Doctors wanting to become a nuclear medicine specialist in Australia and New Zealand must complete RACP’s Advanced Training in Nuclear Medicine (ATNM) training program.  Learning Goal 9 within the ATNM curriculum requires trainees to gain “an in-depth knowledge of the scientific basis of nuclear medicine, including radiation safety”.  While many of the learning outcomes within this Goal will be gained through on-the-job experience, a mandatory learning activity for trainees has also been set.

RACP has engaged AANMS to create and deliver a course and assessment for this learning goal.  AANMS’s Basic Sciences Course and Exam provides trainees with theoretical and practical training within the basic scientific principles relevant to the clinical applications of nuclear medicine.

Aim of the Basic Sciences Course

By actively participating in the BSC, trainees will:

  • Obtain an understanding of the theoretical principles of the basic sciences in nuclear medicine;
  • Be able to apply these principles in clinical nuclear medicine practice, and
  • Obtain practical skills in instrumentation, computer analysis and radiopharmacy.

Entry into the Course

The BSC is only open to trainees undertaking their Advanced Training in Nuclear Medicine.  Trainees must also be an AANMS Trainee Member – if you are not yet a member, please join (it’s free and gives you access to the AANMS TREC and provides you with lots of great learning opportunities and support).

Important 2026 Dates

  • When: To be completed in Year 1 of the ATNM Training Program
  • Registration: 2 Feb – 23 March (link to registration form TBP)
  • Course Week 1: Sat 6 – Tue 9 June
  • Course Week 2: Tue 16 – Fri 19 June
  • Exam Week: Mon 17 – Fri 21 Aug 8
  • Cost: $1,537 inc GST paid by 23 March (payment link TBP)

Course Structure

The course is held over 8 days of full day training.  The content is delivered predominantly online – a mixture of recorded tutorials, live tutorials, reading material and eLearning – with a couple of in-person practical days held at one location in each state/zone.  10 topics are delivered over 20+ tutorials and are accessible on AANMS’s Trainee Resource and Education Centre (TREC).

Exam

The exam is held 8 weeks after the course and is delivered in two exams/parts that ask a range of multiple-choice and long answer questions.  The trainee completes the exam at their training setting online via AANMS’s Trainee Resource and Education Centre (TREC), with their training supervisor observing them.  The trainee, with and their training supervisor, determines when they will complete the exam during the Exam Week.

Recognition

Trainees must attend the full course and receive a pass outcome in the exam to obtain “satisfactory completion” in this RACP Advanced Training in Nuclear Medicine training requirement.  AANMS will provide trainees with a letter advising exam results and a “BSC Certificate” on successful completion.  AANMS will provide RACP with trainee outcomes.

For further information, please contact the AANMS’s Education Officer.