RCT Career Path

[RadconRY]

Been a shipyard RCT(federal) for about three years. Working on getting NRRPT test but with a liberal arts degree I need a few more years. I love my job but crave a career path with the ability to problem solve and think critically.I'm open to a masters or even taking more undergrad courses to get prerequisites to be accepted into a health physics graduate program. I know there are stark differences in health physics vs radon tech jobs but will I be able to market my tech experience in pursuit of health physicists positions?

[xobxnuke]

yes to a point...minimize your meter swinging time if you want to end up flying a desk though...prioritize education...forget nrrpt and spend that time prepping for chp

but the best advice for a smart youngun would be...get a 2 year degree in computerology unless you are already at that level...start your own biz in the computer world and if needed, swing a meter for cash flow...you would have plenty of opportunity to problem solve and think critically!

after you stop laughing consider this...the commercial nuclear power biz is in decline so long term job security is dubious and before you write me off i have been in the biz since 1980...worked construction, d&d, and mostly power...bachelors in hp from a great school and spent about a third of my career climbing the ladder then went 'on the road' because of better money and flexibility...a beach bum can't beat 3 and 4 month summers off!

[scotoma]

There are opportunities if you don't mind ravelling a bit. A few outages swinging a meter will help you get a feel for the commercial industry. There are plenty of jobs coming up in the decommissioning field that will challenge your problem solving skills. Holtec and Northstar are a couple of the popular players, and there are others. You could be stationed somewhere for a few months up to several years. There are also DOE sites like Idaho National Labs, Hanford Reservation, Oak Ridge, et. al., that could have long term work.

[Chimera]

I'm still trying to figure out what a "radon tech job" is.

[GLW]

you do know NAVSEA 08 employs health physicists,....

https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/supervisory-health-physicist-instructor-at-us-fleet-forces-command-1474795528

commercial is shrinking, you're already in a program that will be around as long as you will be in the workforce,...


you could ask around in your own backyard on how to move up,...


a couple that I started with at KAPL/KSO in '88 pursued that very path with success,....


others did not,....

I'm just sayin',...

[Brett LaVigne]

I'm still trying to figure out what a "radon tech job" is.

I don't care what it is. I just want to know how much per diem it pays.

[Marlin]

I'm still trying to figure out what a "radon tech job" is.

I was curious if there was such a thing so I did a search, the only Radon Tech I could find was a radon abatement technician who installed mitigation equipment.


I now return you to the Twilight Zone of Nukeworker discussions. (yes, I am also guilty) 

[RDTroja]

I have met a lot of Radon Techs. They are kind of vaporous, just float around being annoying without causing much damage and then they fade away with a fairly short half-life.

[fiveeleven]

Well said RDT. I just figured why bother harpooning the individual for his 86 protons tech reference - hell, he's just a yard bird.

[SloGlo]

radon techs don't make squat, and diem is non-existent. at the power play hay day inn the late 80s, early 90s, grate money was $8/hr.  too git that yins had two bee writing procedures n interfacing wit regulators moor than dune sampling n meter reed thing. companies paying the best had the tightest wallets. still got sum i.o.u.s sum ware around hear. aye think they awl went out of bizness.

[Mounder]

Without the bachelors with core natural sciences classes, you're not likely to advance past radcon supervisor.  Getting enough of the classes to take and pass the NRRPT, and being a vet, opens a lot of health physics doors in the federal government.  A 1306 Health Physicist is a professional who for the most part: has a bachelors in health physics, or is a CHP or is a RRPT.  They give equal credit for the NRRPT or CHP.

[Rennhack]

They give equal credit for the NRRPT or CHP.

That is terrible.

[xobxnuke]

That is terrible.

understatement!

[scotoma]

If you play golf, that may make you eligible for higher positions

[fiveeleven]

Radiological Controls Tech., Radon Tech., NRRPT, CHP - As eluded to previously - It really doesnt matter how radiation interacts with matter, ah but until it does matter, and then it matters a lot. Lets not forget- yardturds are after all federal employees just like AOC and Bernie. Rn's daddy is 88Ra226 but it really doesnt matter now does it. They still all wind up Pb or Bi. The yard birds in the sail makers shop at Portsmouth circa early 80's were the finest glove bag/general enclosure fabricators I ever personally encountered.

[GLW]

Radiological Controls Tech., Radon Tech., NRRPT, CHP - As eluded too previously - It really doesnt matter how radiation interacts with matter, ah but until it does matter, and then it matters a lot. Lets not forget- yardturds are after all federal employees just like AOC and Bernie. A Rn tech's daddy is 88Ra226 but it really doesnt matter now does it. They still all wind up Pb or Bi. The yard birds in the sail makers shop at Portsmouth circa early 80's were the finest glove bag/general enclosure fabricators I ever personally encountered.

well, we use to put out some pretty good product using the RF welder on the R-5 barge back in 87-88,....

of course, one or two of 'em couldn't put together an air-tight seal to save their selves,....

and one or two of us were magicians with it,...