(1) Alternative training for a nuclear medicine technologist may be obtained with the following:

(a)(i) A baccalaureate or associate degree in one of the physical, biological sciences, or allied health care professions;

(ii) Two clinical years supervised practice experience in nuclear medicine technology as provided in subsection (2) of this section; and

(iii) Completed course content as provided in subsection (3) of this section; or

(b)(i) Meet the requirements of this chapter for certification as a diagnostic radiologic technologist or a therapeutic radiologic technologist;

(ii) Two clinical years supervised practice experience in nuclear medicine technology as provided in subsection (2) of this section; and

(iii) Completed course content as provided in subsection (3) of this section.

(2) Verified supervised clinical practice experience in the following:

(a) Methods of patient care;

(b) Computer applications;

(d) Nuclear medicine in vivo and in vitro procedures; and

(e) Radionuclide therapy.

(3) Verified formal education in the following:

(a) Radiation safety and protection - 10 contact hours;

(b) Radiation biology - 10 contact hours;

(d) Nuclear medicine instrumentation - 22 contact hours;

(e) Statistics - 10 contact hours; and

(f) Radionuclide chemistry and radiopharmacology - 22 contact hours.

(4) Individuals participating in the nuclear medicine technologist alternative training program must annually report to the department the progress of their supervised clinical hours. Notification must be made in writing and must include the street and mailing address of their training program and the names of the individual's direct and indirect supervisors.

(5) Individuals educated or credentialed to practice as a nuclear medicine technologist in another country must provide official documentation of their education and training proving that they meet or exceed alternative training requirements in this section.

(6) To meet the ARRT or NMTCB clinical experience requirements to sit for a computed tomography examination, a nuclear medicine technologist shall meet the following:

(a) Hold a current nuclear medicine technologist certification issued by the secretary;

(b) Notify the department in writing of their intent to begin a training program for the purposes of meeting the clinical experience requirements for either the ARRT or NMTCB computed tomography examination, which must include:

(i) The street and mailing address of the training program;

(ii) The names of the designated training program supervisor or supervisors; and

(iii) The designated time frame within which the individual is working to qualify for a computed tomography examination;

(c) Report annually to the department the progress of their training including the number of clinical hours dedicated to computed tomography training and the number of computed tomography procedures performed and reported to either the ARRT or NMTCB; and

(d) Complete the clinical experience requirements within the time period set by the ARRT or NMTCB as reported under (b)(iii) of this subsection. If the individual does not meet the clinical experience requirements within the designated time period, the training program is no longer valid and the individual must initiate a new training program.

PDFWAC 246-926-130

Nuclear medicine technologist—Alternative training.