Applied Health Physics

Courses | Registration | Directions, Lodging, and Transportation | Course Schedule

Training Dates

It may be possible to split your attendance between two sessions (e.g., three weeks in the Spring, two weeks in the Fall). Contact the Registrar for more information.

Introduction

The use of radiation in industry, medicine, and education has created a need for persons trained in the principles of radiation safety and health physics. To meet this need, ORAU conducts a five-week training course—Applied Health Physics. The American Academy of Health Physics will grant 32 Continuing Education Credits for completion of this course.

Description

This intensive five-week training course consists of lectures and laboratory exercises. Participants spend approximately 40% of their time performing laboratory exercises using radiation detection and measurement equipment. Laboratory exercises complement the health physics principles learned in the lectures. Beginning with fundamental principles, each topic progresses to an advanced level. Instruction is fortified with weekly examinations and problem sessions. A final examination is given at the end of the course.

This course will satisfy most of the basic science training hours required for a license in medical uses of by-product material. For more information on licensing requirements, contact your state’s radiological control program or the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

Who should attend

Any person needing training in health physics and radiation protection should attend this course. Attendees should have some training in mathematics, including algebra, and have experience using a calculator with scientific functions.

Cost

$9,995 — The tuition includes the full cost of training, books, and instructional materials. Attendees will also receive a free copy of the PTP Electronic Library DVD.

Tentative Course Schedule

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5

Monday 
8:00 AM Welcome, Registration, Orientation and Photo 
9:30 AM INTRODUCTION TO RADIOACTIVITY 
2:30 PM LAB AND RADIATION SAFETY AT ORISE 
3:30 PM Problem Session 1: Calculator Problems 
Tuesday 
8:00 AM RATES OF RADIOACTIVE DECAY 
9:30 AM CHARGED PARTICLE INTERACTIONS 
11:00 AM GAMMA-RAY EMISSION AND INTERNAL CONVERSION
2:00 PM COUNTING STATISTICS 
3:15 PM Demonstration: Cloud Chamber 
Lab: Counting Statistics 
Wednesday 
8:00 AM GAS-FILLED RADIATION DETECTORS 
9:00 AM G-M COUNTERS 
10:30 AM PHOTON INTERACTIONS 
1:00 PM Lab: G-M Counting I 
Thursday 
8:00 AM PROPORTIONAL COUNTERS 
9:00 AM QUANTITIES AND UNITS: EXPOSURE 
10:00 AM QUANTITIES AND UNITS: ABSORBED DOSE AND DOSE EQUIVALENT 
11:00 AM QUANTITIES AND UNITS: EFFECTIVE DOSE EQUIVALENT 
1:00 PM Problem Session 2 
2:00 PM Lab: A) Proportional Counting 
Lab: B) G-M Counting II 
Friday 
8:00 AM QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATIONS 
10:30 AM POINT, LINE, AND VOLUME SOURCES 
1:00 PM Lab: A) G-M Counting II 
Lab: B) Proportional Counting 
3:30 PM Quiz I 

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5

Monday 
8:00 AM GAS-FILLED RADIATION DETECTORS: IONIZATION CHAMBERS 
9:00 AM SCINTILLATION DETECTORS 
10:30 AM SURVEY INSTRUMENTS 
1:00 PM Lab: A) Survey Instruments I 
Lab: B) Survey Instruments II 
2:45 PM Lab: A) Survey Instruments II 
Lab: B) Survey Instruments I 
Tuesday 
8:00 AM Quiz Review 
9:00 AM NATURAL/BACkGROUND RADIATION 
10:00 AM SURVEY INSTRUMENT CALIBRATION 
1:00 PM Lab: A) Alpha and Beta Instrument Calibration 
Lab: B) Gamma Instrument Calibration 
2:45 PM Lab: A) Gamma Instrument Calibration 
Lab: B) Alpha and Beta Instrument Calibration 
Wednesday 
8:00 AM TRANSIENT AND SECULAR EQUILIBRIUM 
9:30 AM GAMMA-RAY SPECTROSCOPY AND RADIONUCLIDE IDENTIFICATION 
11:00 AM GAMMA RAY SPECTROSCOPY II 
1:00 PM Lab: Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy I, gain shift 
2:45 PM Lab: Low Energy Spectral Features 
Thursday 
8:00 AM SEMICONDUCTOR DETECTORS 
10:30 AM Lab: High Resolution Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy 
1:00 PM Lab: High Energy Spectral Features 
2:00 PM Lab: High Resolution Gamma-Ray Spectrometry 
4:15 PM Demo: Well Detector Spectral Features 
Friday 
8:00 AM X-RAY FLUORESCENCE 
8:30 AM Lab: X-Ray Fluorescence
9:30 AM Problem Session 3 
10:30 AM Lab: Walkover Survey 
1:00 PM Lab: Computerized Gamma Spectroscopy 
3:30 PM Quiz II 

