NucMed Boards Prep is a question bank for technologists sitting the NMTCB or ARRT(N) nuclear medicine board exam, and the ARRT CT or NMTCB(CT) registry. Every question comes with a worked explanation, so a wrong answer tells you what you actually misunderstood rather than just marking you down. It was built by someone who sat the exam.
Radiation safety and regulations
The NRC annual occupational whole-body dose limit is:
A. 10 rem (100 mSv) · B. 5 rem (50 mSv) · C. 15 rem (150 mSv) · D. 1 rem (10 mSv)
Answer: B — 5 rem (50 mSv)
10 CFR Part 20 sets the occupational whole-body limit at 5 rem (50 mSv) per year. ALARA goals aim for doses well below this limit.
Radiopharmaceuticals
Technetium-99m is produced from which parent radionuclide in a generator?
A. Iodine-131 · B. Molybdenum-99 · C. Uranium-235 · D. Strontium-90
Answer: B — Molybdenum-99
Tc-99m is produced by the decay of Mo-99 (T½ = 66 hr) via beta decay. Mo-99 is adsorbed on an alumina column in the generator; Tc-99m elutes with saline. This is the basis of the Mo-99/Tc-99m generator.
Clinical procedures
The standard preparation for a Tc-99m MDP bone scan includes patient instructions to:
A. Hydrate and void frequently after injection · B. Discontinue all medications · C. Fast for 12 hours before the injection · D. Avoid all physical activity for 24 hours
Answer: A — Hydrate and void frequently after injection
After Tc-99m MDP injection, patients are instructed to drink plenty of fluids and void frequently. This reduces soft tissue and bladder radioactivity (background), improving bone-to-soft tissue contrast for better image quality.
NMTCB and ARRT(N) practice questions — 500 nuclear medicine questions across all five domains.
CT registry practice test — 500 questions for the ARRT CT and NMTCB(CT) exams.