Health Professions

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UWL) offers a bachelor of science in Nuclear Medicine Technology (NMT).  The student can accomplish this in three years of course work at UWL and a one-year internship at an affiliated hospital.  The first two years at UWL are typically occupied with fulfilling general education requirements, as well as taking introductory science and math classes.  During the final year at UWL, the student will begin to take advanced courses, many of which are specifically designed for future health care providers.  Further information is available at NMT Courses and on the NMT Sample Schedule

Students typically apply for admission to the NMT program in the middle of their sophomore year.  Once accepted, NMT students can apply for their internship at any, or all, of the affiliated hospitals.  This is typically done during the Fall semester that precedes the internship year.  Students are strongly encouraged to apply to all internship sites they are interested in.  The hospitals will then contact the students for interviews, which are often held during winter break.  Assignment to an internship site is not guaranteed, but will take into account both the students' and the hospitals' preferences.  Assignments are made in mid-March.

UWL is academically affiliated with hospital-based Nuclear Medicine Technology programs which are accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRC-NMT).  Upon successful completion of the student's internship at one of the programs, graduates are eligible to take certification examinations.  UWL graduates have done very well on these exams and have an excellent record of employment after graduation and certification.

Gamma Camera Flyer

Professional Licensure Disclosure

If you plan to apply for licensure in a state other than Wisconsin after completion of this program, you should refer to the Professional Licensure Disclosure website and contact the other state's appropriate licensing board to determine whether the UWL program meets licensure requirements in that state.

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Nuclear Medicine Technology program is proud to be accredited by the JRCNMT.

JRCNMT Accreditation Seal

Graduate achievement data is an indicator of program effectiveness,  demonstrating the extent to which a program achieves its goals.  The current report on graduate achievement data, identified by program, is available on the JRCNMT website by clicking on the following link: Graduate Achievement Report

University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics
Madison, WI

Gundersen Health System
La Crosse, WI

University of Minnesota Fairview Medical Center
Minneapolis, MN 

Technologists and Student Intern Forms

• First Semester Weekly Evals
• 2nd Quarter Evals
• Second Semester Weekly Evals
• 3rd Quarter Evals
• 4th Quarter Evals

Nuclear medicine is a medical specialty that uses small amounts of radioactive materials, known as radiopharmaceuticals, for diagnostic, therapeutic, and research purposes.  Highly simplified, a typical procedure would involve discussing the procedure with the patient, injecting the radiopharmaceutical which localizes in the area of interest, then is imaged using a special camera.  It is something like taking an X-ray from the inside-out.

Some of the primary responsibilities for nuclear medical technologists (NMTs) are:

• Prepare and administer radiopharmaceuticals
• Work directly with patients throughout the procedure
• Work with sophisticated instrumentation and computers to generate digital images
• Evaluate new procedures

NMT MRI

Nuclear medicine provides unique information about both structure and function of nearly every human organ.  It is the ability to characterize and quantify physiologic function that makes nuclear medicine different from an X-ray.  As radiopharmaceuticals become more sophisticated, it is becoming possible to see inside of human beings at the cellular and even at the molecular level.

Nuclear medical procedures are safe, both for the patient and the technologist.  Patients experience little or no discomfort and do not require anesthesia.  Exposure to ionizing radiation is monitored closely, and kept well below safety limits.

Nuclear medicine technology is a highly patient-oriented field and NMTs are an integral part of the health professions team. It is a vigorous, dynamic field that has seen dramatic growth over the past three decades and is expected to grow even more in the future.  New radiopharmaceuticals and imaging technologies are continually being developed, making NMT an increasingly valuable tool for hospitals and clinics.  To learn more about nuclear medicine, check out this brochure (PDF), produced by the Society of Nuclear Medicine.

To learn about the job outlook for NMTs please visit Employment Outlook

Application Deadline:  Friday, December 6, 2024 

Applications for the NMT program are only accepted once each year.  Students should apply to the program roughly a year and a half before beginning their internships.  If you plan to complete your UWL coursework at the end of Spring 2026, you should apply this winter (December 2024). 