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5

Monday 
8:00 AM RADIATION SHIELDING 
9:30 AM SEALED SOURCE DESIGN, TESTING AND LEAK TESTING
10:30 AM RADIATION PROTECTION REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS
1:00 PM Lab: Radiation Shielding 
2:30 PM Lab: Half-Life of Long-lived Nuclide 
Tuesday 
8:00 AM Quiz Review 
9:00 AM INDUSTRIAL USES OF RADIATION 
10:30 AM DETECTION LIMITS 
1:00 PM Lab: A) Alpha Spectroscopy 
Lab: B) Protective Clothing/Hand-held Gamma Spec. Detectors
2:45 PM Lab: B) Alpha Spectroscopy 
Lab: A) Protective Clothing/Hand-held Gamma Spec. Detectors
Wednesday 
8:00 AM X-RAY PRODUCTION 
9:00 AM X-RAY SHIELDING 
10:30 AM Shielding Software Demo 
1:00 PM TRANSPORTATION REGULATIONS 
3:00 PM Problem Session 4 
Thursday 
8:00 AM Lab: Techniques and Sample Preparation 
10:00 AM CONTAMINATION SURVEYS 
12:30 PM Lab: Contamination Survey 
2:00 PM LIQUID SCINTILLATION COUNTING 
3:15 PM Lab: Liquid Scintillation Counting 
Friday 
8:00 AM RADIATION BIOLOGY 
9:30 AM ACUTE EFFECTS OF RADIATION 
11:00 AM DELAYED EFFECTS OF RADIATION 
1:00 PM Lab Prep: Radon Canisters and Electrets 
1:30 PM PREPARING FOR RADIATION EMERGENCIES/RADIATION ACCIDENTS 
2:30 PM Tour: REAC/TS 
NO QUIZ THIS WEEK

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5

Monday 
8:00 AM RADON I 
10:00 AM THERMOLUMINESCENT, FILM, AND OSL DOSIMETRY 
1:00 PM Lab: A) TLD Systems 
Lab: B) Electronic Calibration 
2:00 PM Lab: B) Absolute Counting 
3:00 PM Lab: A) Floor Monitoring 
Lab: B) Film Dosimetry 
Tuesday 
8:00 AM RADON II 
10:00 AM Lab: Internet Resources 
10:30 AM EXTERNAL DOSIMETRY AND INDIVIDUAL MONITORING 
1:00 PM Lab: B) TLD Systems 
Lab: A) Electronic Calibration 
2:00 PM Lab: A) Absolute Counting 
3:00 PM Lab: B) Floor Monitoring 
Lab: A) Film Dosimetry 
Wednesday 
8:00 AM INTRODUCTION TO AIR SAMPLING 
9:00 AM AIR SAMPLING EQUATIONS 
10:30 AM AIR SAMPLER CALIBRATION 
1:00 PM FUME HOOD DESIGN AND TESTING 
2:30 PM Lab: A) Air Sampler Calibration 
Lab: B) Ventilation System Testing 
Thursday 
8:00 AM Problem Session 5 
9:00 AM ATMOSPHERIC DISPERSION OF RADIONUCLIDES 
11:00 AM Lab: Radon Charcoal Canisters and Electrets 
1:00 PM RESPIRATORY PROTECTION 
2:30 PM Lab: A) Ventilation System Testing 
Lab: B) Air Sampler Calibration 
Friday 
8:00 AM INTERNAL DOSIMETRY 
1:00 PM Problem Session 6 
2:00 PM WASTE HANDLING AND DISPOSAL 
3:30 PM Quiz III 

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5

Monday 
8:00 AM NEUTRON SOURCES 
9:00 AM NEUTRON INTERACTIONS 
10:30 AM NEUTRON DETECTION 
1:00 PM Lab: A) BF3 Detectors 
Lab: B) Air Sampling (Radon Daughters) 
2:45 PM Lab: A) Air Sampling (Radon Daughters) 
Lab: B) BF3 Detectors 
Tuesday 
8:00 AM NEUTRON ACTIVATION 
9:00 AM Lab: A) Neutron Activation Analysis 
Lab: B) Neutron Survey Meter Calibration 
10:45 AM Lab: A) Neutron Survey Meter Calibration 
Lab: B) Neutron Activation Analysis 
1:00 PM RADIONUCLIDE PATHWAYS TO MAN 
2:00 PM Lab: Neutron Fluence Rate Measurements 
3:00 PM Review of Course Quizzes and Lab Exercises (Optional) 
Wednesday 
8:00 AM ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING 
10:00 AM ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLE COLLECTION 
11:00 AM ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLE PREPARATION AND ASSAY
1:00 PM BIOASSAY 
2:30 PM Lab: Comprehensive Lab Practical 
Thursday
8:00 AM STACK SAMPLING 
9:30 AM MEDICAL USES OF RADIATION 
11:00 AM DECONTAMINATION AND DECOMMISSIONING 
1:00 PM RADIOACTIVITY IN CONSUMER PRODUCTS 
Friday 
8:00 AM Comprehensive Final Exam 
10:00 AM Critique and Summary 
10:30 AM Commencement 

For further information or assistance, please contact:

Registrar
Professional Training Programs 
Oak Ridge Associated Universities
P.O. Box 117, MS-11
Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0117
Phone: 865.576.3576
Fax: 865.241.9152
registrar@orau.org