NukeWorker Forum
News and Discussions => Site News => Topic started by: Rennhack on Oct 24, 2014, 08:42
-
I'm thinking about making a 'Cram Notes' for the DOE Core RCT test. Is there any interest in this?
-
If not, there should be!
-
Well, I started work on it.
-
Perhaps I should start a new thread for this but:
I've been digging through the various DOE Handbooks and Standards relative to RCT training and qualifications. Everything talks about the "core" materials but nothing seems to give a clear, concise definition of what the "core" materials are. While it's generally accepted that the "core" is the fundamental academic study guides (1.01 through 1.13), some sources imply that the general portions of the site academic study guides (2.01 through 2.19) should also be included in the "core" materials.
Also . . . where did the "core card" come from? I can't find any reference to the card or a template for what it should look like. I have a template that I use (the one I inherited) when I do RCT training but I've seen several variations on the theme from different sites.
-
My understanding is that the "Core" is limited to 1.1 - 1.13. Section 2 is still fundamental, but addresses site procedures, instruments and radiological conditions. For that reason, a tech usually has some more training after showing up the first day. For us, that is 6-8 weeks. I have heard for others, on the order of days. The format of the card is left to the discretion of the site. Ours only includes name, expiration date and certifying official. Whether or not, a site accepts even the "core" from another site is left to the discretion of the RPM for the site. Most do not allow for reciprocity of the core card much less RCT quals. There used to be consistency amongst the sites, but each has now deviated so far from the original expectations (going back to the DOE RadCon Manual in 1993) ...
-
My understanding is that the "Core" is limited to 1.1 - 1.13. Section 2 is still fundamental, but addresses site procedures, instruments and radiological conditions. For that reason, a tech usually has some more training after showing up the first day. For us, that is 6-8 weeks. I have heard for others, on the order of days. The format of the card is left to the discretion of the site. Ours only includes name, expiration date and certifying official. Whether or not, a site accepts even the "core" from another site is left to the discretion of the RPM for the site. Most do not allow for reciprocity of the core card much less RCT quals. There used to be consistency amongst the sites, but each has now deviated so far from the original expectations (going back to the DOE RadCon Manual in 1993) ...
I just took the Core test from a site and this is how they handled it. Your "Core card" is the test itself. The rest is kind of like "site specifics at a nuke plant.
-
Perhaps I should start a new thread for this but:
I've been digging through the various DOE Handbooks and Standards relative to RCT training and qualifications. Everything talks about the "core" materials but nothing seems to give a clear, concise definition of what the "core" materials are. While it's generally accepted that the "core" is the fundamental academic study guides (1.01 through 1.13), some sources imply that the general portions of the site academic study guides (2.01 through 2.19) should also be included in the "core" materials.
Also . . . where did the "core card" come from? I can't find any reference to the card or a template for what it should look like. I have a template that I use (the one I inherited) when I do RCT training but I've seen several variations on the theme from different sites.
Great question.
DOE Standardized Training Includes:
Qualification Standard (Time &GED, etc)
Phase I, Fundamental Academic Training "The Core portion of the Core materials"
Phase I, Site Academic Training
Phase II, Site Practical Training AKA Job Performance Measure's (JPM)
Phase III, Oral Examination Boards
Phase IV, Facility Practical Training (a subset of the site practical training)
Phase I - Academic Training:
Phase I is divided into two sections: Fundamental Academics and Site Academics.
a. The Fundamental Academics section includes the following 13 lessons:
1.01 Basic Mathematics and Algebra
1.02 Unit Analysis and Conversion
1.03 Physical Sciences
1.04 Nuclear Physics
1.05 Sources of Radiation
1.06 Radioactivity and Radioactive Decay
1.07 Interaction of Radiation with Matter
1.08 Biological Effects of Radiation
1.09 Radiological Protection Standards
1.10 ALARA
1.11 External Exposure Control
1.12 Internal Exposure Control
1.13 Radiation Detector Theory
These 13 lessons contain generic fundamental theory and do not contain any site-specific information. They represent the minimal standard information recommended to be taught to an RCT. These lessons should be taught by all DOE sites.
