NRRPT

[Sixxdogg]

I have just started studying for the NRRPT exam.  I purchased the RadWare study cd and plan on using it in conjunction with reference text.  For those who have taken the exam, is the exam HEAVY in calculations/formulas?

Thanks
J. Harris

[Bonds 25]

No....but I can tell you that 12 techs I work with (including myself) took the week long study course, plus we put in countless hours of preparation the week following and ABSOLUTLY NOBODY passed.  Study up on X-Ray machines.....and mammograms.....and thats correct, not X-Rays themselves......but X-Ray machines.  Out of the 150 questions there was ONE on actual Radiation decay (Following an Alpha decay the daughter product will have a __ difference in Atomic weight)  Basically the whole NRRPT was a waste of my time and not only my money, but also my company's money. They have seemed to make this test WAY TOO hard.  The good thing.....nothing changes with my current job  

[thenukeman]

Should pass if can do calculations on Radware disk, NRRPT I was done in 45 minutes, CHP 1 on the other hand I passed but was hard.
My NRRPT was about 15 percent calculations be my guess, not over 20 percent.

[RAD-GHOST]

NUF/NEU & DOE CORE tests are pretty much a series of canned question with canned answer.

NRRPT questions are usually more compound and required the application of a variety of factors.

CHP...No pedigree so I can't get an invitation....

RG

[Bonds 25]

How about the NUF/NEU, or the DOE core?

Too hard or about right?

The NUF/NEU is child's play compared to the NRRPT I just took....even the instructor said he is glad he took it years ago.  The NRRPT had very few questions based around Commercial or DOE....and since 1. I work at a Commercial Nuclear Power Plant and 2. I dont get anything for passing (besides my name on a plaque) I will not be wasting my time again.  One and Done.....hopefully 

[mostlyharmless]

My test was not heavy with math . Do know about x-ray machines. And a little about x-rays. The test was hard for me because I prepped a lot on math. Use the material the NRRPT recommends . The material here is good. You must understand the basic principles and why different detectors behave the way they do. Study 10CFR. Get the math for NRRPT provided by the NRRPT, it comes with the application acceptance. Its worth doing. I learned a lot getting ready for the test.MH

[Smart People]

I remember about 15 math questions. but they could be time consuming. I understand that the NRRPT is different every year and focus changes. Mine was heavy on medical and DOE and transportation as I remember. Mike Davidson gave a great class that prepared me with an overall idea and materials for study.

[stownsend]

I remember about 15 math questions. but they could be time consuming. I understand that the NRRPT is different every year and focus changes. Mine was heavy on medical and DOE and transportation as I remember. Mike Davidson gave a great class that prepared me with an overall idea and materials for study.

Math about the same as above. The  thing I remember the most about it was everything needed to be converted.If the answer they wanted was in microcuries they gave you dpm,if they wanted cubic feet they gave you cubic meter etc.If you were doing the math and you did something wrong such as divide instead of multiplying the answer was there. I remember two part questions where I was 100% on the first part but unsure about the second part was the hardest for me. They had several questions on what regs cover shipments,OSHA,FEMA so look at the numbers of CFR's at least once.You would have to be pretty sharp to do that test in 45min. I think it took me 2 1/2 hours but I wasn't the first or last out.They always put a long drawn out question up front,do a brain dump on all the questions you can answer in 60 seconds then go back after the long ones,then do the math etc. This was sugested to me by a CHP and it helped.There will be several you don't know but do not leave them blank .20% is better than 0%. Good Luck

[Smart People]

I can say it didn't take me the whole 4 hrs to finish the test. 3hrs and 57mins and I was out of there!!

[stormgoalie]

I remember about 15 math questions. but they could be time consuming. I understand that the NRRPT is different every year and focus changes. Mine was heavy on medical and DOE and transportation as I remember. Mike Davidson gave a great class that prepared me with an overall idea and materials for study.

+1 on Mike's class!  Took it and found it very informative, especially on particle accelerator health physics (which my version of the NRRPT was heavy on).  Passed on first try.

[spentfuel]

I have just started studying for the NRRPT exam.  I purchased the RadWare study cd and plan on using it in conjunction with reference text.  For those who have taken the exam, is the exam HEAVY in calculations/formulas?

