How To Become A Nuclear Medicine Specialist?

In order to become a nuclear physician, one needs to:

• Graduate from high school with a high GPA, especially in life sciences and math;
• Complete a 4-year pre-med/Biology degree;
• Volunteer in a medicine-related facility;
• Pass the Medical college admission test (MCAT);
• Enter a licensed medical school;
• Complete the 4 years of required initial medical training. You would need one of the following degrees:
  • Doctor of Medicine, M.D.;
  • Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, D.O;
• Pass the three parts of the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE);
• Join a residency in nuclear medicine accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME);
• The residency should include:
  • At least 2 years of preparatory training in internal medicine;
  • 2 or more years of specialized training in nuclear medicine;
  • Research experience in:
    • therapy with unsealed sources;
    • radio-immunoassay techniques and imaging with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT);
    • positron emission radioisotopes.
  • Get training in allied disciplines:
    • medical nuclear physics;
    • radiopharmaceutical chemistry;
    • radiation biology.
    • Computer sciences;

Nuclear medicine specialists receive an average salary between $144,000 and $216,000 per year in the United States of America.