Nuclear Medicine Technology

The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Nuclear Medicine Technology (NMT) program is designed to develop competent entry-level nuclear technologists through a variety of didactic, clinical, and laboratory experiences. Upon successful completion, students are eligible to sit for board certification and may pursue stackable post-primary certifications. The curriculum is structured to provide appropriate didactic and lab instruction, as well as ample supervised clinical exposure, to ensure sufficient opportunity to achieve all didactic and clinical requirements.

Details

Field of Interest

Health Sciences

Degree Type

Associate in Applied Science (AAS)

Academic Plan

Nuclear Medicine Technology (DEG)

Academic Plan Code

3688

Total credits required

110-123

Catalog Year

2024-2025

Effective Term

Fall 2022

Admissions criteria

1. Formal application and admission to the program.
2. Background Check Requirements: Admission to an Allied Health program requires that students be in compliance with the Maricopa County Community College District Background Check Standards. Upon conditional program enrollment, the student must comply with all requirements of the MCCCD Background Check Policy.
3. Clinical health and safety requirements must be met prior to enrollment in any program of study course. Upon conditional program enrollment, the student must comply with all requirements of the MCCCD Clinical Health and Safety Policy and drug testing protocols.
4. Inability to comply with background check requirements and/or clinical health and safety requirements at the start of classes or during the program may result in cancellation of enrollment.
5. There are limited spaces available in the NMT program. Only students who have completed all the general education and introductory courses noted above may have their name added to the queue of those waiting for an available space in a cohort.
6. As long as all general education and introductory courses have been completed, potential students residing outside of the state of Arizona can seek permission from the Program Director to be placed on the waitlist, granted a position number, and agree to take NUC100 in the semester prior to formal program admission.

Readmission Criteria:
The Program reserves the right to deny acceptance of an admission application if the applicant was dismissed from any program for issues relating to academic integrity and/or unsafe patient care.

Notes

Students must complete the following general education and introductory courses with a 3.0 GPA to be added to the queue of those waiting for an available cohort space to begin the core curriculum: BIO201, BIO202, [(CHM130 and CHM130LL) or CHM130AA or (CHM138 and CHM138LL)], (CRE101 or equivalent as indicated by assessment), (ENG101 or ENG107), (ENG102 or ENG108), (MAT15+ or equivalent course or satisfactory completion of a higher-level algebra mathematics course), NUC100, [PHY101 or (PHY111 and PHY112)].

What You'll Learn

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

Apply problem solving, critical thinking and decision making strategies in nuclear medicine.
Demonstrate ability to provide exemplary communication and patient care to a diverse population.
Practice in accordance with published standards of radiation protection and regulatory compliance while maintaining the highest professional ethical standards.
Analyze nuclear medicine images and processes for process quality and take corrective action as appropriate.
Collaborate with other medical professionals on interdisciplinary teams.
Utilize professional literature to enhance clinical practice and professional growth.
Apply relevant knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to seek career opportunities in the field.

Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Maricopa County-based annual median wages* for this degree. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.

Nuclear Medicine Technologists

$88,792 Show expanded career information for Nuclear Medicine Technologists

* Career and wage information provided by Lightcast using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources and Lightcast’s proprietary analytical processes. Lightcast’s data covers multiple classes of workers including QCEW, non-QCEW, and those who are self-employed. Disclaimer

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Pathway Planner tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.