Thanks
J. Harris

No the one I took in the early 90's was not.  Other than a few stay time calcs and one or two decay questions it was mainly on the various regs including at that time both part 20's.  I never had to use a calculator most were guessable.  Took about 1.5 hours to pass

sf

[stownsend]

I never had to use a calculator most were guessable.  

airsample counted for 4 minutes equals 130 cps using a instrument with a eff of 32% it has a 30 sec half life and the volume was 3 cubic meters. Please tell me the original activity. Remember no calculator allowed.

[thenukeman]

Okay 30 seconds is 8 half lifes in 4 minutes so 8 half lifes about .5 percent left so original cpm so add 2 zeros to 130 and multiply by 2 so original count 26000 efficency 32 percent so times 3 = 78000 dpm. 3 cubic meters = 3000 ml  so 26 dpm per ml oh u want microcuries per ml 26 close to 22 so 22 divided by 2.2E6 dpm = 1 E-5 Posting now, Thats why done in 45 minutes, Most answers on NRRPT are moron answers so easy to choose, Spent Fuel right about 90's test that easy!!!!!
Posting now lets see what calculator says, in a minute. maybe I am the moron and forgot  getting old u know!!!!

[thenukeman]

Okay .5 to the 8 power is .0039 1 over X = 256 x 130=33280 .32 1 over x = 3.125  so 3.125  times 33280 = 104000 dpm  104000 divided by 3000ml = 34.66 dpm per ml 34.66 divided by 2.22E6 = 1.5 e-5  about 3 minutes on this. thats in microcuries per ml

[RDTroja]

Okay 30 seconds is 8 half lifes in 4 minutes so 8 half lifes about .5 percent left so original cpm so add 2 zeros to 130 and multiply by 2 so original count 26000 efficency 32 percent so times 3 = 78000 dpm. 3 cubic meters = 3000 ml  so 26 dpm per ml oh u want microcuries per ml 26 close to 22 so 22 divided by 2.2E6 dpm = 1 E-5 Posting now, Thats why done in 45 minutes, Most answers on NRRPT are moron answers so easy to choose, Spent Fuel right about 90's test that easy!!!!!
Posting now lets see what calculator says, in a minute. maybe I am the moron and forgot  getting old u know!!!!

Thanks for playing, but not quite.

3 cubic meters  = 3,000,000 ml -- not 3,000. Being off by a factor of 1,000 might get you into regulatory space.

[thenukeman]

my bad
Im getting old
Havent been doing these for awhile your right, I am ashamed!!!  LOL  

They may take my NRRPT and CHP 1 away because of this!!!  The title of TheNukeman also!!!

Maybe I redeeem My self and say both of us wrong!!  now what does 3 cubic meters equal.   1.442 meters cubed so each side of that meter is 1442 millimeters or that cubed is 3 E9 Milliliters.  Knocking cobwebs off.    

[grantime]

They may take my NRRPT and CHP 1 away because of this!!!  The title of TheNukeman also!!!

luckily as long as you (and I)do the CE's and pay the dues they wont make us take either again

[Bonds 25]

+1 on Mike's class!  Took it and found it very informative, especially on particle accelerator health physics (which my version of the NRRPT was heavy on).  Passed on first try.

I guess the point I was trying to make is.....they have made the test extremely hard compared to tests that were given previous years.  I took Mike's class and scored an 86 on the final 150 question practice test (remember around 70 is passing).....however the material that I was given during the week long class did very little in preparing me for THIS TEST.  The 12 other people who also took the class and test will 100% agree.  Dont get me wrong...I loved the class, and I learned A LOT of new things, but until it becomes a requirement for my job, I dont plan on going through that again.

[RAD-GHOST]

Bonds 25,

If you learned a lot of new things in the one week REFRESHER course, you obviously weren't ready to take the test!

RG...

[Bonds 25]

The class we took was not a refresher course....it was a 40 hour preparation course.  Lets just put it this way, with the material I was given, the instruction of what is normally on the test and the ~40 hours of constant study following the class, I was as prepared as I possibly could be.   So is it normal that the individuals (12) that took the class and test along with me, plus the other 6 people we knew at the exam.....to ALL fail?  BTW thats 18 out of ~25 people who took the test at the same time (we didn't know any of the other ~7 people)  The class instructor after my final practice exam score of 86 said....and I quote "you are good to go...flying colors"

Also I took this with individuals who have previously taken the exam (this being the 3rd time for a couple) and they said this test was many, many times harder than the previous NRRPT exams they have taken.  I studied, I practiced and I was 100% dedicated to passing this exam.....I failed    but at least I still have my job 

[grantime]

keep in mind that the NRRPT is scored differently than most test you ever take.  There is no "standard" passing grade.  Each question is weighted separately. A panel of examiners look at each question and decide what percentage of NRRPT qualified people should get that particular question right.  So yes, your test may have be a butt kicker but the weighting of questions should have accounted for that.  If you didn't study the right material then as long as it was within the areas the NRRPT told you to study it wasn't their fault.  You have to take with a grain of salt anyone that claims that they can teach you everything you need to know in a week in order to pass the NRRPT or CHP for that matter.  No matter how good they are they are just guessing on what will be on a particular test.

