The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the demand for nuclear medicine technologists will increase by 16 percent from 2008 through 2018, resulting in the creation of 3,600 new jobs in the field for those with the right education. A number of traditional and community or junior colleges throughout the United States offer programs to train nuclear medicine technologists. Carrying the accreditation of the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, these schools allow students to qualify for voluntary certification after graduation.
University of Alabama at Birmnigham
Established in 1969, the University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public institution with more than 16,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The college's school of health professions offers a Bachelor of Science degree in nuclear medicine technology. Students spend the first three years of the program taking classes in English, literature, fine arts, mathematics, history, physiology, medical terminology, anatomy, statistics and physics. Then, students enter the clinical phase of the program, studying for five additional semesters and taking classes directly relating to the profession, such as radiation physics, research, communication, radiopharmacy and computed tomography. Three clinical rotations are required to graduate from the program. Around 42 percent of incoming freshmen and 49 percent of continuing students receive some type of financial aid, reports the 2009 Barron's Profiles of American Colleges.
University of Alabama at Birmingham
1530 Third Ave. S.
Birmingham, AL 35294
205-934-8221
http://www.uab.edu/
Weber State University
Located in Ogden, Utah, Weber State University is a public institution with more than 21,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The university offers a three-semester certificate program in nuclear medicine technology that is open only to individuals who are certified in radiography or radiologic science with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. Students spend 24 hours per week in clinical settings working with patients and take classes in radiopharmaceuticals, radiation physics, medical ethics and law, cardiology, managing medical information and medical regulations. After completing the program, students have the option to earn a bachelor's degree from the university by completing the requirements for one of the university's majors such as chemistry or biology and the general education policies of the university as well as taking classes toward a minor and writing a bachelor's thesis. Those with associate degrees may be able to transfer some previous coursework toward the baccalaureate degree. Approximately half of all students at Weber receive financial aid, according to the 2009 Barron's Profiles of American Colleges.
Weber State University
1103 University Circle
Ogden, UT 84408
801-626-6744
http://www.weber.edu/
Delaware Technical & Community College
Delaware Technical & Community College is a public, two-year school with more than 20,000 students spread over its four campuses. The college's Wilmington campus is home to approximately 4,600 students and the school's diploma program in nuclear medicine technology. Admission to the program is competitive and requires students to have a history of high school or college-level coursework in chemistry, algebra and biology. The program requires six semesters of full-time study to complete and features classes in cardiovascular monitoring, nuclear physics, English composition, biomedical statistics, psychology and computer science. Three clinical rotations are included in the curriculum. In addition to federal and state financial aid and veterans benefits programs, the college grants a limited number of institutional scholarships.
Delaware Technical & Community College
333 Shipley St.
Wilmington, DE 19801
302-888-5288
http://www.dtcc.edu/
Tags: Community College, Delaware Technical, Delaware Technical Community, medicine technology, more than, nuclear medicine