CMD - Certified Medical Dosimetrist

  • Cost $575
  • Renews every year

COURSE FORMAT

In Person

About

Certified Medical Dosimetrist certification (CMD) validates the knowledge and skills of the medical dosimetrist who holds a bachelor’s degree and graduated from a program accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). The Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board (MDCB) offers the CMD exam and certification.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Hold a Bachelor of Science degree or higher

  • Graduate of a U.S. medical dosimetry program accredited by JRCERT consisting of at least 12 months

    • Must include an official transcript and diploma from the JRCERT program

    • Must also provide an official copy of bachelor’s degree diploma if candidate completed a certificate 

Additional criteria for international candidates are described in the exam handbook.

Completion Time: Candidates have 3 hours  and 50 minutes to complete the CMD exam

Cost:

  • Application Fee: $200

  • Exam Fee: $375

  • Late Fee: $75

Course Format

Exam Format

The CMD certification exam consists of 155 multiple choice questions, plus a small number of randomly embedded test questions that are unscored and used for statistical data. Candidates have 3 hours and 50 minutes to complete the exam and must score 600 out of 800 to pass. They receive their test results approximately 6 weeks after completing the exam. CMD exam topics include: 

  • Treatment Planning (40%)

  • Dose Calculation Methods (15%)

  • Radiation Physics (16%)

  • Localization (8%)

  • Quality Assurance and Standards of Care (8%)

  • Radiation Protection (7%)

  • Brachytherapy (6%)

In Person

Applicants register for the Certified Medical Dosimetrist exam after receiving an emailed Authorization to Test (ATT) notice from MDCB. They may register online or by calling Prometric at (800) 998-1942.

  • Go to Prometric’s website

  • Click “Schedule” on the left column under “Test Center Certification Exam”

  • Read terms and conditions

  • Confirm over 18 and select “I consent”

  • Insert the identifying information provided by MDCB

  • Enter eligibility number and first four letters of last name

  • Search for a testing center

  • Select a test date

Exam Day Instructions

  • Arrive at the testing center 30 minutes before exam time

  • Bring a government-issued ID and test confirmation number from Prometric

  • Store personal items in provided lockers

  • Bring ProKnow login credentials to the testing center

  • Bring a solar or battery powered scientific calculator

    • Alpha, programmable and paper tape calculators aren’t permitted

    • Borrowing equipment during the exam isn’t permitted

Candidates arriving 15 minutes or more after their scheduled exam start time won’t be admitted and are marked as a “no show.” They must pay a $250 no-show fee on their next application.

Certification

Steps to certification:

  • Go to MDCB Login

  • Click ”Register for an Account”

  • Complete application

  • Be prepared to submit one of the following:

    • Official copy of diploma with corresponding transcript 

    • Official copy of bachelor’s degree diploma and diploma from a JRCERT certificate program

  • Enter credit card information

Renewal

CMD certification must be renewed every year, but CMDs only have to meet their required continuing education credits over a five-year cycle. The cycle begins on January 1 the year after they receive certification. CMDs can submit an online renewal application up to one year before expiration. To be eligible for renewal, applicants must complete 50 continuing education credits.

Annual rectification:

  • Log on to My Account

  • Click on “My Learning Plan”

  • Select “Pay Fees”  

By the end of every 5 year cycle the CMD must:

  • Click on the “Learning Plan” button under the “My Cycle” tab at the top of the page

  • Click on “View” to review the learning plan

  • Select “Pay Fees”

Cost: $175

Continuing Education

By the end of every 5 year cycle the CMD must either complete 50 continuing education (CE) credits or pass the certification exam. CE credits may be earned through the following activities:

  • Academic college coursesrelevant to medical dosimetry

  • Applications training courses

  • Authoring editing, or reviewing journal articles

  • Certification exam

  • Courses, lectures, seminars or webinars 

  • Directed readings

  • Self-study

  • Speaking at an event

  • Writing items for the MDCB exam

Other Resources

MDCB has resources available to help candidates prepare for the CMD exam, including

Study Resources:

  • Gibbons, John, Khan’s The Physics of Radiation Therapy, 6th ed. 2019

  • Khan, Faiz M. Treatment Planning in Radiation Oncology, 4th ed. 2016

  • Perez, Carlos A. and Brady, Luther W. Principles and Practice of Radiation Oncology, 7th ed 2018

  • Fleckenstein, P. Anatomy in Diagnostic Imaging, 3rd ed. 2014

Related Certifications

  • Bone Densitometry (BD)

  • Nuclear Medicine Technology (R.T.(N))

  • Radiation Therapy (R.T.(T))

  • Radiography (R.T.(R))

  • Registered Radiologist Assistant (R.R.A.)

Was this page helpful?

Related Jobs

View job details for Advanced Practice - Physician Assistant
Staff Position

Advanced Practice - Physician Assistant

  • West Palm Beach VA Medical Center
  • West Palm Beach, FL
  • flexible
  • Sign-On Bonus
From the web
View job details for Advanced Practice - Nurse Practitioner
Staff Position

Advanced Practice - Nurse Practitioner

  • West Palm Beach VA Medical Center
  • West Palm Beach, FL
  • flexible
  • Sign-On Bonus
From the web
View job details for Registered Nurse (RN) - Med Surg
Staff Position

Registered Nurse (RN) - Med Surg

  • Clinica
  • Boulder, CO
From the web
View job details for Registered Nurse (RN) - Public Health
Staff Position

Registered Nurse (RN) - Public Health

  • Texas Health & Human Services Commission
  • Lubbock, TX
Posted 3 days ago
From the web

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to get CMD certified?

The total cost for CMD certification is $575.

Is the CMD certification exam hard?

The CMD exam is challenging but most candidates that are well prepared pass. In 2022, 88% of the 101 candidates who took the exam passed, 84% of the 100 candidates taking the exam in 2021 but only 77% of the 111 candidates who took the exam in 2020 passed.

How often do I need to renew my CMD certification?

You must renew your CMD certification every year but CEs are only required every five years.

How many questions are on the CMD exam?

The CMD exam consists of 155 multiple choice questions and you must score 600 out of 800 to pass.

Where can I find continuing education opportunities to help me maintain my CMD certification?

You can stay current in your practice and with your CMD continuing education requirements with resources provided by the MDCB found at the MDCB Continuing Education Center.

What organization offers the CMD?

The Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board (MDCB) offers the CMD.