You've seen it now.  That experience alone will be worth a lot if you try again.   

[AS55555]

I took the last NRRPT exam and was fortunate to pass. I was previously a RPM and had been away from RP for a few years and wanted to demonstrate I still retained the basic knowledge. I had hoped for a larger portion of the test to involve commercial nuclear power related questions but it seemed like about 1/4 to 1/3 were commercial nuclear power related. It was a very difficult test for me. I purchased study discs from 2 companies, and reviewed the Cember book. I continued to take practice tests from the discs until I consistently scored in the mid 90s so I was surprised with the difficulty of the exam. Reading the nukeworker study material was a big help. Critical to know the interaction of radiation with matter. I wish I had spent a little more time on x-ray related areas

[mostlyharmless]

Thanks Marssim, well said. The test was very hard for me. I studied for about three months while working a rotating shift. Durring a test I write down the number of any answer I feel uncertain about. At the end of one hour I had answered about 40 questions and written down eighteen numbers. I thought I was in over my head, so I just relaxed and decided to chalk the failure up to experience and prepare for next time. I was happily surprised and quite proud when the letter came to tell me I had passed. At 46 the old noggin can still tick a little. I have a mind like a steel sieve with varying size holes. Not everything falls through,though it feel like most things do.
The medical,vehicle postings and coversions were killing me. I also hate when some of the possible answers are common mistakes. Its kind of like entrapment, I think they ought to have to catch you fair and square, none of this "surprise ,I'm really a cop!" stuff. If an old geezer like me can pass it , so can all of you young cats. Don't get mad, just study harder.  MH

[studmeistersreveng]

All the studying involved is well worth it when you get the certificate in the mail!  It all depends on how bad you want it.  It took me 4 tries before I finally passed .  I learned something new after each try.  NRRPT is definitely worth having.

[thenukeman]

As55555  I did the same studied 2 disks  till I basically made 95-100 each time I took a test.  I used Gollnick or other reference material if I needed help understanding the answer.  When I took CHP 1 I had two disks with about 2200 questions.  ( I wish I did this for  NRRPT)   I just started at question 1 on each disk, If I knew the answer I would not write it down, If I did not know or was a little uneasy I would write it down, why redo questions you are good at or know the answer, waste of time, just feel good about making  higher on practice tests who cares!!!! TheN i would go back through with questions I marked, Did this about 5 times, I got down to about 50 questions I had difficulty with, Mostly Neutron Cross sections, I wrote them off since at that time I had about a month to study and studied the 95 percent I did know, I think most people would pass if they used this method.

I think not having a NRRPT hurts a Tech. Especially on unusual or hard jobs.  Not understanding what really is going on. I seen this.  I would not hire a non NRRPT over a NRRPT unless the NRRPT had a bad reputation.
  Just me, But hey I am NRRPT I am Prejudice!!! 

[Chimera]

If an old geezer like me can pass it , so can all of you young cats. Don't get mad, just study harder.  MH

Since when is being in your 40's an "old geezer"?  I took the test back in 1981 and managed to pass it the first time - without all the neat study materials available today.  We had Cember; Moe, et.al.; and the Rad Health Handbook.  While I managed to pass it the first time, I was always just a little amazed that I did. 

After working outside the nuclear industry for a number of years, I was a little disappointed to discover I had lost my "Practioner" status - and the only way to recover it was to retake the exam.  I took the test again last year at the ripe old age of 60 and managed to pass it the first time again - although for the life of me, I have no idea how I did it.

This time around I did have the benefit of more and/or better study materials.  The Duratek course from a few years ago and a copy of Gollnick were invaluable.  I don't recommend self-study unless you have some serious time to dedicate to it and a good mentor to help keep you from getting bogged down in all the minutiae.  One of the packaged training classes is what I would recommend for the first-time taker.

