Nuclear Medicine Technologist

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Work Tasks

• Use radiopharmaceuticals to see problelms in a patient's body
• Figure how much and what kind of radioactive drug to use to find and treat diseases
• Watch the organ or tissue the radioactive drug is in and note how it is working
• Explain to the patient what they are doing, make sure safety rules are followed, and keep patient records
• Work in hospitals, medical labs, physicians' offices, outpatient clinics, and imaging centers
• Work with radiopharmaceuticals, diagnostic imaging equipment, scanners, computers, test results, and patient records

Salary, Size & Growth

• $66,500 average per year ($32.00 per hour)
• A small occupation (21,600 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow moderately (1.6% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A 2-year degree in medical technology
• Employers Prefer: A 4-year degree in nuclear medical technology
• Skills/Courses: College courses include the physical sciences, biological effects of radiation exposure, radiation protection and procedures, radiopharmaceuticals, imaging techniques, and computer applications.
• Certification/Licensing: Certification and licensing is available.