Full-time

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
BIO201	Human Anatomy and Physiology I	Prerequisites: C or better in (BIO156, or BIO156XT, or BIO181, or BIO181XT, or 1 yr of high school biology) and (RDG100, or RDG100LL, or higher, or eligibility for CRE101). CHM130 or higher or one year of high school chemistry suggested but not required.		SG	4
(CHM130 and CHM130LL) or CHM130AA or (CHM138 and CHM138LL)	(Fundamental Chemistry and Fundamental Chemistry Laboratory) or Fundamental Chemistry with Lab or (Chemistry for Allied Health and Chemistry for Allied Health Laboratory)	Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in [(CHM100 or high school algebra or MAT140 or hghr or EdReady score of 70 or higher) and (RDG100 or RDG100LL or hghr or eligibility for CRE101 as indicated by appropriate reading placemnt)] or permission of the dept. and Prerequisites or Corequisites: CHM130. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM090, or MAT090, or MAT091, or MAT092, or higher level mathematics course, or satisfactory math placement) and (RDG100, or RDG100LL, or higher, or eligibility for CRE101 as indicated by appropriate reading placement)], or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (CHM090 or MAT090 or MAT091 or MAT092 or higher or satisfactory math placement), or one year of high school chemistry taken within the last five years with a grade of C or better, or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair. and Corequisites: CHM138.		SQ in combo w/ CHM130LL and SQ in combo w/ CHM130 or SQ or None	4
ENG101 or ENG107	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C or better in ENG091 or ESL097or WAC101) or (B or better in ALT100) or (ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+). or Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C or better in ENG091 or ESL097or WAC101) or (B or better in ALT100) or (ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+).		FYC or FYC	3
NUC100	Introduction to Nuclear Medicine Technology		Critical course Gateway course		1
FYE101 or FYE103	Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success				1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
BIO202	Human Anatomy and Physiology II	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in BIO201 or BIO201XT.		SG	4
ENG102 or ENG108	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in ENG101. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG107.	Critical course	FYC or FYC	3
PHY101 or (PHY111 and PHY112)	Introduction to Physics or (General Physics I and General Physics II)	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT090, or higher level mathematics course, or eligibility for MAT120 or higher as indicated by appropriate placement. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT182 or MAT187 or MAT220 or MAT221 or eligibility for MAT220 as indicated by appropriate placement or one year high school Trigonometry with a grade of C or better or permission of Department or Division. and Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in PHY111.		SQ or SQ	4–8
CRE101	College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking	Prerequisites: (A grade of C or better in ENG101 or ENG107) and (appropriate reading placement test score or a grade of C or better in RDG095 or RDG100 or RDG111 or RDG112 or RDG113 or permission of Instructor).	Or equivalent as indicated by assessment	L	0–3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
COM100 or COM110	Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication			SB or SB	3
MAT150 or MAT151 or MAT152 or MAT155 or MAT156	College Algebra/Functions or College Algebra/Functions or College Algebra/Functions or College Algebra/Functions with Review or College Algebra/Functions with Review	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT095, or MAT096, or MAT114, or MAT115, or MAT12+, OR an appropriate district placement for MAT15+, OR permission of Department or Division Chair. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT095, or MAT096, or MAT114, or MAT115, or MAT12+, OR an appropriate district placement for MAT15+, OR permission of Department or Division Chair. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT095, or MAT096, or MAT114, or MAT115, or MAT12+, OR an appropriate district placement for MAT15+, OR permission of Department or Division Chair. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (MAT055, MAT056, and MAT057), or MAT09+, or MAT114, or MAT115, or an appropriate district placement for MAT120 or MAT121 or MAT122, or permission of Department/Division Chair. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in each of the following: (MAT055, MAT056, and MAT057), OR MAT09+ or MAT114 or MAT115, OR an appropriate district placement for MAT120 or MAT121 or MAT122, OR permission of Department or Division Chair.	OR Equivalent course or satisfactory completion of a higher-level algebra mathematics course 3-6	MA or MA or MA or MA or MA	3–6
HU	Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design				3
SB	Social-Behavioral Sciences				3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Credits
NUC101	Essentials of Nuclear Medicine Technology	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program.		1
NUC110	Introduction to Radiation Physics and Biology for Nuclear Medicine	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program.		3
NUC112	Nuclear Medicine Quality Control Laboratory	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program.	Critical course Gateway course	1
NUC113	Nuclear Medicine Clinical Applications Laboratory	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program.		1
NUC114	Nuclear Medicine Instrumentation	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program.		3
NUC116	Nuclear Medicine Procedures I	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program.		3
NUC220	Sectional Anatomy for Nuclear Medicine	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program or permission of Program Director.		3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Credits
NUC103	Nuclear Medicine Image Evaluation I	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program.		1
DMI/NUC108	Structured Diagnostic Medical Imaging Skills Enhancement	Corequisites: Enrolled in Diagnostic Medical Imaging program (Medical Radiography, Nuclear Medicine Technology, and Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound), or permission of Program Director.	Students interested in more cardiac clinical experience may complete with permission of the Nuclear Medicine Program Director.	0–1
NUC126	Nuclear Medicine Procedures II	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program.	Critical course	3
NUC130	Professionalism and Patient Care	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program.		1
NUC212	Clinical Practicum I	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program.	Critical course Gateway course	1.5
NUC223	Nuclear Medicine Image Evaluation II	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program.		1
NUC276	Nuclear Cardiology	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program or certified by ARRT [R.T. (N)] or the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) in nuclear medicine.	Critical course Gateway course	3
NUC280	Nuclear Medicine PET Physics and Instrumentation	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program or permission of Program Director.	Critical course Gateway course	3

Summer Semester (Term 6)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Summer Semester (Term 6)
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Credits
NUC222	Clinical Practicum II	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program.	3
NUC233	Nuclear Medicine Image Evaluation III	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program.	1
NUC259	Fundamentals of Research in Nuclear Medicine	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program.	3

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Credits
NUC232	Clinical Practicum III	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program.		3
NUC236	Nuclear Medicine Procedures III	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program.		3
NUC243	Nuclear Medicine Image Evaluation IV	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program.		1
NUC250	Fundamentals of Computed Tomography and Elements of Magnetic Resonance Imaging	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program or permission of the Program Director.	Critical course Gateway course	3
NUC260	Research Methods and Design	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program.		3
NUC272 or NUC283	Cardiac Practicum or PET/CT Practicum	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program or certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) in Nuclear Medicine [R.T. (N)] or the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) in Nuclear Medicine. or Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program or permission of the Program Director.	Students will be assigned to either NUC272 Cardiac Practicum OR NUC283 PET/CT Practicum. In the following semester students will take the other practicum to complete both requirements.	1.5

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Credits
NUC234	Nuclear Medicine Department Administration	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program.	3
NUC242	Clinical Practicum IV	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program.	3
NUC244	Nuclear Medicine Radiopharmacy	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program.	3
NUC246	Nuclear Medicine Procedures IV	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program or permission of Program Director.	3
NUC263	Nuclear Medicine Research Presentation and Publication	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in NUC259 and NUC260.	3
NUC272 or NUC283	Cardiac Practicum or PET/CT Practicum	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program or certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) in Nuclear Medicine [R.T. (N)] or the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) in Nuclear Medicine. or Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program or permission of the Program Director.	1.5

Term 9

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 9
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Credits
NUC251	Computed Tomography and Hybrid Imaging Case Analysis	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program or permission of Program Director.	3
NUC262	Capstone Practicum	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program or permission of the Program Director.	1.5
NUC290	Nuclear Medicine Seminar	Prerequisites: Admission to Nuclear Medicine Technology program.	3

Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

FYC = First Year Composition
L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
MA = Mathematics

SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
SG = Natural Sciences General
SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative

Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm13?id=171336).

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.