NMTCB REPORT

LYNNETTE A. FULK, CNMT, FSNMTS, CHAIR

I am writing this report in the first days of the new year. As 2006 began, a new policy went into effect making continuing education (CE) credits mandatory for maintaining your certification. I know some of you are grumbling as you are reminded that continuing education is no longer optional. The reason the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) implemented the mandatory CE policy is that it will help nuclear medicine technologists acquire and maintain the ever-expanding and changing knowledge base that we need to remain current in our field. Remember, to maintain NMTCB certification, CNMTs now need to obtain 24 continuing education credits every two years. If you need further information, the continuing education policy is posted on the NMTCB web site at www.nmtcb.org.

Last year the fifth Nuclear Cardiology Specialty exam was administered to 219 examinees, and 127 technologists successfully passed the exam and were awarded the new NCT credential. This is a pass rate of 57%, which is comparable to the pass rate of 59% in 2004. The next NCT exam will be offered on October 7. The second PET Specialty exam was administered to 172 examinees, resulting in 107 newly certified PET technologists. This represents a pass rate of 62%, which is 10% higher than the pass rate for the first PET exam. The next PET exam will be offered on September 30. Information and application forms for both NCT and PET can be found on the NMTCB website. Applications for these exams must be received by the NMTCB office no later than April 28.

A major project for the NMTCB this year will be preparing a task analysis for the NCT exam. A task analysis is required every five years to authenticate the certification exam by ensuring that all changes and developments within the field have been incorporated into the exam. An advanced practice exam is also on the horizon. As students are accepted into advanced practice programs, it will be the responsibility of the NMTCB to create and administer an exam that can provide verification of the relevant knowledge base of individuals wishing to become one of these skilled professionals.

This year will be challenging for the NMTCB. The NMTCB office is preparing to move into its new office space by June. In addition, work continues on the entry-level and the two specialty exams, and initial work on the content outline for the new advanced practice exam will begin. The NMTCB is always looking for item writers for the entry-level exam and specialty exams. If you would like to write exam questions, please contact the NMTCB office or visit the NMTCB Web site at www.nmtcb.org for additional information.

At the board meeting this spring, the NMTCB will welcome three new directors, Deborah L. Gibbons, CNMT; Lessa A Ross, CNMT; and Robert Pagnanelli, CNMT. We welcome them all and look forward to working with them. These new directors have taken an opportunity to become more involved in their profession. As directors they will serve a term of four years with the opportunity to serve an additional four-year term. They will work with other directors on the entry-level and the specialty exams. Plus, they will serve on a variety of committees. If you are a CNMT and would like to serve on the NMTCB please contact Dr. Bhaskar R. Dawadi at 800-659-3593 or drdawadi{at}nmtcb.org for an application. Completed applications must be received in the office by August 1 to be reviewed at the fall NMTCB meeting. The next term will begin January 1, 2007.

For further information on the NMTCB and its activities, please visit the web site or contact the NMTCB offices at 2970 Clairmont Rd, Suite 935, Atlanta GA, 30329-1634. I can always be contacted at lfulk{at}clarian.org to help answer questions or to discuss any of your comments or concerns.