Nuclear Medicine Technology

Introduction

Thank you for your interest in the University of Iowa Nuclear Medicine Technology Program. There are three ways in which an individual may qualify for our educational program. One option leads to a Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Medicine Technology, another leads to a Bachelor of Science degree in Radiologic Sciences, and yet another, a Certificate of Completion in Nuclear Medicine Technology. Persons who already have a Bachelor's degree, or are registered or registry eligible radiologic technologists may meet requirements for the certificate only program if they have completed the required college-level courses.

The program is twelve months long and begins in early August each year. The curriculum includes didactic course work and clinical rotations in Nuclear Medicine at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

A University of Iowa Nuclear Medicine Technology application form should be completed and returned directly to the office of the NMT Program Director if you are interested in attending to our program. We also require, as part of the application process, official transcripts from high school, technical school, and college, as well as, three program reference forms. Please submit all materials as early as possible to facilitate appropriate counseling and to ensure completion of your file before the deadline.

All application materials must be received by FEBRUARY 1 for an applicant to be considered for the following Fall. Interviews of the most qualified candidates are conducted throughout the month of March and a maximum of eight students may be selected each year.

Mail all application materials to:

Anthony W. Knight, Program Director
Nuclear Medicine Technology
Department of Radiology/Nuclear Medicine
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Iowa City, IA 52242-1009

If you would like a tour of our department or need additional information, please email or call:

Tony Knight, MBA, CNMT, RT(N)
Program Director
Nuclear Medicine Technology Program
Phone: (319) 356-2954
E-mail: anthony-knight@uiowa.edu

Admissions Requirements

The Nuclear Medicine Technology Program is twelve months long and begins in early August each year. This "clinical year" may be used as the senior year toward a BS degree in nuclear medicine technology or the "specialized modality" year toward a BS degree in radiologic sciences both of which are awarded by the College of Medicine. Students may also be admitted into the program on a "certificate only" basis. Applicants seeking to use the NMT program to fulfill the advanced modality requirement of the radiologic sciences degree must at least meet the requirements identified for certificate-only admission listed below. The clinical year curriculum includes didactic course work and clinical rotations in the Nuclear Medicine Clinic at the UIHC. Class size is limited to no more than 10 students per year, and selection is competitive for those positions.

What are the admission criteria for the Nuclear Medicine Technology program?

• Nuclear Medicine Technology Baccalaureate Program:

  Applicants to the baccalaureate program must have completed a minimum of 94 semester hours including complete introductory courses with laboratory in chemistry, physics, biology, anatomy, physiology, at least intermediate algebra, and additional advanced science/math courses totaling 10 hours minimum. Courses in statistics and computer science are highly recommended. The applicant must also fulfill the College of Liberal Arts general education requirements in communication & literacy, natural, quantitative, & social sciences, and culture, society & the arts. The applicant must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of at least 2.50 in order to qualify.

• Nuclear Medicine Technology Certificate Only Program:

  Applicants to the certificate program must have a bachelor's degree, or be registered/registry eligible in a related health care field such as medical technology, radiologic technology or nursing. Applicants with a bachelor's degree must have completed introductory courses with laboratory in chemistry, physics, anatomy, physiology, and at least intermediate algebra. Radiologic technologists must have completed college-level coursework in rhetoric (oral and written communications) and general chemistry and general physics or they can not be considered for admission.

  The Admissions Committee considers all aspects of each applicant's record and offers admission to the best qualified individuals each year. Positive applicant attributes include maturity, knowledge of and motivation toward a career in nuclear medicine, previous patient-related experience, and an aptitude for academic achievement, particularly in the sciences. Promising applicants (typically the top 16 - 20 candidates) are invited for a personal interview with the members of the Admissions Committee sometime during the month of February. Applicants are considered without regard to sex, race, creed, or national origin. All applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit scores on the TOEFL as required by the University

What means are used to document that students meet these criteria?

• All applicants to the NMT program must submit a completed application form, ALL college, technical school, and high school transcripts (including ACT scores), TOEFL scores (if applicable), and 3 NMT program reference forms completed by individuals who are familiar with the applicant's personal, academic and/or employment history. Both the NMT program application and reference form can be downloaded from the NMT Program website. Further confirmation of applicant information is derived from an interview with the program's Admissions Committee. The deadline for all application materials is February 1st of each year. If the first of March falls on a weekend, the deadline will become the Monday immediately following that weekend. Candidates whose file is complete at that time will be considered for admission into the student class which starts in August of that year. Applicant files which are incomplete on the deadline date will not be considered. This is a very strict deadline and no extensions will be granted.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

In addition to the baccalaureate program in nuclear medicine technology, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics offers an identical "certificate only" program for people who already have either a bachelor's degree in any major (with elective coursework in the appropriate sciences) or prior qualifications in a clinically related allied health profession (i.e., radiography, medical technology, nursing), with a minimum of two years education in an accredited educational program.

Prerequisites are determined on an individual basis, based on ACT scores, high school science/math grades, time since high school, science/math courses or allied health education, allied health program grades, and the applicant's self-assessment.

Radiographers do have some distinct advantages because of their clinical training, but often lack the required background in algebra, chemistry, physics, and oral/written communications. Applicants MUST have completed college level courses in these subjects to be considered for admission.

Non-science baccalaureates must have completed introductory college science courses, including laboratory, in chemistry, anatomy, physiology and physics, as well as an intermediate algebra course (or higher level mathematics) to be considered. We would be glad to discuss your individual situation and advise you accordingly.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT

(http://www.uiowa.edu/admissions/undergrad/requirements/intl-english-reqs.htm)
International applicants whose first language is not English must submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for admission to the University's undergraduate colleges.  (The University of Iowa's institutional code is 6681.)

Minimum TOEFL score requirements for admission

1. Internet-based test (iBT): 80 with no subscore lower than 17

2. Paper-based test (PBT): 530

Admitted students will also need to take an on-campus English Proficiency Evaluation unless they have a TOEFL score of 100 or higher on the iBT or 600 or higher on the PBT.

Alternatives to the TOEFL—minimum score requirements

1. An ACT English Subscore of 21

2. An SAT Critical Reading score of 540

3. An IELTS total score of 6.5, with no subscore lower than 6.0 (International English Language Testing System.

English proficiency requirements, exceptions
All ACT, SAT, and IELTS test takers also will be required to take the on-campus English Proficiency Evaluation.

If your score is below our minimum requirement
Students whose scores do not meet the minimum TOEFL (or alternatives) are not considered for admission to the University. These students may apply for admission to the Iowa Intensive English Program (IIEP).

Students interested in the Nuclear Medicine Technology program are encouraged to contact the program director for additional information.