Information Session - Nuclear Medicine

It is mandatory that all students attend an information session each academic year, even if they have attended in a previous year. An online information session is available via the button above.

Length of Program

The Nuclear Medicine Technology Certificate program is a 12 month full-time online program, conducted over WebEx, with Certificate students beginning each fall semester and continuing through the following spring and summer semesters.

Area of Program

Students must periodically come on campus to exchange dosimetry badges, and they must perform clinical rotations at a site affiliated with the college within a 5 state area:
Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

Program Affiliates

Athens Limestone Hospital, Athens, AL
Beckley Appalachian Regional, Beckley, WV
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta / Egleston, Atlanta, GA
CHI Memorial Hospital, Chattanooga, TN
CHI Memorial Northpark, Chattanooga, TN
Commonwealth Health Corporation – The Medical Center at Bowling Green, KY
Cookeville Regional Medical Center, Cookeville, TN
Emory Decatur Medical Center, Decatur, GA
Erlanger Medical Center, Chattanooga, TN
Hamilton Medical Center, Dalton, GA
Huntsville Health Systems, Huntsville, AL
Huntsville Imaging Center, Huntsville, AL
Jackson Madison County General Hospital, Jackson, TN
Jubilant Radiopharma, Chattanooga, TN
Maury Regional medical Center, Columbia, TN
Mountain States-Johnson City Medical Center, Johnson City, TN
Navicent Health, Macon, GA
Northside Hospital, Atlanta
Northside Hospital Duluth, Duluth, GA
Parkridge Medical Center, Chattanooga, TN
Phoebe Putney Medical Center, Albany, GA
Princeton Community Hospital, Princeton, WV
Raleigh General Hospital, Beckley, WV
Redmond Regional MC, Rome, GA
Southern Tennessee Regional Medical Center, Winchester, TN
St. Thomas Hospital, Nashville, TN
Tanner Health System, Carrollton, GA
Tennova North, Powell, TN
TriStar Summit Medical Center, Hermitage, TN
University of Tennessee Medical Center at Knoxville, Knoxville, TN
Wellmont Bristol Regional Medical Center, Bristol, TN
Wellmont Holston Valley, Kingsport, TN
West TN Imaging Center, Jackson, TN

Progression Policy / Retention Policy

A grade of 75% or better is required in each course. The NMT faculty will make all fair and reasonable efforts to help the student be successful in the NMT Program. Efforts usually include extensive counseling and remediation with faculty and/or referral to Career Services and Counseling for additional assistance. However, all courses must be passed with a grade of 75 or better in order to proceed to the next NM course in the sequence. Individual course and laboratory requirements are indicated in each course syllabus. A student who develops significant physical limitations or emotional distress during the course of the program, may be asked to undergo additional physical or psychological evaluations to determine their ability to continue in the program. The program courses follow an attendance policy. Excessive unexcused absences, as defined in the NMT student handbook and course syllabi, will result in lowering the student’s final grade.

Study Abroad

Students have the opportunity to travel abroad to places like London, Lisbon, Portugal, or Melbourne/Sydney, Australia to experience global nuclear medicine for one week to ten days while in the program at their own expense.

In the "NUCM 2145: Global Experiences in Allied Health" course, students will journey to international locations to explore allied health professions. Procedures and technology not used or performed in the United States will be the focus of this course. Students will have the opportunity to visit hospitals and clinics in other countries and not only experience how their chosen profession is performed, but also gain an understanding on how health care in the host country works compared to the United States. Guest lecturers in the host country will present on various topics, including procedures, patient care, and healthcare policies. (1 Credit)

The course requires pre-travel planning and study classes, in collaboration with other colleges, to learn about the location and nuclear medicine and molecular imaging in the host country, along with cultural information.   Several post-travel classes will occur to finalize the project and to plan for a presentation to the Chattanooga State Allied Health Community. There are limited seats for these trips and they are offered on a first come first serve basis.

• Prerequisite: NMTCB or ARRT(N) certified or successful completion of NUCM 2200, NUCM 2301, NUCM 2204, NUCM 2214, NUCM 2205, NUCM 2607.

• Course Cost: The course cost will vary depending on location of trip. Please contact Leesa Ross at Leesa.Ross@chattanoogastate.edu for current cost estimate. Cost will include hotel, some meals, airfare, and some excursions.

• Application Fee: A $100 nonrefundable application fee is due in December and final payment is due approximately 10 weeks before traveling.

Additional Requirements & Expectations

Technical Standards

• Ability to stand and/or walk up to 6 1/2 - 7 hours throughout the day
• Ability to bend and/or crouch up to 20 times per hour.
• Ability to move wheelchairs, stretchers, etc., alone or with assistance as available to lift support and/or transfer a patient.
• Ability to visualize patient for identification, positioning, camera placement and alignment and image analysis. Ability to move the body and body regions in order to provide patient care and support and to position patient for imaging and/or treatment.
• Ability to reach, position, and operate imaging tables, camera control panels, collimators, dose calibrators, etc., at standard locations and placements.
• Ability to safely administer radiopharmaceuticals and appropriately handle vials, syringes, sterile items, pharmaceuticals, catheters, IVs, etc.
• Ability to read written passages, to communicate orally and to write. Ability to hear or lip read for reception of spoken communication.
• Ability and stamina to withstand lengthy periods of physical activity including moving quickly and continuously.
• Ability to perceive events realistically, to think clearly and rationally and to function independently in routine, stress and/or emergency situations.

Criminal Background Check

Following acceptance and prior to entering the first career course in designated health care programs, each student must undergo a criminal background check in order to comply with policies of affiliating clinical practice agencies. It shall be the student’s responsibility to comply with instructions provided upon acceptance and provide the results by a designated date. The check will be at the expense of the student. Students who do not meet this requirement in a timely manner or whose background does not meet agency standards will not be able to successfully complete the program.

Additionally, a criminal background may preclude licensure or employment. Individuals with a question concerning this should schedule an appointment with the program director.