ACR
*This updated information is taken directly from the www.acr.org website, December,2007- Please go there directly  to check for any changes

Qualifications

 

 Interpreting Nuclear Medicine Physician PET Physician Non-Nuclear Medicine Physician/Radiologist Interpreting Cardiovascular Nuclear Medicine Only Non-Nuclear Medicine Physician/Radiologist Interpreting Cardiovascular PET Only
Initial
  • Board Certification in Radiology, Nuclear Radiology or Nuclear Medicine by 
    • ABR
    • American Board of Nuclear Medicine
    • American Osteopathic Board of Radiology
    • Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or
    • Le College des Medicins du Quebec

OR

  • If trained prior to 1965, average 50 scintigrams per month for last 10 years

 
  • Same as nuclear medicine:

with the addition of:

  • 20 hours CME in PET
  • In the past 3 years the following numbers must be met. If interpreting:
    • Cardiac PET exams, at least 20 studies must be interpreted or multi-read
    • Brain PET exams, at least 30 studies must be interpreted or multi-read
    • Oncologic PET exams, at least 80 studies must be interpreted or multi-read
  • If interpreting brain and oncologic PET exams, interpetation must include direct image correlation with CT or MRI. Teaching cases are acceptable with documented interpretation.
  • Board Certification in Cardiology by 
    • American Board of Internal Medicine
    • American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine 
    • Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or
    • Le College des Medicins du Quebec

AND

  • Completion of the Level 2 Core Cardiology Training Symposium (COCATS) training program in nuclear cardiology (see Attachment I at acr.org website)

OR

  • Cardiologists who trained prior to July 1995, must be board certified in cardiology and have the equivalent of Level 2 training.

 

 
  • Same as cardiologists:

With the addition of:

  • 20 hours of CME in PET
  • In the last 3 years, at least 20 cardiac PET exams must be interpreted or multi-read.
OR: At a minimum, completion of a formal Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) approved general nuclear medicine program which must include 200 hours in radiation physics and 500 hours of preparation in instrumentation, radiochemistry, radiopharmacology, radiation dosimetry, radiation biology, radiation safety and protection and quality control. In addition, 1000 hours of clinical training in general nuclear medicine is required which must cover technical performance, calculation of dosages, evaluation of images, correlation with other diagnostic modalities and interpretation.


Facilities monitoring ALL cardiac stress must have ONE individual that has ACLS certification present during the stress testing.

All physicians supervising and interpreting PET Cardiology must have ACLS certification
Continuing Experience Physicians reading nuclear medicine must have read an average of 15 scintigrams per month over the prior 24 months

Physicians reading PET examinations must have read an average of 1 exam per month over the prior 24 month period.
Continuing Education Physicians must have earned at least 15 CME in nuclear medicine(half of which must be category 1) over the prior 36 month period. For non-nuclear physicians interpreting cardiovascular nuclear medicine only, the 15 hours of CME should be in cardiovascular nuclear medicine.

Physicians reading PET examinations must have earned at least 15 CME in PET (half of which must be category 1) over the prior 36 month period.

 

  Nuclear Medicine Technologists PET Technologists
Initial
  • ARRT (N) or NMTCB registered or equivalent state license for nuclear medicine technology

OR

  • Completion of nuclear medicine training program that must include training in the basic and medical sciences as they apply to nuclear medicine technology and practical experience in performing nuclear medicine procedures
  • ARRT (N) or NMTCB registered or equivalent state license

OR

  • Completion of nuclear medicine training program

 
Continuing Education 15 hours continuing education in nuclear medicine in the last 3 years (recommended) 15 hours continuing education in PET in the last 3 years (recommended)

 

  Medical Physicist for Nuclear Medicine  Medical Physicist for PET 
Initial
  • Board Certification in Medical  Nuclear Physics or Radiologic Physics (recommended)
  • Familiarity with the principles of radiation protection, the guidelines of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements; laws and regulations pertaining to the use of the equipment being tested; the function, clinical uses, and performance specifications of the imaging equipment; and calibration processes and techniques used for testing performance.  
  • Board Certification in Medical  Nuclear Physics or Radiologic Physics (recommended)
  • 40 hours on-site practical experience providing physics support
Continuing Education
  • Physicist must have earned at least 15 CME in nuclear medicine/PET - half of which must be Category 1 over the prior 36 month period.
  • Physicist must have earned at least 15 CME in PET - half of which must be Category 1 over the prior 36 month period

 

Acceptance and Performance Tests, and QC