b. The Site Academics section contains the following 19 lessons:
2.01 Radiological Documentation
2.02 Communication Systems
2.03 Counting Errors and Statistics
2.04 Dosimetry
2.05 Contamination Control
2.06 Airborne Sampling Program/Methods
2.07 Respiratory Protection
2.08 Radioactive Source Control
2.09 Environmental Monitoring
2.10 Access Control and Work Area Setup
2.11 Radiological Work Coverage
2.12 Shipment and Receipt of Radioactive Material
2.13 Radiological Incidents and Emergencies
2.14 Personnel Decontamination
2.15 Radiological Considerations for First Aid
2.16 Radiation Survey Instrumentation
2.17 Contamination Monitoring Instrumentation
2.18 Air Sampling Equipment
2.19 Counting Room Equipment
These lessons include objectives covering general information relative to the topic and common to all DOE sites, and objectives where the information may vary with the site. Each DOE site should determine appropriate site academic lessons and objectives based on job responsibilities and requirements as identified through a site-specific job evaluation. Facilities that have not conducted a job evaluation should teach all Phase I lessons and objectives.
The entire package is regulated by DOE-HDBK-1122-99 and distributed as a 'core group of material', the 'Phase I, Fundamental Academic Training' remains unchanged, while 'Phase I, Site Academic Training' is customized at each site as well as the Site Practical Training. So the entire package IS the core, but only 'Phase I, Fundamental Academic Training' is transferable. Thus it has come to be known as "The Core", because it is the only portion 'that matters' when it comes to accepting training from another source. Additional training is expected to be tailored and given on site.
So, SHOULD any training given consist of more than the basic 13 Fundamentals? Yes, it isn't considered the "Core" until you've done it all. However, only those 13 Fundamentals are transferable... so unless you are getting it at the site you are going, there is no reciprocity and no point to do more. (Other than... you know.... actually learning the stuff you are supposed know)
I hope this helps you.
-
It was good for me to review the standards. I intend to make the Cram Notes, so I will need to include this info.
-
I'm glad to see you arrived at the same conclusions (or lack thereof) that I did. I did take the time and trouble to make the Site Specific Study Guides into true site specifics for the site where I'm working. I've been reluctant to hand out "Core Cards" until the candidates have passed the fundamental and site academic exams and completed the practical as described in the various DOE Handbooks and Standards. Because of the "should" statement, this site has decided to forego the oral board as part of the biennial training. Also, because of the way our procedures are worded, the "Core" and the "Site Specific" exams are separate. The "Site Specific" exam is treated more as a procedure exam since I've added our site's information to the generalized DOE material included in Study Guides 2.01 through 2.19.
Thank you, Mike, for taking the trouble to review some of the same materials I've been digging through. I appreciate your efforts.
Michael
-
That would be great for all. Anytime some one comes up with more good study material it is always a + for all.
-
I have a lot of other stuff on my plate right now that is taking priority over this project for the next few days. I would appreciate a bump to this post in a few days to get me back on task.
End of the month invoices
SSL/https issues
HOA Treasurer stuff
Addressing new Alpha stuff on NUF
-
Bump
-
End of the month invoices
SSL/https issues
HOA Treasurer stuff
Addressing new Alpha stuff on NUF
I have been working on it a little, I have the first 2/3 ruffed in.
-
I'm thinking about making a 'Cram Notes' for the DOE Core RCT test. Is there any interest in this?
If it is close to being as good as the NUF cram notes then definitely do it.
-
yes
-
I'm interested to read about it.
-
I have been working on it a little, I have the first 2/3 ruffed in.
I lost what I was working on, and had to start over. The good news is that there is less on my plate, and I have started on it again. (From scratch)
-
..... I have the first 2/3 ruffed in.
yore dune sew much bettor wit communications. isle hafta by yew a drink sum thyme.
-
I lost what I was working on, and had to start over. The good news is that there is less on my plate, and I have started on it again. (From scratch)
My outage ended, and I am back home for a week before I move on to the next job. I found my 2014 work on the DOE Cram notes. It's actually a few days more complete than the material I just re-did from scratch. So it looks like that was a big waste of time. Oh well. We'll get it done eventually.
