Health Sciences (Nuclear Medicine Technology) (BHSc)
Diagnose and treat with nuclear medicine technologies.
Why choose this program?
Nuclear Medicine Technologists combine patient care with technical skill to diagnose and treat a variety of illnesses using radioactive drugs called radiopharmaceuticals. They help patients of all age groups, from newborns to older adults, and work with a variety of specialists as a part of a healthcare team.
As a graduate of Dalhousie’s fully accredited Nuclear Medicine Technology program, you will be eligible for certification by the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT) and qualified to work anywhere in Canada. We also offer a 2-year post-diploma option designed to meet the needs of practicing Nuclear Medicine Technologists that want to enhance their knowledge and expand career opportunities.
Admission requirements
Minimum admission requirements
To be considered for admission to this program, you must meet minimum academic criteria:
- Completion of secondary school (Grade 12)
- Achievement of the minimum average for your program of choice.
- Completion of Grade 12 English (or equivalent course).
Admission to many Dalhousie programs is competitive. This means that meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
Program-specific admission requirements
Bachelor of Health Sciences (Nuclear Medicine)
Minimum overall average: 75%
Academic English 12
Academic Math 12
Academic Physics 12
Academic Chemistry 12
One additional academic subject
This program may employ a competitive average for admission purposes; meeting minimum posted requirements does not guarantee admission.
Priority consideration for admission to the BHSc program in the School of Health Sciences will be given to permanent residents of the Maritime provinces. Due to residency restrictions and limited capacity, international students are not eligible for admission to this program.
In addition to completing the Dalhousie application process, you will need to submit the following supplementary documents to be considered for admission to this program. Assessment of your non-academic performance will account for 20% of your overall total application score.
Submit all of your supplementary documents by email to
hscadmis@dal.ca before the February 15 deadline.
Letter of intent
Your letter must address each of the following questions:
Why did you choose this professional discipline as your area of study?
What qualities, skills, and assets make you a good candidate for this profession?
What is your understanding of the duties and responsibilities of a person working in this profession?
How did you research this field before making your choice?
Please use the following instructions when drafting your letter:
Answer questions in paragraph form.
Organize your letter clearly and concisely, and demonstrate proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Limit your answers to 250 words per question.
Applicants will be assessed on the following non-academic criteria:
Demonstrated knowledge of the selected health profession
Leadership
Community involvement
Teamwork
If you're applying to more than one professional discipline within the Bachelor of Health Science program, please write a separate letter for each discipline.
Resume and References
Submit a copy of your resume outlining your education, work, and volunteer experiences. Please include the names, addresses, and phone numbers of two references.
Requirements of the profession
Before applying to this program, it’s important to understand the intellectual, physical and mental demands of a career in diagnostic medical ultrasound. These include:
Ability to lift and manipulate heavy equipment through a wide range of movements (~ 20-30 kg).
Ability to lift and position patients of various abilities and sizes.
Wearing heavy radiation protective apparel, occasionally for extended periods (~ 2.5-8.5 kg).
Fine motor skills to adjust dials/knobs on imaging/medical equipment.
Visual acuity to view information displayed on film and computer monitors and distinguish fine differences of contrast/brightness and resolution on images.
Ability to assess image nuances on colour monitors.
Manual dexterity and visual acuity to produce, dispense and inject radiopharmaceuticals.
Sitting for significant amounts of time during the day to analyze data on a computer monitor
Standing for long periods of time while imaging patients
Ability to hear and respond to low voices as well as alarms and buzzers in an equipment noise environment.
Stamina to remain physically active and mentally alert for extended periods of time.
Encountering sensitive and hazardous materials in working environment including latex gloves, cleaning solutions, and biological/chemically hazardous materials.
Capacity to work in high pressure and emergency situations.
If you have any questions or concerns about these requirements, please contact the School of Health Sciences (health.sciences@dal.ca).
Bachelor of Health Sciences (Post-Diploma)
Visit the Bachelor of Health Sciences program page to learn to learn about the requirements for the post-diploma option.
Financial information
A university education is a significant financial investment. Every student is unique, and so are their financial circumstances. We offer competitive tuition, a robust scholarship and bursary program, and resources and support to help you explore financial options and develop a plan that works for you.
Program options
As a Nuclear Medicine Technology student, you will have many opportunities to do hands-on clinical work. During the eight-week summer clinical practicum after years 1, 2 and 3, you’ll put the knowledge learned in the classroom to real-life use in the hospital setting. You may choose to stay in Halifax to complete the practicums, or travel to locations elsewhere in the Maritimes or across Canada.
In your 4th year, you have the option to earn a certificate in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to customize your degree and enhance your future career options.
The post-diploma program option is equivalent to 2 years of full-time university study (60 credit hours). To accommodate working professionals, the post-diploma program is available on a full time or part-time basis and most of the courses are delivered online.
The following Health Sciences program options are offered by Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Health. Connect with an academic advisor after you start your studies to explore options such as:
Bachelor of Health Sciences with discipline
Bachelor of Health Sciences (Post-Diploma)
Certificate in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
What you will learn
As a Nuclear Medicine Technology student, you will take core professional development courses with a concentration on nuclear medicine specific knowledge and skills. The program curriculum will prepare you to write the CAMRT professional examinations.
At Dalhousie, interprofessional collaboration starts in the classroom. Throughout your degree, you will work with students in other health programs to learn from each other, enable effective collaboration and improve patient outcomes.
Sample courses may include:
Fundamentals of Nuclear Medicine
Radiation Physics
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
Foundations of Health Care Practice
Nuclear Medicine Clinical Procedures
Cross Sectional Anatomy for Multimodality Imaging
Radio-pharmacy
Health Care Ethics
Cardiac Imaging
Positron Emission Tomography
Culture, Diversity and Health
Computed Tomography Instrumentation and Applications
Pediatric Imaging
Professional Practice in Nuclear Medicine Technology
Critical Research Appraisal and Practices
Non-imaging Procedures
This degree will prepare you to work professionally, ethically, and collaboratively in our changing health care system, contribute to evidence based decisions, and develop effective communication skills.
Careers
Nuclear Medicine is at the forefront of modern clinical medicine and technology. As a Nuclear Medicine Technologist, you may work in a variety of settings including hospitals, private clinics, or research institutes. Some alternate career paths in this field include hospital administrator, educator, and technical specialist.
Future studies could include programs at the graduate level in science or health, or specialization in a related field, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
