Health Sciences

Nuclear Medicine Certificate

Nuclear medicine technologists are trained in the safe handling and application of radioactive materials for therapeutic and diagnostic procedures in the medical field.  The applied skills of nuclear medicine technologists complement nuclear medicine physicians by providing clinical information pertinent to patient diagnosis and treatment.

The Nuclear Medicine Certificate program is a full-time program.  Admission is limited to those who meet the specific admissions criteria.  Each class has an eight-student capacity in Columbia.  Students are also accepted for training in other South Carolina locations which include:  Florence, Charleston, Greenville and Spartanburg.  The certificate program begins each fall semester and ends with the summer semester.

Students will receive clinical education in major area hospitals’ nuclear medicine departments and radiopharmacies, with didactic instruction given at the Health Science facility located on the Airport Campus.

The Nuclear Medicine Technology program is fully accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology and graduates are eligible to take the ARRT and the NMTCB examinations.  Upon successful completion, students receive the designation of Registered Nuclear Medicine Technologist RT(N) and Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist CNMT.

Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology
716 Black Point Road
P.O. Box 1149
Polson, Montana  59860-1149
(404) 883-0003
www.jrcnmt.org

Special Requirements

Students who are admitted to the Nuclear Medicine Technology (NMT) program are required to purchase and maintain standard white uniforms, white shoes, laboratory coats and name pin (approximate cost of $400), nuclear medicine books and manuals (approximate cost of $750) and membership fees in professional organizations (approximate cost of $20).  Attendance of professional meetings also required.

Students are required to schedule a preliminary interview with the program director, attend an information session and complete two observations in a nuclear medicine department before being interviewed for acceptance by the interview committee.  A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required.

College admissions testing may be waived with the approval of the program director.

In addition to the admissions criteria and requirements for the Health Sciences department, specific admission criteria for entry into the Nuclear Medicine Technology program include:

Certification or registry eligibility in radiologic technology, medical technology or nursing.  Students from hospital-based programs must meet college entry criteria and have college credits in chemistry, English, psychology and algebra; or

A bachelor of science degree in radiologic technology, medical technology, nursing, physics, biological sciences or chemistry; or

Sixty hours of appropriate college courses, including algebra, chemistry, computer science, medical terminology, and human anatomy and physiology; and

Observations in the clinical setting on at least two occasions.  Observations are scheduled by the program director.

Students must present CPR certification (adult, infant and child) and first-aid certification cards at the time of advisement before entering their first nuclear medicine course.  The CPR certification must be kept current while in the program.

For additional or more specific information, requests for NMT information packets can be made to the Health Sciences Department or Career Services.

Students who are accepted without an extensive health care clinical experience will be required to complete NMT 100–Preparation for Clinic during the summer semester prior to beginning professional courses.

Students who are accepted must complete health forms prior to beginning professional courses.  Students are subject to criminal background checks.

Advanced Placement

Students with prior clinical education experience from other accredited programs are given consideration for advanced placement.  Academic and clinical courses must be compatible, however.

Certificate:  Nuclear Medicine (39 credit hours)