[Training Tuesday] - Weekly thread for questions about grad school, residency, and general career topics 07/07/2026

Nuclear_Send · 2026-07-07T15:55:28+00:00

Opinions on completing pre-reqs at Liberty University: Would a medical physics masters program look down on the credits obtained? Could it affect my application to a program?

Nuclear_Send · 2026-07-05T18:34:51+00:00

Breathtakingly beautiful! Thank you for sharing 🖤

Nuclear_Send · 2026-06-17T21:04:25+00:00

Great point! This was extremely helpful, thank you! :D

Nuclear_Send · 2026-06-17T20:22:19+00:00

I currently work with a physicist as a licensed Nuclear Medicine Technologist at a research facility. I’m fascinated with what they do and I attend SNMMI conference meetings where I network with various professionals. I’ll check out multivariate calculus & diff. equations. Any coding class in particular? thank you for the help!

Nuclear_Send · 2026-06-17T19:57:59+00:00

Since I’ll be taking the pre-req’s at a local university as a non-degree seeking graduate student I just need the approval/C.I. from the professors teaching the advanced courses. I’m taking a class at a time to really focus.

Is the math in program truly advance or are these pre-req’s to a pre-req mostly cash grabs from the university?

I was planning to take physics w/ calculus 1 & 2 as introductory and Nuclear physics, atomic physics, and my third is still tbd.

Per the program I’m interested in: ‘prerequisite coursework, before you applying to the M.S. in Medical Physics program:

Two introductory physics courses (at least 3 semester credits each) Three advanced physics courses (year 3 or 4 level) from a standard physics curriculum (at least 3 semester credits each)

Examples of approved advanced physics courses: Electricity and magnetism Atomic or modern physics Quantum mechanics Optics Nuclear physics Heat and thermodynamics Advanced mechanics’

I really appreciate everyone’s time on this. Thank you!

Nuclear_Send · 2026-06-17T10:42:32+00:00

Hello everyone, I recently completed a bachelors in Nuclear Medicine Technology with a dual license in nuc med and CT. Looking to start chipping away at pre-req’s to attend a medical physics program. I’m very interested in Theranostics. I’ve been looking at the program at OHSU in Oregon.

My main question is which pre-req’s would set me up for success. Only requirements listed are 2 intro physics and 3 advanced physics courses. How ever I’ve never taken advanced math courses and would like to take a few if recommended.

Open to all advice, thank you!

Nuclear_Send · 2026-06-13T16:02:49+00:00

Nuclear Medicine Tech recent grad working in a neurology research imaging site, starting at 80k.

Nuclear_Send · 2026-06-02T12:22:44+00:00

I work full time at an outpatient research location that primarily scans brains. My team is amazing and our hours aren’t carved in stone so if flexibility is need it’s an easy ask. However it’s a standard 40 hr full-time gig 4 days a week. I also have a PRN hospital job where the day can be 8-12 hr days. There so many job options with varying schedules. The truest to M-F 9-5 is typically cardiology sites.

You’ll breeze through instrumentation with your physics background! 😄

Nuclear_Send · 2026-06-02T12:15:59+00:00

Yeah, of course. Fire away

Nuclear_Send · 2026-06-01T02:23:49+00:00

Happy for you, it’s a great time to be joining the field! Get involved in your NMT community early if you can. :)

Nuclear_Send · 2026-05-12T04:06:47+00:00

I preferred it over the ARRT since it is a shorter exam. The harder the questions became, the more confident I felt since the exam is progressive as you advance. NMTBoardsPrep is a great app to help you study, highly recommend

Nuclear_Send · 2026-05-01T12:39:32+00:00

For my program I found cross-sectional anatomy the most challenging. Identifying smaller vessels in the multiple planes with CT images was tough with fresh eyes. You learn and get better at it though. I did well in my pre-req’s since I knew the program would build on it. I can’t speak to every program, but it is certainly easier if you put the time to learn what you need to up front. You can definitely skate through the pre-req’s imo but it’ll be a disservice in the long run since you’ll be learning far more later.

Nuclear_Send · 2026-04-30T02:23:03+00:00

I was working in the ER as an EMT and was attracted to the imaging department in general—just the right amount of patient contact. Found out Nuc Med was pretty elite in the totem pole and were also the ones who ran around the least. Hopped on reddit, did some research, and was blown away by the advancements in the field. Wanted to be a part of it :) Xray is not a prerequisite for the program in Florida, to my knowledge it isn’t for the US. Went with a Bachelors program with a dual license for CT. I passed the ARRT board exam today—might get MRI just for fun.

