Nuclear medical technologists perform diagnostic imaging for physicians.
Nuclear medicine is a growing field, with the number of nuclear medicine technologists expected to increase by 16 percent through 2018, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projections. A May 5, 2006, CNN.com article listed nuclear medicine technologist jobs as the fifth highest-paying profession among those requiring only an associate's degree. Community and small colleges around the nation offer an associate's degree in this field.
Bellevue College
Bellevue College in Bellevue, Washington, offers an associate of arts degree in nuclear medicine technology. Working in collaboration with area hospitals and medical facilities, Bellevue offers students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the nuclear medicine field. The program is designed to prepare students for both state and national licensing requirements.
Although the program is an associate's degree program, it requires 93 credit hours---the equivalent of three years of college studies. Many of these required credit hours are obtained, however, through clinical experience. Courses are taken in areas such as computers in nuclear medicine, intercultural communication, training for healthcare workers, positron emission tomography, basic nuclear medical science and radiopharmacy.
Bellevue College
3000 Landerholm Circle SE
Bellevue, WA 98007
425-564-1000
bellevuecollege.edu
Delaware Technical & Community College
Delaware Technical & Community College in Dover, Delaware offers an associate's degree in nuclear medical technology, as part of a collaborative effort with the University of Wilmington, that allows students to transfer their associate's degree courses directly into a bachelor's degree program in allied health sciences at Wilmington. Courses of study include fields such as nuclear physics, medical terminology, biomedical statistics, clinical nuclear science, scan reading, ethical issues in health care, nuclear medicine instrumentation, radiobiology and protection, radiopharmacy and cardiovascular monitoring.
Delaware Technical & Community College
333 Shipley Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
302-571-5355
www.dtcc.edu
Galveston College
Galveston College in Texas offers an associate of applied science degree in nuclear medical technology. The program is designed to last two years, with students taking courses during the summer terms to complete the course in approximately 24 months. The curriculum involves courses in anatomy and physiology, which are recommended as a prerequisite to the program as well as introduction to nuclear medical technology, nuclear medicine methodology, nuclear medicine data processing, computed tomography equipment and methodology, radiochemistry and radiopharmacy, nuclear medicine physics, patient care, and radiation biology and safety.
Galveston College
4015 Ave. Q
Galveston, TX 77550
409-944-4242
www.gc.edu
Tags: nuclear medicine, associate degree, nuclear medical, Bellevue College, Community College, degree nuclear
