Announcements

Board Certification Exam Application Fees

As the costs of test site and administration fees continue to rise, NMTCB will soon be required to increase some of our certification exam application prices. Effective July 1, 2023, the NMTCB’s entry level nuclear medicine certification examination application fee will move from $175 to $200. Additionally, the NMTCB(CT) Computed Tomography certification exam application fee and the NMTCB(RS) Radiation Safety examination application fee will both increase to be $225.

NMTCB will continue to offer the “Combo Application” process, allowing students and examinees to take advantage of the option to apply for two certification examinations at the same time for a discounted price.

Applicants may contact Kelly Johnson, Examinations Manager, (exam.manager@nmtcb.org) with any questions they may have about their application process.

NCT and PET Specialty Recertification Update

NMTCB has recently added a recertification option for certificants who hold post-primary specialty credentials in either nuclear cardiology (NCT) or positron emission tomography (PET).

In the past, a specialty certificant needed to successfully sit for their respective specialty examination again in order to become recertified after 7 years. NMTCB’s specialty recertification policy has now been revised to allow NCT and PET certificants the option to recertify by obtaining and documenting specialty-specific continuing education activities in order to demonstrate their continued accumulation of knowledge about the specialty field.

Going forward, as specialty certificants approach the end of seven years and need to recertify, they will have the option to recertify through either (1) re-examination OR (2) by displaying 42 hours of specialty-specific continuing education (the equivalent of 6 hours of CE per year of certification).

For a limited time, specialty certificants who have already let their NCT or PET certifications expire will be allowed a one-time option of regaining their specialty certification by displaying specialty-specific continuing education hours and completing an Alternate Specialty Recertification Application before December 31, 2020. Expired specialty certificants who would like to regain their specialty certification by taking advantage of the limited time offer will need to provide documentation of specialty continuing education (specifically pertaining to NCT topics or PET topics) for each year their specialty credential has been expired, as indicated in the chart below.

EXPIRED Specialty Certificant Requirements
Specialty Continuing Education due by December 31, 2020

Expired 4 or Less Years Expired Greater than 4 Years
24 CEs in specialty area 6 CEs in specialty area for each year expired

Specialty CE activities completed within the past seven years will be allowed to count towards the alternate recertification requirements as long as the CE activities were obtained from a CE approval organization that is recognized by NMTCB.

This limited-time recertification pathway for expired certifications ends on December 31, 2020.

NMTCB is also offering currently active specialty certificants the same limited-time option as expired certificants. Currently active NCT or PET specialty certificant who can show acceptable documentation of 24 hours of specialty-specific CE credit by December 31, 2020 will have their specialty credential extended for another 7 years from the time of recertification. Specialty CE activities that individuals have completed during their recent specialty certification period can count towards the recertification requirements, as long as the CE activities were obtained from a CE approval organization that is recognized by NMTCB.

In order to successfully recertify under the new alternate pathway, the “type” of continuing education the technologist obtains is of the utmost importance.

In order for the continuing education to qualify for specialty recertification:

  1. The CE activities submitted must be related to topics about the specialty certification. The title of the CE activity should readily identify the activity as a specialty specific (nuclear cardiology or PET) topic. For reference, each specialty exam content outline can be accessed by clicking the links below:
  2. If “PET” or “Nuclear Cardiology” topics are not clearly indicated in the title of the CE activity, the certificant must provide an explanation along with their CE documentation as to why they believe the activity should count as specialty-specific CE. Certificants should submit a summary of the CE activity or the objectives of the CE activity, which can usually be obtained through the CE vendor’s website.
  3. The specialty CE activities must obtained from a CE approval organization that is recognized by NMTCB. NMTCB will not recognize continuing education hours that are not approved by one of the organizations listed on the CE approval organizations list.
  4. NMTCB will allow maximum of 2 CEs for vendor equipment training that is specific to the specialty (PET or NCT) during any 4-year period. Additionally, NMTCB will allow 6 credits for successful completion of American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) per recertification period, and a maximum of 2 CEs for any axial anatomy.
  5. General or entry level nuclear medicine CE topics will not count towards specialty recertification requirements. However, specialty CE credits that are obtained for recertification purposes will be allowed to apply towards a certificant’s entry level (CNMT) certification continuing education requirements if the individual also holds the NMTCB entry level credential.

