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Health Physics Technician

• Organization Directory Page
  (titles of all evaluated learning experiences, organization description, and source of official student records)

• Titles of all evaluated learning experience in the Health Physics Technician section

• Descriptions and credit recommendations

Titles, descriptions, and credit recommendations for all learning experiences recommended for college credit within the Health Physics Technician section can be found below. To locate information on additional learning experiences, which have also been recommended for college credit, use the Organization Directory Page link above for a complete list of titles for all learning experiences or use the following links to go directly to other sections: 

Auxiliary Operator
Chemistry Technician
Electrical Maintenance Technician
Engineering
Fire Protection Technician
General
Instructor Training
Instrumentation and Control (I&C) Technician
Management
Mechanical Maintenance Technician
Reactor Operator
Shift Technical Advisor

Titles of all evaluated learning experiences in the Health Physics Technician section

NOTE: When a credit recommendation is no longer active, the course description may be abbreviated. The last edition of the Directory in which complete information can be found is indicated on the course exhibit. Complete information can also be obtained by contacting National PONSI.

Health Physics Technician - Fundamentals (HP028)
Health Physics Technician - Mathematics (HP026)
Health Physics Technician - Physics (HP027)
Interim Radiation Assessment Team (IRAT) Training (EP026)

Descriptions and credit recommendations

Health Physics Technician - Fundamentals (HP028)
Location: Susquehanna Training Center, Berwick, PA.
Length: Version 1: 200 hours (5 weeks); includes 50 hours of supervised study and plant visitations. Version 2: 224 hours (5 weeks); includes 30 hours of supervised laboratory experience and 50 hours of supervised study and plant visitations. Version 3: 275 hours (7 weeks); includes 30 hours of supervised laboratory experience and 50 hours of supervised study and plant visitations.
Dates: Version 1: September 1982 - May 1990. Version 2: June 1990 - February 1992. Version 3: March 1992 - December 2007.
Objectives: Version 1: To provide participants with the concepts that are the basis for proper health physics work practices and with the knowledge of the effects and detection of radiation. Version 2 or 3: Count samples; operate portable radiation/contamination survey equipment, perform radiation surveys, perform gamma spectrometry analyses; perform external dosimetry exercises and calculations.
Instruction: Version 1: Regulations concerning radiological aspects of nuclear plant operations; sources of radiation; exposure and dose; biological effects of ionizing radiation; radiation detection principles; counting statistics; airborne activity exposure control; external dosimetry; radiation and contamination control and evaluation. Formal laboratory work is not included. Version 2 or 3: All of the topics included in Version 1 above; in addition, laboratory work involving the following: Geiger-Mueller detectors; proportional counters; scintillator; area surveys; instrument checks; gamma spectrometry; external dosimetry; radiation surveys; surveys for surface contamination; airborne activity sampling; radiological monitoring; respond to radiological alarms; circuit checks.
Credit recommendation: Version 1: In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category or in the upper division baccalaureate degree category, 4 semester hours in Health Physics or Nuclear Technology (6/84). NOTE: This course is not appropriate for health physics or nuclear engineering majors at the upper division baccalaureate degree category. Version 2 or 3: In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category or in the upper division baccalaureate degree category, 5 semester hours (4 lecture, 1 laboratory) in Health Physics or Nuclear Engineering Technology (3/91 revalidation) (5/95 revalidation) (7/00 revalidation).

