Training for Use of Remote Afterloader Units, Teletherapy Units, and Gamma Stereotactic

Radiosurgery Units Except as provided in 105 CMR 120.528, the licensee shall require an authorized user of a sealed source for a use authorized under 105 CMR 120.570 to be a physician who: (A) Is certified by a medical specialty board whose certification process has been recognized by the Agency, an Agreement State or the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and who meets the requirements in 105 CMR 120.587(C). The names of board certifications that have been recognized by the Agency, Nuclear Regulatory Commission or an Agreement State will be posted on the NRC's Medical Uses Licensee Toolkit Web page. To have its certification process recognized, a specialty board shall require all candidates for certification to: (1) Successfully complete a minimum of three years of residency training in a radiation therapy program approved by the Residency Review Committee of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or the Committee on Post-graduate Training of the American Osteopathic Association; and (2) Pass an examination, administered by diplomates of the specialty board, which tests knowledge and competence in radiation safety, radionuclide handling, treatment planning, quality assurance, and clinical use of stereotactic radiosurgery, remote afterloaders and external beam therapy; or (B) (1) Has completed a structured educational program in basic radionuclide techniques applicable to the use of a sealed source in a therapeutic medical unit that includes: (a) 200 hours of classroom and laboratory training in the following areas: 1. Radiation physics and instrumentation; 2. Radiation protection; 3. Mathematics pertaining to the use and measurement of radioactivity; and 4. Radiation biology; and (b) 500 hours of work experience, under the supervision of an authorized user who meets the requirements in 105 CMR 120.528, 120.587 or equivalent Agreement State or Nuclear Regulatory Commission requirements at a medical facility that is authorized to use byproduct materials in 105 CMR 120.570, involving: 1. Reviewing full calibration measurements and periodic spot checks; 2. Preparing treatment plans and calculating treatment doses and times; 3. Using administrative controls to prevent a medical event involving the use of radioactive material; 4. Implementing emergency procedures to be followed in the event of the abnormal operation of the medical unit or console; 5. Checking and using survey meters; and 6. Selecting the proper dose and how it is to be administered; and (2) Has completed three years of supervised clinical experience in radiation therapy, under an authorized user who meets the requirements in 105 CMR 120.528, 120.587 or equivalent Agreement State or Nuclear Regulatory Commission requirements, as part of a formal training program approved by the Residency Review Committee for Radiation Oncology of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or the Committee on Postdoctoral Training of the American Osteopathic Association. This experience may be obtained concurrently with the supervised work experience required by 105 CMR 120.587(B)(1)(b); and (3) Has obtained written attestation that the individual has satisfactorily completed the requirements in 105 CMR 120.587(B)(1) and (2) and (C); and is able to independently fulfill the radiation safety-related duties as an authorized user of each type of therapeutic medical unit for which the individual is requesting authorized user status. The attestation must be obtained from either: (a) A preceptor authorized user who meets the requirements in 105 CMR 120.528, 120.587, or equivalent Nuclear Regulatory Commission or Agreement State requirements for the type(s) of therapeutic medical unit for which the individual is requesting authorized user status; or (b) A residency program director who affirms in writing that the attestation represents the consensus of the residency program faculty where at least one faculty member is an authorized user who meets the requirements in 105 CMR 120.528, 120.587, or equivalent Nuclear Regulatory Commission or Agreement State requirements, for the type(s) of therapeutic medical unit for which the individual is requesting authorized user status, and concurs with the attestation provided by the residency program director. The residency training program must be approved by the Residency Review Committee of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or the Council on Postdoctoral Training of the American Osteopathic Association and must include training and experience specified in 105 CMR 120.587(B)(1) and (2). (C) Has received training in device operation, safety procedures, and clinical use for the type(s) of use for which authorization is sought. This training requirement may be satisfied by satisfactory completion of a training program provided by the vendor for new users or by receiving training supervised by an authorized user or authorized medical physicist, as appropriate, who is authorized for the type(s) of use for which the individual is seeking authorization. OTHER MEDICAL USES OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL OR RADIATION FROM RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL