Nuclear medicine is an occupation that involves using radioactive drugs in the diagnosis and treatment of various medical issues and illnesses. An individual trained in nuclear medicine performs several duties. He or she will prepare the radioactive drugs and then administer them to patients who are undergoing radiology testing or treatment by mouth, inhalation, or injection. The radioactive drugs will react differently in various parts of the body that are abnormal due to illnesses or tumors. The test results are then analyzed by doctors who will diagnose patients. In addition to administering radioactive drugs, nuclear medicine technicians keep records of the procedures performed, maintain safety procedures while administering medication, help patients feel comfortable by answering questions and concerns, and monitor equipment to make sure it is operating properly.
Nuclear medicine technologists usually work in a hospital setting, but some work in physicians' offices or diagnostic facilities. The schedule for nuclear medicine technicians can vary since the services they provide may be needed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Since the job does involve the handling of radioactive materials, it is important that technicians use the utmost care and safety procedures to protect themselves and patients from harm. There are numerous safety measures that have been put into place in the field to avoid radiation exposure.
There are many nuclear medicine technologist schools in the Unites States. Nuclear medicine technologist programs are offered in the form of an associate degree or a bachelor's in science degree. Licensing rules vary by state, but all schools must be accredited so that graduates can apply for licensing if their state requires it or sit for the national certification exam. Certification of nuclear medicine technicians is provided through The Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). An associate's degree can generally be obtained at a state or community college, technical school, or a medical technology school. Bachelor's degrees are offered at colleges and universities. An associate's degree is the minimum needed to obtain entry level work in nuclear medicine, but a bachelor's degree or higher is often necessary to qualify for higher level positions in the profession.
An associate's degree in nuclear medicine is a two year degree comprised of coursework and labs, plus clinical training in nuclear medicine. Entrance into a program is usually competitive as the programs are small and only admit a handful of students. To gain entry, students must have a high school diploma or equivalency, and satisfactorily compete any prerequisites required for entrance into the program. In addition, associate's degrees require the completion of general education courses such as English, math, and science. Most of the core courses in the degree sequence are scientific in nature, so potential students should have an interest in science. Some possible courses in a nuclear medicine program could include:
Besides coursework, students will need to complete a number of clinical hours in a medical facility. After graduating with an associate's degree in nuclear medicine, graduates can apply to take certification exams and become licensed through their state if necessary. Graduates will then be eligible to become employed in entry level positions in:
A bachelor's degree in nuclear medicine can be obtained at a four
Coursework will consist of general classes such as English and math, plus science classes, co-requisite lab courses, and clinicals. Although the path of the program is much the same as the associate's degree, a bachelor's degree in the subject is more intense and requires more training. Possible classes in a nuclear medicine program at a four year university might include:
Clinical training is also a major component of the bachelor's degree. Students will need to complete a number of hours of clinical training in hospitals or diagnostic facilities in order to earn the required credits for graduation. Once students have graduated, they can take the necessary certification and licensing exams required in their state. They are then qualified to pursue positions in fields such as:
We found 87 schools offering nuclear medicine technologist degree programs in the U.S.
>> See all 87 Nuclear Medical Technology / Technician Colleges in the U.S.