Answer to Question #4326 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Q

I am a navy trained nuclear machinist mate first class with nine-plus years of nuclear experience. I am currently working as a military radiological control technician in a naval shipyard. I've received training at a radiation control technology school in Norfolk, Virginia, but have only been certified by the Naval Sea Systems Command. We provide oversight for various nuclear repairs and provide guidance on contamination and radiological work practices and exposure control. I am currently pursuing a degree in nuclear engineering technology (there are no colleges in the area offering degrees in health physics). Would I need to change my degree path in order to become certified as a health physicist and be competitive in the field? Would a BS degree and my experience suffice? 

A

You ask about "certification" but you also state it is "to be competitive in the field." First I'll give you information about "certification," but then I will give you some information about working in the field of health physics, which doesn't necessarily require "certification."

The "certification" of health physicists is done by the American Board of Health Physics (ABHP), which operates under the aegis of the American Academy of Health Physics (AAHP). These organizations are separate and independent from the Health Physics Society (HPS). You will find a complete explanation of the certification process, including qualification requirements on the ABHP Web site. On that Web site you will find the following academic requirement for certification:

"An applicant must possess at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in physical science, engineering, mathematics, or in a biological science with a minor in physical science, engineering, or mathematics. In lieu of a minor in a physical science, engineering, or mathematics, a candidate for certification may submit evidence of credit from an accredited college or university for course work in physical sciences, engineering, or mathematics equivalent to 20 semester hours."

I think that nuclear engineering technology qualifies as an engineering discipline for this requirement. However, the decision on these matters is made by the ABHP. You may want to ask your question to an Officer of the ABHP. You can find a listing of ABHP Officers on the ABHP Web site.

Only about one-sixth of the HPS members make it to certification. So, certification is not a requirement to work in the field. In fact, when you look at the certification requirements you will see that you need to have worked in the field for six years before you can be fully certified. Every employer sets their own qualification requirements for their health physics positions, but a good measure of qualifying for a "competitive" position in the health physics field is the admission requirements to be a Plenary member (full voting member) of the HPS. The basic academic requirement is a BS in radiological protection; radiological health; environmental sciences; natural, biological, or physical sciences; or, engineering, with one year of experience. There are also provisions for substituting experience for academic education or substituting advanced degrees for experience, but this BS with one year experience is the fundamental qualification. Your degree in nuclear engineering technology will qualify.

You can become an Associate member of the HPS now. In fact, if you are enrolled in a full-time course of study you should be able to qualify as a student member, with a greatly reduced membership fee. Both of these membership categories get you the educational benefits of Plenary membership, including the publications of the Society and access to the Members Only area of the Web site.

For more information on HPS membership, visit the membership page. For information on careers as a health physicist visit the careers page. I hope this helps answer your question.

Good Luck in the future.

Keith H. Dinger, CHP