Nuclear medicine uses small amounts of radioactive materials for diagnosis, therapy, and research. In Imaging, radioactive compounds concentrate in the to-be-examined organ and can then be detected using scanning devices. For biological analsysis, samples are mixed with radioactive substances outside the body and checked for hormone concentration, drugs, etc. Also, small doses of radioactive materials can be used to treat certain conditions.

Career Path	Nuclear Medicine Technician Lead Chief Department Director Researcher Instructor Nuclear Medicine Technician - median base salary $47,429 (salary.com) Median Base Wage rate: $24.14
Schools and Costs	Oregon Institute of Technology 42-months Bachelor of Science degree Capacity 11 Costs: 2001 - $4,220 non-resident per quarter Bellevue Community College 12 months Certificate of Achievement Capacity 5 Costs: 2002 - $1000 per quarter tuition
Scholarships	Check with Bellevue Community College's financial aid office
Regional Needs	US projects for 2010 - 8,000