NRRPT

[amyrobin]

Does anyone know what is considered passing?  

A coworker and I will be taking the NRRPT this weekend.  He is convinced that they will grade on a curve like the Fundamental of Engineering exam.    I assume it will be a straight percentage.  Any Information would be helpful

Thanks

[refarnam]

Amyrobin,
You can ask this question of the proctor prior to the exam, in fact the following excerpt from the FAQs comes directly from the proctor's instructions:

The examination is not graded on a curve.

The passing point changes with each examination dependent on which 150 questions are selected.

There is only one passing point; candidates do not have to pass different sections or areas of examination.

Hope this helps.  Good Luck

[metalman40]

The exam is not graded on a curve. It is however graded individually with the candidates background taken into account and different weight given to the subject areas accordingly. A power plant SrHP would be expected to have a much stronger knowledge of reactor hp areas than a medical radiation protection specialist and vice cersa.

[amyrobin]

Thanks for the information.  That makes me a little less worried about some of the medical radiation questions.  

[Rennhack]

Thanks for the information.  That makes me a little less worried about some of the medical radiation questions.  

My test had a few P32 questions, 70% math, some FEMA questions, the BEIR reports, etc.  If you read and retain the recomended reading list, you should be ok.

[refarnam]

Sorry MetalMan, I must disagree.  There is only one passing point for the exam, and the passing point is the same for every candidate regardless of your area of "expertise" or employment.  Each candidate has the same exact test.

[alphadude]

dont worry amy u will do ok! remember some basic test rules and u will get a higher grade.

dont study the day before-this is when leaning in the brain seems to occur-not doing anything complex before the test allow you to "unstress" a little, eat a protien based breakfast-not too many fats or carbs.  dont smoke cigs if possible-lowers 02 to the brain.  30 minutes before drink a high caffein sugar drink-this is known to raise your IQ 1 or 2 points on a temp basis. eat a little food like a payday candy bar before the test. this will hold u through the test some and control the sugar burst from the drink. during the test chew gum-this is a well known technique among high stress performance jobs-test pilots- its seems to take some stress away and actually has been shown to activate the left brain to some extent.  go through and look at all the test questions dont stop on any just look at all. then go back and answer the easy ones first-save the really complex to last. to often students will get hung up on a complex question with low point value and not get to the simple questions with the same point value.  i always use this and it has worked reallllllllly well for me and others.  

[radgeek]

I wanted to see if anyone had anything good or bad to say about the $85 NRRPT practice cd that is advertised on this website.  I am trying to prepare, and don't want to waste money.
Thanks

[amyrobin]

I found it very helpful.  The best part of it for me was getting used to reading and answering multiple choice questions.  It also has a feature so can randomly generate multiple versions of the test, and even print them so you can take practice test both on the computer and on paper.

I didn't pass but I am using the CD to help me study for the retake

Amy

[LoneWolf]

You must be prepared to answer 1500 questions to pass the 150 question exam. It is designed this way on purpose. If you do your homework you will feel cheated afterwards. You will say "I studied so hard in this area and there was only 2 questions on the subject". This is the whole idea. Study and study some more. There has been some good information provided and some fiction too. A 70% is considered a passing grade. Power-plant experience will give you an advantage since approximately 60% questions are in their house, but the exam grade is the same for all. Each exam is created from their exam bank, but percentages generally run true. Bone up on unique questions such as purpose of hot cell and acceptable procedure for processing biological items ( dog dies after nuclear experiment type stuff), you are a nurse who drops a vial of Tc99, what is your initial response. Good Luck.

[LoneWolf]

You can not be too prepared for the exam. Money well spent pass or fail. Good luck.

[Rennhack]

Know everything about the 5 common radionuclides used in labs. H3, C14, P, S, I.

[doctorbill]

Anyone who's interested is welcome to join my NRRPT Preparation group on Hotmail.  I have links to useful references, notes on Gollnick, and solutions to selected problems.  If you post a question, I'll do my best to answer.  There's no charge from me.  I think that Hotmail now requires a subscription to join.

Set up a Hotmail account.  Then go to "People and Chat".  Then go to the "NRRPT Preparation" group.  Send in a request to join.  (I require this, so I have some idea of who's out there.)  If you have questions on this, post a reply.

