EXAMINATION CONTENT

To ensure the relevancy of the examination to career-entry practice, the NMTCB has developed and maintains a comprehensive task analysis that defines those tasks which are expected to be performed during the first year of practice. The comprehensive list of tasks generated through task analysis is divided into four groups. Each group is assigned a percentage by the expert opinion of the Board of Directors. The four groups and the percentages are as follows: I. Radiation Safety (15%), II. Instrumentation (20%), III. Clinical Procedures (45%), and IV. Radiopharmacy (20%). The number of items on each test is based on the percentages listed above. For example, a one hundred item test would have15 radiation safety-related items, 20 on instrumentation, 45 on clinical procedures, and 20 based on Radiopharmacy-related content. This task analysis is an ongoing activity and is validated to determine current practice. Based on the results of the validation study, tasks may be added or deleted from the entry-level domain, and the examination matrix (blueprint) and item bank are revised and updated accordingly.

EXAMINATION FORMAT

The NMTCB certification examination consists exclusively of 5-option multiple choice items. Each item includes a keyed (correct) response and 4 distractors (incorrect responses). A large percentage of the items are written by the Board of Directors. 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 of Directors 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. Sample questions can be viewed on the NMTCB web site Sample Questions

The test is offered on computers at IQT Testing Centers located throughout the country as well as many other parts of the world. When taking the test, examinees see items in a random content order. Candidates may not skip a test question, and are not permitted to return to an item. Candidates are permitted to change their answers before the moving on, at which time the item is scored by the computer.

PREPARATION

Applicants frequently ask for assistance in preparing for the NMTCB examination. While it is not possible for the NMTCB to recommend specific study materials, the following information may help in your preparation.

The NMTCB examination is task-oriented. This means that the examination does not test the recall of basic knowledge but tests the application of such knowledge to nuclear medicine technology practice. For example, the mode of radioactive decay and interactions of radiation and matter are not tested. Knowledge of these two areas, however, can be applied in choosing appropriate shielding for radioactive materials or selecting the optimum collimator for imaging. The job-related tasks included on the NMTCB examination are outlined in the NMTCB Task Analysis of Nuclear Medicine Technology , they are: Task List, Procedures List, Equipment List, Pharmaceuticals List, and the Components of Preparedness (COP) Statements.

Copies of these documents are provided to program directors and are available from the NMTCB office upon request. Applicants should review these documents carefully.

Applicants can best prepare for the NMTCB examination by:

• Reviewing their practical experience and comparing it to those tasks outlined in the Task Analysis to identify strengths and weaknesses.
• Reviewing a current textbook of nuclear medicine technology and issues of recent nuclear medicine technology journals. [While the NMTCB does not address research topics, teaching editorials and continuing education articles appearing in a recent journal may provide a useful review of current clinical practice.]
• Reviewing all tasks that make up the NMTCB Examination Matrix.
• Reviewing the Components of Preparedness (COP) statements that relate to each task.