u/Kind-Career7308

Hello! I have recently been thinking about making the switch the nuclear medicine technologist. I am currently a Pathologists' Assistant. I've only been at it for about 4 years, but I hate it. It's too hard on my mind and my body.

I used to assist with FNAs and bone marrows, and that's how I became interested in possibly pivoting into a career in imaging. I'm particularly interested in nuclear medicine because there are one year programs available for people that have no background in imaging.

The downsides are that I'd need to move for the program and take out more loans. I'm also concerned about having to move once again after I've completed the program to find a job. Also, my current salary is 105k and it seems like starting salary is around 70-80k for NMT.

But I feel like I would be a lot happier. Does anyone have any advice? I don't want to make another mistake. I've already been through 3 jobs and now I know it's not the place I'm working, I just don't like my job.

I'm currently working in pathology but hoping to pivot into the world of imaging sometime in the next 10 years.

Researching careers, it seems like the only subspecialty that offers a 12 month post-bacc certificate program is NucMed tech. Is there a reason why other specialties like MRI tech or sonography don't have this as an option? For example, I think you need at least an associates degree for both of those.

Is there a possibility that the 12 month programs will become null one day? I don't want to do a certificate program and then find out that those will no longer be accepted...