Applicants are responsible for completing and submitting the following by the application deadline:

• Program Application
  The NMT Program Admission Application is available for download during the program's annual application window and due by the application deadline.  A $50 application fee is required.  Please include a check with your application and submit to the following address either in-person or by mail:
       UWL NMT Program
       1725 State St
       4033 HSC
       La Crosse, WI 54601
• Observation Hours
  Observation hours are now required to start the program. The requirement is a minimum of 8 hours, but more hours are preferred. It is also preferred that you observe at more than one healthcare organization. The NMT(s) under whom you observe will submit evaluations online.   If you are having issues obtaining observation hours for any reason or because you are not vaccinated against COVID please contact the NMT program director.  Due to the limited requirement of observation hours, students are required complete the observation modules in Canvas by the application deadline. All applicants seeking to begin the program in Fall 2024 are required to complete all modules. By requiring all applicants complete the online modules the program can consistently evaluate applicants understanding of NMT.  UWL students can self-enroll in the Canvas course.  Non-UWL students please contact Pete Amann at pamann@uwlax.edu for assistance in creating a Canvas account to access the modules. 
• References
  NMT Reference Form  Students must submit three references using the online reference form. References should be people who know you well and can honestly describe the kind of person you are. One should be a college or university instructor, another should come from a supervisor or someone who works above you, and third is a professional reference of your choice.
• International Students:
  In addition to the application requirements above, students for whom English is a second language must earn a minimum score of 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), or 100 (internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a score of 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam within one year prior to application to the program. Please visit ETS to learn more about TOEFL.

All application materials must be received by the NMT Program (4033 HSC) by 3:00 p.m. on December 6 in order to be considered.  If you wish to check on the status of your application, please email Pete Amann at pamann@uwlax.edu.

A selection committee made up of university and internship site representatives will review your application and interview all applicants.  Applicants will be contacted concerning the time, place, and other details for the interview.  Interviews will be conducted in mid to late February and applicants learn if they are accepted soon afterward.  

Please be aware that a felony charge may affect your ability to obtain fieldwork placements and/or sit for the board examination. 

NMT Clinical Internship Application

Please submit completed applications to pamann@uwlax.edu as an email attachment.

NMT Internship Online Reference Form

NMT students that have been accepted into the program should apply to all the UWL affiliated hospitals listed below.  This is done during the Fall semester that precedes the internship year.  Students are strongly encouraged to apply to all internship sites.  Applicants can use this Internship Online Reference Form at all the UWL internship sites (see below), Froedtert and Advocate Aurora St. Luke's.  Applicants can also use this Internship Application to apply to all the UWL internship sites, Froedtert and Advocate Aurora St. Luke's. After the internship sites have evaluated the applications, the internship sites will then contact the students for interviews, which are often held during winter break.  Assignment to an internship site is not guaranteed but will consider both the students' and the hospitals' preferences.  Internship assignments are made in mid-March and students are notified prior to Spring Break.

There maybe fees and additional costs that are charged in addition to regular tuition for the clinical internship. These fees and additional costs can include clinical experience fees, liability insurance, criminal background checks, clinical evaluation systems, BLS certification, additional textbooks, and program specific supply fees. The tuition, fees, and additional costs can vary depending on which clinical internship site you are assigned to.

All internships run for 12 months as required by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRC-NMT), which accredits the hospital education programs.  Most of the hospitals listed below begin their internships in late August - early September.  The exceptions are: Aurora St. Luke's, which begins in mid-June; and UWL, which begins summer session I.

Upon successful completion of the internship, graduates are eligible to take certification examinations from the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists® (ARRT). UWL graduates have done very well on these exams, and have an excellent record of employment after graduation and certification.  On average, NMT graduates earn some of the best salaries of any new B.S. graduate.  Because of the strength and depth of our program, UWL graduates are very competitive in the job market.

Please be aware that a felony charge may affect your ability to obtain fieldwork placements and/or sit for the board examination.