Examinations |
Definition of Specialty Areas
Certificates
A certificate is issued to each candidate who meets the requirements of the Board and passes the examination as outlined below and indicates that the holder of the certificate has adequate training in the Specialty of Nuclear Medicine Science and has demonstrated knowledge adequate to practice Nuclear Medicine Science in one or more of its Specialties:
A certificate granted by this Board does not of itself confer, or purport to confer, any degree of legal qualifications, privileges or license to practice Nuclear Medicine Science.
Meaning of Certification
A certificate from the American Board of Science in Nuclear Medicine indicates that its holder has successfully completed certain requirements of study and professional experience, which the Board considers necessary to constitute an adequate foundation in Nuclear Medicine Science. It also indicates that the candidate has passed an examination for ability and competence in the field of Nuclear Medicine Science.
Requirements for ABSNM Certification
Please note: All foreign degrees and certifications must be evaluated for U.S Equivalency by a member organization of one of the two national associations of credential evaluation services listed below:
1. Nuclear Medicine Physics and Instrumentation Specialty:
Candidates for the Nuclear Medicine Physics and Instrumentation Specialty must meet the following minimum requirements for General Education and Training/Work Experience:
a. General Education:
A master’s or a doctorate degree in physics, medical physics, engineering, applied mathematics, or other physical sciences from an accredited college or university, and
b. Training/Work Experience:
Two years (doctorate candidates) or three years (master’s candidates) of full-time practical training and/or supervised experience in medical physics:
i. Under the supervision of a medical physicist who is certified in medical physics by a specialty board recognized by NRC or an Agreement State, and who will provide a letter of reference attesting to the candidate's experience and competency; or
ii. In clinical nuclear medicine facilities providing diagnostic and/or therapeutic services under the direction of physicians who meet the requirements for authorized users in 10CFR35.290 and 10CFR35.390, and who will provide a letter of reference attesting to the candidate’s experience and competency.
c. In addition, candidates for the Nuclear Medicine Physics and Instrumentation Specialty must have attained a minimum of 1 year (doctorate candidates) or 1.5 years (master’s candidates) of full-time-equivalent practical experience devoted to nuclear medicine physics and instrumentation. The entire amount of this full-time-equivalent practical experience must be attained after meeting the above General Education requirements, may be part-time while a full-time medical physicist, and may coincide with the above general Training/Work Experience requirements:
i. Under the supervision of a nuclear physicist who is certified in nuclear medicine physics by a specialty board recognized by NRC or an Agreement State, and who will provide a letter of reference attesting to the candidate's experience and competency; or
ii. In clinical nuclear medicine facilities providing diagnostic and/or therapeutic services, under the direction of physicians who meet the requirements for authorized users in 10CFR35.290 and 10CFR35.390, and who will provide a letter of reference attesting to the candidate’s experience and competency; or
iii. In research or development facilities, under the supervision of a nuclear physicist, scientist, or engineer with an established career in nuclear physics and instrumentation, who meets the above General Education requirements, and who will provide a letter of reference attesting to the candidate’s experience and competency.
2. Radiation Protection Specialty:
a. General Education:
A master’s or a doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in physical science, engineering, health physics, or biological science with a minimum of 20 college credits in physical science, and
b. Training/Work Experience:
Five or more years of professional experience in health physics (graduate training may be substituted for no more than 2 years of the experience) including at least 3 years in applied health physics.
A certificate is issued to each candidate who meets the requirements of the Board and passes the examination as outlined below and indicates that the holder of the certificate has adequate training in the Specialty of Nuclear Medicine Science and has demonstrated knowledge adequate to practice Nuclear Medicine Science in one or more of its Specialties:
- Nuclear Medicine Physics and Instrumentation
- Radiation Protection
A certificate granted by this Board does not of itself confer, or purport to confer, any degree of legal qualifications, privileges or license to practice Nuclear Medicine Science.
Meaning of Certification
A certificate from the American Board of Science in Nuclear Medicine indicates that its holder has successfully completed certain requirements of study and professional experience, which the Board considers necessary to constitute an adequate foundation in Nuclear Medicine Science. It also indicates that the candidate has passed an examination for ability and competence in the field of Nuclear Medicine Science.
Requirements for ABSNM Certification
Please note: All foreign degrees and certifications must be evaluated for U.S Equivalency by a member organization of one of the two national associations of credential evaluation services listed below:
- National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), www.naces.org.
- Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE), www.aice-eval.org.
1. Nuclear Medicine Physics and Instrumentation Specialty:
Candidates for the Nuclear Medicine Physics and Instrumentation Specialty must meet the following minimum requirements for General Education and Training/Work Experience:
a. General Education:
A master’s or a doctorate degree in physics, medical physics, engineering, applied mathematics, or other physical sciences from an accredited college or university, and
b. Training/Work Experience:
Two years (doctorate candidates) or three years (master’s candidates) of full-time practical training and/or supervised experience in medical physics:
i. Under the supervision of a medical physicist who is certified in medical physics by a specialty board recognized by NRC or an Agreement State, and who will provide a letter of reference attesting to the candidate's experience and competency; or
ii. In clinical nuclear medicine facilities providing diagnostic and/or therapeutic services under the direction of physicians who meet the requirements for authorized users in 10CFR35.290 and 10CFR35.390, and who will provide a letter of reference attesting to the candidate’s experience and competency.
c. In addition, candidates for the Nuclear Medicine Physics and Instrumentation Specialty must have attained a minimum of 1 year (doctorate candidates) or 1.5 years (master’s candidates) of full-time-equivalent practical experience devoted to nuclear medicine physics and instrumentation. The entire amount of this full-time-equivalent practical experience must be attained after meeting the above General Education requirements, may be part-time while a full-time medical physicist, and may coincide with the above general Training/Work Experience requirements:
i. Under the supervision of a nuclear physicist who is certified in nuclear medicine physics by a specialty board recognized by NRC or an Agreement State, and who will provide a letter of reference attesting to the candidate's experience and competency; or
ii. In clinical nuclear medicine facilities providing diagnostic and/or therapeutic services, under the direction of physicians who meet the requirements for authorized users in 10CFR35.290 and 10CFR35.390, and who will provide a letter of reference attesting to the candidate’s experience and competency; or
iii. In research or development facilities, under the supervision of a nuclear physicist, scientist, or engineer with an established career in nuclear physics and instrumentation, who meets the above General Education requirements, and who will provide a letter of reference attesting to the candidate’s experience and competency.
2. Radiation Protection Specialty:
a. General Education:
A master’s or a doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in physical science, engineering, health physics, or biological science with a minimum of 20 college credits in physical science, and
b. Training/Work Experience:
Five or more years of professional experience in health physics (graduate training may be substituted for no more than 2 years of the experience) including at least 3 years in applied health physics.