CHP Prep

[ncdukeworker]

Hey everyone I am thinking about prepping for the CHP, I wanted to see if anyone can offer up study references they may have used that they found useful?  The list on here as recommended resources is a mile long as getting all these references and reading them would be costly and VERY time consuming (not that studying won't take time in itself), But wanted to see if anyone could offer up some advice?

Thanks!!

[tolstoy]

Are you planning on parts 1, 2 or both?

I used the Datachem software as a jumping off point - anything I didn't know about any question was put on my study list. Get Knoll's Radiation Detection and Measurement and you should know Cember off the top of your head. Study as many of the old tests as you can. Study to both get the problems right and to understand the background information and reasons why. Bevalacqua's Contemporary Health Physics is great as well.

[ncdukeworker]

Thanks Tolstoy for the insights!  I really haven't decided, I would probably go after just part 1 for right now.  I just started this journey,  I also haven't found much data if getting the CHP before the NRRPT or vice versa?

[SloGlo]

Thanks Tolstoy for the insights!  I really haven't decided, I would probably go after just part 1 for right now.  I just started this journey,  I also haven't found much data if getting the CHP before the NRRPT or vice versa?

nrrpt is a certificate for technician level workers, chp is for professional/management workers.

[tolstoy]

Thanks Tolstoy for the insights!  I really haven't decided, I would probably go after just part 1 for right now.  I just started this journey,  I also haven't found much data if getting the CHP before the NRRPT or vice versa?

Starting the HP journey or the CHP journey? There are time requirements for Part II and academic requirements for Part I. I assume you've sifted through that stuff on the website?

[ncdukeworker]

starting the NRRPT/CHP journey, I have been in the HP field for going on 5 years now and want to further my education and expand my career opportunities so with that said, just trying to get a grasp on what I should go after first.  I have hopes of getting to a scientist/specialist level in the HP field, and also hoping the two would allow me the opportunity at medical medicine should the nuclear industry fall off. Thanks for the help!

[SloGlo]

nrrpt is primarily four power plants. chp is fore across the board hp. nrrpt is for technicians. chp is a board certification for upper echelon slots.
due yew want to show you can pass tests? dew you want to beautify yore resume? ya wanna good paying job oar a position with prestige?
if you haven't had formal training in the field of rp, the nrrpt will be extremely difficult.
If ya haven't had college level edumakashun in health physics the chp is dam near impossible.

whatcha gonna due, bee fore the testors come four yew?

[SmearedNeutron]

I think everyone that carries a meter should pass this test.

That said, I know a lot of techs that need to lose their quals.

[OldHP]

Which test?  Everyone who carries a meter is a looooong term.  Back in the 70's most of my mechanics and operators had the minimal qualifications to 'carry a meter' (and would check one out) on their rounds since changes occurred every day.  Some of my best techs, pre NRRPT, and best Engineers, preferred to do neither, but were the (and still are) the best at what they do!  Some do, some don't!

[Marlin]

nrrpt is primarily four power plants.

Must have changed a lot, prior to testing in 85 I had to study medical, lasers, and any other ionizing or non-ionizing radiation hazard for power plants, labs, radiography, hazardous waste, etc.

chp is fore across the board hp. nrrpt is for technicians. chp is a board certification for upper echelon slots.
due yew want to show you can pass tests? dew you want to beautify yore resume? ya wanna good paying job oar a position with prestige?

For the most part I agree but there is a crossover for smaller less complicated projects/programs. NRRPT could be seen as a step up the ladder in the radiation protection world. I would make the comparison to the medical world EMT, Paramedic, Registered nurse, Physicians Assistant and Doctor could be compared to Junior Technician, Senior Technician, NRRPT, CHP.

My point of view and part of the reason I took the test is that for a technician on the road you are a technician if the facility accepts your experience as applicable to their facility, passing the NRRPT makes you a registered technician. Somewhat bragging rights as most failed the exam back then I do not know the current pass rate but 30% pass rate was not uncommon back then.

I think everyone that carries a meter should pass this test.

That said, I know a lot of techs that need to lose their quals.

Strongly disagree though I chose to take the test I have found that being conscientious is a much more important factor. The facility will typically assign a technician to their level of competence. If not I would blame the facility not the technician.

Which test?  Everyone who carries a meter is a looooong term.  Back in the 70's most of my mechanics and operators had the minimal qualifications to 'carry a meter' (and would check one out) on their rounds since changes occurred every day.  Some of my best techs, pre NRRPT, and best Engineers, preferred to do neither, but were the (and still are) the best at what they do!  Some do, some don't!

Spock to Captain Kirk "As with all living things, each according to his gift"  

[Rennhack]

Somewhat bragging rights as most failed the exam back then I do not know the current pass rate but 30% pass rate was not uncommon back then.

Many of the tests had a passing rate in the 30's. However, the 50's were more common.  Still, almost half of all test takers, after studding and paying to take the test, fail.

As of February 22, 2014:
In the United States, the NRRPT exam has been taken 9,660 times in the 38 years since the first test in 1976.  5,287 (55%) passed and 4,373 have failed.

Actual stats with % pass each test:
http://www.nrrpt.org/file/Exam%20History%204-14.pdf

[thenukeman]

CHP  Part 1 Highly reccomend Data Chem.  If I remember it has about 1000 questions.  It also explains the answer and does the math if you do not know the answer. I passed CHP Part 1  the first time using this.  I reccomend NOT taking the random tests.  I reccomend starting at question one and going through all the questions.  Have a note pad and only write down the numbers you do  not fully understand.  The first time through I believe I was  at about 40 percent. I then went through again and understood  about another 40 percent of the ones I wrote down.  I crossed them off the list and kept going back through . I worked them through until I  had about 95 percent I could really do or understand.  I then left off the about 50, such as neutron cross sections I did not want to take time to  figure out and  went for the about 950 I really understood. Studied them the last few weeks. Well hope this helps.  Could use this for NRRPT too.
I was turned down to even take the CHP Part 1.  I went back to college to get a Science Degree.  Make sure you meet the requirements as stated previously.