FAQ about the UVM Nuclear Medicine Technology Program
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I am currently enrolled at UVM and would like to transfer into the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program. What do I need to do? Set up an appointment with Prof. Louis Izzo by calling 656-3811. Prof. Izzo will answer your questions about transferable credits and tell you how long it will take to complete the Program.
If you later decide to request a transfer, you should download the Transfer Request Form, then bring it to the Nursing & Health Sciences Student Services Office in 106 Rowell Building.
How many Nuclear Medicine Technology students are accepted each year? The Program is limited by accreditation standards to 8 students per class.
I already have a Bachelor's Degree. How long would it take me to complete the UVM Program? Depending on which courses you have credits in, it will likely take you 2.5 to 3 years to complete all the requirements.
English is not my first language. How much speaking and writing will I be required to do in the program and profession? Nuclear Medicine Technology is a "high-tech" profession involving the use of expensive imaging equipment and computers, but it also involves significant amounts of oral and written communications. Nuclear Medicine Technologists must communicate articulately and effectively with patients, family of patients, other technologists, physicians, and hospital officials. During the program, students will do many oral reports in class. Students are required to have fluency in the English language because all students are evaluated on their communication skills while in the hospital.
What courses will I have to complete in order to graduate from Nuclear Medicine Technology at UVM? Click here.
Tell me more about the "Job Shadow" Program.
A. What is a Job Shadow? A job shadow is experience with real-life clinical situations. It is an opportunity for you to put on a lab coat and observe what actually goes on in a typical day in a Nuclear Medicine Department. You will be given a tour of the department, meet the students, technologists and physicians, and be assigned to a professional who will be doing actual clinical procedures while you observe.
B. How do I schedule a job shadow? To schedule a job shadow, call Prof. Louis Izzo at 802-656-3265 or send e-mail to: louis.izzo@uvm.edu. Tell him the best days and times for your schedule. He will arrange your visit at Fletcher Allen Health Care and will either send e-mail or call you to confirm the date and time.
C. What do I do on the day of the Job Shadow? You will be observing actual patient care situations, so we ask that you dress appropriately: neat clothing and shoes; no jeans or tennis shoes.
Come to Prof. Izzo's office in Room 302 Rowell Building 5 - 10 minutes before your scheduled time. He will bring you to the Fletcher Allen Health Care, introduce you to the person in charge who will give you a tour and explain what is going on. At the end of the session, you are encouraged to contact Prof. Izzo and let him know how the session went and whether or not you have any questions.
D. Can I do more than one Job Shadow? Definitely! You can schedule as many sessions as you find useful to your discernment as to whether or not this program is for you.
E. Is there any time limit on the Job Shadow experience? The job shadow is for your benefit and should be 1.5 - 2 hours in length. Job shadows are usually scheduled after lunch but arrangmenets can be made for other times if necessary.
F. What if I can't come to Burlington? Prof. Izzo will be happy to make arrangements for you to visit a Nuclear Medicine Department at one of our other clinical affiliate sites.
Where can I get more information about the required courses in UVM's Nuclear Medicine Technology Program? Click here.
Where can I obtain an application to the University of Vermont? Click here.
What is the tuition for the UVM Nuclear Medicine Technology Program? Click here.
Can I come to campus for a tour and meet with a faculty member? To meet with an Admissions Office Counsellor and have a campus tour, click here. If you want to meet with Louis Izzo, the Director of the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program, send e-mail to him or call Sharon at 802-656-3811 to set up an appointment.
Tell me about UVM's internship program. We are fortunate to be affiliated with excellent hospitals in New England for our students to cap off their program with a clinical internship. The internship runs from early January until late April. Students will spend 40 hours per week in the hospitals and assume lodging and meal expenses in addition to the University tuition.
Is it true that Nuclear Medicine Technologists actually inject radioactive materials intravenously? Yes. Most states and hospitals allow NMTs to inject radioactive material into patient's veins.
Can I do my senior internship at a hospital near my home? Yes, you can, as long as that hospital is formally affiliated with the University of Vermont's Nuclear Medicine Technology Program. Currently, we are affiliated with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH, Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA; Hartford Hospital in Hartford, CT, Maine Medical Center in Portland, ME; and Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, NH. Other hospitals will be added as needed.
Is UVM's Nuclear Medicine Technology Program nationally accredited? Yes. Click here for a list of all NMT educational programs accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology.
Can UVM graduates of the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program take national certifying exams? Yes. Because we are nationally accredited, our graduates are eligible to take both the NMTCB exam as well as the ARRT exam after graduation.
Can Nuclear Medicine Technology majors participate in UVM's Honor's College? Yes. Here's more info..
What kind of things will I have to do if I become a Nuclear Medicine Technologist? UVM has put together an Essential Functions list which should you you answer the question.
What is Nuclear Medicine Technology? The Society of Nuclear Medicine web site has a lot of information about the profession of Nuclear Medicine Technology.
What is the job market for Nuclear Medicine Technologists? Currently, it is excellent. see the US Dept of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics summary of Nuclear Medicine Technology.
What kind of jobs have UVM NMT grads had? See this link.
Are there scholarships for Nuclear Medicine Technology majors? Yes. This link and this link, have scholarships which Nuclear Medicine Technology majors can apply for.
What can a person do with a degree in Nuclear Medicine Technology? Probably the best predictor of what you are likely to do with a degree in Nuclear Medicine Technology from the University of Vermont is to look at what our graduates are doing. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, but it shows the most common pathways that our graduates have taken.
A. Nuclear Medicine Technologist: ...work in a medical center, community hospital, or a private practice group doing general Nuclear Medicine procedures and participating in clinical research.
B. Private Clinics: ...some of our graduates work in private specialty clinics, such as in Cardiology, which offer Nuclear Medicine services.
C. PET/CT, MRI, Ultrasound: ... several graduates have gone on to be "cross-trained" in one or more sub-specialties of Radiology, such as PET, MRI, and ultrasound. The UVM curriculum provides a broad educational foundation to allow for this flexibility.
D. Education, Management: ...some of our graduates have gone on to graduate school to prepare themselves for positions in education and management.
Do I have to become licensed in order to practice in Nuclear Medicine Technology? Yes, most states require NMTs to be licensed. Click here for a detailed list.
What are starting salaries in the field? Click here for 2001 data from the NMTCB.