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Nuclear Medicine Technology

Nuclear medicine technologists help doctors diagnose diseases and in a safe, painless way by using advanced imaging methods to examine the function of internal organs. Organ imaging procedures lead to earlier diagnoses and better patient outcomes.

Why Choose Nuclear Medicine Technology?

If you have an interest in science and a desire to help people, nuclear medicine technology may be the right field for you. Every day, nuclear imaging procedures make a difference in the lives of patients by helping detect, diagnose, treat and monitor disease.

Our curriculum allows for our students to be eligible to take the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification exam in both nuclear medicine and CAT scan. These two certifications are required for technologists to operate PET/CT and SPECT/CT equipment.

The Classes

The B.S. in nuclear medicine technology program is designed to help you prepare for a career as a nuclear medicine technologist. The nuclear medicine technology program also includes a concentration in health care administration, which will help you develop ethical and management skills specific to the field. Course topics include:

  • Nuclear medicine instrumentation
  • Radiation detection and protection
  • Radiation physics
  • Radiation biology
  • Patient care & nursing

The Faculty

You will learn from professors who have extensive clinical experience. They will share their personal experiences, and engage with you in and out of the classroom.

Clinical Experience

Clinical experience working in a hospital or medical center is central to the program and the key to your success. As part of the nuclear medicine technology program, you will complete an internship with one of our six cutting-edge affiliate hospitals in the New York City metropolitan area:

  • Cardinal Health Radiopharmacy
  • Danbury Hospital
  • Lenox Hill Hospital
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
  • New York Presbyterian-Columbia Medical Center
  • New York Presbyterian-Cornell Medical Center
  • New York University Langone Medical Center
  • Meet a Nuclear Medicine Technology Major: Desmond Yeboah
    Nuclear Medicine Technology student

    “In this field, you have to have a passion to help people, to be with them, to ease their stress – it’s all about compassion.

    “I'm originally from Accra, Ghana, West Africa. Before I came to the U.S., I majored in human biology in Ghana. From the onset, I thought that the medical field was the right place for me. It was confirmed when did volunteer work at the St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx – I wanted to specialize in patient care.

    “I chose Manhattan College for the program and location. I did apply for other schools, but their programs weren't directly related to patient care. So when I found out about Manhattan College’s NMT program, it really made me think. In Ghana I didn't know about Nuclear Medicine. Also, I went to Catholic schools all of my life. They give the best educations.

    “The transition from biological science to nuclear medicine was challenging. There is a lot of math and physics. But with the help of Mr. Hough — he is a master! He made everything a little bit simpler and easier for me to relate to. So, I haven’t experienced any big challenges yet because any time I have any problems, I would contact my adviser and teacher Larry Hough, or the new program coordinator Madeline Plasencia. They always respond right away.

    “The classroom work is different from the on-site work. I’m finishing up my year long internship at Lenox Hill Hospital on the Upper East Side of New York City. It was an eye-opener but I really love it. First, you observe. After a certain period of time the techs will allow you to have more of a role handling the equipment and patient interactions. They have a protocol that you have to follow. Initially I felt a little nervous, but with time I felt more comfortable.

    “My plan is to graduate and get a technologist job, but eventually I want to do my master's in medical physics. It will allow me to pursue an even higher position.”

What Will You Learn?

You will learn about human organs and systems, and mechanisms of disease, and how radiopharmecuticals can help us visualize certain disease. All courses are human-centered to prepare you to interact with and comfort patients.

During the course of the program, you will accumulate 10 credits during your clinical internships working in a nuclear medicine department. In total this amounts to 180 full work days during which time you will learn to:

  • Prepare the radiopharmaceutical
  • Administer the injection
  • Observe radiation safety and protection procedures
  • Perform quality-control tests
  • Prepare the patient and imaging instrumentation for specific imaging procedures
  • Process the acquired data

Program Goals

  1. Students will be academically competent as entry-level nuclear medicine technologists.
  2. Students will be clinically competent as entry-level nuclear medicine technologists.
  3. Students will demonstrate communication skills of a competent entry-level nuclear medicine technologist
  4. Students will develop the critical thinking skills necessary to perform independently within the nuclear medicine technologist's scope of practice.
  5. Students will develop professionalism and ethical and moral practice congruent with the profession's code of ethics and pursuit of lifelong learning.

See degree requirements

Admission Requirements 

Already have a bachelor's degree? Nuclear medicine technology is also offered as a certificate.

What Will You Do?

The program trains you to become a nuclear medicine technologist. The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a salary range of $60,550 to $105,530 for nuclear medicine technologists. Employment is projected to grow 8% from 2020 to 2030. Upon completion of the program, you will have gained highly specialized skills to work as an entry-level nuclear medicine technologist.

Requirements for Clinical Internship

Although Manhattan College accepts medical and religious exemptions, our clinical affiliate sites require proof of covid vaccination in order to enter internship. There are no exceptions. Please reach out to the Radiation Therapy or Nuclear Medicine Program Directors for further information.