Folks,
I'm just flabbergasted by the discussion. I can't understand ANY defense of this situation. We're talking about people accepting positions of a "safety" nature. Positions that are deemed important enough to require an ANSI standard. Positons that have the "potential" if not performed properly, to physically harm through overexposure; and more likely to do significant financial harm to your client. There are standards for a reason. I'm sorry, if you can't use the basic tools of your trade, your not a tradesman. To defend this situation is offensive to all those people on here who've spent countless hrs preparing themselves to meet the requirements of the position. I don't care where you came from, college, navy, local bar. Its no one else's fault for what you don't know. Its not the utility's fault, it sure as hell isnt Bartlett's fault.
If you think timed tests are B.S....that doent speak well of your understanding of your job. Time, distance, shielding,...fundamental ALARA concepts. TIME being the first variable mentioned. If you find yourself perplexed by the choice of "fast" or "correct" then you don't get it. The job is all about efficiency, (fast + correct)= Sr HP is the right answer here, not one or the other.
I don't want to hear what a pompous ass I am. No I was not born an HP. I personally spent 7 yrs as a deconner because I didnt think I was smart enough to be an HP. I was helped and coached by some very generous people when I decided to make the switch. No one had to drag me by my hood, or coax me away from a card game to get me experience. I struggled with the math and theory....so I studied..and studied...and studied. What I didnt need to do at that point was study my meters. I learned to read those meters long before I ever dreamed of becoming an HP.