Re: HP a Profession?

[LIPTONW@dteenergy.com]

Your message raises some important questions regarding HP Technicians versus 
HP's and education versus experience.  I both agree and disagree with you. 
 
1.  Education is very important, including some formal education. The
problem 
with experience alone, is that the test comes before the lesson.  More than 
specifics, it's important to be able to handle situations where the 
conventional wisdom doesn't apply, and to think of creative solutions.  Not 
all of this education has to be formal.  It's as much an attitude and a 
willingness to devote the time to self study, as the formal, "bean
counting".   
 
2.  Having said that, it's just as important to realize the limitations of 
education.  As one of my teachers put it, "A degree is a hunting license,
not 
a meal ticket."  Knowing what you don't know is generally more important
than 
knowing what you know, and a truly educated person is always learning. 
 
3.  I regret that you see a dichotomy between health physicists and health 
physics technicians.  We're all in it, together.  A good organization offers 
technicians the opportunity to move up; and, indeed, encourages this. 
 
The opinions expressed are strictly mine. 
It's not about dose, it's about trust. 
 
Bill Lipton 
liptonw@dteenergy.com 
 
You wrote: 
 
>As far as this profession goes, it is dying a fairly rapid death for the 
>make a distinction here because we seem to be getting confused 
>about Health Physicists and HP Techs. 
 
>They are separate professions and should be handled accordingly.  You don't 
>need a college educated 'rocket scientist' to go into the field and perform
HP 
>technician duties.  What you need is a person that is experienced at
working 
>with people, can take a survey and understand what it means, a person that
can 
>be a: 
>cop...politician...jr scientist...weight
lifter...EMT...auditor...instrument 
>tech...baby sitter...author...counselor...judge of character.. 
 
>etc   etc 
 
>But I keep seeing job listings on this list that are increasingly requiring
a 
>degree for performing HP tech duties and that has me concerned because you 
>don't learn to be a HP tech in a classroom.  You learn to be a junior HP
tech 
>in a classroom. 
 
>Ron Shepherd 
>shephrl@gwsmtp.nu.com
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