Is it worth it?  Well, it has opened some doors that would otherwise have been closed and it has been worth some extra money along the way.  While I may show some partiality towards people who have passed the test, I am very much aware that it doesn't necessarily have any direct bearing on a Tech's ability to handle the job.  I've worked with some outstanding Techs who couldn't have passed the test if you held a gun to their heads.  Conversely, I've worked with a few Techs who have passed the test but had trouble turning their meter on.

If you are determined to take the exam, allow plenty of time to study before the exam, get the basic materials recommended in this thread, try to find a mentor to guide you through your studies, and have some fun along the way.  If you have the ability to attend one of the pre-packaged study courses, such as at the University of Colorado, I recommend that highly as part of your exam preparations.

[mostlyharmless]

Excellent. I hope I can do the same when I am an even older geezer. My son is 14, he thinks I helped invent dirt.I told him I did'nt pull the rods on the sun,I just did the seventh refuel outage and the second ISI.
I studied Moe,Cember, and Gollnick,Rad health handbook and the recommended cfrs. The math solutions from the NRRPT org was very helpfull.
Its true, some of the best techs I have known could not pass the test, and the converse as well.
Nothing but love to geezers young and old. MH

[AaronBuchanan]

I threw my weight in trying to get the fancy INPO cert that they're passing out. Pre-Cal 2 wound up getting a 78 in that'll cost me unless I take it in the summer or in the fall, but my plate is full there, and I want to graduate quick. Right now I'm stuck between graduating faster, which means better chance at getting a job, or getting the credentials, which also means a better chance at getting a job assuming there's space. I need to get out there fast, and I'm tired of being in school, just want it over.

With all that said, think one of us Chattanooga State kids can do it? I have the study book, and I think we've been grilled on RG and CFR hard as anyone else has.

[RDTroja]

my bad
Im getting old
Havent been doing these for awhile your right, I am ashamed!!!  LOL  

They may take my NRRPT and CHP 1 away because of this!!!  The title of TheNukeman also!!!

Maybe I redeeem My self and say both of us wrong!!  now what does 3 cubic meters equal.   1.442 meters cubed so each side of that meter is 1442 millimeters or that cubed is 3 E9 Milliliters.  Knocking cobwebs off.   

Sorry... You are confusing millimeters with milliliters... there are 1000 mm³ in 1 cm³ and 1 cm³ in one ml. Your 1e9 number is the number of mm³ which is NOT the same as ml.

One meter = 100 cm, therefore: 1 CUBIC meter = 100 cm x 100 cm x 100 cm = 1,000,000 cm³ and since 1 cm³ = 1 milliliter... 1 Cubic Meter = 1,000,000 cc or cm³ or ml or any other way you want to express it. That means that 3 cubic meters = 3,000,000 ml (or cc or cm³)

It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool...

[RDTroja]

 

[AaronBuchanan]

Experience?!?!

http://www.nrrpt.org/index.cfm/m/7/lt/Exam%20Requirements%2C%20Fees%20and%20Schedules/

Ahh yeah that tends to cramp things, I was told about the requirements, I was never told that the 5 years experience was one of them. So I should wait till I'm 31 to take it? Well I got time...   

[thenukeman]

Cubic meters scrambled brain usually do in cubic liters, cubic feet, convert cubic feet into cubic milliliters. No excuse just not paying attention, and forgetting cubic centimeter is cubic milliliter, now I think I am unscrambled, Now the fool will shutup before my part 1 CHP and NRRPT are asked  to be taken back.

[Already Gone]

Ahh yeah that tends to cramp things, I was told about the requirements, I was never told that the 5 years experience was one of them. So I should wait till I'm 31 to take it? Well I got time...   

It's kinda hard to answer that without knowing how old you are now.  But, in principle, yeah -- you have to wait until you have the five years.  Up to two of those years can be school.  If you're taking a full time load, two years of school will take two years off the five.

[AaronBuchanan]

It's kinda hard to answer that without knowing how old you are now.  But, in principle, yeah -- you have to wait until you have the five years.  Up to two of those years can be school.  If you're taking a full time load, two years of school will take two years off the five.

Oh Really!? Not so bleak after all then! So all I got to do is find a job right away and it'll be when I'm 29. Well, there's my goal. If I ever come across as stupid here guys, bear with me. I'm a total pup when it comes to this industry.

