CHP requirements

[peteshonkwiler]

What are the prerequisites for taking the CHP exam?

[Rennhack]

General Requirements for Certification
Candidates for certification must meet the following requirements:

Academics. An applicant must possess at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in physical science, engineering, mathematics, or in a biological science with a minor in physical science, engineering, or mathematics. In lieu of a minor in a physical science, engineering, or mathematics, a candidate for certification may submit evidence of credit from an accredited college or university for course work in physical sciences, engineering, or mathematics equivalent to 20 semester hours.

Applicants shall have satisfied and documented all requirements for degrees claimed by the time application is made for either part of the written examination.

Original transcripts must be submitted with the application.

Experience. An applicant must have at least six years of responsible professional experience in health physics as of July 1 of the year in which the examination is to be taken. At least three years of the experience must have been in applied health physics. The six years of professional experience, which must be documented by an applicant for Part II of the exam, must be experience that demonstrates that the candidate has been required to exercise judgment in one, or more, of the following:
establishment and/or evaluation of a radiation protection program
design and/or the evaluation of the design of the radiation protection aspects of a facility
design and implementation of a radiation protection training course or program
development of an experimental and/or measurement program designed to answer questions related to radiation protection
evaluation of measurement data
analysis and solution of radiation protection problems
preparation, interpretation and implementation of recommedations and regulations.

At the discretion of the Board, advanced degrees in health physics or a closely related area of study may be substituted for a maximum of two years of the required experience. A master's degree may be substituted for one year, while a doctoral degree may be substituted for two years of the required experience. Technician-level experience will in no case be acceptable as meeting the experience requirements.

Only military service in the commissioned officer and warrant officer grades will be accepted twoards profesisonal health physics experience.

An applicant may claim professional experience for an advanced degree and work experience for the same period. A maximum of one year of experience can be claimed for each calendar year. This provision is effective with the 1993 exam

References. Reference statements are required from the applicant's supervisor and, if applying for Part II, from at least two other individuals who are professionally qualified to evaluate the applicant's ability in health physics. It is required that at least one reference be from a health physicist already certified by the ABHP.
Written Report. Each applicant for Part II of the examination shall submit with the Application for Certification a document written by the applicant that reflects a professional health physics effort. This "effort" may be a substantive facility evaluation, a protection guidance document, a major monitoring program, or some other complex or comprehensive effort. The criteria for ABHP acceptance of this report are that it (1) be on a topic for which the ABHP tests and certifies expertise, (2) contain elements of professional judgment or application of non-regulatory protection guidance, and (3) be written solely or principally by the candidate. The Board, after examination of the application materials, may request additional such reports. All reports will be treated as confidential material. All reports submitted in fulfillment of this requirement shall be reviewed by an ABHP member. Third-party review of written reports is not acceptable.
Examination. The written examination has two parts: Part I, which can be taken early in one's career, determines the competence of the applicant in fundamental aspects of health physics, and Part II determines his/her competence in applied health physics topics. Either part of the written examination must be taken within two years of notification of eligibility, or a new application must be submitted. After passing Part I, the applicant must pass Part II within a period of seven years, or retake both parts.

Anyone who meets the education and experience requirements and is practicing health physics in a competent and ethical manner is strongly urged to apply to the Board for admission to the written examination. Although satisfactory performance on the written examination is not the only requirement for certification, persons who are admitted to and who perform well on the examination usually receive certification by the Board.

http://www.hps1.org/aahp/abhp/prospect.htm#Gen_rqmts

[moodusjack]

One requirement Mike missed is you gotta love tests.  Also, CHP is comprehensive...no more Power Reactors cert.  So you gotta love tests that cover the spectrum of health physics including non-ionizing rad, medical and accelerators.

But...it's worth it.

[Rennhack]

The best priced, and best value CHP Exam study CD is From Rad Ware.  Get it here:

http://www.nukeworker.com/shop/radware/chp.shtml