-
Update:
Work on the DOE Cram notes continues. I was very successful during my 'discovery' process. There is a lot of information to cover. There are 32 Chapters in the DOE material, and all objectives are tested. The NUF has about 5 chapters that are tested. Even the 'Cram Notes' for the DOE Core will be sizable.
I anticipate having the book finished in about a year, potentially sooner. The Cram notes will cover all 32 chapters, not just the first 13.
I'll probably enhance the online practice test for the DOE core test as well during this process. As out online practice test only covers 13/32 of the material.
-
Even the 'Cram Notes' for the DOE Core will be sizable.
I anticipate having the book finished in about a year, potentially sooner. The Cram notes will cover all 32 chapters, not just the first 13.
I'm getting a lot of requests for the RCT Cram notes. I have the first (13 chapters) part almost finished. I had intended to publishing one book, with part 1 and part 2 together. However, I'm considering publishing part 1 now, to try to help folks that need something NOW.
Is there any interest in the "Part 1" section? (Heck, some sites only test on Part 1)
-
You may want to take a hard look at the "Site Academic Training Guide" study guides. the stuff in Part 6 of DOE-HDBK-1122-2009 is intended to be generic although it isn't necessarily. Assuming that other DOE sites are like mine, those 19 Study Guides have been modified to include site specific material.
The biennial requal exam is a comprehensive exam covering both the Fundamental Academics and the Site Academics. For new hires here, exams on the two parts are given separately. The Site Academic exam is basically a procedure exam since those 19 Study Guides have all been modified to conform to our procedures. In some instances, such as instruments, the generic materials don't apply. The DOE materials list meters we don't use and omits a lot of instruments we do use. Even the equation for Lc is slightly different on this site than in the DOE materials.
-
You may want to take a hard look at the "Site Academic Training Guide" study guides. the stuff in Part 6 of DOE-HDBK-1122-2009 is intended to be generic although it isn't necessarily. Assuming that other DOE sites are like mine, those 19 Study Guides have been modified to include site specific material.
The biennial requal exam is a comprehensive exam covering both the Fundamental Academics and the Site Academics. For new hires here, exams on the two parts are given separately. The Site Academic exam is basically a procedure exam since those 19 Study Guides have all been modified to conform to our procedures. In some instances, such as instruments, the generic materials don't apply. The DOE materials list meters we don't use and omits a lot of instruments we do use. Even the equation for Lc is slightly different on this site than in the DOE materials.
Thank you for the feedback. I intend to publish a generic version of the site specifics. Obviously I can not know what each site has done, but I can give people a great starter foundation on which to build.
Your message lends further credence to breaking up my RCT study guide into two parts.
On to important things, what should I call it? "RCT Cram Notes" or "DOE Core Cram Notes". I'm leaning towards 'RCT Cram Notes' at the moment.
-
I tend to lean that way myself.
-
RCT Core Cram Notes, perhaps.
-
I have made the cover. Most of the insides are finished. I need to add a few more practice calculations, and I want to update a few more images.
(https://www.nukeworker.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=38333.0;attach=6203;image)
-
Glad to hear of the progress....I will order it when it becomes available.
-
Double-check any sample problems in the DOE materials if you use them in your "guide". There are some math errors.
-
Double-check any sample problems in the DOE materials if you use them in your "guide". There are some math errors.
There are MANY errors in the DOE material, not just the math. "Linear Energy Transfer" for example.
-
Glad to hear of the progress....I will order it when it becomes available.
I'm getting pretty excited that it's almost finished.
-
So... I spent all day working on the Half Life formula's for the book (including fixing the practice problems that were wrong).... then MS Word crashes, and apparently taking my incremental backups with it.
So... 9 hours of work on the book down the drain. (And not the sink drain either).
-
So... I spent all day working on the Half Life formula's for the book (including fixing the practice problems that were wrong).... then MS Word crashes, and apparently taking my incremental backups with it.
So... 9 hours of work on the book down the drain. (And not the sink drain either).
unbelievable, but then again, all too believable,...
