Does health physicist as a career exist in Canada or is something generally only in the US? If the career does exist in Canada, what is the job outlook for the career and the process required to become a health physicist in Canada (specifically Ontario)?

Hello, I’m somewhat new to the field of health physics and have been studying hard for CHP I. I’ve been looking mostly through Bevelacqua’s basic health physics and Cember’s intro to health physics, and reading other important documents like NCRP reports.

At this point I’m trying to gain an idea of what I’ll need to memorize for the exam. I found an example of an equation sheet for CHP II online and that was about it. It seems that if I assume the test will be like the problems in Bevelacqua that I will have to memorize a lot of empirical equations, conversion constants, facts about specific radionuclides etc.

For those who’ve taken it recently, what is typically available to you as a reference during the exam? What is most important to memorize?

I recently found out my family and I were exposed to high radon levels for years unknowingly. I have health anxiety at baseline (for which I'm treated) and this has been a major stressor that I'm having a hard time moving past.

Levels in the home were very high with what seems to be a level around 10-15 pci in the upstairs living and bedroom areas (who knows, could have been closer to 20 in the Winter??). My siblings and I lived there for 18 years and my parents for 35 years. We were never in the basement.

We only have the above measurements over a short span in September so we don't know what it would have been in the winter months. We had windows and doors open almost every summer thankfully. They have it mitigated now and levels are now less than 1 pci.

Can someone calculate our risk of lung cancer? We are non smokers thankfully. I'm losing sleep and sanity over this. The internet is a scary place and the radon mitigation companies which occupy the most space on the web in regards to this have very inflammatory and scary things to say.

Check your emails!! I just got my results for Part 1 of the CHP exam this morning.

Hi all! Looking for advice or guidance on how best I could tackle my life situation currently. I have been in the health physics tech (rp) world for about 2 years and I recently also just had a baby. I want to stay home with the babe while my husband works but also want to either excel my schooling or career that way when I decide to go back I don’t have such a huge gap. I have a B.S in physics and am interested in health physics and dosimetry work. Any advice on how best to utilize this somewhat down time would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

How beneficial would calc 3 and 4 be for HPs? I'm currently taking calc 2 online at TESU as I know it will be helpful should I pursue a Master's. Should I venture out to 3 and 4? Not just for the masters but for the career.

Hey all wondering if this is the place to put this. I have had multiple ct scans this year after having a DVT + extreme health anxiety following it. Just wondering if anyone can give me advice

I’ve had

3x ct abdo pelvis + contrast assuming multiphase

1x ct head angio 1x ct head

1x chest pe study

Thanks, I’m not sure what I’m really asking just I wasn’t told about radiation risk until I had my last one and now I’m freaking out

Do you specifically need a master's in health physics to become a health physicist and take part 1 of the CHP exam? Say you get a MSc in nuclear or particle physics, are you allowed to take the part 1 and you'll just have to self study a bit?

I'm the dosimetry HP at a facility that has around 500-600 employees. We assign monthly dosimetry to all new employees to be conservative, even if the individual is not in a group that performs any radiation work. I'm mapping out some major changes to our dosimetry program and have contacted our dosimetry provider to inquire about different changeout frequencies.

Is there any guidance on determining if a radiation worker should have monthly, quarterly, semiannual, or annual dosimetry badges? Most of the Reg Guides I've looked through establish the standards for monitoring in 10 CFR 20, but don't go into any details about monitoring frequency. Some of our workers exceed the 500 mRem threshold each year, but many do not.

Similarly, some groups at our facility have a single extremity monitor for the dominant hand, and others have two. In my line of work I have always had 2 rings, but other groups insist that only one extremity monitor is necessary and I can't find any literature delineating which is best.

Just wanted to see if anyone else had any options or guidance, thanks!

Hi everyone! I don’t know if this is weird, but I’m starting the OSU MHP online later this month, and was wondering if anyone else on here is too? Online school is a weird concept for me cause I really enjoyed having a little study community during undergrad, pre 2020. So, maybe we could introduce ourselves and get to know each other, why we are doing the MHP and what we look to get from it?

Additionally, any graduates of the program feel free to chime in, I’m really interested in seeing where I could take my career after this program, and surely hope it won’t be a waste of money 😅 it’ll be a career change for me!

How long does it take to get the NRRPT results?

Does anyone know how much experience is given for having an AS in Radiation Safety toward the 5 year requirement to take the NRRPT?

I can't find a solid answer for this. I have seen radcon jobs locally give as little as 6 months of experience for having an AS.

Hello everyone. For background I’m in Texas. I met a CHP who told me there’s a pathway to become a MP from a CHP. I can’t find any literature on this. ABR seems to be very specific and doesn’t say anything for an alternative route.

Does anyone know anything about this?