[RDTroja]

Cubic meters scrambled brain usually do in cubic liters, cubic feet, convert cubic feet into cubic milliliters. No excuse just not paying attention, and forgetting cubic centimeter is cubic milliliter, now I think I am unscrambled, Now the fool will shutup before my part 1 CHP and NRRPT are asked  to be taken back.

Cubic Liters?

How many of them are there in a cubic gallon?

[thenukeman]

Its a cubic liter if have a liter cube. In that cube you can have water, air etc.
Its a cubic Gallon if you have a gallon cube.  Best I can come up with !!

So  3.78541 cubic liters = 1 cubic gallon assuming cubes to pour into.

[hossman]

If your NRRPT is not current will it still count for employment requirements?  I was out of the business for a while and did not keep up the continuing education credits.

[UncaBuffalo]

If your NRRPT is not current will it still count for employment requirements?  I was out of the business for a while and did not keep up the continuing education credits.

Depends on the site...some want 'current', some don't care...

[mostlyharmless]

How does NRRPT compare to part one of CHP exam?

[grantime]

At least the version of the NRRPT I took was much easier than CHP part 1.  I barely finished the 150 questions for CHP and was done with same number in a bit over an hour for NRRPT.  My NRRPT had minimal calculation problems.  Much of it was definitions.  Only a few that required a lot of thought.  You either knew answer or moved on.

[mostlyharmless]

Thats what I figured. The part one should be a good bit more dificult. The NRRPT was hard for me. I have no pretentions to CHP. Not without more study and education.

[spentfuel]

Thats what I figured. The part one should be a good bit more difficult. The NRRPT was hard for me. I have no pretentions to CHP. Not without more study and education.

Comment on CHP PT1 and the NRRPT exam comparison

The NRRPT was trying to get ABHP to accept passing the NRRPT to qualify for passing part 1.  Don't know what ever happened but last I heard many moons ago was that discussion is what lead to the registration maintenance program for NRRPT.

Also on the NRRPT exam there are only correct and wrong answers from what I recall the CHP exam will allow you to give an incorrect answer but give you partial credit if your logic was sound.

sf

[Marlin]

NRRPT is accepted for college credits part 1 CHP is not (or at least wasn't)..... HMMMMM you make the call.

[grantime]

[quote  Technician-level experience will in no case be acceptable as meeting the experience requirements.[/i]

[/quote]

They are serious about this part.  It took me nearly 25 years of total experience in order to show enough "professional" experience.   They followed up with long phone calls to my supervisors and references to verify that I had actually done the things I claimed.  You can cut this time considerably by concentrating your working time in areas like ALARA.

One other thing.  I encourage anyone that qualifies to take both part 1 and 2 to go ahead and sit for both.  The logic is that if you are going to put in the 200-300 hours of work that are needed to pass you hope to only do it once.  And I have known of people that passed part 2 and failed part 1 on first try.   I consider myself lucky to have passed both parts on first try.

These tests are not intended to be in competition with each other but rather to demonstrate a certain level of knowledge in 2 related but different areas of knowledge. 

[mostlyharmless]

CHP is serious business. By that I mean you have got to be sharp to do it. I know one man whom I consider to be very bright that had a lot of trouble with part two. He eventually got it but had to work. I have a lot of respect for anyone that obtains CHP. I also have respect for someone who can slog down in a cavity for a while and come out clean.

[grantime]

[quote . I also have respect for someone who can slog down in a cavity for a while and come out clean.
[/quote]


AMEN

[Marlin]

NRRPT will get you credits towards a degree.

A degree will get you credit towards CHP/DABHP.

Call made,....

  I sat in on one of the NRRPT meetings in mid 80's a representative of HPS was there to get some pointers on getting accreditation for their part one, after all it does count toward some post graduate degrees as well.

Call returned postage due. 

[Marlin]

3292 to 3293,....just because you can remember the mid-80's,....

   I seem to remember the girls were cuter, the fish were bigger, and I was more studly as things always appear bigger than they really were in my rear view mirror. 

[RDTroja]

3292 to 3293,....just because you can remember the mid-80's,....

Remembering the 80s is easy... its the 70s that are a bit more fuzzy.

[Rennhack]

and I was more studly

How could you possibly be MORE studly?

[Marlin]

How could you possibly be MORE studly?

Where is that "Dripping Sarcasm" emoticon when you need it?   

[Rennhack]

Where is that "Dripping Sarcasm" emoticon when you need it?   

Here: