Program Overview

Program Description

Nuclear medicine uses radioactivity to diagnose and treat disease. This medical specialty provides information about both the structure and the function of virtually every major organ system within the body. Nuclear medicine procedures are safe, involve little or no patient discomfort, and do not require the use of anesthesia. The nuclear medicine technologist is responsible for preparing and administering radiopharmaceuticals; performing patient-imaging procedures; accomplishing computer processing and image enhancement; analyzing biologic specimens; and providing images, data analysis, and patient information for diagnostic interpretation by the physician health care team member.

Program Length

The program lasts 9 quarters (27 months).

Possible Careers

Possible careers for graduates of this program include:

• Nuclear Medicine Technologist
• Hospital Administration
• Radiation Safety Officer (RSO)
• Research

Application Deadlines

The application deadlines are as follows:

• Quarter: Summer of 2026
• Application Open: Oct 1, 2025
• Priority Deadline: Jan 15, 2026
• Final Deadline: Feb 15, 2026

Admissions Requirements

The admissions requirements are:

Humanities

• Choose a minimum of three areas from: history, literature, philosophy, foreign language, art/music appreciation/history
• Eight units of religion are included in the BSNM program

Natural Sciences

• Chemistry (Intro or General) with lab (one class)
• Intro or General Physics with lab (one course)
• Human Anatomy & Physiology with lab (complete sequence [2 courses])
• College Algebra (Statistics not accepted)
• Medical Terminology

Social Sciences

• General Psychology (4 quarter-units/3 semester-units) required
• Choose remaining units from the following areas: sociology anthropology, economics, and geography

Communication

• Freshman Composition, complete sequence (required)
• Oral Communication

Health and Wellness

• Physical Education (2 activities)
• Health or Nutrition

Electives

• To meet minimum total of 96 quarter-units/ 64 semester-units

Observation Experience

• A minimum of 8 hours of career observation (volunteer/employee) in a Nuclear Medicine Department is required

Prerequisites

Applicants must complete the following subjects at an accredited college or university prior to entering the program:

Humanities

• 20 quarter/14 semester units minimum
• Choose a minimum of three areas from: history, literature, philosophy, foreign language, art/music appreciation/history
• Included in this minimum must be 4 quarter units of religion per year of attendance at an SDA college/university

Natural Sciences

• Chemistry (Intro or General) with lab (complete sequence, one year)
• Intro or General Physics with lab
• Human Anatomy & Physiology with lab (complete sequence)
• College Algebra
• Medical Terminology

Social Sciences

• 6 quarter/4 semester units minimum
• Choose two areas from the categories of Psychology, Sociology, Lifespan Development, Anthropology, Economics, Geography

Communication

• 9 quarter/6 semester units minimum
• Freshman Composition, complete sequence (required)
• Oral Communication

Health and Wellness

• 3 quarter/2 semester units minimum
• Physical Education (2 activities)
• Health or Nutrition

Electives

• To meet minimum total of 80 quarter units

Discipline Accrediting Agency

Loma Linda University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities, and the Radiologic Health Branch of the Department of Health Services. The nuclear medicine technology program at Loma Linda University is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT).

Expected Cost of Attendance

The estimated cost of attendance is based on full-time attendance for the number of months enrolled per academic year.

Required Program Costs

Academic Year

• Year of Program:
  • Year 1: 12 months
  • Year 2: 12 months
  • Year 3: 3 months
• Tuition & Fees:
  • Year 1: $47,242
  • Year 2: $47,934
  • Year 3: $9,572
• Books, Materials, Supplies & Equipment Allowance:
  • Year 1: $5,600
  • Year 2: $3,556
  • Year 3: $870

Other Educational Costs

• Living Expense (Food & Housing Allowance):
  • On Campus Dorm: $16,596 (Year 1), $16,596 (Year 2), $4,149 (Year 3)
  • LLU Owned Rental Property: $29,256 (Year 1), $29,256 (Year 2), $7,314 (Year 3)
  • LLU Owned Rental w/ Dependents: $29,916 (Year 1), $29,916 (Year 2), $7,479 (Year 3)
  • Undergraduate Dependent w/ Parents: $10,200 (Year 1), $10,200 (Year 2), $2,550 (Year 3)
  • Off Campus: $29,256 (Year 1), $29,256 (Year 2), $7,314 (Year 3)
• Transportation Allowance: $4,200 (Year 1), $4,200 (Year 2), $1,050 (Year 3)
• Miscellaneous Personal Expenses: $4,380 (Year 1), $4,380 (Year 2), $1,095 (Year 3)
• Federal Student Loan Fees: $79 (Year 1), $79 (Year 2), $29 (Year 3)
• Cost of Obtaining Professional License: $0 (Year 1), $0 (Year 2), $1,000 (Year 3)