FAQs about NMTCB(CT)

General FAQs

• Can I take the CT exam before the NMTCB or ARRT(N) exam?
  No, you must first be certified or registered with an active NMTCB, ARRT, or CAMRT nuclear medicine technology certification OR a current active CAMRT(RT), CAMRT(RTT), ARRT(R) or ARRT(T) certification prior to taking the CT exam.
• How much will it cost to sit for this exam?
  The application fee is US $185.00 if an active CNMT, RT(N) or CAMRT(N) and US $360.00 for an active CAMRT(RT), CAMRT(RTT), ARRT(R) or ARRT(T) and there is currently an annual fee of US $30.00 to renew certification.
• When will this exam be available?
  The NMTCB(CT) Examination has on-demand scheduling. Once an applicant's eligibility is confirmed, they will be able to schedule to sit for the exam at any time within three (3) months of the eligibility decision.
• What will be on the exam?
  A content outline of the exam can be found here.
• What does it mean to have NMTCB(CT) certification
  The NMTCB(CT) credential is designed to establish the competency of individuals who are qualified to perform in the role of a computed tomography technologist.
• Does this credential allow technologists to perform diagnostic CT's or just for attenuation correction?
  It is up to the state and facility to determine the qualifications for technologists.
• Will this credential be mandatory?
  It is up to states and facilities to determine qualifications.
• How many questions are on the exam and how much time do I have to complete the exam?
  The exam consists of 200 multiple choice questions and you have a total of 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete the exam.
• Can clinical requirements all be completed while being a student?
  Yes. Clinical requirements can be obtained as an employee, volunteer or a student.
• How do I count clinical hours if I work in a department that has a general nuclear medicine scanner without CT, in addition to a SPECT/CT scanner?
  You count only those hours that you are working using a CT scanner (SPECT/CT, PET/CT or CT).
• Are there a required number of competencies that must be obtained?
  Yes, you need to demonstrate that you have 300 hours of clinical experience on a CT scanner (SPECT/CT, PET/CT and/or CT) and documented performance of a minimum of 10 different procedures from a list of procedures will be required. You can read more about these requirements here.
• Why do you require 700 hours for the PET exam and only 300 hours for the CT exam?
  These exams are designed for different purposes. The PET exam establishes expertise in the field of PET. The CT exam establishes competency of individuals who are qualified to perform in the role of a computed tomography technologist.
• What are the didactic (continuing education) requirements?
  Thrity-five contact hours are required with a minimum of 4 hours in each of the following categories: CT radiation safety, contrast administration, cross sectional anatomy, X-Ray physics. The remainder must be CT related and all hours must be obtained within three years immediately prior to application for the exam. You can read more about the didactic requirements here.
• What is a contact hour?
  One hour of continuing education is equivalent to one contact hour. If you are taking a class at an accredited college or university, then one credit hour is usually equivalent to about 15-16 contact hours. You should contact your professor to confirm this understanding.
• Do the CT classes I took during my nuclear medicine program qualify for meeting the didactic requirements?
  Yes, as long as they were completed within the three years immediately prior to application. Otherwise, you would need to obtain additional hours.
• Where else can I get the didactic (contact) hours?
  From an accredited college or a continuing education source approved by any of the organizations listed in our CE Policy. There is also a list of additional didactic resources that partially meet or fully meet the 35 didactic hour requirement here.
• The facility in which I work recently acquired a new SPECT/CT scanner. Can our applications training count toward the didactic requirement?
  No, vendor application trainings currently do not count towards meeting the NMTCB(CT) exam didactic eligibility requirements.
• I graduated more than three years ago and took a CT course, as well as a cross sectional anatomy course before I graduated. Will these courses count?
  No. Eligibility requirements to sit for the NMTCB(CT) exam include the completion of a minimum of thirty five (35) contact hours of didactic education within the three years prior to application including a minimum of four (4) hours of each of the following categories: contrast administration, cross-sectional anatomy, x-ray physics, and CT radiation safety. The remainder of these hours must be in CT related topics. These 35 contact or didactic hours may be from a nuclear medicine technology education program, college credit courses from an accredited college or university, or continuing education approved by any of the organizations listed in our CE Policy, which may be found online at www.nmtcb.org/policies/contedPolicy.php. Graduates who apply for the NMTCB (CT) examination within three (3) years of completing a programmatically accredited nuclear medicine program are considered to have met this didactic requirement.
• How do I document the didactic (contact) hours requirements?
  If you took a college course, you would provide your transcript verifying that you took and passed the course. If your hours are from continuing education, you would supply your VOICE or other transcript or certificate. These can be emailed or faxed to the contact listed in the online application. We may request a syllabus from you to determine if it meets the didactic requirements.
• Will I be required to maintain my NMTCB, ARRT, or CAMRT nuclear medicine technology certification or CAMRT(RT), CAMRT(RTT), ARRT(R), or ARRT(T) certification in order to remain CT certified?
  Yes. Certification must be renewed annually and the NMTCB(CT) certificant must consistently maintain certification in their primary nuclear medicine, radiography, or radiation therapy credentials as either "active", "in compliance" or "in good standing".
• How many continuing education credits will I need to earn to maintain the CT credential?
  The NMTCB(CT) certificant is required to obtain a total of 12 hours of CE specific to CT in each 2 year CE cycle.
• Will I have to re-take the exam after a certain period of time?
  No, as long as you obtain your continuing education, complete the annual renewal process and stay in good standing, you will remain certified.
• Is this exam different from the ARRT CT exam?
  This NMTCB(CT) exam was created to establish competency of individuals who are qualified to perform in the role of a computed tomography technologist. The NMTCB(CT) exam and the ARRT(CT) exam each have their own eligibility requirements for their exams.
• I currently hold an ARRT(CT) credential. What are the requirements for me to sit for this exam? Is there any grandfathering?
  The requirements to sit for the exam can be found here. No, there is no grandfathering based on holding an ARRT(CT) credential. Individuals interested in sitting for the NMTCB(CT) exam must meet eligibility requirements at the time of their application.
• Who verifies or signs off on my clinical hours and competencies?
  An authorized representative from your organization who can attest to your clinical hours and competencies in accordance with our requirements. They must also verify that these hours and procedures were done in PET/CT, SPECT/CT, and/or CT. This may be your program director, technical supervisor, supervising physician, or human resources director. The form can be found here.
• Is there a difference in the NMTCB(CT) credential from someone who passed the exam under the former eligibility requirements compared to the current eligibility requirements effective July 1, 2019?
  No, the credential did not change, only the eligibility pathway to sit for the NMTCB(CT) exam changed.
• How long is my application on file with the NMTCB?
  Candidates who fail to sit for the exam within one calendar year of eligibility approval will be required submit the full application fee in order to reactivate the application and be considered eligible. Applications are kept on file for three years from date of original application submission. After the three year expiration, candidates must meet current eligibility requirements at the time of new application.
• If I am not successful in my exam attempt, when can I retake the exam?
  A candidate may take the exam a maximum of two times within a 12 calendar month period. For re-examination, the eligibility criteria must still be met (NMTCB, ARRT, or CAMRT nuclear medicine technology certification or CAMRT(RT), CAMRT(RTT), ARRT(R), or ARRT(T) certification). Applications are kept on file for three years from date of original application submission. After the three year expiration, candidates must meet current eligibility requirements at the time of new application.