Cardiology Exam Application

Nuclear Cardiology Technology Exam Application Instructions

• Introduction to Application Instructions
• Application Procedures
• Application Processing
• Eligibility Requirements
• Examination Administration Procedures
• Taking the Examination
• Examination Content
• Examination Results
• Privileges and Responsibilities
• Appeals Procedure

Click here for the Cardiology Exam Application Form. Please print this application, fill out the information, and mail or fax it to the NMTCB office. It is in .pdf format, which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. The Adobe Acrobat Reader is free, and can be obtained by following the link below:

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 Introduction

Professional certification is a vital component of a successful career. Achieving board certification in nuclear cardiology technology requires the successful completion of the certification process to confirm your competence in the specialty. The certification process includes meeting the eligibility requirements and then successfully completing the certification examination.

These instructions will familiarize you with the NMTCB's application and examination administration procedures. It is important that you understand and follow the procedures outlined in these instructions. Read them entirely and carefully before completing and submitting your application. You are responsible for knowing what is contained in these instructions. You will be more comfortable at the test site if you first familiarize yourself with the procedures and policies relating to the examination. Refer to these instructions for reference and contact the NMTCB office at the address at the bottom of this page if you have any questions. The NMTCB application and instructions are revised and printed annually to reflect changes in policies and eligibility requirements. It is important that you complete and return the current application form.

The NMTCB does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of age, sex, race, religion, physical impairment, marital status, or national origin.

The NMTCB follows current policy on eligibility requirements. For current policy click here.

  APPLICATION PROCEDURES

EXAMINATION DATES, FEES, TIMES, AND DEADLINES

The NMTCB Nuclear Cardiology Technology Specialty Examination processing fee is $225.00.

The NMTCB Nuclear Cardiology Technology Specialty Examination is available on-demand.Once your application is approved, you may schedule yourself to sit for the exam at any time within six (6) months of the eligibility decision.

The cardiology specialty exam will be administered nationally by IQT, Inc. Once your application has been approved, you will be notified of your eligibility and the locations of testing centers in your area. Please note that there are currently no testing centers in Canada or Puerto Rico.

The NMTCB office will notify the candidates of their eligibility in writing.

THE APPLICATION FORM

Read all instructions listed here carefully before completing the application form. Incomplete applications delay processing and may affect eligibility. You must print the application form from the web page, and submit it by fax or postal mail to the NMTCB office.

APPLICANTS WITH A DISABILITY

The NMTCB will make every reasonable effort to accommodate applicants for the Certification Examination who have a disability as that term is defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. An applicant who wishes to request modifications in the environment because of a disability must notify the NMTCB in writing at the time of application and provide appropriate documentation about the disability and the needed modification. Upon receipt of a request for modifications in the testing environment, the NMTCB office will provide detailed guidelines concerning the required documentation to be submitted. The supporting documentation must be submitted in sufficient time to make proper arrangements to take the examination under conditions which will accurately reflect the applicant's achievement level. Requests for modifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

REACTIVATION OF APPLICATION

If you have previously unsuccessfully taken the NMTCB Nuclear Cardiology Technology Specialty Examination, your application will remain on file with the NMTCB. Eligible candidates may repeat the examination by reactivating their eligibility with a written request to the NMTCB along with the current processing fee. 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 (current NMTCB, ARRT(N) or CAMRT nuclear medicine certification). It may be necessary for you to document that you have completed additional preparation if deemed by the NMTCB to be in the best interest of all concerned. Applicants who were determined ineligible to take the examination, but who later meet the current eligibility requirements, may reapply, pay the current processing fee and reactivate their application.

When reactivating your eligibility, your request should include your current name, the name used on your original application (if changed), NMTCB specialty exam file number, address and phone number, and date of last examination in your request.

NAME AND ADDRESS CHANGE

If you change your name or address after submitting your application, you must inform the NMTCB in writing immediately. If the NMTCB is not promptly notified, you may not receive your eligibility letter to take the examination, your official score report and certification card may be delayed and your certificate may be incorrectly prepared, resulting in a replacement cost. Your cooperation will ensure the most expeditious receipt of your NMTCB Cardiology certificate.

