Re: Medical Physics -Reply

[rkathren@tricity.wsu.edu (Ron L. Kathren)]

I hate to take exception (and indeed don't often have the opportunity) to
what my old friend and respected colleague Charlie Willis has said, but
unfortunately there are other credentials than ABHP certification that
exist.  This is not, however, to imply in any way that ABHP certification is
not the gold standard and the very best, and I am personally proud to wear
the CHP emblem.  But, in some venues, licensure as a professional engineer
(nuclear, safety or environmental disciplines) or as a medical physicist (eg
Texas) or Certified Radiation Equipment Safety Officer (CRESO) (NY) may be
accepted as evidence of qualification and my be legally required.  And, the
American Board of Medical Physics has a certification specialty of Medical
Health Physics, and the American Academy of Environmental Engineers a
specialty in Radiation Protection.  And, the good old NRC regs recognize
other certifcations/qualifications -- take a look at 10CFR35.900. 

Confusing, eh wot?

Ron Kathren, CHP



     >In the USA, the only credential for a radiation safety expert is
certificdation by the
>American Board of Health Physics.  Of course, a number of people are working in
>the field without the credential.  
>
>The regulators do not require certification but instead,  conduct a kind of
>case-by-case assessment.  When Regulatory Guide 8.8, "Information Relevant to
>Ensuring that Occupational Radiation Exposure at Nuclear Power Stations will be
>As Low As is Reasonably Achievable," was first issued in 1973, it called for
>Radiation Protection Managers to be "certified or equivalent."  In response
to the
>firestorm of protest from the industry, this criterion was modified to be the
>equivalent of  "qualified to take Part 2 of the ABHP examination," plus other
>qualifications. 
>
>Charlie Willis
>caw@nrc.gov 
>
>
>