After the limited time recertification offer expires on December 31, 2020, any specialty certificant who wishes to recertify for an additional seven years will need to either:

Successfully pass the specialty
OR
Display 42 hours of acceptable
specialty-specific continuing education
(the equivalent of 6 hours per year of certification).

Specialty certificants will be expected to submit all of the specialty CEs at the time of recertification and prior to their credential’s expiration date.

Specialty certificants must also consistently maintain their primary credential (either an active NMTCB (CNMT) certification, ARRT(N), CAMRT nuclear medicine credential and/or CAMRT(RT), CAMRT(RTT), ARRT(R), or ARRT(T)).

Specialty CE credits that are obtained for recertification purposes will be allowed to apply towards a certificant’s entry level (CNMT) certification continuing education requirements as well.

To request an Alternate Specialty Recertification Application for either an expired or current specialty credential, please contact the NMTCB Examinations Manager by emailing recertifications@nmtcb.org.

NMTCB to Require Clinical Competencies for NMTCB(CT) Examination Eligibility

NMTCB has proposed implementing updates to the NMTCB(CT) Certification Examination Eligibility Requirements beginning July 1, 2019. The standards will be revised to include a combination of both clinical hours and specific clinical competencies. These competencies are meant to allow for flexibility in demonstrating important skills that are vital to the understanding and performance of computed tomography procedures.

The revision to Eligibility Requirement (B) is:

A minimum of 300 total clinical hours in Computed Tomography (PET/CT, SPECT/CT and/or CT), with documented performance of a minimum of 10 different procedures from the 53 computed tomography procedures listed below.

Procedural Requirements

  • Applicants must perform at least 10 of the different procedures listed below (at a minimum of 3 times and a maximum of 5 times each) for a total of at least 50 repetitions. The use of intravenous (I.V.) contrast is required of at least 25 of the 50 procedures performed by the applicant. Applicants may only document one procedure per patient per study.
  • In order for a procedure to qualify, the parameters selected for the procedure should be considered diagnostic quality and not performed for attenuation correction only. Each procedure should include patient assessment and preparation, patient positioning, protocol and parameter selection, post-processing and Quality Control, if permitted by state and/or institutional regulations. The applicant must demonstrate competency in Quality Assurance, including calibration checks, CT number, and standard deviation (water phantom).
  • Procedures may be performed in conjunction with a PET or SPECT attenuation correction scan or Radiation Therapy planning procedure. These procedures are eligible to count once towards the required 10 or more procedures that must be competed with a minimum of three (3) repetitions and maximum of five (5) repetitions.

Instructions

  1. Complete at least 10 different procedures out of the 53 procedures listed below
  2. Complete at least 3, and not more than 5, repetitions of each of the selected procedures
  3. Complete a total of at least 50 repetitions across all of the selected procedures

Examples of how an applicant can gain a minimum of 50 repetitions:

  1. 10 procedures performed 5 times each = 50 repetitions
  2. 6 procedures performed 5 times each + 7 procedures performed 3 times each (30 + 21 = 51 repetitions)
  3. 8 procedures performed 5 times each + 4 procedures performed 3 times each (40 + 12 = 52 repetitions)

Computed Tomography Procedures

  1. Head with contrast
  2. Head without contrast
  3. Head with and without contrast
  4. Brain perfusion
  5. Brain angio
  6. Facial bones/Mandible
  7. Temporal bones
  8. Orbits
  9. Sinuses
  10. Trauma head
  11. Soft tissue neck contrast
  12. Chest with contrast
  13. Chest without contrast
  14. Chest with and without contrast
  15. Chest Angio [PE]
  16. Heart
  17. Calcium Score
  18. Low dose lung screening
  19. High resolution Chest
  20. Cervical Spine
  21. Thoracic Spine
  22. Lumbar Spine
  23. Upper extremity
  24. Lower extremity
  25. Abdomen with contrast
  26. Abdomen without contrast
  27. Abdomen with and without contrast
  28. Abdomen and Pelvis with contrast
  29. Abdomen and Pelvis without contrast
  30. Abdomen and Pelvis with and without contrast
  31. Abdomen/Pelvis [Stone]
  32. Abdomen/Pelvis [Angio]
  33. Abdomen/Pelvis [Adrenal]
  34. Abdomen Multiphase [Kidney]
  35. Abdomen Multiphase [Liver]
  36. Abdomen Multiphase [Pancreas]
  37. Abdomen/Pelvis Multiphase [Multi-use]
  38. Head/Face
  39. Head/Face/Chest
  40. Head/Face/C-Spine/Chest
  41. Head/Face/C-Spine/Neck/Chest Angio
  42. Chest/Abdomen/Pelvis without contrast
  43. Chest/Abdomen/Pelvis with and without contrast
  44. Chest/Abdomen/Pelvis [Angio]
  45. Head/Face/C-Spine [Trauma]
  46. Head/C-Spine [Trauma]
  47. Head/Neck/Chest/Abdomen/Pelvis [Trauma]
  48. Heart Chest/Abdomen/Pelvis Angio
  49. Trauma [Misc.]
  50. Fiducial Marker Placement
  51. Pelvis with contrast
  52. Pelvis without contrast
  53. Pelvis with and without contrast