REPLACEMENT OF AUTHORIZATION LETTER

If you lose your printed candidate admission email you may reprint it by logging in to your account with the username and password that is provided in your confirmation email. Please note that the username and password are case sensitive.

SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION

Send your completed application with a check or money order, or credit card information (Visa or MasterCard) for the examination processing fee of $225.00 to:

NMTCB
Cardiology Exam
3558 Habersham at Northlake, Building I
Tucker, GA 30084

If you are a NMTCB Certificant, and are paying by credit card, you may fax the application form to (404) 315-6502.

Applications are processed in the order received.

  APPLICATION PROCESSING

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF APPLICATION

Once the NMTCB has received your completed application and fees, an acknowledgement email will be sent to the email address provided on your application. Acknowledgement does not imply eligibility to sit for the examination. If you have not received this email within three weeks after you submitted the application, please contact the NMTCB office for instructions.

CREDENTIALS VERIFICATION

Once the NMTCB has received a complete application, it is processed. Verification of the candidates clinical experience is determined by a letter sent to their human resources department or immediate supervisor and supervising physician. These verification letters must be returned to the NMTCB office in a timely manner to ensure the candidate's eligibility. All of your credentials must be verified or you may be determined ineligible to take the examination.

DISCREPANT INFORMATION

You will be notified by letter, telephone, or facsimile of any discrepancies between the information provided on your application and the information the NMTCB is able to verify. Any unresolved discrepancies may cause you to be determined ineligible to sit for the examination and result in postponement of your examination or permanent disqualification.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Once your eligibility has been established, you will receive an email that contains a Username, Password, and instructions on scheduling your examination. Once you have registered for your exam, you will be able to print your authorization letter. The admission letter will be used to admit you to the test site. If you have lost your letter, you may log back in to your account and print another one.

INELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

You will be notified in writing of any item(s) necessary to complete your file. All completed materials must be received by the NMTCB office in a timely manner or you will be determined ineligible. Ineligible applicants will be notified of the circumstances regarding the ineligibility determination and will be refunded 50% of the examination processing fee. It is to your advantage to submit your application early in case clarification is required.

WITHDRAWAL FROM THE EXAMINATION

You are expected to make an appointment and appear for the examination within the six (6) month testing period.

The application fee is nonrefundable. Contact the NMTCB office immediately if circumstances make it impossible for you to appear on the date scheduled. Candidates who fail to appear on the date scheduled or fail to change their scheduled appointment prior to 5 calendar days before the scheduled exam date, forfeit their application fee and will be required to submit the full application fee again in order to reactivate the application. You may change or cancel your appointment by contacting ISO Quality Testing at 1-866-773-1114 between the hours of M-F 8am-5pm, EST. You will be required to pay a rescheduling fee of $25.00 to process your request. This fee is per request. In the event of a medical emergency, military deployment, or the death of immediate family member, documentation must be provided to IQT to cancel/reschedule the scheduled examination and must be done before the scheduled appointment.

Candidates who fail to make an appointment during the eligibility period may extend the eligibility period by an additional six calendar months one time for a fee of $100.00 USD. 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 be 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.

RETURNED CHECKS

Checks returned by the bank to the NMTCB office for any reason are subject to a $45.00 returned check fee. The returned check fee and the replacement fee must be submitted in certified funds only (money order, cashier's check, etc.). A personal check cannot be accepted as replacement. All financial obligations to the NMTCB must be met before the eligibility letter is sent.

  NMTCB Nuclear Cardiology Technology Examination Eligibility Requirements

A candidate for examination must show documented evidence of the following:

1. Active NMTCB, ARRT(N) or CAMRT nuclear medicine technology certification.
2. A minimum 700 hours of documented clinical experience as a certified/registered nuclear medicine technologist performing all aspects of nuclear cardiology imaging including radiopharmaceutical handling, injection if permitted by state and/or institutional regulations) and imaging. Supervision must be performed by a board certified cardiologist, nuclear medicine physician or radiologist OR direct supervision must be performed by a certified NMTCB, ARRT(N) or CAMRT nuclear medicine technologist.

