The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has proposed four options relative to current requirements to administer radiopharmaceuticals, including reducing the number of training and experience hours from 700 to 400.
The NRC's new draft includes several proposed approaches to training requirements:
- Maintaining the current requirements
- Reducing the requirements to allow "limited authorized users" for different classes of radiopharmaceuticals
- Shifting oversight of competency to an examination authority or licensee
- Shifting competency requirements from an individual to a team with complementary training and experience
The NRC is looking to make the changes due to what the agency perceives as a shortage of authorized users of radiopharmaceuticals, especially in rural areas where there is a dearth of healthcare personnel, and to increase access to healthcare in general.
Currently, in order to administer radiopharmaceuticals, a healthcare provider or technologist must be certified by a medical specialty board whose certification process is recognized by the NRC or state; satisfy the training and experience requirements of an alternate pathway, including completing a structured educational program and supervised work experience (e.g., seminars, online training, vendor training) totaling 700 hours; or be previously identified as an authorized user on an NRC or "agreement state" license or permit.
The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) is one among several organizations that oppose easing the current training and experience criteria and submitted opposition statements to the NRC in July 2018 and January 2019. The society's expert work group will address the open notice and questions included in the notice.
The NRC is now taking comments again until July 3.
