Re: The Health Physics Profession

[Jason Armstrong <jarmstrong@halnet.com>]

I just want to add my 2 cents...

There is huge difference of understanding between a person with a degree in health
physics and person not having a degree.  I believe you cannot consider yourself a
professional in health physics without a college degree and several years work
experience AFTER you earned your degree.

I worked for a few years as a "Rent-A-Tech" during refueling outages before
earning my degree in health physics.  My level of understanding as tech was just
enough so that I can swing a meter, write a decent survey report, and provide
radiological coverage based upon recommendations by the plant health physicist.

I have heard people say that training in the nuclear navy as enlisted personnel is
comparable to that of a nuclear engineering/health physics degree.  This is not
true.  My program at Oregon State was made mostly of nuclear navy enlisted people
that were given a 3 year opportunity to earn a degree.  It was no surprise that
the first 2 years were a struggle for the non-navy students competing for a good
grade against the navy trained students, but by the third year, it was an even
playing ground.

My point is, you gain the theory through formal education that is necessary to be
a professional health physicist.  Without a theory background and post academic
work experience, you cannot make solid recommendations or decisions.  This is
necessary to be a professional in health physics.