The NMTCB Nuclear Cardiology Technology designation is valid for seven (7) years from the exam date. At the end of seven years, specialty certificants have the option to recertify by submitting an application to: (1) re-examination OR (2) display 42 hours of specialty-specific continuing education for each year of certification. (The equivalent of 6 hours per year of certification.)

  EXAMINATION ADMINISTRATION PROCEDURES

TEST SITES

The NMTCB Specialty examinations are offered through IQT, Inc.. These centers are managed by IQT, Inc. A list of the testing centers and their locations is available to NMTCB candidates on the IQT website www.isoqualitytesting.com/locations.aspx.

ADMISSION TO THE TEST SITE

To schedule, the candidate must login online with the username and password that is provided to you by email. Scheduling your appointment well in advance of your desired date is strongly recommended during the summer and fall heavy testing periods. Take your authorization letter with you. Bring at least one current (not expired) piece of photo identification with your signature, such as a driver's license, Government Issued ID Card, Military ID card, or passport. No examination candidate will be admitted to the examination site without proper identification. The name on your photo ID must match the name on your admission letter.

EXAMINATION FORMAT

The NMTCB Cardiology specialty examination consists exclusively of 4-option multiple choice items. Each item includes a keyed (correct) response and 3 distractors (incorrect responses). A large percentage of the items are written by Board Certificants. The remainder are written by NMTCB Certificants who voluntarily submit items. Once items are submitted to the Board, each item undergoes a series of quality control measures. Board Certificants thoroughly review newly written items for appropriateness and accuracy of the content, potential candidate bias, the quality of any images used, and other psychometric issues related to the language/grammar and test-wiseness.

EXAMINATION SECURITY
The NMTCB Nuclear Cardiology Technology Examination is copyrighted and owned by the NMTCB. Any attempt to reproduce any portion of the examination is prohibited by law and violators will be vigorously prosecuted.

USE OF CALCULATORS

Calculators are allowed only if they are noiseless and battery or solar-powered. No provisions or time will be allowed or given to repair or replace broken calculators. You may not share calculators. Calculators capable of storing text (i.e., a key for every letter in the alphabet) will not be allowed. You will be observed at all times while taking the examination. This includes direct observation by the exam proctors.

EXAMINEE COMMENTS

The NMTCB values and welcomes your opinions and comments on the examination facilities, examination application and administration procedures, and the examination itself. Following the examination, you will be given an opportunity to make comments. All comments are later summarized and presented to the Board of Directors. In addition, you may send a letter of concern by writing the NMTCB office directly and referring to the examination date, examination site, and specific issue(s) of concern. If you have comments about particular examination questions, please try to restate the question as accurately as possible in the letter to the NMTCB office. The Board of Directors will review all comments and send a reply, if possible.

