X-Ray Registration Tennessee & Mississippi Guide

If your practice owns an x-ray machine in Tennessee or Mississippi, the state needs to know about it. This guide covers the x-ray registration Tennessee requires, how Tennessee inspections are scheduled, what Mississippi expects, and the federal paperwork that comes with installing equipment. It is written for practice owners and office managers, not as legal advice. Rules change, so confirm details with the state agency before you act. When equipment needs installation, repair or a pre-inspection check, our x-ray service and repair team works across both states.

Who regulates x-ray equipment in each state

	Tennessee	Mississippi
Agency	Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Division of Radiological Health	Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), Division of Radiological Health, X-ray Branch
Main rules	Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 0400-20-10 (registration, inspections) and Chapter 0400-20-06 (use of x-ray apparatus)	Miss. Admin. Code Title 15, Part 21, Subpart 78, Chapter 1 (Subchapter 2 registration; Subchapter 6 healing arts)
When to register	Within 10 days after acquiring the machine	Before operating the radiation machine facility
Service companies	Anyone who assembles, installs or services radiation machines must register	Anyone in the business of installing or servicing radiation machines must register before providing services

The x-ray registration Tennessee practices must complete

Under rule 0400-20-10-.24, anyone who possesses a radiation machine must register it with the Division of Radiological Health within 10 days after acquiring it. Registration is filed on the Division’s registration form (RHS 8-4) and submitted to the X-Ray Registration Section. The Division’s installer guidance is clear on one point: installers cannot register the equipment for you. Registration is the possessor’s responsibility.

Fees are charged per tube and depend on the machine’s class. The classes most practices deal with are:

Class I (dental only): $85 per tube
Class II (medical or veterinary diagnostic equipment not in Class III): $195 per tube
Class III (diagnostic equipment in radiologists’ offices, orthopedic surgeons’ offices or hospitals): $286 per tube

Most independent medical, urgent care, chiropractic, podiatry and veterinary offices fit the Class II definition, but your registration will show your actual class.

Other points to know:

Stored or broken units still count. Units that are not in use remain registered and subject to inspection until they are formally removed from registration.
Sold or scrapped units. Remove them from registration, or the Division presumes you still have them and bills accordingly.
Service providers. Companies that assemble, install or service x-ray machines in Tennessee must hold their own registration with the Division.

Tennessee inspection frequency

Rule 0400-20-10-.27 sets inspection frequency by class:

Class I: once every 4 years
Class II and Class V: once every 2 years
Class III, IV, VI and VII: annually

A newly registered machine must be inspected within three months of the date of possession, not the date of registration.

Using a registered inspector in Tennessee

Tennessee lets registrants use a Division-approved private Registered Inspector (RI) instead of waiting for a state inspector. Under rule 0400-20-10-.24(3)(d), registrants who use an RI and meet every deadline receive a reduced annual fee, billed at 18 percent of the normal amount on the following year’s invoice. The Division’s guidance sets these conditions:

Submit inspection results within 60 days of the inspection date.
Correct any noncompliance and submit proof within that same 60-day window.
Inspect every registered unit, including units in storage. If one unit misses, the whole invoice goes back to the normal fee.
Later inspections should fall in the same month as the previous one or the following month.
If you stop using an RI, notify the Division at least 90 days before your next inspection is due. The Division notes a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per day for failing to notify.

The registrant, not the inspector, is responsible for submitting the results.