Doctorbill

[Note from Rennhack: Try this link:]  http://groups.msn.com/NRRPTPreparation

[Rennhack]

Just a quick note, there are other CD's out there, most cost $195 and are no better than the Rad Ware CD offered on our site.

I think the Rad Ware CD's are the best available, which is why I chose to offer them.

Here is a link to the Ordering information:

http://www.nukeworker.com/shop/rptexam.shtml

[Doc_REM]

Any more comments?

[Rennhack]

Rad Ware offers a week long NRRPT prep course.

[UncaBuffalo]

I know that certain colleges (Thomas Edison, etc) will give you credits (30?) for having passed the NRRPT, but does anyone know whether these are upper level or lower level credits?  ...or a mix?



(I didn't bother having BSU evaluate it when I returned to school, because I already have a bazillion misc. lower level credits, but if anyone has received UPPER level credits, then it might be worth my time to fight through the process...)

Thanks! 

[refarnam]

From the NRRPT Handbook:

The NRRPT's registration process has been evaluated under the American Council of Education's (ACE) Program on Noncollegiate Sponsored Instruction (PONSI).  College-level  credit has been recommended for NRRPT Registration as follows:  In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 6  in Introduction to Radiological Science; in the upper division baccalaureate degree category, 8 SH in Radiation Detection and Measurement, 8 SH in Radiation Protection and Control, and 8 SH in Applied Health Physics Internship.  For those students who already possess a baccalaureate degree, the upper division credit recommendations can be considered for graduate credit

[UncaBuffalo]

Awesome!  Thanks for the info...guess I'll go run it past them.

[UncaBuffalo]

UPDATE  :  My program director has promised me 9 upper division credits, but is still trying to figure out a way to give me the full 24 recommended by ACE.  He's hampered by the fact that BSU is mostly a liberal arts college and he can't find a program closely related to park the credits in.

Thanks again for the info that got me started with the process!

[refarnam]

I assume this guy you're dealing with is the PONSI rep, if not, that may be the place to start.  You might have him give the TAESC PONSI Rep a shout,

The PONSI advisor for the NRRPT is: James Ratigan
         Thomas A. Edison State College
         101 West State Street
         Trenton, New Jersey  08608-1176
         (609) 633-6271 (voice)
         (609) 984-8447 (fax)
         corpinfo@tesc.edu
(NOTE: don't know if this is still the guy at TAESC, but the numbers and e-mails might still work.  Good luck)

[UncaBuffalo]

I assume this guy you're dealing with is the PONSI rep, if not, that may be the place to start.  You might have him give the TAESC PONSI Rep a shout,

The PONSI advisor for the NRRPT is: James Ratigan
         Thomas A. Edison State College
         101 West State Street
         Trenton, New Jersey  08608-1176
         (609) 633-6271 (voice)
         (609) 984-8447 (fax)
         corpinfo@tesc.edu
(NOTE: don't know if this is still the guy at TAESC, but the numbers and e-mails might still work.  Good luck)

High,

The regular registrar & '"portfolio-evaluation" people at BSU told me I couldn't get credit for NRRPT, but I kept taking it up the food-chain...finally got the director of my college (Applied Technology) to look at it and he was interested enough to start pushing things along for me.

I know he HAS been trying to talk to someone back at Thomas Edison, but not sure if this is his contact...I'll give him the info and see if it helps.

Thanks again! 

[UncaBuffalo]

Here's another update (in case any one is using my experience to decide if it's worth trying to fight a school for N.R.R.P.T. credits) :

1.  When you send in the 'transcript request' that is on the N.R.R.P.T. website, they send out basically the same letter that they would send to a nuke plant.  It says you have successfully completed the test, etc, BUT was not official enough for my director to use as a TRANSCRIPT.

2.  The PONSI rep at Thomas Edison IS a good knowledge resource, but for them to actually 'transcript' your N.R.R.P.T. costs a bundle.

3.  ACE will 'transcript' your N.R.R.P.T. for $35, plus $10 for each one they send to a school.  This is the route I am currently pursuing.  My director has 99% promised the full 30 credits as soon as ACE sends the transcript! 

[97txaggie]

Does anyone know how long after the exam it takes to get the official results?
Thanks!
J

[urtall1]

2-3 months depending on who you know.