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Re: ABHP Degree Requirement - Background and Perspective



George J Vargo wrote:
> 
>      DISCLAIMER:  These comments are my own and do not reflect an official
>      position of the American Board of Health Physics, Battelle Memorial
>      Institute, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory or the U.S
>      Department of Energy.
> 
>      Having seen enough discussion on the topic of the degree requirement
>      for ABHP certification, I suppose it is time for me to respond to
>      Charlie Willis and others and speak openly on this issue and hopefully
>      shed some light on the thinking of the American Board of Health
>      Physics.  Why did the ABHP do change its policy to require acceptable
>      4 year degreed? IT WAS TIME!  It was time to reflect rising societal
>      standards and the trend among other professional certification Boards.
> 
>      I am the ABHP member who made the motion to close the then existing
>      loophole for certain non-degreed applicants seeking ABHP
>      certification.  I did so feeling a responsibility to preserve the
>      value of ABHP certification and elevate the status of the health
>      physics profession in a climate of rising standards in the health and
>      safety community.  I also recognized that this would not be popular,
>      especially with those who would be affected by the policy change.
>      Anyone who says it was to control the number of applicants, reduce
>      grading workload, or any other reason is absolutely off base and
>      completely misinformed.  Yes, the Board did consider the ethics of
>      admitting candidates who had a low likelihood of success in passing
>      the examination (i.e., those candidates with minimal academic
>      qualifications.) In the end, however, it came down to an issue of
>      maintaining the integrity of certification and elevating the status of
>      the profession.
> 
>      After careful consideration by the ABHP, this policy change was also
>      reviewed and approved by the American Academy of Health Physics'
>      Executive Committee -- the elected representatives of the Academy.
>      The change was well publicized and sufficient lead time (3 years) was
>      given for those who might be affected by the change to take
>      appropriate action toward obtaining certification.  There was no
>      surprise here and I'm puzzled at comments that there was some
>      subterfuge on the ABHP's part here.
> 
>      Is requiring an acceptable 4 year degree such an unreasonable step?
>      Let's look at the evolution of other societal standards and
>      expectations:
> 
>      Seventy five years ago it was perfectly acceptable for my grandmother,
>      with a two year certificate from the state normal school, to become a
>      school teacher and my grandfather, with less than a high school
>      education to become superintendent of a power plant. Upon his
>      retirement in 1962, he was replaced by a mechanical enginer with a
>      four year degree.  Thirty five years ago, 4 years of education and
>      training was adequate to become a pharmacist or architect and two
>      years of instruction was adequate for an RN.  There were even two year
>      degrees in fields such as mechanical engineering and it was even
>      possible to get a PE license without any degree, given the right kind
>      of documented experience under the supervision of a PE.
> 
>      The times have changed and society expects more of its professionals!
>      Today, in most states a MA/MS/MEd is required for a permanent teaching
>      certificate (some states still only require BS+30 semester hours
>      post-graduate), in 1995 the entry level pharmacy degree changed from a
>      five year BS Pharm to a six year Doctor of Pharmacy.  A BS degree is
>      the norm for an RN license and a MSN is needed for upward mobility,
>      although a few two year programs remain.  Try getting a PE without an
>      ABET-accredited degree!  (It is possible in a few states in some
>      limited specialties  such as safety engineering, but forget about it
>      when it comes to the mainstream.)
> 
>      Let's look over the fence at our bretheren in industrial hygiene:
>      over ten years ago they eliminated the loopholes in their program for
>      admitting non-degreed applicants.  The ABIH has recently changed their
>      requirements to a Masters degree in industrial hygiene From an
>      accredited IH program as the entry level degree for certification. (At
>      the same time as some in the health physics community are still
>      arguing over the need for a 4 year degree as a minimum professional
>      level credential!)
> 
>      If health physics is to grow and mature as a profession, then our
>      professional standards need to reflect society's rising expectations.
>      Several yars ago, at an AAHP Special Session, Paul Ziemer at an AAHP
>      gave a presentation in which he cited several essential
>      characteristics of a profession.  I'm paraphrasing a bit, but among
>      these were high standards for entry, continuing education and
>      development of its members, and active promotion of its membership as
>      the primary or sole qualified practitioners of the profession.
> 
>      This opens the broader question of certification and what it
>      represents.  Certification does not merely lie in the ability to pass
>      an examination.  When the American Board of Health Physics certifies
>      an individual in the practice of health physics, it does so based on
>      an examination of the candidate's 1) education; 2) professional level
>      experience; 3) demonstration of professional level work (i.e., the
>      required Radiation Protection Report); and 4) professional level
>      knowledge by means of a written examination.  Certification is a
>      representation by the Board that the candidate has not only
>      successfully met all of these standards, but also has subscribed to a
>      set of Standards of Professional Responsibility.  In my mind, this
>      places a great societal responsibility on the Board.  At the ame time,
>      certification is a purely voluntary, non-governmental process.  The
>      ABHP passes no judgement on those who do not apply for certification.
> 
>      There seems to be a lot of griping about elitism.  I would argue that some
>      measure of elitism is an essential characteristic of a profession.  There's
>      a big difference between elitism and snobbery.  Webster's first definition
>      for elite is "the best or superior members of a society or group"
>      Conversely, a snob is "1) one who is convinced of and flaunts one's
>      social superiority; 2) one who despises one's inferiors and whose
>      condescension arises from social or intellectual pretension."  Does
>      the membership of the American Academy of Health Physics constitute an
>      elite group? You bet it does!   Are there some snobs in our midst?
>      Quite possibly, although none immediately come to mind.  Are there
>      outstanding and superior members of the health physics profession who
>      are not members of the Academy?  Certainly!
> 
>      For those still arguing the degree issue, I think the question boils
>      down to whether health physics is a trade or a profession.  A
>      profession, to risk quoting Webster's one more time, is "a calling,
>      requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic
>      preparation."  Alternatively, a trade is "an occupation requiring
>      manual or mechanical skill."
> 
>      I believe it's time to get past this issue and look forward to more
>      relevant problems such as the role of health physics in integrated
>      safety management programs, promoting certification as an alternative
>      to state licensure of health physicists, and other pressing issues.
> 
>      George Vargo

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