Nuclear Medicine Technology

• Two-year diploma
• Fall start
• Includes clinical practica

Program Description

Nuclear medicine uses radioactive drugs (tracers/substances) and specialized instruments to help diagnose and treat disease and injury allowing evaluation of the function of the various body organs. Through this program, students will learn the techniques of imaging, laboratory procedures and equipment operation to prepare students to work with patients and medical staff in a nuclear medicine department.

In the first year of the program, students will undertake detailed studies in laboratory arithmetic, physics, chemistry, anatomy and physiology, radionuclide instrumentation, nuclear medicine procedures, radiopharmacy and radiation safety. The second year involves four clinical practica in which the student will rotate through all areas of a nuclear medicine department. Current clinical practicum sites are located in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, and possibly Regina, Saskatoon and Winnipeg.

Certain courses are available by correspondence (distance education) and are marked by an asterisk (*) in the Program Outline. The courses must be completed within the time frame shown in the Program Outline. Please be advised that full-time student status requires the student to take 60 per cent of a full course load per semester. Depending on the number of courses completed by correspondence, students may be considered a part-time student, which may impact their financial loan status.

To support their learning, students are required to participate in online courses throughout the practicum and will require access to a computer with Internet access, a printer, a set of headphones, and a microphone.

Your Career

Graduates find work as nuclear medicine technologists in hospitals, community clinics, private laboratories, research and teaching institutions.

Admission Requirements

Alberta High School Diploma or equivalent, with the following admission requirements or equivalents:

• At least 60% in Pure Math 30 or Math 30-1, or at least 70% in Math 30-2, AND,
• At least 60% in English Language Arts 30-1, AND,
• At least 60% in Chemistry 30, AND,
• At least 60% in either Biology 30 or Physics 30, AND,
• At least 60% in one of the following options: Math 31, Language 30 (a second language), Physics 30, Biology 30, Social Studies 30, or Science 30.
• All applicants to SAIT Polytechnic must demonstrate English Language Proficiency prior to admission, including students educated in Canada. For more information, please visit English Proficiency.
• View High School Course Equivalencies Admission Equivalencies by Province.

Selection

To be included in selection, applications along with all supporting documents must be submitted by March 31. There will be 20 seats offered in the fall intake.

Selection Process

Selection is done on a continuous basis. Applications will be reviewed on a weekly basis. Applicants who apply after March 31 will be placed on a waitlist.

The program will use email as the primary source of communication. Applicants must ensure their email account is managed appropriately to receive our emails, files and communications.

All applicants must meet the admission requirements to receive a selection package. Completed selection packages will be scored and approximately the top 60 applicants will continue in the selection process and be invited to attend an interview at SAIT. Telephone interviews will not be accepted.  Applicants progress through selection in the following order:

1. Diagnostic Imaging Selection Package
2. Career investigation and/or interview
   Preparing for the Diagnostic Imaging Selection Process

Note: Final selection recommendations may give consideration to regional distribution in support of practicum sites across Alberta. A maximum of four seats are reserved for Saskatchewan residents and a maximum of three seats are reserved for Manitoba residents.

Nuclear Medicine Technology students are required to complete a clinical practicum as part of the program. Alberta practica are placed in Calgary, Edmonton or Red Deer Applicants who are successful in the selection process will be asked to relocate to one of these placements to complete his/her clinical practicum. Applicants will be notified of their placement as soon as possible.

Applicants who are successful in gaining admission will be requested to provide proof of the following prior to the start of practicum:

1. Updated Immunization Records. Details are included in the orientation package for successful candidates.
   Please note: Practicum sites will require students to demonstrate updated immunization status prior to attending practicum. Failure to do so will jeopardize a student’s ability to complete the practicum of his/her program..
2. Security Clearance: According to the Protection for Persons in Care Act, our practicum sites require that students obtain one criminal record check for the length of his/her program prior to going on practicum. Any criminal code offence for which a pardon has not been received, may be a deterrent to a student’s entry into practicum, and therefore will result in an uncompleted program, or non-graduating status.
3. In compliance with Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, G8.40 Respiratory protection – Fit test, students are fit-tested for respiratory masks prior to their practica. Fit-testing is available on campus. Failure to adequately fit an N-95 mask may result in a restricted practicum and\or limited employment. Facial abnormality/hair may result in unsuccessful fit testing.
4. Current Basic Rescuer (Level C) CPR to Alberta Heart and Stroke Foundation Standards. SAIT, in conjunction with the Alberta Heart and Stroke Foundation, offers CPRS 212 that meets this standard. The CPR requirement must be maintained for the duration of your program.

