100+ Free ABR NMP Practice Questions

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Question 1

Score: 0/0

What is the primary photon energy emitted by Tc-99m?

70 keV

140 keV

364 keV

511 keV

to track

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: ABR NMP Exam

Pass/Fail

Scoring Method

ABR criterion-referenced

~125

Part 2 Questions

Computer-based, 5 hours

$1,630

Total Exam Fees

Parts 1 + 2 + 3 combined

3 Parts

Certification Exams

General, Specialty, Oral

75-85%

Part 2 Pass Rate

CAMPEP first-time takers

CAMPEP

Required Training

Accredited program + residency

The ABR Nuclear Medical Physics exam is a three-part certification process administered by the American Board of Radiology. Part 2 is a 5-hour computer-based specialty exam with approximately 125 multiple-choice questions covering nuclear medicine physics. The total certification cost is $1,630 ($210 Part 1 + $640 Part 2 + $780 Part 3). First-time pass rates for CAMPEP-enrolled candidates on Part 2 typically range from 75-85%.

Sample ABR NMP Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your ABR NMP exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1What is the primary photon energy emitted by Tc-99m?

A.70 keV

B.140 keV

C.364 keV

D.511 keV

Explanation: Tc-99m emits a 140 keV gamma ray, which is ideal for gamma camera imaging. This energy is high enough to penetrate tissue but low enough to be efficiently collimated and detected by NaI(Tl) scintillation crystals. It is the most widely used radionuclide in nuclear medicine.

2A Mo-99/Tc-99m generator reaches transient equilibrium. At equilibrium, which statement is correct?

A.The activity of Tc-99m equals the activity of Mo-99

B.The activity of Tc-99m exceeds the activity of Mo-99

C.The activity of Tc-99m is less than half the activity of Mo-99

D.The Tc-99m activity is zero

Explanation: In transient equilibrium, the daughter activity (Tc-99m) slightly exceeds the parent activity (Mo-99). This occurs because the half-life of Mo-99 (66 hours) is longer but not vastly longer than that of Tc-99m (6 hours). The ratio of daughter to parent activity at transient equilibrium is determined by the decay constants of both nuclides.

3Which type of radioactive decay produces two 511 keV annihilation photons?

A.Alpha decay

B.Beta-minus decay

C.Positron (beta-plus) decay

D.Isomeric transition

Explanation: Positron (beta-plus) decay results in the emission of a positron that annihilates with a nearby electron, producing two 511 keV photons emitted at approximately 180 degrees apart. This is the fundamental physical process exploited in PET imaging for coincidence detection.

4The half-life of F-18 is approximately:

A.20 minutes

B.110 minutes

C.6 hours

D.13 hours

Explanation: F-18 has a half-life of approximately 110 minutes (about 2 hours). This half-life is long enough to allow synthesis, transport, and imaging but short enough to limit patient radiation dose. F-18 is the most commonly used PET radionuclide, primarily in the form of FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose).

5Which radionuclide production method is used to create F-18 for PET imaging?

A.Nuclear reactor (neutron activation)

B.Radionuclide generator

C.Cyclotron (charged particle bombardment)

D.Spontaneous fission

Explanation: F-18 is produced in a cyclotron by bombarding enriched O-18 water with protons via the O-18(p,n)F-18 reaction. Cyclotron production is required for most positron-emitting radionuclides because they are typically proton-rich isotopes that cannot be efficiently produced by neutron activation in reactors.

6Secular equilibrium between a parent and daughter radionuclide occurs when:

A.The parent half-life is much shorter than the daughter half-life

B.The parent half-life is much longer than the daughter half-life

C.The parent and daughter have equal half-lives

D.Both parent and daughter decay simultaneously

Explanation: Secular equilibrium occurs when the parent half-life is much longer than the daughter half-life (by a factor of at least 100). In this situation, the daughter activity becomes equal to the parent activity, and both appear to decay with the parent's half-life. An example is the Ra-226/Rn-222 system.

7Which of the following radionuclides decays by electron capture?

A.F-18

B.I-131

C.Tl-201

D.P-32

Explanation: Tl-201 decays exclusively by electron capture to Hg-201, emitting characteristic X-rays (69-83 keV) used for imaging. In electron capture, an inner orbital electron is captured by the nucleus, converting a proton to a neutron. While I-125 and Ga-67 also undergo electron capture, Tl-201 is the classic example in nuclear medicine.

8The effective half-life of a radiopharmaceutical in an organ is determined by:

A.The physical half-life only

B.The biological half-life only

C.The sum of the physical and biological half-lives

D.The product of physical and biological half-lives divided by their sum

Explanation: The effective half-life is calculated as T_eff = (T_phys × T_bio) / (T_phys + T_bio). This reflects the combined effect of both physical radioactive decay and biological clearance of the radiopharmaceutical from the organ. The effective half-life is always shorter than or equal to the shorter of the two component half-lives.

9Mo-99 for Tc-99m generators is primarily produced by:

A.Cyclotron irradiation of Mo-98

B.Neutron irradiation of Mo-98 or fission of U-235 in a nuclear reactor

C.Electron beam bombardment of Tc-99

D.Alpha particle bombardment of Nb-93

Explanation: Mo-99 is primarily produced in nuclear reactors either by neutron activation of Mo-98 (n,gamma reaction) or as a fission product of U-235. Fission-produced Mo-99 has a much higher specific activity and is the dominant commercial production method. The Mo-99 is then loaded onto an alumina column to create the Tc-99m generator.

