Danny A. Basso, CNMT, NCT, FSNMTS, Chair, NMTCB
This has been a very busy year for the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB). In January, Bhaskar Diwadi, PhD, resigned as the executive director after almost eight years of service. Dr. Dawadi leaves behind a strong legacy and many great accomplishments. Some of these accomplishments include the development of the PET and Nuclear Cardiology specialty exams; the accreditation of the NMTCB entry-level exam by the National Commission for Certifying Agency; the implementation of new board initiatives, including the ethics and continuing education policies; and overseeing the purchase, renovation, and relocation of the office. Bhaskar is leaving on the best of terms and we wish him well in his future endeavors.
Although the board is saddened by Bhaskar's departure, we are looking toward the future and are excited about the opportunities that a new executive director will bring. We have received applications from several strong and well-qualified candidates. Making the best choice for the position from these candidates is proving to be quite a challenge. The board has narrowed the pool of applicants to eight who will be interviewed. We are hoping to have the position filled no later than June 2007.
In other news, it saddens me to have to report the passing of Nancy Sawyer, a previous NMTCB board member and chair, who unexpectedly passed away in March. Nancy was a very strong leader in the field of nuclear medicine and was very instrumental in many of the changes that made the NMTCB what it is today. These accomplishments included changing the entry-level exam from paper and pencil to the computerized adaptive test we currently employ. Our condolences go out to Nancy's family and numerous friends. She will be greatly missed.
At the NMTCB spring meeting, the board voted to eliminate alternate eligibility as a pathway for entry-level certification by the year 2015. As the field of nuclear medicine technology continues to become more complex, the board believes that it will be vital for the success of new technologists to complement their training with a well-rounded theoretical background, which is not often found in an on-the-job training situation. I would encourage any individuals who are seeking to qualify for the exam through the alternate eligibility pathway do so as soon as possible.
A total of 1,590 candidates sat for the NMTCB entry-level exam in 2006. Below is a breakdown of the results.
| All Examinees (n=1,590) | ||
| Pass | 990 | 62.3% |
| Pass with distinction | 294 | 18.5% |
| Pass with highest distinction | 114 | 7.2% |
| Total Pass | 1,398 | 87.9% |
| Fail | 192 | 12.1% |
| Range of Scores | 62–99 | |
| Average Score | 79.05 | |
| Standard Deviation | 4.191 | |
| Median Score | 79 | |
| First-Timers (Nuclear Medicine Program Graduates) (n=1,371) | ||
| Pass | 891 | 64.9% |
| Pass with distinction | 282 | 20.6% |
| Pass with highest distinction | 112 | 8.2% |
| Total Pass | 1,285 | 93.7% |
| Fail | 86 | 6.3% |
| Range of Scores | 67–99 | |
| Average Score | 79.71 | |
| Standard Deviation | 3.896 | |
| Median Score | 79 | |
| Repeaters (n=148) | ||
| Pass | 59 | 39.9% |
| Pass with distinction | 0 | 0% |
| Pass with highest distinction | 0 | 0% |
| Total Pass | 59 | 39.9% |
| Fail | 89 | 60.1% |
| Range of Scores | 62–80 | |
| Average Score | 73.76 | |
| Standard Deviation | 2.676 | |
| Median Score | 74 | |
| Alternate Eligibility Examinees (n=71) | ||
| Pass | 40 | 56.3% |
| Pass with distinction | 12 | 16.9% |
| Pass with highest distinction | 2 | 2.8% |
| Total Pass | 54 | 76.1% |
| Fail | 17 | 23.9% |
| Range of Scores | 68–85 | |
| Average Score | 77.35 | |
| Standard Deviation | 4.000 | |
| Median Score | 77 | |
2006 NMTCB Entry-Level Exam Statistics
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