Health Physics Technician - Mathematics (HP026)
Location: Susquehanna Training Center, Berwick, PA.
Length: Version 1: 120 hours (3 weeks); includes 24 hours of supervised study. Version 2: 40 hours (1 week).
Dates: Version 1: June 1982 - June 1988. Version 2: July 1988 - December 2007.
Objectives: Version 1: To provide participants with the computational skills necessary to comprehend concepts in physics and health physics. Version 2: Perform basic mathematical operations and solutions using fractions, mixed numbers, decimals, percentages, parenthetical expressions, signed numbers, exponents, radicals, scientific notation, linear and quadratic equations; derive logarithms and antilogarithms; solve mathematical problems using logarithms and exponents; solve equations graphically and construct graphs given point coordinates.
Instruction: Version 1: Basic mathematical operations: fractions; decimals; signed numbers, fundamental rules of operation. Exponents and radicals: scientific notation, fractional exponents. Algebra: algebraic expressions; linear equations; ratios and proportions; the quadratic equation. Geometry: angles and angular measurement; triangles; quadrilaterals; circles; right circular cylinders; spheres. Trigonometry: right angle trigonometry (sine, cosine, and tangent); laws of sines and cosines. Logarithms and exponents. Graphing. Introduction to differential and integral calculus. Version 2: Basic mathematical operations; fractions; decimals; signed numbers; fundamental rules of operation; exponents and radicals; scientific notation; fractional exponents; algebra, algebraic expressions; linear equations; ratio and proportions; the quadratic equation; logarithms and exponents; graphing.
Credit recommendation: Version 1: In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 4 semester hours in Mathematics (6/84). Version 2: In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 2 semester hours in Essentials of Mathematics (4/90 revalidation) (5/95 revalidation) (7/00 revalidation).

Health Physics Technician - Physics (HP027)
Location: Susquehanna Training Center, Berwick, PA.
Length: Version 1: 160 hours (4 weeks); includes 32 hours of supervised study. Version 2: 116 hours (3 weeks); includes 25 hours of supervised study. Version 3: 100 hours (2.5 weeks); includes 20 hours of supervised study.
Dates: Version 1: June 1982 - August 1988. Version 2: September 1988 - January 1994. Version 3: February 1994 - December 2007.
Objectives: Version 1: To provide participants with the physics concepts necessary to master the skills presented in the study of health physics. Version 2: Discuss the basic principles of physical mechanics, electromagnetic radiation, atomic structure of matter, and the differences between isotopes; apply the principles of quantification of matter to the solution of atomic structure problems; apply information on the nuclei of atoms to solving problems that deal with matter and energy; explain decay processes, characteristics, and the dependence of the particle energies on the mass-to-energy conversion; solve problems involving the decay process; categorize nuclear reactions and calculate energy changes; solve problems relating to fission processes; obtain correct information from the Chart of the Nuclides; explain the mechanisms and terms associated with the interaction of radiation with matter; identify the factors affecting the attenuation of gamma radiation and apply equations for the solution of shielding problems.
Instruction: Version 1: Dimensional analysis; uniformly accelerated motion; circular motion; force; work and energy; colliding bodies; vector multiplication; electrical forces and fields; magnetic fields and forces; electromagnetic induction; electromagnetic radiation and atomic structure; quantification of matter; matter, energy, and the nucleus; radiation; decay; nuclear reactions; energy transfer; fission practicality; radiation attenuation. Laboratory work is not included. Version 2: Introduction to Physics including units and dimensional analysis, speed, velocity, acceleration, forces, Newton’s laws of motion, work, energy, power, momentum, impulse, and torque; simple machines; electromagnetic radiation and atomic structure; differences in atomic structure; quantification of matter; nuclear structure, mechanism of radioactive decay; decay and equilibrium; nuclear reactions; material fission practicality; Chart of the Nuclides; interaction of charged particle radiation with matter; interaction of gamma and neutron radiation with matter. Laboratory work is not included. Version 3: Topics similar to Version 2; except, interaction of charged particle radiation with matter and interaction of gamma and neutron radiation with matter are not covered; basic circuit theory review is covered.
Credit recommendation: Version 1, 2, or 3: In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 4 semester hours in Introductory Modern Physics (6/84) (4/90 revalidation) (5/95 revalidation) (7/00 revalidation).

Interim Radiation Assessment Team (IRAT) Training (EP026)
Dates: Version 1: May 1981 - February 1991. Version 2: March 1991 - March 1993.
Credit recommendation: Version 1 or 2: In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 3 semester hours in Radiation Safety (11/85) (3/91 revalidation). NOTE: Complete information on this course last appeared in the 1994 edition.

Updated 11/28/07

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