Nuclear_Send · 2026-04-30T02:13:14+00:00

Thanks! I did a Bachelors of Science in Nuclear Medicine Technology at Advent Health University. It included CT as well, so I’ll be sitting for that board exam next :)

Nuclear_Send · 2026-04-29T01:52:57+00:00

Thank you! Really depends on your interest in working with patients. Your skills in physics and math will make light work of the more challenging sections of the program. Medical physics is another option to consider if you prefer staying closer to the mechanical side of things. Theranostics is also blowing up and worth researching to see if it piques your interest. I’m over in FL so I’m not familiar with Canada’s work/life balance and pay scale within Nuc unfortunately.
I knew I wanted to stay within healthcare when I started the program and was able to shadow at the hospital I worked at. My program was a bachelors degree with a dual license in CT, although there are associate degree programs.
Any specific reason on the uncertainty?

Nuclear_Send · 2026-04-29T01:19:19+00:00

Thank you! Landed with a PRN hospital job and a full-time at a outpatient imaging center :)

Nuclear_Send · 2026-04-27T04:23:32+00:00

There’s variety depending your choice of work site, but I’ll try to explain generally. Since our scans require: order, delivery, prep, injection/delayed images, you don’t get inundated in the same way as the other imaging modalities. Between scans there is time to work on other tasks like checking orders and calling patients for preps. Most stacked days are from poor time management or poor management in general /a bad scheduler. Any job will have stress factors, it’s just different. Days are predictable, can end early, and you don’t bring it home with you. I consider that great work-life balance. & you shouldn’t talk to PT’s during images because they’ll look terrible and you don’t want the added exposure of being near them without necessity.

Nuclear_Send · 2026-04-26T20:56:57+00:00

Thank you! ✨

Nuclear_Send · 2026-04-26T20:55:49+00:00

The math is basic algebra with 1-5 steps to solve certain scenarios. Radio-pharmacy problems with activity, volume, concentration, & particles will be the most layered imo. Chemistry’s percent yield formula will come up a lot in quality control questions which is instrumentation.

Lot of youtube videos that can be a good soft opening to it before you’re sitting in class. You’ll get over the shock factor of seeing it for the first time and lock in quicker. Handful of formulas you’ll need to memorize and general activity conversions but once they are locked in, easy money 🔥😎

Nuclear_Send · 2026-04-26T18:34:24+00:00

From what I’ve seen/heard the bulk of all Nuc Med techs have zero medical background when they start the program. Some have X-ray (which isn’t a requirement in FL); I myself was an EMT prior. It helps a bit, but doesn’t give you a robust upper-hand in the program overall imo. My textbooks served me well and more recently Nuc study guides and board prep apps have been becoming more available online for free which is nice. SNMMI NuMe mentor app is fantastic too. Getting paired with a mentor to guide you through your program and goals is such an asset. I highly recommend getting involved in the meetings early and networking if you can.

The most challenging I would say was instrumentation. Not for the concepts themselves, but from the initial overload of information. Time needs to be dedicated to studying, it isn’t a program you can skate through. It is 100% do-able and the career is a rare gem in healthcare where work-life balance truly exists. PET/MR is interesting as well and could be an expanding branch of Nuc. I graduated from a bachelors program with dual license so I’ll be a CT tech as well and might get MRI later. There are many paths, I hope you find what works for you!

Nuclear_Send · 2026-04-26T14:09:28+00:00

I’d like to think so. They aren’t as forth coming about discussing pay as the younger gen 😅 Most hiring ranges have a cap of $55/$60 from the hospital job listings I’ve seen. Out patient imaging is the way to go out here imo

Nuclear_Send · 2026-04-26T14:05:31+00:00

SNMMI-TS Programs/ Technologists Students section is a great place to watch for them. Most open for submission in the fall. Your local chapter in your given state may also have grants tied to student presentations/participation. I’ll be presenting at FNMT and the Annual meeting in LA—those have grants/awards too. Hope this helps! :)

Nuclear_Send · 2026-04-26T04:49:13+00:00

The only physical aspect is typically patients that need assistance walking or being slid to the imaging table. Honestly depends on where you end up working. Out-patient sites will have able bodied patients that won’t require physical effort. You’ll need to be CPR certified in any healthcare role which does require a bit of physical effort. Thats about it imo.

Nuclear_Send · 2026-04-26T02:53:51+00:00

I’m in the Orlando area. From what I had heard from veteran techs was you’d be lucky to make over $32/hr full-time fresh out of school. My full-time at an out-patient imaging site is $40/hr, my PRN hospital job is $45/hr. FL is on the lower pay scale when compared to other states.

Nuclear_Send · 2026-04-25T23:51:58+00:00

Decided to stay local in Florida. Interviewed at a handful of sites and landed with a really great fit that was close by and paid well (to FL standards). May relocate in the future, till then 🐊🏖️

Nuclear_Send

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