NMAA study plan

Map the entire Nuclear Medicine Technology domain into a personal topic list covering radiopharmacy, instrumentation, radiation safety, patient care, and imaging procedures, then rank each topic by estimated exam weight and your current confidence gap.

Define the core vocabulary of nuclear medicine physics (radioactive decay modes, half-life, activity units in becquerel and curie, energy resolution) and write one-sentence definitions you can recall without notes.

Build a formula sheet for decay calculations, specific activity, and dose conversion, and solve ten practice problems using only that sheet.

Set up a spaced-repetition deck with at least 120 cards drawn from your ranked topic list, tagged by subtopic.

Explain the production pathways for technetium-99m generators and the quality-control tests (alumina breakthrough, molybdenum breakthrough, radiochemical purity) with acceptance limits.

Describe the properties, indications, and typical administered activities for at least eight routinely used radiopharmaceuticals.

Calculate radiochemical purity from chromatographic strip data and decide whether a batch is releasable.

Diagram the decay scheme of Mo-99/Tc-99m and annotate where transient and secular equilibrium apply.

Trace the signal path from scintillation crystal through photomultiplier tube, preamplifier, amplifier, and pulse-height analyzer, and state the function of each stage.

Compare NaI(Tl) gamma cameras, PET detectors, and solid-state detectors on energy resolution, sensitivity, and spatial resolution.

Explain collimator types (parallel-hole, pinhole, converging, diverging) and select the correct collimator for five given imaging scenarios.

Interpret a sample energy spectrum and identify the photopeak, Compton region, and the effect of window width on scatter acceptance.

Describe daily, weekly, quarterly, and annual camera quality-control tests (energy peaking, uniformity, spatial resolution, sensitivity, linearity) and the acceptance criteria for each.

Explain uniformity correction, flood-field artifacts, and how to troubleshoot a failed uniformity test.

Outline SPECT acquisition parameters and reconstruction steps including filtered back-projection and iterative reconstruction, and state when attenuation correction is required.

Explain PET coincidence detection, time-of-flight, and the sources of random and scatter coincidences.

Apply the ALARA principle and the three cardinal rules of time, distance, and shielding to three realistic workplace scenarios.

State the dose limits for occupational workers, the public, and declared pregnant workers, and calculate dose from a given exposure rate and time.

Describe the handling, storage, and disposal requirements for radioactive waste and the purpose of a decay-in-storage program.

Explain the purpose and typical frequency of survey-meter calibration and wipe tests, and interpret a contamination survey result.

Sequence the steps of common procedures (bone scan, myocardial perfusion, renal scan, thyroid uptake, V/Q scan, sentinel node) including patient preparation, radiopharmaceutical, timing, and typical findings.

Explain patient preparation and contraindications for at least six procedures, and identify artifacts caused by poor preparation.

Describe interventions that alter biodistribution, such as diuretics, cholecystokinin, and exercise or pharmacologic stress.

Recognize critical findings that require urgent communication to the referring physician.

Explain radiation biology fundamentals (linear energy transfer, relative biological effectiveness, cell survival curves) and the stochastic versus deterministic effects of exposure.

Describe the principles of radiation protection for the patient, including justification, optimization, and diagnostic reference levels.

Outline infection control, extravasation management, and adverse reaction response in the nuclear medicine department.

Review regulatory and accreditation expectations for record keeping, dose reporting, and licensure.

Complete two full-length timed practice exams under test conditions and record the score for each subtopic.

Re-teach your five weakest subtopics from memory using a blank page, then correct against your notes.

Consolidate the formula sheet and QC table into a single one-page pre-exam review sheet.

Schedule the exam date and write a final 72-hour review plan focused on high-weight, low-confidence topics.