Mississippi x-ray registration and inspection

In Mississippi, the MSDH Division of Radiological Health’s X-ray Branch handles registration, inspection and certification of diagnostic x-ray equipment; the agency reports roughly 7,500 machines statewide. Key requirements include:

Register before operating. Rule 15-21-78-1.2.2 requires a facility to apply for registration before operating a radiation machine and to name an individual responsible for radiation protection.
Forms. Healing arts and veterinary units are registered on MSDH Form 803. Service and assembly companies use Form 773. Ownership transfers use Form 1360.
Fees. The MSDH fee schedule effective July 1, 2026 lists $179.69 per tube for healing arts and veterinary x-ray, and $234.38 for CT, fluoroscopic and mammographic units.
Shielding plan review. Rule 15-21-78-1.2.4 requires floor plans, shielding specifications and equipment arrangement for new installations, and for modifications of existing ones, to be submitted to the agency before construction.
Transfers and installs. Under rule 15-21-78-1.2.9, anyone who sells, transfers, assembles or installs radiation machines in Mississippi must report it to the agency within 15 days.
Records. Rule 15-21-78-1.6.3 requires registrants to keep records of surveys, calibrations, maintenance and modifications for agency inspection.

We could not find a published Mississippi inspection interval for general radiography in the sources we reviewed. Mammography facilities receive annual inspections under the federal Mammography Quality Standards Act. For your facility’s schedule, contact the X-ray Branch directly.

Federal requirements that apply in both states

FDA performance standards in 21 CFR 1020.30 through 1020.32 cover diagnostic x-ray systems and their major components, radiographic equipment and fluoroscopic equipment. When an assembler installs certified components on a diagnostic x-ray system for human use, 21 CFR 1020.30(d) requires a report of assembly on Form FDA 2579 within 15 days of completing assembly. Copies go to the purchaser and, where applicable, the state agency. Tennessee’s installer guidance asks for one copy to the state, one to the registrant and one kept by the installer. Mississippi accepts Form 2579 by email or mail to its Division of Radiological Health.

Planning a new room or replacing equipment

Registration and inspection are easier when they are planned alongside the equipment work:

Confirm shielding requirements before construction. Mississippi requires a plan submission; in Tennessee, ask the Division what it needs for your project. Our guide to x-ray room requirements covers layout basics.
Use a service company registered in your state for installation.
Get your Form 2579 copy and file your state registration on time.
Schedule the first inspection. In Tennessee, that means within three months of possession.
Book preventive maintenance ahead of each inspection. See how often x-ray equipment should be calibrated.

Service across Tennessee and Mississippi

Tri-State Digital Imaging is based in the Memphis area and serves practices in Memphis, Nashville, Southaven, Tupelo and Jackson, Mississippi, along with practices nationwide. We work with medical, chiropractic, podiatry and veterinary offices and offer new x-ray and DR systems as well as service.

A reminder: state rules, fees and forms change. Check with the TDEC Division of Radiological Health or the MSDH Division of Radiological Health before relying on any figure here.

Get ready for registration and inspection

Whether you are installing a new unit or preparing for your next inspection, our factory-trained engineers can install, calibrate and service your equipment. Request service online or call (901) 896-8989.

Frequently Asked Questions

How soon do I have to register a new x-ray machine in Tennessee?

Tennessee rule 0400-20-10-.24 requires registration with the TDEC Division of Radiological Health within 10 days after acquiring the machine. The machine must then be inspected within three months of the date of possession. Installers cannot register the equipment for you.

How often are x-ray machines inspected in Tennessee?

Under rule 0400-20-10-.27, Class I (dental) units are inspected every 4 years, Class II (most non-hospital medical and veterinary diagnostic units) every 2 years, and Class III (hospitals, radiologists’ and orthopedic offices) annually. Confirm your class and dates with the Division.

Who registers x-ray machines in Mississippi?

The Mississippi State Department of Health’s Division of Radiological Health, X-ray Branch. Healing arts and veterinary units are registered on MSDH Form 803, and the facility must apply before operating the machine.

What is FDA Form 2579?

It is the Report of Assembly of a Diagnostic X-Ray System. Under 21 CFR 1020.30(d), an assembler who installs certified components must complete it within 15 days of finishing assembly and provide copies to the purchaser and, where applicable, the state radiation control agency.

Tennessee and Mississippi X-Ray Registration and Inspection: What Practices Need to Know