2010 CERTIFICATION ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR CANDIDATES RESIDING IN THE UNITED STATES

Requirement 1: Licensure
To be certified, applicants must hold a current, unconditional, unrestricted license to practice medicine in the U.S. and must provide a copy of the current license.

Individuals with limited or training medical licenses may apply to sit for the examination. Certification will only be granted, however, when all requirements are met within 6 years of the examination, including holding a current unrestricted medical license. Such candidates who pass the examination will be listed as "testamurs" until all requirements for certification are fulfilled. Individuals in this situation should call for direction on documentation to be submitted.

Requirement 2: Board Certification
To be certified, applicants must be physicians who are Board Certified in Cardiology, Nuclear Medicine or Radiology by a board which holds membership in either the American Board of Medical Specialties or the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists of the American Osteopathic Association and must provide a copy of the current board certification.

Individuals enrolled in an ACGME or AOA fellowship or residency program in Cardiology, Nuclear Medicine, or Radiology may apply to sit for the examination. Certification will only be granted, however, when all requirements are met within 6 years of the examination, including board certification in Cardiology, Nuclear Medicine, or Radiology. Such candidates who pass the examination will be listed as "testamurs" until all requirements for certification are fulfilled.

Special Note Regarding Testamur Status:

As noted above, individuals who pass the CBNC exam under Testamur status have 6 years from passing the CBNC to document full licensure and successful certification in Cardiology, Nuclear Medicine or Radiology in order to have their Testamur status changed to Diplomate. This certification will expire 10 years from the date of passing the CBNC examination.

Requirement 3: Training/Experience in the provision of Nuclear Cardiology Services (training must be completed prior to application)

Sole Pathway (effective beginning in 2009)

• Candidates must document Level 2 training in nuclear cardiology in accordance with ACCF/ASNC COCATS Guidelines in Nuclear Cardiology, Revised 2008. Training must occur at a center that has an ACGME or AOA accredited training program in Cardiovascular Disease, Nuclear Medicine, or Radiology. All applicants must document Authorized User status or a minimum of 80 hours of Classroom and Laboratory Training (CLT) in radiation safety that meets the NRC topic requirements. The CLT hours must have been taken no more than seven (7) years prior to the date of the exam for which you are applying. CLT must be repeated if more than 7 years have elapsed since initial CLT & applicant is currently not an Authorized user. Classroom and Laboratory Training (CLT) may be taken externally from the program. If CLT hours were taken directly within the fellowship program, the preceptor must state this in the preceptor letter.

• A preceptor letter must be provided from an individual who can verify the candidate's total training in nuclear cardiology. The letter must document the dates of the applicant's training and be dated no earlier than 36 months prior to application. A preceptor must be one of the following:
  • Program Director of an accredited residency or fellowship in Cardiovascular Disease, Nuclear Medicine, or Radiology.

  • Director of Nuclear Cardiology laboratory at an institution with an accredited residency or fellowship in Cardiovascular Disease, Nuclear Medicine, or Radiology.

  • If the preceptor is not an authorized user, an authorized user at the training institution must co-sign the letter to verify that the candidate has had appropriate training in radiation safety.

• If training was completed seven (7) or more years prior to the date of the CBNC exam for which you are applying, you must provide:
  • documentation of at least 300 cases within the last 24 months at time of application.

  • 25 CME Category I hours in nuclear cardiology taken within the last 36 months at time of application. See Guidance on CME Credit

Candidates who did not receive nuclear cardiology training within the context of an accredited fellowship or residency program and who have sat previously for the CBNC exam must document: (No New Candidates)

• A preceptor letter must be provided. The preceptor must be certified by one of the following Boards: CBNC, ABNM, ABR, AOBNM or AOBR. ABIM certification alone does not qualify. If the preceptor is not an Authorized User, a separate letter from an Authorized User must be provided to verify that the candidate has had appropriate training in radiation safety. The preceptor letter must be dated no earlier than 36 months prior to application and must document the training dates of the applicant.

• Authorized User status (e.g., by copy of current facility radioactive materials license listing the applicant's name) or Authorized User eligibility (e.g., by certificate of completion of a course with a minimum of 80 hours which included all topic areas required by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, taken no more than 7 years prior to the date of the exam for which you are applying).

• Ongoing experience as evidenced by interpretation of a minimum of 300 cases (current Nuclear Cardiology COCATS requirement for Level 2) in the preceding 24 months of application; See Letter Templates and

• At least 25 hours of CME specific to nuclear cardiology within the preceding 36 months of application.

NOTE: All U.S. candidates must submit evidence of either Authorized User status, (e.g., a copy of the facility's radioactive materials license listing the candidate's name), OR of Authorized User eligibility, (e.g., a certificate of completion of a radioisotope handling and radiation safety course with a minimum of 80 hours which included all topic areas required by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and dated no more than 7 years prior to the date of the exam for which you are applying.). If the Classroom and Laboratory Training hours were an integral part of the fellowship program, the candidate's preceptor should include the following text in his/her preceptor attestation: (Must have been completed no more than 7 years prior to the date of the exam for which you are applying.) Dr. __________ completed a minimum of 80 hours of Radioisotope Handling Classroom and Laboratory Training which meets the requirements of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission within his/her fellowship program.

* NOTE: The preceptor verifying training/experience must include in the preceptor letter his or her NRC or Agreement State License Number.

Training and experience requirements for licensure by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) or Agreement States vary from state to state; therefore, candidates seeking licensure should check with their regional NRC office or the office responsible for licensure in the Agreement State in which they practice. Information is also available on the NRC website: nrc-stp.ornl.gov/ .

Guidelines for Documentation

Special Note:

• CBNC is not accepting NEW applicants whose Level 2 equivalent was completed by experience.
• Preceptor letters and other supporting documentation must accompany application. Preceptor templates may be found and completed on the CBNC website (www.cbnc.org). Preceptors are STRONGLY encouraged to use these.
• Preceptor letters must be dated no earlier than 36 months prior to application.
• Preceptor letters must be on organizational letterhead and the author's relationship to the applicant provided (e.g., Program Director).
• The letter must include the applicant's nuclear cardiology training dates.
• If the preceptor is not an Authorized User, an Authorized User at the training institution must co-sign the letter to verify that the candidate has had appropriate training in radiation safety.