Nuclear Medicine Technologist Career & Jobs: Training, Salary & Certification Requirements

Although being diagnosed with cancer is usually one of the darkest days of a patient’s life, no longer does being diagnosed with this disease mean that a person has no hope for the future. There are many medical treatments and medical advances that make it possible for a person to not only survive a disease like cancer, but also to live a full and rewarding life in the years afterward. In some cases, doctors might recommend that radiopharmaceuticals (radioactive materials) be used to treat a certain condition. The person that is responsible for delivering these highly volatile medicines is known as a nuclear medicine technologist. In most cases, the nuclear medicine technologist is responsible for evaluating the patient’s condition, with the help of their doctor, and determining how much radioactive material to use and what the best method would be for administering it.

Salary Outlook

Average Annual Salary
$50,900
Salary Range
$43,200 - $59,100

Work Environment

Because they are called in for such highly specialized situations, it is most common for nuclear medicine technologists to work under the supervision of a doctor of nuclear medicine at a research hospital or university. In other cases, they might be employed by diagnostic centers, pharmaceutical companies or public health departments.

High School Preparation

It is important for students that are interested in pursuing a career as a nuclear medicine technologist to gain knowledge about the health professions and nuclear technology while they are in high school. Supporting subjects include algebra, chemistry, physics, biology, computer science, and geometry. It is also helpful to have a strong working knowledge of statistics, geometry, word processing and computer skills.

Requirements

Once they have graduated from high school, it is important for the aspiring nuclear medicine technologist to choose between a certificate programs, an associate’s degree or a four year bachelor’s degree. Although it is possible to get a job as a nuclear medicine technologist with only the two year certificate, the highest salaries are awarded to those candidates who have achieved the bachelor’s degree or beyond. Following the degree, it is possible for qualified candidates to become certified through the examinations offered by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board or the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.

Career Outlook

As many experts have already noted, the increased access to quality health care and the movement from manual labor to technological labor has meant that the elderly population of the country is expanding rapidly. This elderly population is the most likely to need the services of a nuclear medicine technologist, and as such, the demand for these kinds of professionals is likely to expand by at least twenty percent in the next ten years.

Professional Organizations

Society of Nuclear Medicine Technologist
1850 Samuel Morse Drive
Reston, VA 22090-5316
Phone: (703) 708-9000
www.snm.org