Re: International certification

[Lester.Slaback@nist.gov]

It is basically a matter of practicality.
One issue is time zones and exam security.
It is expensive to prepare and present the exam.  Multiple versions of the
exam are just not possible given the volume of applicants that exist.

Another issue is that there simply are not that many international HP that
are interested, and those that are tend to come to the U.S. to take the
exam.

Another is the parochial content of the exam.  Our U.S. HPs and employers
would like content related to the needs of the U.S. HP community.  In fact
the Board tries to minimize this but there is always some U.S. specific
content there.

I know that 10-12 yrs ago the Canadian community looked into doing a
Canada specific exam.  I suspect it did not happen for some of these very
practical reasons. Not to sound 'elitest', but persons who have not
participated in the preparation process tend not to appreciate how much
work goes into preparing the exam. For a credible, defendable exam it is
not a trivial effort.  That is at least part of the reason why you do not
see it widely done.

On the other hand I suspect the ABHP is quite willing to assist any other
group in setting up a similar effort.  They certainly have provided
information in the past along these lines.  And keep in mind that the ABHP
is a group with a very defined mission.  If you have an idea for a new
certification or process the AAHP might be the group to get it started. 
The ABHP is a pretty busy group and I suspect they are not actively
looking for added tasks.

NOTE:  I am (and have been for >5 yrs) an 'outsider' of the Board's
activities so some of my observations might be a bit dated.

>I am not a CHP and  being a radiochemist,  it is somewhat outside of my
>area.
> Nevertheless, I consider it a useful certification that helps me
>evaluate the qualifications of health physicists.   The discussion of
>this topic reminds me that several years ago, a health physicist from
>Poland asked me to contact the Health Physics Society here and relay the
>request that the certification examination be given in Poland.  I
>discussed this with someone in a position of authority at the society and
>the response was not very encouraging.  I don't know what the final
>outcome was in this case.  I don't know if similar certification
>procedures exist in other parts of the world,
> but apparently the gentleman in Poland felt the need for it.  The
>extension of the certification process to other parts of the world would
>be useful in my opinion, and I hope that if there are requests for it,
>that the Society will consider it favorably.


>  Robert
>Holloway

-- 
the above are the personal musing of the author,
and do not represent any past, current, or future
position of NIST, the U.S. Government, or anyone else
who might think that they are in a position of authority.
NBSR Health Physics
NIST
Gaithersburg, MD 20899
301 975-5810
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Lester.Slaback@nist.gov
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