Bellevue Community College offers an associate degree program of clinical and classroom instruction leading to eligibility for certification as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist. This is the only Nuclear Medicine Technology program in Washington state.

Approximately eight students are admitted each year to this full-time (40 hours/week) program. The curriculum begins in fall quarter of each year and continues for 18 consecutive months. Twelve of those 18 months are spent in clinical sites, working along side certified nuclear medicine technologists to learn all aspects of the field. Classes are held at BCC, and clinical sites are located in the Puget Sound area and southeast Washington.  The latter group participates in the classroom portion of the program via two-way videoconferencing from the Columbia Basin College health sciences complex in Richland, WA.

After completing the certificate you will be eligible to take the national certification exams required to work in this field. NMTs are certified by the NMTCB: Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board and the ARRT: American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. Many states also require a state license to practice Nuclear Medicine Technology.

You are a great match for this program if you have good communication, analytical and critical thinking skills. A strong background or aptitude in science is very important, as is the ability to handle multiple tasks efficiently. Nuclear medicine is an ideal career for people who like working with others and enjoy the technical aspects of advanced medical technology.

Tuition for the Nuclear Medicine Technology program is approximately $8000.  Books, hospital attire and supplies will be additional costs. Financial aid and scholarships may be available. For assistance, call the Financial Aid office at (425) 564-2227 or go to www.bellevuecollege.edu/financialaid/ on the Web.

This is a selective admission program. You must apply to the college and also to the program. Interviews will be held to determine the best candidates. Prerequisites must be completed by the time the program commences; you may apply if you are still finishing them, but preference may be given to those who have completed all prerequisites at the time of application.  Other factors that influence applicant success are: completion of a bachelor's or associate's degree, previous allied health certification, medical work or volunteer experience, and a reference letter from your current employer (or a relevant past employer, if that is more applicable).  An understanding of nuclear medicine and the job of a nuclear medicine technologist is essential, and applicants are required to observe in a clinical nuclear medicine department prior to the first interview. Click here to obtain the form to document your observations.

To receive the information sheet for the nuclear medicine technology program, contact the Radiologic Science and Imaging office (in room A251 on the main BCC campus, by phone at (425) 564-2316, or via e-mail at imagingprograms@bcc.ctc.edu). For more specific information about the Nuclear Medicine Technology program, please contact Program Director Jennifer Prekeges at (425) 564-2475 or by e-mail: jprekege@bcc.ctc.edu.

This page updated on 3/14/08 by Jennifer Prekeges.