10Which decay mode is characteristic of I-131?

A.Alpha decay

B.Beta-minus decay followed by gamma emission

C.Positron emission

D.Electron capture only

Explanation: I-131 undergoes beta-minus decay to Xe-131, emitting beta particles (maximum energy 606 keV) and a principal gamma ray at 364 keV. The beta particles provide therapeutic effect (for thyroid ablation and cancer treatment), while the 364 keV gamma ray allows imaging. This dual capability makes I-131 a theranostic radionuclide.

About the ABR NMP Exam

The ABR Nuclear Medical Physics certification covers three exams: Part 1 (General + Clinical), Part 2 (NMP specialty), and Part 3 (Oral). The Part 2 exam focuses on nuclear medicine physics including PET/CT, SPECT, scintillation cameras, radiation measurements, clinical procedures, and radiation protection. Passing all three parts earns ABR board certification in nuclear medical physics.

Questions

125 scored questions

Time Limit

5 hours (Part 2)

Passing Score

Criterion-referenced (pass/fail)

Exam Fee

$1,630 (total Parts 1-3) (American Board of Radiology (ABR))

ABR NMP Exam Content Outline

20%

Radiation Protection, Safety, Professionalism & Ethics

Internal dosimetry, dose terminology, regulations, fetal dosimetry, CT dosimetry, occupational safety, shielding calculations, professionalism

20%

PET & Hybrid Imaging

PET scanner instrumentation, radionuclide production, PET detectors, acquisition, reconstruction, attenuation correction, quantitative PET, PET/CT, QC

20%

Single Photon Imaging (SPECT & Planar)

Scintillation cameras, solid state cameras, intrinsic/extrinsic specifications, collimation, SPECT, SPECT/CT, QC and acceptance testing

20%

Radiation Measurements & Detectors

Dose calibrators, well counters, survey meters, thyroid probes, scintillation and solid state detectors, counting statistics, dead-time, MDA

20%

Clinical Procedures

Cardiac, pulmonary, tumor, bone, brain, endocrine (thyroid) imaging, lymphatic studies, radionuclide therapy, and brachytherapy

How to Pass the ABR NMP Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Criterion-referenced (pass/fail)
Exam length: 125 questions
Time limit: 5 hours (Part 2)
Exam fee: $1,630 (total Parts 1-3)

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

ABR NMP Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master PET and SPECT imaging physics including detector design, acquisition modes, reconstruction algorithms, and corrections

2Understand radiation protection regulations (10 CFR 20, 10 CFR 35) and shielding design for nuclear medicine facilities

3Study dose calibrator operation, quality control, and measurement uncertainty principles

4Know radiopharmaceutical production, characteristics, and clinical protocols for common nuclear medicine procedures

5Review counting statistics, dead-time corrections, minimum detectable activity, and chi-square testing

6Practice clinical scenario questions involving cardiac, thyroid, PET oncology, and bone imaging protocols

7Use the ABR NMP content guide and sample questions on theabr.org for targeted preparation

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ABR Nuclear Medical Physics exam?

The ABR Nuclear Medical Physics (NMP) exam is a three-part certification process administered by the American Board of Radiology. Part 1 covers general and clinical physics, Part 2 is a specialty exam focusing on nuclear medicine physics (PET, SPECT, radiation measurements, clinical procedures), and Part 3 is an oral certifying exam. Passing all three parts earns board certification in nuclear medical physics.

How many questions are on the ABR NMP Part 2 exam?

The ABR NMP Part 2 exam is a computer-based test with approximately 125 multiple-choice questions delivered in one 5-hour session. Question types include traditional multiple-choice, case-based, multiple-select, fill-in-the-blank, and point-and-click formats. The exam uses criterion-referenced scoring where your performance is measured against a fixed standard.

What topics are covered on the ABR NMP exam?

The ABR NMP Part 2 exam covers five main content areas per the official content guide: (1) radiation protection, safety, professionalism and ethics, (2) PET and hybrid imaging systems, (3) single photon imaging including scintillation cameras and SPECT, (4) radiation measurements including dose calibrators and counting statistics, and (5) clinical procedures including cardiac, pulmonary, tumor imaging, and radionuclide therapy.

What are the ABR medical physics exam fees?

The total ABR medical physics certification fees are $1,630: Part 1 exam costs $210, Part 2 exam costs $640, and Part 3 oral exam costs $780. There is also a $250 initial application fee. Re-exam fees are $250 for Parts 1/2 and $390 for Part 3. All fees are nonrefundable but transfer to your next exam if you cancel or miss.

What are the prerequisites for ABR NMP certification?

To pursue ABR Nuclear Medical Physics certification, you must graduate from a CAMPEP-accredited graduate program in medical physics and complete a CAMPEP-accredited medical physics residency with a focus on nuclear medicine. Clinical training must include scintillation camera surveys, PET/CT acceptance testing, dose calibrator evaluation, and radiation safety audits. You have six years from residency completion to finish certification.

How is the ABR NMP oral exam (Part 3) structured?

The Part 3 oral exam is a remote video exam lasting approximately 4 hours. You meet with five examiners, each covering one content category specific to nuclear medical physics. Each examiner asks five questions for approximately 30 minutes. The NMP certifying exam committee assembles exams with 25 cases (five per category). Results are pass, conditional pass, or fail.