Eligibility for U.S. Applicants

A. Formal Training Pathway (effective as of 2009)

1. Candidates must document Level 2 training in Nuclear Cardiology in accordance with the ACC Core Cardiovascular Training Statement 4 Task Force 6: Training in Nuclear Cardiology , Level 2 (the COCATS Guidelines revised 2015) by providing a 2021 version of the preceptor attestation letter. Training in Nuclear Cardiology must occur at a center that has an ACGME or AOA accredited training program in Cardiovascular Disease, Nuclear Medicine, or Radiology,— AND —
2. 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. Documentation may be a copy of the facility RAM license listing the applicant’s name or a copy of a certificate of completion of an 80 hour CLT course that meet NRC topic requirements.
   • The CLT hours must have been taken no more than seven (7) years prior to the date of the examination for which an individual is applying. CLT must be repeated if seven (7) or more years have elapsed since initial CLT and the applicant is not an Authorized User. Classroom and Laboratory Training (CLT) may be taken externally from the fellowship program. Direct, hands-on laboratory experience must be part of the applicant’s Classroom and Laboratory Training.
   • If CLT hours were taken directly within the fellowship program, the preceptor must state this in the preceptor attestation letter by including the sentence “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”. When using the online preceptor letter template the box that states that this part of training was completed as an “integral” part of the fellowship should be checked.
   • If CLT hours were completed external to the fellowship program, the preceptor must state in the preceptor attestation letter the name of the course and the dates in which it was attended by including the following sentences “Dr. ____________ completed a minimum of 80 hours of Radioisotope Handling Classroom and Laboratory Training which meets the requirements of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission external to his/her fellowship/residency program. This training was taken in a course offered by __________________ and was completed between the dates of ___________and __________.

   — AND —

3. A preceptor attestation letter must be provided from an individual who can verify the candidate’s total training in nuclear cardiology. All components of Level 2 training in nuclear cardiology, including the 80 hours of Classroom and Laboratory Training (CLT), must be completed prior to applying to sit for the examination. The preceptor letter must document the dates of the applicant’s training (mm/dd/yy) and be written on organizational letterhead.
   Important Notice: Beginning in 2011 all preceptors must have a Program Verification on file with CBNC before a preceptor attestation letter can be accepted.  Click here to lookup your Preceptor in our database. If your Preceptor is not listed, check with your preceptor prior to sending your documents as your application cannot be approved without this document on file. Preceptor Information and Guidance
   NEW PRECEPTOR PORTAL: Preceptors who are currently in our records, in order to submit the online program verification document, please login to your MyAPCA portal, select the MY RESOURCES tab, and click on the MY CBNC Preceptor Portal Link. You will then be able to complete and submit the form online.

   A preceptor for this pathway 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.

   — AND —

4. Recentness of Training: If your Nuclear Cardiology training was completed seven (7) or more years prior to the date of the CBNC examination for which you are applying, you must also provide:
   • documentation of at least 300 cases completed within 24 months of application submission.
   • 30 CME Category I hours completed within 36 months of application submission. Of the total, a minimum of 15 hours must be nuclear cardiology-specific and the remaining 15 hours may be in the applicant’s other area(s) of specialty (e.g., general cardiology, echo, nuclear medicine, etc). See Guidance on CME Credit
   • Authorized User status or a certificate of completion of an 80 hour CLT course taken no more than 7 years prior to the 2024 exam.

B. “Experience” Pathway Candidates [no new candidates accepted]

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 provide:

1. Documentation of Authorized User status (e.g., by copy of current facility radioactive materials license listing the applicant’s name) or provide a copy of a 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,— AND —
2. A preceptor attestation letter. 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, an Authorized User must co-sign to verify that the candidate has had appropriate training in radiation safety. The preceptor letter must document the dates of the applicant’s nuclear cardiology training. The preceptor verifying training/experience for this pathway must include in the preceptor letter his or her NRC or Agreement State License Number,— AND —
3. Ongoing experience as evidenced by interpretation of a minimum of 300 cases (current Nuclear Cardiology COCATS requirement for Level 2) within 24 months of application submission; See Letter Templates,— AND —
4. At least 30 hours of CME (Category 1 AMA PRA) completed within 36 months of application submission. Of the total, a minimum of 15 hours must be nuclear cardiology-specific and the other 15 hours may be in the applicant’s other area(s) of specialty (e.g., general cardiology, echo, nuclear medicine, etc).

Special NOTE: All U.S. applicants 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 a copy of 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:

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.

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.