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Nuclear Medicine Technology Program

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Training future nuclear medicine technologists 

Nuclear medicine is a medical specialty that uses small amounts of radioactive materials, called radiopharmaceuticals, to diagnose and treat diseases. 

A nuclear medicine technologist is a highly specialized healthcare professional who combines a strong background in chemistry, physics, mathematics and computer technology with quality patient care to assess both the function and structure of the organ being analyzed.  

The Nuclear Medicine Technology Program at Marshfield Medical Center:

  • Provides didactic training that encompasses nuclear medicine procedures, patient care, radiation physics, radiation safety, radiation biology, quality assurance, instrumentation and computers.
  • Provides a clinical setting where students can apply their didactic knowledge with team building, critical thinking and effective communication skills.
  • Instills professional behaviors that are consistent with the delivery of humanistic patient care.
  • Supports the mission of Marshfield Clinic by preparing students to be clinically competent to assist in enriching lives through accessible, affordable and compassionate healthcare. 

In coordination with Siemens Medical Solutions, qualified graduates from the Marshfield Medical Center Nuclear Medicine Technology Program may interview for an additional 12-month paid internship at either Hoffman Estates, Illinois (SPECT/CT), or Knoxville, Tennessee (PET/CT).  

This internship may include acceptance and performance testing of SPECT/CT or PET/CT systems, creating and testing of clinical protocols, and system troubleshooting. 


Graduate outcomes

Graduate achievement data is an indicator of program effectiveness, demonstrating the extent to which a program achieves its goals. View the current report on graduate achievement data. 


Accreditation

Marshfield is a clinical site of the accredited UW-La Crosse program. 

If you have questions, please contact a Division of Education program specialist:

studentprograms@marshfieldclinic.org
(800) 541-2895, x97649 or x75133
Fax: (715) 847-3811

Frequently asked questions

When does the program start and end?

It begins in September and ends in mid-May.

How is the program structured?

Clinical rotations take place Monday through Friday and usually begin between 6 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. During this time students apply their didactic knowledge by clinically working with patients and equipment. Students will gradually receive more responsibility and eventually perform patient procedures independently.

What should I expect as a student?

Students are expected to be at the institution eight hours a day, five days a week. You will solo and be signed off on most of the clinical procedures in our department. You will have the opportunity to observe other departments (CT, MRI, ultrasound, radiation therapy and echocardiography).

How much time off do I get?

You will receive the following days off:

  • October: Internship night and the following day
  • November: Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday
  • December: Christmas Day to New Year's Day
  • January: MLK Jr. Day
  • April: Boards review

Plus, you will have 80 hours to use for sickness, vacation or personal time.

What do I wear?

You are expected to dress and carry yourself as a professional. The nuclear medicine department wears scrubs, which are not provided by the hospital.

Is housing provided?

Housing is your responsibility. Most students contact fellow students and share apartments.

Do I get paid for the internship?

No, there is no stipend or form of payment given to students during their internship.

Nuclear medicine technology program

Program description

The Nuclear Medicine Technology Program has maintained exemplary accreditation since its inception in 1980.

The internship runs September through mid-May and includes clinical training. Clinical rotations take place Monday through Friday, eight hours a day. Students will gradually receive more responsibility and eventually perform patient procedures independently.

The Nuclear Medicine Technology Program is affiliated with the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Training at UWL is available June through August.


Certification

Upon successful completion of the program, students will receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Medicine Technology.

Graduates are eligible to take professional certification examinations offered by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). Every graduate from the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program has successfully passed their board examinations.

Admission policy

Applicants in the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program must complete at least three years of study from an affiliated university/college. The “clinical year” may be used as the senior year toward a bachelor of science degree in nuclear medicine technology.


General requirements for Marshfield Medical Center

All students admitted to the program are required to:

  • Show proof of health insurance
  • Document their current health status and immunizations, including:
    • Purified protein derivative (PPD) test (also known as a TB skin test)
    • Rubella, rubeola, mumps and chickenpox titers
    • Hepatitis B vaccination
    • Diphtheria and tetanus shots
  • Successfully pass a mandatory criminal background check
  • Provide verification from a provider if injury or disability requires accomodations
  • Be 18 years or older
  • Be a citizen of the United States or hold a U.S. permanent immigration visa
    • International students will need to have transcripts from outside the U.S. evaluated by the Educational Credentials Evaluators Inc. (ECE) prior to consideration.

Technical standards

All applicants must possess sufficient physical and emotional health and manual dexterity to perform nuclear medicine procedures with accuracy and precision. Certain criteria have been established and must be considered when evaluating the applicant’s ability and compatibility with the physical requirements of a nuclear medicine technologist.

Applicant must:

  • Sit or stand with reaching, twisting and stooping for eight hours a day
  • Lift and carry items weighing up to 25 pounds
  • Assist in transferring and moving patients (300+ pounds) to and from wheelchairs, carts, beds and imaging tables
  • Have sufficient balance to independently carry out patient care activities safely such as transferring patients and carrying equipment and supplies
  • Have sensory perception, good hearing and visual acuity for interpreting pertinent sounds from background noise, hearing conversations with physicians and patients, using a telephone, discerning audible signals on camera imaging equipment and monitoring patients during procedures
  • Possess good verbal (oral and written) and interpersonal skills for communication with patients, physicians and co-workers
  • Possess good problem-solving skills, sound judgment, and be flexible and adaptable to change

English proficiency standards

Applicants whose first language is not English must submit an official test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) score. Due to the technical nature of the subject matter covered in the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program curriculum and the fact that clinical rotations require the student to be able to converse effectively with patients and staff, fluency in written and spoken English is essential for success in the program and to ensure patient safety. A minimum TOEFL score of 550 is required to be considered for admission into the program.


Application process

Students applying the internship towards a bachelor’s degree pay full undergraduate tuition to the affiliated college or university. Tuition agreements have been arranged with those schools.

Contact us

Thank you for your interest in the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program at Marshfield Medical Center. If you have any questions, please contact:

Amy Bell
Nuclear Medicine Technology Program
Marshfield Medical Center
611 Saint Joseph Ave.
Marshfield, WI 54449

Phone: (715) 387-7787

Email: bell.amy@marshfieldclinic.org

Facilities and equipment

Marshfield Clinic Health System's state-of-the-art facility ensures that nuclear medicine students will be using the most technologically advanced diagnostic equipment available. This includes:

  • 1 SPECT system
  • 2 SPECT/CT systems
  • D-SPECT cardiac camera
  • 1 PET/CT system
  • 1 Mammography scanner

Online resources