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Specialty Training Requirements in Nuclear Medicine

2016

VERSION 2.0

These training requirements apply to those who begin training on or after July 1^st, 2016.

MINIMUM TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

There are two routes to certification in Nuclear Medicine.

PATHWAY 1

Five (5) years of approved residency training. This period must include:

1. The PGY1 year must include the following:
   1. A minimum of three (3) months of Internal Medicine and/or its subspecialties
   2. Any combination of surgery (general or other primary surgical specialty), pediatrics (general or subspecialties), radiation oncology, or pathology, with a maximum of three (3) months in any one (1) area
   3. A maximum of two (2) months of Diagnostic Radiology or Nuclear Medicine
2. A minimum of one (1) month and a maximum of three (3) months in clinical Cardiology
3. Three (3) years of Nuclear Medicine training in the diagnostic and therapeutic use of open source radioactive materials and related technologies as applied at all ages and all body systems. The trainee must demonstrate progression from an introductory specialty knowledge and skill level to an independent practice level through this time period. This must include:
   1. General Nuclear Medicine
      1. Bone mineral densitometry
      2. Tumor imaging (single photon tracers)
      3. Endocrine system
      4. Gastrointestinal system
      5. Hepatobiliary system
      6. Lymphatic system
      7. Musculoskeletal system
      8. Neurologic system
      9. Pulmonary system
      10. Renal and genitourinary systems
   2. Nuclear cardiology
      1. Myocardial perfusion studies – exercise and pharmacological
      2. Cardiac function – gated blood pool/first pass
   3. Positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging, including but not limited to applications of PET/CT to oncology, infection and, inflammation as well as cardiac and neurological applications
   4. Hybrid imaging, including single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) /CT and PET/CT
   5. Pediatric nuclear medicine
      1. General Nuclear Medicine
      2. PET/CT imaging
      3. Therapeutic nuclear medicine
   6. Therapeutic nuclear medicine
      1. Thyrotoxicosis
      2. Thyroid cancer
      3. Other applications, including but not limited to pain palliation, synovectomy, and targeted cancer therapy
4. Six (6) months of cross-sectional imaging in Diagnostic Radiology relevant to Nuclear Medicine, including head, chest, and body computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
5. Up to six (6) months selected from one or more of the following:
   1. Additional training in Nuclear Medicine
   2. Scholarly activity: research, quality assurance, or educational activity relevant to Nuclear Medicine
   3. Diagnostic Radiology
   4. Internal Medicine
   5. Clinical training acceptable to the residency program committee

PATHWAY 2

Candidates may achieve certification in Nuclear Medicine in association with Diagnostic Radiology, with approval of both program directors, in a minimum of six (6) years. Training must be planned carefully in conjunction with both program directors from the onset of residency to ensure the specific training requirements of both specialties are satisfied.

1. The PGY1 year must include the following:
   1. A minimum of three (3) months of Internal Medicine and/or its subspecialties
   2. Any combination of surgery (general or other primary surgical specialty), pediatrics (general or subspecialties), radiation oncology, or pathology, with a maximum of three (3) months in any one (1) area
   3. A maximum of two (2) months of Diagnostic Radiology or Nuclear Medicine
2. Three (3) years of training in Diagnostic Radiology
3. Two (2) years of Nuclear Medicine training in the diagnostic and therapeutic use of open source radioactive materials and related technologies as applied at all ages and all body systems. The trainee must demonstrate progression from an introductory specialty knowledge and skill level to an independent practice level through this time period. This must include:
   1. General Nuclear Medicine
      1. Bone mineral densitometry
      2. Tumor imaging (single photon tracers)
      3. Endocrine system
      4. Gastrointestinal system
      5. Hepatobiliary system
      6. Lymphatic system
      7. Musculoskeletal system
      8. Neurologic system
      9. Pulmonary system
      10. Renal and genitourinary systems
   2. Nuclear cardiology
      1. Myocardial perfusion studies – exercise and pharmacological
      2. Cardiac function – gated blood pool/first pass
   3. Positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging, including but not limited to applications of PET/CT to oncology, infection and inflammation as well as cardiac and neurological applications
   4. Hybrid imaging, including single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) /CT and PET/CT
   5. Pediatric nuclear medicine
      1. General Nuclear Medicine
      2. PET/CT imaging
      3. Therapeutic nuclear medicine
   6. Therapeutic nuclear medicine
      1. Thyrotoxicosis
      2. Thyroid cancer
      3. Other applications, including but not limited to pain palliation, synovectomy, and targeted cancer therapy
4. A minimum of one (1) month and maximum of three (3) months in clinical Cardiology must be completed within section 1 or section 3

NOTES:

The requirement for training in Cardiology described in Pathway 1, section 2 may be completed as part of the training requirements in Pathway 1, section 1.

In Pathway 2, section 3, a minimum of eighteen (18) months of Diagnostic Radiology training must precede the Nuclear Medicine training.

REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATION

Royal College certification in Nuclear Medicine requires all of the following:

1. Successful completion of a Royal College accredited program meeting the specialty training requirements of Nuclear Medicine; and
2. Successful completion of the certification examination in Nuclear Medicine.

The program outlined above is to be regarded as the minimum training requirement. Additional training may be required to ensure that clinical competence has been achieved.

• APPROVED – Specialty Standards Review Committee – February 2009
• APPROVED – Specialty Standards Review Committee – April 2016

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