Certificate Program

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Introduction

This CAMPEP-accredited Medical Physics Certificate program is a two-semester program for individuals with a PhD in Physics, Engineering or a related field wishing to transition to a career in medical physics. Students will acquire a broad knowledge in medical physics, including radiation physics, radiobiology, radiation safety, medical imaging and the modern practice of radiation oncology, through both coursework and hands-on clinical experience. This non-degree program is designed to meet all the recommendations in Report 197S of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine. At the completion of this program applicants will be eligible to take the Part 1 of the ABR exam and will be eligible to enter CAMPEP-accredited medical physics residency programs.

Admission Requirements

Applicants are required either to be currently enrolled in a PhD program or to hold a PhD degree already in Physics, Engineering or equivalent with a minimum 3.3 GPA and demonstrate fluency in English. In order to obtain the certificate, the applicants must have the equivalent of a minor in physics which requires a two-semester calculus based introductory physics course and three upper-level physics courses as described in Audit Standards for Initial Certification document. This is a part of the requirement both for entering into the CAMPEP residencies and taking the ABR Part I certification exam.

Application must include completed application form, current CV, and transcripts. Applicant, whose PhD degree is from outside the United States, must also submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score with your application.

Course Requirements

The program requires completion of at least 6 courses (18 credits) taken in the Fall and Spring semesters. A maximum of 6 credits may be transferred provided that such credits have been earned through university-level courses appropriate to the certificate program upon approval by the program faculty. Applicants who have not earned credits in coursework for ethics and professionalism training must include this course in the curriculum. The curriculum include the following courses:

BME602 Unified Medical Sciences II (3 credits)  
BME681 Radiobiology and Physics (3 credits)  
BME682 Radiation Therapy Physics (3 credits)  
BME683 Radiation Protection (3 credits)  
BME620 Medical Imaging (X-ray, CT) or BME621 Medical Imaging (MRI, NMI, Ultrasound) (3 credits)  
BME701 Ethics and Professionalism for Engineers and Medical Physicists (1 credit) - optional
BME781 Radiation Dosimetry and Physics (3 credits)  
BME783 Radiation Therapy Physics Clinical Rotation (3 credits) - optional  
BME784 Medical Physics Journal Club ( 0 credit) – required participation

In addition to the required courses, students will be given a variety of other learning opportunities in ethics and error, clinical rotations, journal club, morning seminars and ground rounds.