 and Category 2 Quantities of Radioactive Material
• Chapter 38: General provisions
• Chapter 39: Registration of x-ray, licensure of Radioactive materials, transportation
• Chapter 40: Radiation protection
• Chapter 41: Safety requirements for radiation machines (41.1) and medical use radioactive materials (41.2), therapeutic use (41.3), mammography 41.6 and 41.7)
• Chapter 42: Rules for certification of operators.
• Chapter 45: Industrial radiographic operations

Note: Click here for methods to review rule changes. 

***PUBLIC NOTICE:

The IDPH Bureau of Radiological Health has finalized rule making changes pertaining to fees for the radiological health programs. The fee adjustments will be in effect September 18, 2019. Please visit the rules to review the changes for your particular license type. The updated rules regarding fees can be found in Chapters 38 and 42 above.***  

Iowa Administrative Code updates the use of gonadal shielding:

The Bureau of Radiological Health has recently amended rules specific to requirements related to technique chart content and shielding of the reproductive organs (gonads) during diagnostic abdominal imaging. These changes are effective July 21, 2021 and can be reviewed in Chapter 41. We are providing the following fact sheets for diagnostic radiology and dental applications as further guidance.

Dental Radiology Fact Sheet 

Diagnostic Radiology Fact Sheet 

Contact Information

Angela Leek
Bureau Chief
Lucas State Office Bldg
5th Floor
Des Moines, IA 50319
(515) 371-2255