Glad to see sws and Marssim made up. There are many on this site,Marssim and others on this thread that often have thoughtfull and usefull information and opinion, often earned at the expense of years and decades. These folks are bright.
As for me, I am on my twenty first year in the business,one as a deconer and twenty as an radiation protection tech. Many years ago, before I was eligible I applied to sit the nrrpt test. I was not eligible and was refused,twice. So, last year,my,twentieth,I began to feel like I was becoming one with the office chair and wanted to distinguish myself from said chair, and recalling my long ago promise to become registered, I reapplied ,was accepted,took and passed the test and there was much rejoicing. Where I work very few give a rats ass about my accomplishment.(I work at a doe site,srs,the flagship). I am none the less proud. I studied like a mad bastard for a few months and passed. I did it because I wanted to know if I still could think. I honestly worried about atrophy of my mind. Stuck on back shift with little professionally to think about,little to challenge me technically, and to young,46,to be put out to pasture I needed something to relieve the frustration. NRRPT worked. Almost a year later, now what? Always learn,always grow or you will find yourself twenty years gone standing out in the field bitching about the sour grass with the rest of the herd. In short, self satisfaction was what I got,not to mention a more broad understanding of my craft. The rest is up to me. It always has been. MH