  TAKING THE EXAMINATION

1. To schedule, the candidate must login online with the username and password that is provided to you by email. Scheduling your appointment well in advance of your desired date is strongly recommended during the summer and fall heavy testing periods. Take your authorization letter with you. Bring at least one current (not expired) piece of photo identification with your signature, such as a driver's license, Government Issued ID Card, Military ID card, or passport. No examination candidate will be admitted to the examination site without proper identification and will forfeit the entire exam fee. The name on your photo ID must match the name on your admission letter.
2. Report to the examination site fifteen (15) minutes before the exam. Candidates who arrive late will not be allowed to take the examination. Visitors are not allowed in the immediate area of the examination site.
3. You will have three hours to complete the exam. Plan your time carefully. You are encouraged to bring a wristwatch. The examination consists of 100 multiple-choice questions and 50 pretest items.
4. Calculators are allowed only if they are noiseless and battery or solar-powered. No provisions or time will be allowed or given to repair or replace broken calculators. You may not share calculators. Calculators capable of storing text (i.e., a key for each letter of the alphabet) will not be allowed by test site personnel.
5. Do not bring notes, books, or papers of any kind. All electronic devices brought in the examination room, including telephones, signaling devices and personal digital assistants must be turned off and placed out of view. Any candidate who is observed violating test center rules will be subject to dismissal from the examination, may be barred from future examinations and may be required to forfeit his/her current examination fee(s).
6. If you find that you will not be able to take the NMTCB NCT Exam, contact the NMTCB office immediately at (404) 315-1739 and then notify the NMTCB in writing of your reasons. Applicants will be rescheduled at the Board's discretion.
7. If you move after taking the examination, notify the NMTCB office promptly to ensure timely receipt of your results. Be sure to file a forwarding order with the post office.
8. Your final score will be mailed to you approximately three weeks after the examination. No examination results will be given over the telephone under any circumstances.
9. Notify the test site supervisor in case of sudden illness. If you withdraw from the examination due to illness, your examination will be scored. A candidate who cannot make it to his/her exam must call IQT at (866) 773-1114 or (727) 733-1110.
10. When you have finished the exam, you may leave the facility; however, once you leave you will not be allowed to re-enter the facility or review your completed exam.

  EXAMINATION CONTENT

The following is a list of the content for the NMTCB's Nuclear Cardiology Specialty Exam:

• Nuclear Medicine Imaging Procedures (~50%)
  
• Anatomy/Physiology/Pathology (~10%)
  
• Radiopharmaceuticals and Interventional Drugs (~15%)
  
• Non-pharmacologic (Exercise) Stress Testing (~15%)
  
• Patient Care (~10%)
  
Click here to see the more detailed exam content specifications.

  EXAMINATION RESULTS

SCORING YOUR EXAM


The NMTCB Nuclear Cardiology specialty exam is a computer-based test. Only one answer may be selected for each question. Your final test score and individual responses to each item will be forwarded to the NMTCB immediately following the exam.

SCORE REPORTING


Preliminary scoring will be available immediately following completion of the exam. Final scores will be mailed approximately three (3) weeks after the examination. The minimum passing score and your score are reported.

The passing score is determined for each examination based on the following:

• Examination Content
• A review of examination performance on specific questions
• A review of statistical analysis of response data

Using these methods, the Examination Committee is able to take into account the difficulty of each version of the examination (and the ability of each group examined) to provide consistency in the passing score among different forms of the examination. To ensure confidentiality, scores will not be reported over the phone.

RESCORING


Strict quality control procedures are performed to ensure the accuracy of the optical scanner and the scores reported. You may have your answer sheet manually re-scored for a fee. All requests for re-scoring must be made in writing within sixty (60) days of receipt of the original score report. You must include the re-scoring fee of $50.00 made out to the NMTCB. Re-scoring seldom changes reported score results.

  PRIVILEGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES



Passing the NMTCB Nuclear Cardiology Technology Examination entitles you to certain privileges and obligates you to fulfill certain responsibilities. These are summarized below:

PRIVILEGES OF CERTIFICATION:


CERTIFICATE: The most immediate benefit of certification is your certificate which will be mailed to you approximately three (3) weeks after successful completion of the examination.

CREDENTIALS: Upon certification, you will also be granted the right to use the title, Nuclear Cardiology Technologist and the credential NCT after your name.

ANNUAL CERTIFICATION CARD: A personalized pocket-size annual certification card will be mailed to you after you receive your examination results. Most certificants carry the card with them. The certification card is a convenient method to provide your employer, governmental agencies and others with documentation that you are certified and registered in nuclear cardiology technology. An updated certification card will be mailed to you annually upon payment of the annual registration fees.

DIRECTORY LISTING: The names of all currently registered NCT technologists are listed in the "NMTCB Directory of Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologists", on the NMTCB website. The directory is made available only to other NMTCB certificants.

