Frequently Asked Questions
How many students are admitted to the program each year?
Approximately eight students are admitted each year to the
Nuclear Medicine Technology Program with the curriculum beginning in September (Fall Quarter).
Approximately 30 students apply each year.
When should I apply?
The application period for the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program opens
December 1st and closes February 28th of each year, for the class
beginning in the following fall.
Where should I submit the completed application?
Applications must be submitted to the Radiologic Science and Imaging Office in room B243 on the main BCC campus between December 1st and February 28th.
Official transcripts are required with the application.
Click
here for specific
instructions regarding the nuclear medicine program application process.
Are my prerequisite grades important?
Yes. The Program Director will review your current college grades for the prerequisite courses. There is no minimum GPA requirement; however the grades will be taken into consideration as part of the acceptance decision process.
Do I need to complete all prerequisite courses?
All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to starting the Nuclear Medicine Technology program.
You may apply to the program before your prerequisites are completed as long as you demonstrate the
ability to complete them before the program begins. However, preference
may be given to persons who have completed all courses prior to the first
interview.
Do I need to complete the prerequisite courses at Bellevue Community College?
Prerequisite courses may be completed at any accredited community or four year college. It's the
student's responsibility to make sure that courses taken at other institutions
of higher education meet the curriculum content of BCC courses. [Click here to see a table
of equivalent prerequisites at other Washington universities and colleges.]
Does the program follow the BCC calendar in regard to breaks and time off?
No. This is a 18 month inclusive program beginning at fall quarter and
continuing for six consecutive quarters. You will attend 40 hours/week. You are allowed
120 hours of personal time, plus a three-week break between fall and winter
quarter in the second year of the program.
What about working while I am in the Program?
Students find it difficult to work while in the program due to the time commitment necessary for successful completion. Students are required to attend for 40 hours per week
during the clinical training periods..
Can the program be taken on a part-time basis?
No, the program is designed for full-time attendance only.
Do I receive all my classes and clinical education instruction at one clinical education center?
Daytime classes are held at BCC during the first fall quarter and in the months of January, April,
and June/July. Clinical instruction is through several clinical sites in the
Puget Sound area and southeastern Washington.
Students will receive training at a total of seven or eight clinical sites in their 18
months of participation in the program.
How are students selected for the program?
Selection criteria include: 1) the applicants' performance in interviews; 2)
understanding of the job of a nuclear medicine technologist; 3) prior medical
experience; 4) prerequisite GPA; and 5) reference letter. There are two
interviews, one with the program director, and one with the program's Admissions
Committee. Not all applicants who get a first interview will necessarily
get a second interview.
Two interviews are required.
These normally take place in February and/or March.
Should I visit a Nuclear Medicine department?
Yes. Call and make an appointment with the Nuclear Medicine supervisor of any Nuclear Medicine department. You should observe in at least two nuclear medicine departments, at least one of which
is a major clinical site for the BCC program. Documentation is required
[click here for
the observation form]. Plan your visits so that they occur before your first interview.
Why are the costs not the same as regular BCC tuition?
Students in the nuclear medicine program pay tuition according to the BCC
tuition schedule (14-17 credits per quarter). In addition, in the second
through the sixth quarters, a fee of $400 per quarter is paid for additional
costs related to clinical education.
This page updated on 2/9/07 by Jennifer Prekeges.