*Procedures listed may include both adult and pediatric studies.


  • Clinical requirements may be performed on a stand-alone CT scanner or hybrid equipment. Candidates must choose a minimum of 10 different procedures out of the 53 procedures listed above. A minimum of 50 total repetitions is required.
  • Clinical requirements must be obtained within 3 years of application for the CT exam and may be acquired in the role of a student in an accredited nuclear medicine program.
  • Clinical requirements may be obtained prior to being certified as a nuclear medicine technologist
  • Completion of the procedures will be confirmed by the Program Director, Clinical Coordinator, Technical Supervisor, or Supervising Physician.

The Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board has Developed a Post-Primary Radiation Safety Credential – the NMTCB(RS) Certification

The NMTCB has developed a new post-primary certification exam for Radiation Safety. The NMTCB(RS) credential is designed to establish a technologist's expertise in all aspects of RAM and CT radiation safety issues, while also verifying their competency in fluoroscopy, X-ray, and MRI safety matters.

The first administration of this exam will be Friday, November 3, 2017. The application deadline for this exam will be October 1, 2017. Applications for the examination are available here

A candidate may take the exam a maximum of one (1) time within a 12 calendar month period.

NMTCB(RS) Eligibility Requirements

A candidate for the NMTCB's Radiation Safety examination must show documented evidence of having:

  1. An active nuclear medicine technology certification (NMTCB, ARRT(N), CAMRT(N)) for a minimum of two (2) years.
  2. Documented experience performing tasks directly associated with radiation safety over a minimum period of 1 calendar year. Applicant must provide a letter of attestation from a supervisor or the RSO regarding this experience.
    Note: Item #2 will be assumed to have been met if the candidate can display that they are currently on or has been on a RAM license in the past 7 years.

The following is an abbreviated list of the content for the NMTCB's Radiation Safety Exam.

  1. RAM License (~50%)
  2. Computed Tomography (~15%)
  3. X-Ray & Fluoroscopy (~15%)
  4. MRI (~10%)
  5. Optimizing Radiation Exposure/Other Safety Topics (~10%)

For more information, please contact NMTCB at board@nmtcb.org. August 15, 2017

The Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board has Developed a Post-Primary Computed Tomography (CT) Credential

The NMTCB has developed a new post-primary certification exam for computed tomography (CT). The NMTCB (CT) credential will be considered an extension of the entry-level nuclear medicine exam and is designed to establish the competency of a nuclear medicine technologist to perform CT procedures. This examination is planned for delivery in 2014.

Rationale for a Post-Primary CT Credential
The NMTCB has confirmed that there is a demand within the nuclear medicine field for a post-primary CT credential. In a recent survey of nuclear medicine technologists, 32% of the respondents stated that there is at least one PET/CT or SPECT/CT device at the institution. Of that 32%, 45% stated that a nuclear medicine technologist is responsible for operating the CT portion of the device there. Responding to this expressed need, the NMTCB will incorporate this credential under the scope of its credentialing services. The NMTCB's mission of validating the professional preparation of nuclear medicine technologists (NMTs) through certification puts the NMTCB in a unique position to offer this examination leading to the post-primary CT credential for NMTs.

The NMTCB (CT) credential will attest to the qualifications of the NMT in that the individual has met the educational and clinical requirements specified by the credential in the healthcare field. This NMTCB (CT) credential will provide employers with the option to hire one credentialed employee to perform both components of a PET/CT or SPECT/CT unit when used in the dual combination mode or CT mode.