NMTCB NEWSLETTER: The NMTCB NEWS, published semi-annually, is provided to all certificants of nuclear medicine technology and nuclear cardiology technology. NMTCB NEWS covers topics of concern to certified technologists, trends in NMT education, developments in health care, nationwide salary comparisons, and other professional information.

CE CREDITS: 24 SNMMI VOICE credits are awarded for passing the Nuclear Cardiology Exam. If you are not a Certificant of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, contact them at 703-708-9000 or www.snmmi.org to join.

Successful completion of the NCT specialty exam will be recognized by the NMTCB as the equivalent of 24 hours of CE.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF CERTIFICATION:


ANNUAL REGISTRATION: Perhaps the greatest responsibility of certification is annual registration. Once you are certified by the NMTCB, you remain certified for seven years. Your certification cannot be revoked without due process. It is necessary for you to register your certification annually with the NMTCB. Your annual registration fee pays for the privileges you enjoy as an NMTCB Nuclear Cardiology Technologist. More importantly, your annual registration fee supports the certification process for nuclear medicine professionals, thereby enhancing the profession of nuclear cardiology technology.

  APPEALS PROCEDURE


Every effort is made to ensure that the NMTCB examination procedures are reasonable and that fair and equitable treatment is accorded to all applicants. To ensure fairness and a right of redress in the evaluation and processing of applications, examination procedures, and certification activities, the Directors of the NMTCB have established a formal appeals procedure which you must follow for appeal of any NMTCB policy, requirement, or decision.

If you are dissatisfied with or adversely affected by any action or decision of the administration of the NMTCB, you have the right to appeal such action or decision. If you wish to appeal any action or decision, your appeal must follow these guidelines:

1. Appeals shall: (a) be in writing; (b) be signed by you; (c) be addressed to the Board of Directors; (d) state the date and substance of the decision or action being appealed; (e) give the reasons why the decision or action is being challenged; and (f) specify what decision or action you seek.
2. No appeal will be considered unless received by the Board within sixty (60) days after the decision being appealed. A check for the appropriate monies must be enclosed, in certain cases.
3. Upon receipt of an appeal, the Executive Director of the NMTCB may reconsider the decision or action being appealed, and with consent from either the Chairman of the Board or the Committee responsible for the action being appealed, reverse or modify the action or decision. You will be notified of the reversal of modification of the decision or action. Unless so reversed or modified to your satisfaction, the Executive Director shall transmit the appeal to the appropriate Committee.
4. The Committee shall consider the appeal and issue a decision in writing within sixty (60) days after the last evidence or argument is received.
5. You have the right to appeal an adverse Committee decision to the Board of Directors.
6. All appeals will be heard at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board which occurs at least fifteen (15) days after the appeal is filed. All written evidence and argument you wish to present to the Board shall be submitted not later than fifteen (15) days prior to the scheduled meeting.
7. The Executive Director shall notify you of when the appeal before the Board will be heard, and of your rights as specified in the following paragraphs.
8. You have the right, by written request, to received copies of any relevant documents in the possession of the Board. The Board shall have the right to require payment of the actual cost of reproducing such documents.
9. You have the right to appear before the Board in person, by counsel, or both, to present oral or written testimony and documentary evidence, and to argue orally or by written brief. You also have the right to present evidence and argument in writing and without a personal appearance, provided a waiver of right to appear and all written evidence are submitted not later than fifteen (15) days prior to the scheduled meeting at which the appeal will be considered. The failure to appear in person shall not prejudice consideration of the appeal.
10. The Board may consider evidence and argument presented without being bound by the rules of evidence applicable to court proceedings, but shall have the right to exclude from consideration any matter that is not relevant or material to the appeal.
11. Unless appealed, a Committee decision is final. The decision of the Board of Directors shall be final.
12. No person who participated in the initial Committee decision being appealed shall have a vote on the decision under appeal.
13. You are responsible for all costs incurred in exercising this right of appeal.