Section R12-1-727. Training for Use of Manual Brachytherapy Sources and Training for the Use of Strontium-90 Sources for Treatment of Ophthalmic Disease

A.      Except as provided in R12-1-710, the licensee shall require an authorized user of a manual brachytherapy source for the uses authorized under this Article to be a physician who:

1.        Is certified by a medical specialty board whose certifica- tion process has been recognized by the NRC or an Agreement State and who meets the requirements in sub- section (A)(2). To have its certification process recog- nized, a specialty board shall require all candidates for certification to:

a.         Successfully complete a minimum of three years of residency training in a radiation oncology 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-Grad- uate Training of the American Osteopathic Associa- tion; and

b.        Pass an examination, administered by diplomates of the specialty board, that tests knowledge and compe- tence in radiation safety, radionuclide handling, treatment planning, quality assurance, and clinical use of manual brachytherapy; or

2.        Has completed a structured educational program in basic radionuclide handling techniques applicable to the use of manual brachytherapy sources that includes:

a.         200 hours of classroom and laboratory training in the following areas:

i.         Radiation physics and instrumentation;

ii.        Radiation protection;

iii.      Mathematics pertaining to the use and measure- ment of radioactivity;

iv.       Radiation biology; and

b.        500 hours of work experience, under the supervision of an authorized user who meets the requirements in this Section, or equivalent NRC or Agreement State requirements at a medical institution, involving:

i.         Ordering, receiving, and unpacking radioactive materials safely and performing the related radiation surveys;

ii.        Checking survey meters for proper operation;

iii.      Preparing, implanting, and removing brachytherapy sources;

iv.       Maintaining running inventories of material on hand;

v.        Using administrative controls to prevent a med- ical event involving the use of radioactive material;

vi.       Using emergency procedures to control radio- active material; and

c.         Has completed three years  of supervised  clinical experience in radiation oncology, under an autho- rized user who meets the requirements in this Sec- tion, or equivalent Agreement State requirements, as part of a formal training program approved by the Residency Review Committee for Radiation Oncol- ogy of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Med- ical Education or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or the Committee on Post- doctoral Training of the American Osteopathic Association. This experience may be obtained con- currently with the supervised work experience required by subsection (A)(2)(b); and

d.        Has obtained written attestation, signed by a precep- tor authorized user who meets the requirements in this Section, NRC, or equivalent Agreement State requirements, that the individual has satisfactorily completed the requirements in subsection (A)(1) or (A)(2) and has achieved a level of competency suffi- cient to function independently as an authorized user of manual brachytherapy sources for the medical uses authorized under Exhibit A of this Article.

B.       Except as provided in R12-1-710, a licensee shall require an authorized user of strontium-90 for ophthalmic radiotherapy to be a physician who has completed the training requirements in 10 CFR 35.491, January 1, 2013, incorporated by reference, and available under R12-1-101. This incorporated material contains no future editions or amendments.

C.      The training and experience shall have been obtained within the seven years preceding the date of application or the indi-

vidual shall have had related continuing education and experi- ence since the required training and experience was completed.

Historical Note

New Section made by final rulemaking at 13 A.A.R. 1217, effective May 5, 2007 (Supp. 07-1). Amended by

final rulemaking at 20 A.A.R. 324, effective March 8,

2014 (Supp. 14-1).