Eligibility

Three Attempt Rule

United States Eligibility

International Eligibility

Re-applicants

 

FAQs about the exam can be found here.

Three Attempt Rule

All exam candidates will be subject to a three-attempt rule. A "no show" or withdrawal for any exam administration will not be counted as an attempt. Beginning with the January 2026 exam, a candidate who has failed the exam will have a five-year period to complete up to two additional attempts. Following the third failed attempt, the candidate will not be eligible for examination for two calendar years.  All candidates whose first attempt preceded the January 2026 exam will not be subject to the five-year restriction but must have documented previous attempts to reapply for the exam.   

After a failed exam, applicants will sit for the exam for two successive exams based on the eligibility criteria for which they were approved. If the exam is offered more than once in any calendar year, candidates may sit for each administration.

After the two-year waiting period, the candidate may submit an application for examination. Applicants applying following the two-year waiting period will apply as a new candidate and must meet prevailing eligibility requirements and be required to submit eight (8) MDCB-approved continuing education credits.

Eligibility

The exam is delivered in English only and was designed to test the dosimetry knowledge for U.S.-based practice. As a U.S.-based certification body, the MDCB is required to adhere to strict legal guidelines to provide:

  • An exam that is psychometrically sound and legally defensible.
  • Due process, i.e. the same fair and equal administration and enforcement procedures for all applicants and certified practitioners. 

Each applicant must be aware of the information outlined in the handbook and the most current information in regard to exam administration, eligibility, application requirements, deadlines, and adherence to the Ethical Standards of the MDCB.  Candidates must meet the eligibility requirements in effect at the time of application. Each candidate must assess their knowledge, skills and understanding of the specialty in deciding when to apply for the exam. Applicants are solely responsible for the timely submission of complete applications.

The MDCB is the sole and only judge of each candidate's qualifications to sit for the MDCB Certification Exam. In consideration of a candidate's application, the individual's moral, ethical and professional standing will be reviewed and assessed by the board. The board may make inquiry of the persons named in the application and of such persons as the board deems appropriate with respect to moral, ethical and professional standing.

United States Eligibility

Effective as of 2017, all United States applicants will be required to apply as Route 1 applicants. 

Route 1 applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Hold a minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in any discipline
  • Be a graduate of a JRCERT-accredited Medical Dosimetry* program of at least 12 months.

* Each JRCERT-accredited program provides details on the prerequisite coursework necessary for application to the program.  

International Eligibility

Recognizing interest from students and institutions abroad indicating that medical dosimetry certification has value in other countries, the MDCB has developed eligibility requirements for dosimetry practice outside the United States. Candidates residing and practicing outside the U.S. (including Canada), who are not graduates of a JRCERT-accredited program, will be required to meet the requirements detailed and demonstrate current employment outside the U.S.

The MDCB does not predetermine an applicant's eligibility prior to the application submission process. No exceptions can be made regarding the requirements or the documentation. Therefore, it is recommended that International candidates read and understand the handbook well in advance of application deadlines to ensure submission of required documents as outlined. Although candidates may possess excellent qualifications, only candidates who are determined to meet eligibility requirements as detailed can be approved to sit for the exam:

  • Hold a minimum of a Bachelor of Science degree.  Foreign equivalency evaluation from EITHER The Foundation for International Services, Inc. (FIS), OR the International Education Research Foundation (IERF) is required. Foreign equivalency documentation from any other organization will not be considered. Canadian applicants will not be required to submit foreign equivalency evaluation.
  • Have achieved a minimum grade of C or 70-79% in Anatomy and/or Physiology, Brachytherapy, Clinical Lab, Computer Technology, Cross-sectional Anatomy, Radiation Oncology, Radiation Physics, Radiobiology and Treatment Planning during Bachelor of Science degree or higher degree, certificate program or other formal non-US structured dosimetry training program. Transcript and course descriptions will be required.
  • Demonstrate completion of 1,000 clinical curriculum hours in medical dosimetry treatment planning during Bachelor of Science or higher degree course of study - or - other formal non-US structured dosimetry training program. Clinical curriculum hours are defined as training in a medical setting creating clinically deliverable treatment plans for radiation oncology patients as part of the medical dosimetry education. They are in addition to the education received in a classroom setting. Clinical training hours completed in conjunction with employment or while "on the job" will not be considered to have achieved the requirement for clinical hours. Transcript and course descriptions will be required for certificate or other formal non-US structured dosimetry training programs. Hours for: (1) treatment delivery, (2) on-the-job training or (3) for which the candidate received a salary do not qualify as in-curriculum hours.
  • Document current non-US employment.

The MDCB will suspend the international eligibility route following the administration of the September 2025 exam. During the period of suspension, the MDCB will investigate and determine how to ensure we are meeting our mandate to provide procedural fairness to all applicants.

Re-applicants

Re-applicants with a prior application that does not precede the September 2011 exam

Will be required to submit 8 "new" continuing education credits for each re-application attempt. Credits submitted:

  • Cannot be previously submitted for the original application or subsequent re-application.
  • Must have been completed within one year preceding the application deadline.
  • Can be from a review course.

Route 1 re-applicants whose initial application preceded the September 2011 exam  

Will be required to submit a Route 1 application:

  • Hold a Bachelor's Degree
  • Provide a diploma from Medical Dosimetry JRCERT-accredited program of at least 12 months.

Route 2 re-applicants whose initial application preceded the September 2011 exam

Will be required to submit a Route 2 application:

  • Provide applicable documentation of the educational requirements from the initial application, whether Bachelor’s Degree, Bachelor of Science Degree or ARRT registry
  • Completed at least 36 months (or 35 hours per week full time employment equivalent of 5,460 hours) clinical medical dosimetry experience* within the last six years before the application deadline, under the direction of a certified medical dosimetrist or a medical physicist
  • Completed 24 CE credits approved by the MDCB** during the 36 months (or 35 hours per week full-time equivalent) clinical experience. The proof of completion must display the MDCB course reference number and must have been completed within the three years before the application deadline.

*Clinical medical dosimetry experience is defined as full-time paid employment in a medical setting creating clinically deliverable treatment plans for radiation oncology patients under the direction of a physicist or CMD. This does not include corporate/vendor experience. The clinical experience must NOT be concurrent with the dosimetry schooling.

The MDCB will not communicate with a third-party inquiry regarding any individual's eligibility. 

**MDCB approved activities can be determined by an Activity Search at https://mdcb.learningbuilder.com.