9 hours huh?!?!?!?
that is a lot of trust,...
next time, I'll bet you save a stand alone file every two, maybe three hours tops,...
been bit the same way with, well, with all sorts of workbooks, fliers, presentations, test databases, training, etcetera, all across the broad array of MS programs,...
yup, after losing a big one and then getting no grace from the boss about it (you know the boss), I save an interim file every two hours no matter what MS thingy I'm working with, and I highly recommend it to all,...
in all fairness that type of loss is uncommon and is only endured by folks who spend a lot of time with MS,...
and before that one time, with that one boss, on those few occasions where I did endure the massive W T F !!!, I was always able to just work some more hours and reschedule a few other items to be done some other time and cover the faux pas with no one really knowing,... or needing to know,...
and then that one project, on that one day, with that one deadline, and that one boss,... [BH] [boohoo] [Flamer]
every two hours Mike, every two hours, three if you trust your hardware, and MS,...
s imperium mutata saepe,... 8) (it may lose something in translation)
-
every two hours Mike, every two hours, three if you trust your hardware, and MS,...
My story is the same as yours. I typically save as draft 1.03, 1.04, 1.05 after every few changes due to decades of examples of lost work. Some times it was MS's fault, some times it was mine. It's nice to have an incremental backup to go to when you realize you royally screwed up your document somehow.
So... this time... The latest version of Windows 10 and Office 365... when I try to 'save as' on my system, there is a terrible lag. Usually around 10 seconds, some times longer when I try to access the file system. (I have to use cellular internet where I live, and I believe the combination of slow internet, and complex intranet cause the delay) -- I suspect the file system goes out to the network for some reason.
Anyways, so I have been saving incrementally less often, due to the pain of doing it, and due to MS's built in auto-recovery, auto saves.
Well, apparently I was too dismissive of the auto recovery file, thinking i had an incremental save in place... and I did not. And then I clicked on update windows, and aparently they erased all of the auto recovery files... a weirdly specific and rare string of event lead to it, but there you go... 9 hours of my life gone.
-
...So... this time... The latest version of Windows 10 and Office 365... when I try to 'save as' on my system, there is a terrible lag. Usually around 10 seconds, some times longer when I try to access the file system. (I have to use cellular internet where I live, and I believe the combination of slow internet, and complex intranet cause the delay)....
well!!!!!
I have not traveled THAT road previously,...
thank you very much for the heads up!!!!
does that count as a NW.com user OE?!?!?!?!?
heheheheheh,.... 8)
.... I suspect the file system goes out to the network for some reason....
(http://www.gotmedieval.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/there-be-dragons-map.jpg)
....9 hours of my life gone.
funny how as the inevitable dirtnap clock advances, we tend to get pretty selfish with those hours and minutes,.... :P ;) :) 8)
-
1) does that count as a NW.com user OE?
2) funny how as the inevitable dirtnap clock advances, we tend to get pretty selfish with those hours and minutes
1) At my site, the Safety Coordinator works in the Performance Improvement Department, which also Handles CAP and OE... so lets not joke about that, or I will lose more then 9 hours of my life, which brings me to...
2) Yes, yes it does. That's also why I am so much less likely to do things for fee now. I have so much less 'free time' to give. Between the Wife & Kids, the full time Entergy Job, and the Full Time NukeWorker job... free time is just another word for nothing else to do... la de dah, de dah... me and Bobby McG... LW
-
I forgot to add, I finished re-doing the stuff I lost yesterday. of course, I was much more efficient the 2nd time around.
-
The Print version is finished. It should be available for purchase in a few days.
Here is the link when it becomes available: https://www.createspace.com/5810304
It will take me a few more weeks to get the kindle version ready.
-
It will take me a few more weeks to get the kindle version ready.
I surprised myself, and finished the kindle version also. I'll post links when it's available.
Repair for some spam!
-
So... I like to keep my books as cheap as I can. I try to sell the books for $29.99.
The minimum price set by the publisher for the RCT Cram notes was $49.99 (they won't produce it for less than that, and at that price, there is not profit for me)... lots of pages with lots of pictures.
I'm going to have to go back to the drawing board, and figure out how to make it less expensive. I'm thinking a larger form factor. (Page size), which should mean less pages, and theoretically, cost less to make. Grrr.
-
The Kindle version is live: http://amzn.to/2djEP9F
-
The Kindle version is live: http://amzn.to/2djEP9F
Someone already purchased a copy of the kindle version. Don't forget to rate it on Amazon!