New Guy

[KMAC179]

Good evening. I am a Firefighter/Paramedic/Hazmat tech living and working (mostly) in New Jersey. Over the past 2 years I have been taking an interest in the Nuke/Rad field. I did my HAZWOPER 40, in addition to my NJ HAZMAT Tech (120+40 rail car), attended all the RAD courses at the Center for Domestic Preparedness, FEMA, Anniston, AL. There is a school 10 minutes from my residence that has 2 Nuke/Rad programs that seem like they are very useful in getting in the field, they are as follows:

http://www.tesc.edu/3054.php "ASAST in Nuclear Engineering Technology"

http://www.tesc.edu/3064.php "ASAST in Radiation Protection"

Both interest me in a big way, Rad. Protection more so, with my public service background. My question is this, how do these degrees relate to the field, and how is the job market in my region in relation to these degrees? Thank you, I am sure that you get these questions all the time, any info is greatly appreciated.

[retired nuke]

You seem a good fit for emergency planning - the rad degree may help in that.

Unfortunately, there are usually only a couple of e-plan types per site -

DOE, state govt might also be a good fit.

Good luck. You appear to bring lots of skills to whatever you do.

[RP Instructor]

KMAC:

There is definitely a market for Radiation Protection Specialists. As I've been telling my students (I'm a Radiation Protection Instructor for the US Department of Energy at the Savannah River Site), the average age of a nuclear worker today is ~50 years of age, and we're looking at retiring within the next 10 years. It takes roughly 6-7 years to become a fully-qualified Radiation Protection Specialist (sooner if you're a go-getter), thus about the time you get qualified, my peers and I will be heading for the door! There are 103 operating nuclear reactors with more being built, and each needs a cadre of Radiation Protection Specialists, not to mention the Deaprtment of Energy sites across the country. Your background as a firefighter/paramedic/HAZMAT responder is a big plus. Have you considered becoming a reactor operator? The career path for an operator is far better than that of an RP Specialist. Once you obtain a Senior Reactor Operator license, the sky is the limit. You have all the background that they're looking for in operators, for you'll be part of the site fire brigade, and each site has a HAZMAT Response Team, and needs paramedics too.
As for the degree, I'd go for the B.S. degree in Nuclear Engineering Technology at Thomas Edison; you can even do it on-line. The bachelors' degree will open more doors for you.
If you are amenable to re-locating, there are opportunities throughout the country. Good luck on your career!

[KMAC179]

Gentlemen, thank you very much for your input. When you say it takes 5-7 years to become "fully qualified" as a rad. protection specialist, what exactly do you mean? What else goes into it after school? In the mean time, how can I get into the field doing entry level work such as decon?

[sscone]

Gentlemen, thank you very much for your input. When you say it takes 5-7 years to become "fully qualified" as a rad. protection specialist, what exactly do you mean? What else goes into it after school? In the mean time, how can I get into the field doing entry level work such as decon?

Ok You have got to get experience. Most facilities will probably give a year for your schooling. Unless you get luck and get on at a plant then, you are gonna have to work outages. They are short and you are lucky to get 3-4 of them a year. So you are looking at 12-16 wks of work. Granted you can only count 50 hrs a week. So now you have 600 hrs. Or if you're lucky you have 800.

 There is 2000hrs in one year. It takes 3 years or 6000 hrs. to become a 3.1 RP Tech.

So now you have went to school for 2 years and worked one year. So now you have 2600-2800hrs. to your name.

So you got your school for 2yrs.=2000 hrs. Then you get 800 hrs of work a year. So you take 6000-2000=4000/800=5. So there you have it 2yrs. of school and 5 years of work.

But you could get lucky and get on at a facility.

[KMAC179]

Ok You have got to get experience. Most facilities will probably give a year for your schooling. Unless you get luck and get on at a plant then, you are gonna have to work outages. They are short and you are lucky to get 3-4 of them a year. So you are looking at 12-16 wks of work. Granted you can only count 50 hrs a week. So now you have 600 hrs. Or if you're lucky you have 800.

 There is 2000hrs in one year. It takes 3 years or 6000 hrs. to become a 3.1 RP Tech.

So now you have went to school for 2 years and worked one year. So now you have 2600-2800hrs. to your name.

So you got your school for 2yrs.=2000 hrs. Then you get 800 hrs of work a year. So you take 6000-2000=4000/800=5. So there you have it 2yrs. of school and 5 years of work.

But you could get lucky and get on at a facility.

Roger, thanks for that.