title: All You Need to Know as an Authorized User.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this article is to review the training requirements for practicing nuclear radiology, the scope of licensing, how to start a new practice, and the key concepts an authorized user needs to know for responsible use of radiopharmaceuticals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physicians responsible for the daily operations of nuclear medicine clinics often find the regulations concerning the safe handling and administration of radiopharmaceuticals daunting. Even experienced authorized users have concerns about handling many new therapeutic agents. Those studying for certifying and subspecialty examinations or for maintenance of certification for the American Board of Nuclear Medicine and the American Board of Radiology must clearly understand the overall process for becoming an authorized user.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Jefferson Tower 260, 619 19th St S, Birmingham, AL 35249-6830.
authors.forename: Jon A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Baldwin
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Jefferson Tower 260, 619 19th St S, Birmingham, AL 35249-6830.
authors.forename: Asim K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Bag
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Jefferson Tower 260, 619 19th St S, Birmingham, AL 35249-6830.
authors.forename: Sharon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Jefferson Tower 260, 619 19th St S, Birmingham, AL 35249-6830.
authors.forename: Fathima F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Palot-Manzil
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Jefferson Tower 260, 619 19th St S, Birmingham, AL 35249-6830.
authors.forename: Janis P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: O'Malley
mesh_terms: D033161:Government Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008004:Licensure; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal / Q000592:standards; D009683:Nuclear Medicine / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards*; D011216:Practice Management, Medical / Q000592:standards*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000592:standards; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release / Q000517:prevention & control; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013044:Specialty Boards; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D017744:Medical Waste Disposal; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals
keywords: Nuclear Regulatory Commission; authorized user; radiation safety program; radioactive spills; radioactive waste; written directives