Eligibility Requirements
The eligibility requirements are as follows:

  1. An active CNMT, RT(N)(ARRT) , or CAMRT nuclear medicine technology certification.
  2. A minimum of 500 total hours in PET/CT, SPECT/CT and/or CT.
    • Clinical hours must be obtained within 3 years of application for the CT exam
    • Clinical hours may be acquired in the role of a student in an accredited nuclear medicine program
    • Clinical hours may be performed on one type of scanner, or a combination of multiple scanners
    • Clinical hours may be obtained prior to being certified as a nuclear medicine technologist
  3. The completion of a minimum of thirty five (35) contact hours within the three years prior to application including a minimum of four (4) hours of each of the following categories:
    1. Contrast administration
    2. Cross-sectional anatomy
    3. X-ray physics
    4. CT radiation safety

For more information, please contact NMTCB at board@nmtcb.org. November 18, 2013

The NMTCB now accepts the successful completion of the ARDMS RVT Specialty Examination as being the equivalent to 24 hours of continuing education toward compliance with the CE Policy. October 24, 2011

NMAA Specialty Exam information and application are now available. January 6, 2011

NCT and PET Specialty Exam applications are now online. See our applications page for more details. October 12, 2010

The NMCTB will recognize AHA Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) as being the equivalent to 6 hours of continuing education. Holding both ACLS and PALS certification will be recognized as being the equivalent to 9 hours of continuing education. See CE Policy for full details.(October 12, 2010)

NMTCB to Require Programmatic Accreditation by 2016

The Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) has approved new eligibility requirements to take effect in 2016. Under these new requirements, the NMTCB will only accept applications for the entry level examination from graduates of programmatically accredited nuclear medicine technology educational programs beginning January 1, 2016.

Accreditation is a voluntary process which may be undertaken by schools to demonstrate compliance with specific standards designed to indicate a level of education quality.

The NMTCB currently accepts applications from graduates of regionally accredited schools as well as programmatically accredited education programs. Regional accreditation is a voluntary process through which a school, usually a college or university, undergoes a lengthy and detailed review of their programs, campuses, and educational delivery methods by one of six regional accrediting agencies. While holding regional accreditation demonstrates compliance with very high educational standards, this type of accreditation does not utilize nuclear medicine professionals to assess the quality and clinical standards specific to the nuclear medicine education program.

Programs that obtain voluntary programmatic accreditation must demonstrate adherence to quality educational standards specific to nuclear medicine. Their graduates must demonstrate that they have met minimal clinical competency standards. In addition, each program and clinical site is visited and assessed by nuclear medicine and education professionals on a regular basis. Many of the current nuclear medicine technology education programs that are affiliated with regionally accredited colleges or universities also obtain programmatic accreditation in order to demonstrate their dedication to the highest standards of the nuclear medicine profession.

It is the position of the NMTCB that requiring programmatic accreditation will help to assure other nuclear medicine professionals, employers, licensing agencies and the public that a Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist has clearly demonstrated the knowledge and clinical competence to perform safe, effective nuclear medicine procedures with the highest level of quality clinical standards as defined by the profession of Nuclear Medicine Technology. updated May 18, 2010

SNMTS/NMTCB VOICE Credit Sharing Is Now Available

VOICE credit sharing is now available to all NMTCB certificants. This new service will ensure timely and accurate continuing education (CE) reporting to the NMTCB and will save time and storage space when collecting CE data to forward during a CE audit.

What you need to know for accurate VOICE reporting:

  • Your VOICE transcript is only as accurate as the information provided. You should visit the SNM web site to verify the accuracy of your VOICE transcripts and report any missing information to the SNM Education Department at education@snm.org.
  • VOICE transcripts are not updated instantaneously. It may take up to 60 days for credits to appear on the VOICE transcript. In the event of an audit, you will be responsible for reporting all credits newer than 60 days old, as well as any credits not recorded with VOICE.
  • If you are selected for an audit, we will first check for a VOICE transcript. If you have signed up for credit sharing and your transcript demonstrates that you have met the CE requirement, you will receive a letter from us stating that you were audited and met the requirement. If you haven't signed up or if your transcript does not show enough hours within the CE cycle, you will be sent a letter asking for additional credit information.

NMTCB's mandatory Continuing Education policy took effect January 1, 2006

NMTCB's mandatory Disciplinary policy took effect January 1, 2005

The Alternate Eligibility Pathway to qualify to sit for the entry level exam will be phased out by 2015.

Announcements

The Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board Has Developed a Post-Primary Computed Tomography (CT) Credential.

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FAQs

Can I change my NMTCB CE reporting cycle to match my continuing education cycle with another organization?

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