Re: The H. P. Profession

["David W. Lee" <lee_david_w@lanl.gov>]

	I second Sandy's comments.  The thinking process that the American Board
of HP used to impose their recent Bachelor degree requirment has not been
answered.  What I find curious about this is that their are active
RADSAFERS in the American Academy of HP, such as Ron Kathern and Dan Strom,
who ought to be able to shed some light on the thinking used by the AAHP in
imposing this degree requirment.  Can Ron perhaps suggest a name of someone
in the AAHP who might have been present when the board decision was made to
impose this degree requirment, the rationale for it, etc.?  Radsafer Joyce
Davis is on the AAHP Professional Standards and Ethics Committee, but the
text of her most recent comment on this issue indicated to me that this
committee and she, herself, were not involved in the actual AAHP meeting
where this degree requirement was decided.

	There seems to be a curious unwillingness of any of the AAHP
officers/directors to provide accurate information regarding the rationale
for the degree requirement.

Best regards  David

  



At 09:42 AM 12-09-97 -0500, you wrote:
>Charlie Willis made some good points, as usual. I do have a few 
>comments, though.
>
>Charlie did mention that by attaining the CHP, one learns more by 
>going through the process. he also mentioned that the statistics 
>demonstrate that most who do not have a degree, do not pass. These 
>statistics can be misinterpreted. There have also been comments that 
>those seeking certification in other professions, also have to 
>degree. If we look at some of these issues, I see the following:
>
>1. To take a Bar Exam, one must have a Law degree. The same with a 
>medical or engineering certification. If that were to hold true for 
>the CHP, should we require that they have a HP degree, and exclude 
>all of the other sciences? I am not suggesting this ... but other 
>degrees do not allow an individual to take the few I mentioned above.
>
>2. Resources are wasted, when non-degreed individuals seek the exam, 
>and fail. What are these resources? How many take the exam currently, 
>and, considering that exams are printed, proctors are used, the 
>number of exam takers doesn't seem to burden any of the facilities. 
>Doesn't the fact that an individual pay to take the exam, help bring 
>funds to the ABHP?
>
>3. The CHP shows extended learning. I agree. But doesn't the fact 
>that an individual, degree or no degree, and one who fails the test, 
>hasn't that individual gained just from studying for the exam? Isn't 
>that person better able to understand the principles that a 
>professional HP should understand?
>
>4. The ABHP allows any individual with any science degree to take the 
>exam. Per my point in No. 1, why should an individual with a BS in 
>anthropology or botany be better suited to take and be a CHP than an 
>individual who is working in the field, but just doesn't have the 
>degree? I'm sorry, I just don't see the logic in that.
>
>5. If an individual fails, so they fail. They can try again... degree 
>or no degree.
>
>None of the reasons I have seen posted to date really answer the 
>thinking process that went into imposing the degree requirement. I 
>also suggest that since there are many who currently holding the CHP, 
>that were grandfathered into the organization, that they should ALL 
>be required to take the exam, and pass, under today's testing 
>requirements. Having the CHP dangling behind one's name means they 
>are capable of passing an exam, but says nothing regarding their 
>ability to apply what they have learned, or, have been able to 
>memorize.
>
>------------------
>Sandy Perle
>Technical Director
>ICN Dosimetry Division
>Costa Mesa, CA 92626
>Office: (800) 548-5100 x2306 
>Fax:    (714) 668-3149
>  
>mailto:sandyfl@ix.netcom.com
>mailto:sperle@icnpharm.com
>
>ICN Dosimetry Website:
>http://www.dosimetry.com
>
>Personal Homepage:
>http://www.netcom.com/~sandyfl/home.html
>
>"The object of opening the mind, as of opening 
>the mouth, is to close it again on something solid"
>              - G. K. Chesterton -
>
>
David W. Lee
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Radiation Protection Services Group (ESH-12)
PO Box 1663, MS K483
Los Alamos, NM  87545
PH:   (505) 667-8085
FAX:  (505) 667-9726
lee_david_w@lanl.gov