Program Specific Selection Package

The applicant is solely responsible to ensure the information in the selection package is legible, articulate and best reflects the candidate. Falsifying information will result in the application being removed immediately from the selection process.

Due to the significant number of applications that the program receives the selection process can take some time. We appreciate your patience in this process and we will notify you of our decision concerning your application status as soon as possible. Applicants can also log on to mysait.ca to check admission decision status.

Student Success

• Students with higher secondary or post-secondary marks usually experience greater success in SAIT programs. Students are expected to spend approximately 20 hours per week outside of class studying.
• Students who experience success in this program have effective communication skills in English.
• Health care practitioners are detail-oriented in the care they provide and enjoy working in a team environment.
• Because of the nature of this work, students must be capable of lifting heavy objects, standing for long periods of time, and working in awkward physical positions. Individuals with previous chronic or repetitive strain injuries have experienced re-injury or aggravation of these conditions in this program and/or as a technologist.

Progression

Students must attain a PGPA and/or a CGPA of 2.0 or better in each semester and pass the necessary prerequisite courses to progress through the program. To qualify for graduation, students must pass all courses, attain a CGPA of 2.0 or better and complete course requirements within the prescribed timelines.

Credentials

• After successfully completing this program, graduates will receive a SAIT diploma in Nuclear Medicine Technology. Graduates from this program are eligible to access the Canadian Medical Radiation Technologies (CAMRT) certification exam which can lead to registration and employment as registered technologists in Canada.
• The estimated fee to write the CAMRT certification exam is $800.

Accreditation

This program is accredited by the Canadian Medical Association. The program also works closely with our DI Advisory Committee to ensure that our curriculum continues to exceed provincial and national accreditation standards.

Tuition and Fees (Subject To Change)

• Please refer to the Tuition and Fee Table.
• International Students, please refer to International Student Fees.
• For student funding, please refer to Financial Assistance.
• Mandatory dues to the Alberta College of Medical Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technologists are approximately $130.
• CPRS 212 Health Care Provider course in CPR. Annual update required – CPRS 222 Health Care Provider Renewal. All CPR courses must be from the Heart & Stroke Foundation. Call SAIT Life Support Training at 403.210.4009 for further information.
• Students are responsible for any additional expenses related to their practica including relocation costs to practicum sites outside Calgary.
• The cost for a criminal record check, which is a requirement for practicum, is up to $40 or more.

Books and Supplues ( Subject to Change)

• Books and supplies are approximately $2,600 in the first year and $1,200 in the second year.

• Students are required to have access to a personal computer with the specifications listed in Fees and Expenses.

Program Outline

• SAIT students are offered an opportunity to develop lifelong learning skills in an online environment. One or more courses in the NMT program are offered fully or partially online.

• To find the course description for a course shown below, please go to our Course Finder and enter the course acronym and numbers (i.e., DMST-202) into the Quick Search by Course Code field.

For More Information

Information: 403.284.8500
E-mail: hps.info@sait.ca
Website: School of Health and Public Safety
Academic Chair: Lisa Allen

Transfer with Diploma to...

Through SAIT Polytechnic transfer agreements and institution partnerships, graduates of this SAIT program may be eligible for credit at the following universities and colleges:

• Athabasca University

• British Columbia Institute of Technology

• Memorial University

• NAIT

• Thompson Rivers University

• University of New Brunswick, Saint John

• University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Transfer options may also be available at other post-secondary institutions where credits from SAIT programs are evaluated on an individual basis. Interested students should contact the post-secondary institute of their choice for more information.

To learn more, visit Transfer Options.

Related Links (Internal):

• School of Health and Public Safety
• Academic Calendar
• Academic Upgrading
• International Students
• Mature Students
• Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition