(This website has been updated as of August 2026)

The Medical Physics Certification (MPC) Program is a partnership between the Cleveland Clinic and the Case Western Reserve University Department of Physics. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics in Education Programs (CAMPEP). Completion of the MPC Program enables the certificate holder to apply for medical physics residencies that are accredited by CAMPEP, after which one can enter the rewarding accredited medical physics employment world.

MPC Admissions

Admission to the MPC Program is rolling, with a deadline of August 1 for fall matriculation and January 5 for spring matriculation. Cohort capacity is limited and varies from year to year.

Applicant must have 1) a PhD in physics (or currently enrolled in a physics PhD program) OR 2) a PhD in any STEM field if the applicant’s undergraduate degree is in physics or the applicant has earned the equivalent of minor in physics in a closely related STEM degree program from an accredited university.

Applicants will receive notification of acceptance or non-acceptance into this track in a timely fashion after submission of the application form and payment of the application fee. Application fee waivers are not available.

MPC Curriculum

The MPC curriculum consists of the following courses, which may be taken in any order with the exception that “Radiation Physics/Dosimetry” must be taken BEFORE (not during) “Radiation Therapy”.

  • EBME 410, Medical Imaging Fundamentals (3 credits) – offered in the fall only
  • PHYS 510, Radiation Physics/Dosimetry (3 credits) – offered in the spring only
  • PHYS 512, Radiobiological Physics (3 credits) – offered in the spring only
  • PHYS 514, Radiation Safety & Protection (3 credits) – offered in the spring only
  • PHYS 516, Radiation Therapy Physics (3 credits) – offered in the fall only
  • Anatomy/Physiology (waiver is available if student has taken coursework in this area)
  • PHYS 518, Cross-sectional Images and Contouring Lab (1 credit)
  • PHYS 520, Clinical Practicum and Ethics Seminar (2 credits)

MPC Students register as non-degree students. Predoctoral students are generally permitted to count these courses toward the completion of their Ph.D.

Tuition

Students must pay tuition, room & board, and all other applicable student fees. Support such as tuition, stipend, and health insurance is generally not available.  Tuition rates can be found here under “programs not listed separately”.

Clarifying instructions for the MPC application form

CAS Program Info:

  • Degree Type is Certification Program (Do not choose the MS pathway).
  • Program is Medical Physics Program.
  • Option is NA (not applicable).
  • Specialty Select is NA.
  • Semester in which you intend to begin your studies is Fall or Spring 20xx.
  • Degree Load is Variable for Certification work.

Additional Materials: Ignore multiple requests and submit just one resume/CV and one brief (one page or less) statement of purpose. In the statement of purpose, refer to any anatomy/physiology course and any other core course (see below) you may have already taken. If our steering committee approves, you may receive a waiver for up to two courses.

Academic History: This is self-explanatory (both past and present history is required).

Transcripts: Transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended.

Letters of Recommendation: Three required – instructions are self-explanatory.

Receiving the Certificate

Upon completion of all core requirements, the student will receive a letter of confirmation from the medical physics steering committee consisting of medical physics staff and faculty from the Cleveland Clinic and the Case Western Reserve University Department of Physics. The completed courses will appear on the student’s CWRU transcript.