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Admission Requirements

All students who plan a program of study leading to the degree Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Medicine Science must first be accepted for admission to the University. After completing prerequisite courses, a student may formally apply to the Nuclear Medicine major. Interested students should contact the department for an application; applications must be received by February 1 for fall admission. To be eligible, the student must meet the following criteria:

  1. A 2.50 cumulative GPA with a 2.50 GPA in math/science courses.
  2. Sophomore standing
  3. Completion of prerequisite courses
  4. Completion of Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Chemical PrinciplesI and II, General Physics I and II, Math (Pre-calculus and Statistics) and Computer Literacy competency.

Transfer Students

Students who are considering application for admission into the nuclear medicine program from another university or college must first be admitted into the University. Along with the application, transfer students must submit TWO copies of transcripts of ALL UNIVERSITY WORK. Send one set to the UIW Admissions Office. Send the second set of transcripts to the School of Nursing and Health Professions, Attn: Nuclear Medicine Program Director, 4301 Broadway-CPO 300, San Antonio, TX 78209. Please note we cannot accept an application without copies of all transcripts.

Health Requirements for Nuclear Medicine Science

In compliance with the Health Care Provider terms of TAC 97.63, applicants to the Nuclear Medicine Science program are required to provide proof of a completed health history questionnaire, immunizations (a completed series of Hepatitis B, MMR and TeD), TB skin test or chest x-ray, and current CPR certification prior to admission into the program. Additional health requirements may be required by some clinical healthcare settings. Students are responsible for reviewing and updating individual health records as they progress in the program.

Special Health Problems / Pregnancy

Students who can successfully combine satisfactory school attendance with pregnancy or with special health problems will not be prohibited from registration in nuclear medicine clinical courses. The student must declare their pregnancy to comply with dosimetry badge regulations and fulfill the same course requirements as any other student.

Students pursuing nuclear medicine technology must possess visual and hearing acuity, digital dexterity, and motor coordination. They must be able to climb, balance, stoop, and lift/carry up to 50 pounds.

Other Requirements:

Criminal Background Screening

Criminal background screening is completed on all students accepted into the nuclear medicine program. The School will designate a company to do the background screening and will not accept results from any company other than the one designated by the School. Students pay expenses related to all screening. A student with a significant criminal background or a current conviction may not be allowed to register for nuclear medicine courses until a “Preapplication Review of Eligibility” is filed with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). The review of eligibility process may take approximately 6 months and is filed at the student’s expense and is entirely the responsibility of the student to provide required documentation of all criminal proceedings, charges and convictions. If approved, the ARRT will issue a declaratory order stating the individual is eligible for initial licensure or license renewal or determine that the individual is eligible to return to practice.

Drug Screening

Drug Screening may be required by some clinical agencies. The School will designate a company to do the drug screen and will not accept results from any company other than the one designated by the School. The student will pay the cost of the screening at the time of the testing. A student who has a positive drug screen will not be allowed to participate in clinical courses. The student will be required to complete, at the student’s expense, chemical dependency evaluation and treatment, if recommended by a drug assessment. Any student with a positive drug screen will be suspended for a minimum of one calendar year and will be required to provide documentation of successful treatment prior to being readmitted to clinical courses. If readmitted, the student must be retested by the School approved laboratory and have a negative drug screen. This testing is at the student's expense.

When admitted to the clinical nuclear medicine program, the student is required to be covered by liability insurance. The liability insurance fee is included in nuclear medicine course fees. Students must also show proof of current health insurance and needle stick injury coverage. The University offers limited health and needle stick insurance coverage.

Students must maintain satisfactory standards to progress in the nuclear medicine program and must be recommended by nuclear medicine faculty for promotion and eligibility to graduate. Requirements are as follows:

A minimum grade of C (75) is required in all nuclear medicine courses. In general, satisfactory completion of courses in one semester is required prior to enrolling in subsequent semesters. Nuclear Medicine courses are taken in sequence according to the recommended curriculum pattern.

A student who withdraws or receives a final grade of D or F in a nuclear medicine course for the first time will be allowed to repeat the course after formal review by the Student Affairs Committee. The committee will consider all of the following in rendering a decision:

  1. Recommendation of course faculty
  2. Academic performance in other courses
  3. Space availability in the course

To remain in the program after retention the student must:

  1. Adhere to the UIW student code
  2. Demonstrate a pattern of safe clinical practice commensurate with the educational experience
  3. Demonstrate acceptable behaviors and attitudes normally expected of nuclear medicine technologists
  4. Comply with the directives in the letter of retention

Ineligibility for Continuation in the Program

A student who receives two grades of D or F or two withdrawals in nuclear medicine courses or a combination of D or F and a withdrawal will not be eligible for continuation, even if the student has already repeated one of the courses and received a grade of C or above.

Upon notification of ineligibility to continue in the nuclear medicine program, the student may appeal the decision be addressing a letter to the Dean of the Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing and Health Professions. Such correspondence should specify the reasons for the appeal and relevant new information for the purposes of the appeal. In addition to the letter an Application for Appeal Form with faculty recommendations must be included as an attachment. The Dean will determine if the appeal merits review by the Student Affairs Committee.

After admission into the program, the student will complete four semesters in the academic and clinical components of the program. The student must document 1536 hours of observation and practice of nuclear medicine imaging skills under the direct supervision of an assigned nuclear medicine preceptor. The program director and clinical coordinator will contact students concerning placement in affiliated settings for observation and practice prior to the assignment.

Completion of degree requirements for the bachelor's degree does not guarantee state licensure nor national certification as a nuclear medicine technologist. Students are advised to contact the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (http://www.arrt.org) or Nuclear Medicine Testing Certification Board (http://www.nmtcb.org) concerning their eligibility of professional practice. Prior to practice, the individual must complete an application and pay required fees according to current policies and procedures of the regulatory board. The application process has various sections that require notarized documentation of information for the individual, university and the program director. Students are advised to plan ahead and identify key dates and requirements that are required as part of the regulatory process. As part of the Initial regulatory process, students must successfully complete an computer based interactive assessment of their nuclear medicine imaging skills.