Jefferson College of Health Professions

Jefferson Announces PET/CT Certificate Program:
The First Formal Training Program for PET/CT in the Nation

Jefferson College of Health Professions announces the debut of the first independent, formal certificate program in PET/CT in the nation, starting in August 2006.

"There is a great need for PET/CT technologists nationwide and especially here in Philadelphia, where there are approximately 15 PET scanners and techs are trained on the job," shares Frances H. Gilman, MS, RT(R)(CT)(MR)(CV), Assistant Professor and Chair of the Department of Radiologic Sciences at Jefferson. "Jefferson already has nuclear medicine and CT programs in place at the baccalaureate level. We have the resources and faculty to run this program. We felt that it was time to start a formal training program for a field that is only going to keep growing."

Until now, there has been no formal training for this relatively new technology. Individuals working in this field usually have credentials in either CT or nuclear medicine and learn the other aspect of the work through on-the-job-training.

Jefferson's program is designed to educate "hybrid technologists" who are trained and prepared to work in both CT and nuclear medicine.

Eligible students must be certified in Nuclear Medicine (CNMT or ARRT(N)). The 12-month part-time program will include didactic and clinical experiences in both CT and PET. The program was designed so that students could maintain their day time jobs. During the fall and spring semesters, students will attend classes at Jefferson's center city Philadelphia campus two nights a week. Clinical training is scheduled on an individual basis in the fall, spring and summer.

After completion of the program, students will be eligible to take the ARRT(CT) and NMTCB PET certification exams.

For more infortmation, please visit http://www.jefferson.edu/jchp/di/petct.cfm.