ARRT CT Exam Schedule 2026: Dates, Sites and How to Book

How ARRT CT Scheduling Works

Unlike a board exam that opens once or twice a year, the ARRT CT (Computed Tomography) post-primary certification exam runs on a continuous-eligibility model. Once ARRT approves your application, you receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) letter and can then schedule directly through Pearson VUE, ARRT's exclusive testing vendor. There is no single "exam day" circled on a national calendar - your exam date is whatever open appointment you claim at a Pearson VUE test center.

That flexibility is a double-edged sword. It removes artificial urgency, which can cause candidates to postpone booking until their ATT is about to expire. Do not fall into that trap. Treat your ATT expiration date as your hard deadline and work backward from it.

Testing Windows and Dates for 2026

Because ARRT CT operates on a rolling schedule, "2026 exam dates" does not refer to a handful of set test days. It refers to the entire calendar year of available Pearson VUE slots, with one critical internal boundary: August 31, 2026. That date splits the exam year into two distinct content versions.

• Through August 31, 2026: The current content specifications are in effect. Patient Care carries 22 scored items, Safety carries 22 scored items, Image Production carries 50 scored items, and Procedures carries 71 scored items.
• From September 1, 2026 onward: Revised content specifications take effect. Patient Care drops to 21 scored items, Safety drops to 21 scored items, Image Production increases to 52 scored items, and Procedures holds steady at 71 scored items.

This transition is not a minor administrative footnote. A shift of two scored questions from the Patient Care and Safety domains directly into Image Production signals where ARRT believes future CT practice is evolving - toward technical image quality, reconstruction algorithms, and dose optimization. If you are planning to test in late 2026, you need to be studying to that revised blueprint.

Exam Sites and Pearson VUE Locations

Pearson VUE operates hundreds of test centers across the United States, plus international locations. For most U.S.-based candidates, there will be a center within a reasonable driving distance. That said, "reasonable" varies enormously depending on your geography. Rural candidates in states like Montana, Wyoming, or the Dakotas may face a multi-hour drive to the nearest open center.

Finding and Comparing Centers

Log into your Pearson VUE account, enter the ARRT exam program, and use the center locator. The tool shows available appointment slots in real time. Important things to look for:

• Seat availability in your target window - Do not assume a center 20 miles away will have open seats the week you want to test.
• Center type - Standard Pearson VUE test centers follow identical security and equipment protocols, so a satellite location is no different from a flagship center in terms of exam delivery.
• Accessibility accommodations - If you have an approved testing accommodation from ARRT, confirm the specific center can support it before booking.

Registration Step-by-Step

Understanding the sequence of events prevents costly mistakes. Here is the full pipeline from eligibility to seated exam:

1. Confirm eligibility. Before anything else, review whether you meet ARRT's requirements for the CT post-primary pathway. The details are covered thoroughly in the companion article ARRT CT Eligibility Requirements 2026: Who Can Apply. Do not submit an application if you have unresolved CE deficiencies or ethics issues.
2. Submit your ARRT application. Log into the ARRT online portal, complete the CT post-primary application, and pay the required application fee. ARRT processes applications and issues decisions, typically within a few weeks of receiving a complete packet.
3. Receive your ATT. Once approved, ARRT emails your Authorization to Test. Save this document. You need the ATT eligibility ID to schedule through Pearson VUE.
4. Create or log into your Pearson VUE account. Navigate to the ARRT program, enter your eligibility ID, and use the appointment scheduler.
5. Select a center, date, and time. Confirm the appointment. You will receive a confirmation email from Pearson VUE - save it and add the appointment to your calendar immediately.
6. Review rescheduling and cancellation policies. Pearson VUE allows rescheduling, but fees may apply if you reschedule within a short window before your appointment. Know the cutoff dates.

For more scheduling context alongside the eligibility process, the article ARRT CT Exam Schedule 2026: Dates, Sites and How to Book remains your go-to reference as policies are updated throughout the year.

Exam Format and Domain Breakdown

The ARRT CT exam is a computer-based, multiple-choice test. Questions are predominantly single best answer in format - you will not encounter traditional true/false or matching. Some items include images, particularly in the Image Production and Procedures domains where CT scan interpretation or protocol selection is being tested.

Beyond the scored items, the ARRT CT exam also includes unscored pilot questions - items ARRT is testing for future use. You will not be able to identify which questions are scored versus unscored, so treat every question with equal seriousness.

The September 2026 Content Change You Cannot Ignore

The shift from the pre-September to post-September blueprint is subtle in raw numbers but meaningful in emphasis. Two questions leaving Patient Care and two leaving Safety - combined with two questions added to Image Production - tells a clear story about the direction of CT credentialing.

ARRT periodically revises its content specifications following practice analysis studies, which survey working CT technologists about what they actually do on the job. The uptick in Image Production weight reflects how deeply reconstruction technology, iterative algorithms, and dose monitoring have become embedded in daily CT practice. Candidates testing from September 1, 2026 forward should ensure their Image Production preparation is especially thorough.

If you are currently scheduled before September 1, you are studying to the existing blueprint. Do not introduce confusion by mixing both content outlines. Download the content specification document directly from ARRT's website and confirm which version applies to your test date.

Booking Strategy: When to Schedule and Why

There is a counterintuitive logic to CT exam scheduling: booking too early can hurt you (not enough prep time), but booking too late risks losing good appointment slots or, worse, letting your ATT expire. The optimal strategy is to book your appointment before you feel fully ready, then use the confirmed date as a forcing function for your preparation.

Pre-August or Post-September?

If you are in active preparation right now and are reasonably confident in your Procedures and Image Production knowledge, testing before September 1, 2026 means you benefit from the slightly lighter Image Production count (50 vs. 52 items) while still needing to demonstrate strong Patient Care and Safety knowledge. This is not a "trick the system" strategy - both versions require genuine competency - but it is a factor worth considering when timing your application.

Conversely, if you are early in your preparation and realistically need several more months of study, do not rush to test before September just to avoid two additional Image Production questions. Testing underprepared is far more costly than facing a revised blueprint.

Day and Time Selection

Most experienced test-takers recommend morning appointments. Cognitive fatigue is lower earlier in the day, and you avoid the possibility of afternoon scheduling disruptions. If your commute to the test center is long, book a hotel the night before rather than adding a 90-minute drive to the front end of an already stressful morning.

A Domain-Aligned Prep Timeline

Rather than a generic study method, your preparation should mirror the domain weight distribution of the actual ARRT CT exam. Here is a six-week framework aligned specifically to the CT content domains:

Day-of-Exam Logistics

By the time you sit down at the Pearson VUE workstation, the outcome should already be largely determined by your preparation. But logistics matter and small failures here can derail an otherwise prepared candidate.

What to Bring

• Two forms of valid ID. ARRT requires your primary ID to be government-issued with a photo and signature (driver's license, passport). The name must exactly match the name on your ARRT application.
• Your Pearson VUE confirmation number. Have it printed or accessible on your phone before you leave home.
• Arrive at least 30 minutes early. Late arrivals may be turned away, and your ATT does not protect you from a no-show forfeiture.

What You Will Not Be Allowed to Bring

Pearson VUE test centers enforce strict security. No personal items are permitted in the testing room: no phones, watches, food, notes, or calculators. You will be provided with a whiteboard or scratch paper. You will complete a biometric check-in process that includes palm vein scanning at most centers.

If you want a final review in the parking lot before entering, keep your materials in the car rather than surrendering them at the check-in desk. The ARRT CT Exam Prep practice test platform works on mobile, making a final quick domain review accessible right up until you walk in the door.

Frequently Asked Questions