Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hokkaido University
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Medical Physics Educational Program

A medical physicist in Japan is a medical professional who contributes to medical care by ensuring that medical care involving radiation is properly performed. In radiotherapy, medical physicists optimize treatment plans and conduct quality control and verification of the actual medical application working with physicians, clinical radiological technologists and radiotherapy quality control specialists. Medical physicists also confirm the accuracy of the position and the amount of radiation doses administered to the patient body, ensuring that they are within the clinically required range, and that the treatment is performed as prescribed by the physicians. They also engage in medical physics research and development related to radiotherapy. For matters related to diagnosis and nuclear medicine, they work with physicians to ensure the maintenance of a clear balance between effectiveness and safety of diagnoses and conduct quality control and verification of the diagnostic apparatus and images, working with the clinical radiological technologists. They also engage in medical physics research related to diagnostic radiology.

1,511 medical physicists (as of November 17,2024) and 93 therapeutic medical physicists (as of November 17,2024) have been certified in Japan by the Japanese Board for Medical Physicist Qualification. They are actively working in various fields including education, research, clinical settings and industry.

Medical Physics Educational Program – Model Curriculum Charts

The Medical Physics Education Program is a graduate course accredited by the Japanese Board for Medical Physicist Qualification.

Model Curriculum Chart 1

Combined Master’s and Doctoral Program (standard length: 5 years)

When enrolled in both the Master’s and Doctoral Programs

Curriculum of the Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering Requirements for accreditation as a medical physicist1)
Lectures Clinical training Requirement for taking exams Certification
Master’s Complete all courses of the Medical Physics Education Program   Enrolled at least one year, or graduated  
Doctoral Training in clinical medical physics   Those who have been enrolled for at least two years and have been awarded the required performance evaluation credits within five years of passing the medical physicist examination 2)

Model Curriculum Chart 2

Two-year Master’s Program (standard length: 2 years)

With enrolment in only the Master’s Program
Curriculum of the Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering Requirements for accreditation as a medical physicist 1)
Lectures Clinical training Requirement for taking exams Certification
Master’s Complete all courses of the Medical Physics Education Program   Enrolled at least one year, or graduated  
After completion       Those who have at least two years of experience in medical physics and have been awarded the required performance evaluation credits within five years of passing the medical physicist examination

Model Curriculum Chart 3

Doctoral Program (standard length: 3 years)

When enrolled from the Doctoral Program

Curriculum of the Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering Requirements for accreditation as a medical physicist2)
Lectures Clinical training Requirement for taking exams Certification
Doctoral Complete all courses of the Medical Physics Education Program Training in clinical medical physics Enrolled at least one year, or graduated Those who have been enrolled for at least two years and have been awarded the required performance evaluation credits within five years of passing the medical physicist examination2)
  • 1)To take the examination for medical physicist, please refer to the guidance provided in the Constitution of the Medical Physicist Qualification System of the Japanese Board for Medical Physicist Qualification.
  • 2)In Model Curriculum Charts 1 & 3, it is assumed that students have satisfied the required performance evaluation credits acquired through clinical training and the presentations at academic meetings at the end of the 2nd year of the Doctoral Program; it is possible for those who have passed the medical physicist examination to become certified as medical physicists during participation in the program.

Medical device development program (Master's program only)

This program aims to train scientists who will be engaged in research and development mainly on diagnostic and therapeutic equipment using radiation. In addition to compulsory subjects covering the basics of medical device development and research, students also have to complete fundamental subjects on the characteristics and functions of the human body, the effects of radiation on the human body, programming techniques, as well as applied subjects involving medical device design and the handling of medical images and information. A “Certificate of Completion of the Medical Device Development Program” will be awarded to successful students.

Innovative Cancer Technology-based Medical Physics Program

This program aims to train next-generation medical physicists who can adapt to emerging technologies in cancer treatment, such as AI-assisted high-precision external beam radiation therapy, proton therapy, and nuclear medicine treatments (radioisotope therapy). These professionals will be capable of supporting personalized medicine using these advanced technologies while also responding swiftly to palliative radiation therapy tailored to individual disease conditions. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be awarded a certificate of completion for the Innovative Cancer Technology-based Medical Physics Program of the Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering at Hokkaido University.

Innovative Cancer Technology-developing Biomedical Science and Engineering Program (Master's program only)

This program is aimed to cultivate next-generation researchers and technicians (e.g., medical physicists, corporate researchers, and engineers) who will lead the development of cutting-edge medical devices. Participants will acquire knowledge and skills contributing to the development of innovative cancer treatment technologies, such as AI-assisted high-precision external beam radiation therapy, proton therapy, and nuclear medicine treatments (radioisotope therapy). Upon completion of the program, graduates will be awarded a certificate of completion for the Innovative Cancer Technology-developing Biomedical Science and Engineering Program of the Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering at Hokkaido University.