I’ve been tasked with revitalizing my program’s on-boarding, annual training/evaluation. My crew is made up of RCTs and HPTs in the environmental space. What techniques does everyone use to keep their team current with surveying techniques and calculations? I’m curious where our fields merge. In an educational setting how do you simulate the spread of contamination in a room while keeping everyone safe and still collecting data the could be used in the release process? What about taping low level sealed sources to the inside of tyvek to simulate frisking? Math wise I’m including activity correction, MDC, exposure rate, and DAC. What practical math problems do you find yourself doing regular? My aim is to give this crew knowledge they can take to other environments in the industry and become better more well rounded radiation professionals. I’m on the way to becoming a CHP myself.

Does anyone have any insight on specific computer programs needed to be run during the Online MHP at OSU? I got my bachelor’s from Excelsior with a Samsung tablet, but I’m no longer a broke boy and I’m looking to pick up a laptop for school. Commute for work daily via the Washington state ferry system, so I got interested in the new MacBook airs with the brighter screens and fan-less cooling, but I don’t want to set myself in a $1,000+ trap if I need anything more complex than matlab

Thanks in advance for advice!

I know this is not the usual type of posts for this group but I am a newly certified HPT and I work for a lab that analyzes tank waste. We have to wear PPE over our “street clothes”. My question is does anyone have a favorite scrubs brand that is soft but breathable? Or do you recommend something else to wear to work? The scrubs they issue to us initially are MOAB brand and are so scratchy 😬. Of course I can wear sweats and actual comfys like most everyone else but I am also going back to school to move up as a health physicist and want to look semi professional the times I’m not in the lab. i.e we spend maybe 50% of our time outside of the lab doing other things.

I'm in Canada and getting your masters in health physics is less common here. I am currently enrolled in Illinois Institute of Technology Masters of Applied Science (MAS) program, but it was recently suggested to me that because it isn't a Masters of Science (MSc) that it might not be as useful in my career progression because there's a decent number of jobs that won't accept an MAS when a masters is required.

Can anyone confirm/deny?

Hey all,

What would be the approximate dose of someone who replaced their entire body content with 100% tritiated water. That's drinking 42L of 100% tritiated water.

I got something like 9E7 Sv using the ICRP 68 dose coefficient of 1.8E-11 Sv/Bq

Seems crazy high

Does anyone have an opinion on RSO Courses? I know NV5 is popular, but some others are out there as well. Are there any that are decent if I have 5 or more years of experience in the field? Thanks in advance.

Hello! I apologize if this has been asked before. I have a feeling it's a hot topic so please forgive me.

SO, I am in my summer term at Oregon State University for their Masters in Radiation Health Physics program. I have fall and winter left, then I graduate. So 2.5 terms left.

I think I am just a bit confused on what work I can actually qualify for with this degree? During the orientation they told us incoming students there are tons of jobs in this industry open because people are retiring etc, and not alot of people are aware of this field. However the only jobs I see are like, Radiologist, Rad tech, medical physicist, etc. Nothing that this degree makes me qualified for. I was also told after this degree I am eligible for the CHP, but I fail to see how that is true.

So, I am starting to panic a little, my undergrad is Environmental science, and I thought this masters would really bolster my resume. However so many positions that even mention radiation or nuclear science want all these certificates, AART, ABR, CAMPEP etc, all require programs that don't align with mine. So I am a little at a loss and am wondering did I make the wrong choice? I enjoy what I am learning and it's been super insightful but I can't find anything I can do with this at the moment. I have 10+ years work experience in management, logistics and supply chain, but thats not really relevant to this degree or future carer choices.

Would LOVE to hear some thoughts, advice, or recommendations.

Sincerely,

a stressed out dude.

Sorry for the long post! Hi all, I’m wondering if any health physicists here had a more untraditional pathway of getting into the field? I finished my bachelors degree in health sciences last year, and I’ve been struggling finding a graduate pathway I was truly interested in. I’ve stumbled across this career and I find it fascinating! However, since I come from a health science background, it seems that I am not eligible for many of the programs due to my lack of upper level physics courses.

Anyway, I’ve been doing some research and it seems possible to do a 2-year diploma program in nuclear tech, and then possibly applying to a program afterwards. I could also consider entering a bachelors program, I just wish there was a way I could utilize my undergrad. Do these seem like viable options? Is there another program option out there that could make things simpler?

I also have an interest in medical dosimetry, but since I’m Canadian I would need to go into a radiation therapy program for that. Both are great careers, I’m just not certain what the smarter option would be in the long run. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks folks.

What is the process to becoming a health physicist in Canada? What experience and educational requirements are needed to become a health physicist in Canada? What is the job outlook for health physics in Canada and what can one expect to make as an entry level health physicists and as an experienced health physicists?

Hello was hoping to get information on past or possibly current students experiences of the Birmingham graduate program. Is the program generally good? Is there any special experiences you gain from the program? Is it research or project heavy? Do you get to focus on a specific area within hp in your studies or work with a specific instructor? Thanks

I haven’t had the opportunity to discuss with my team at work yet but has anyone determined what kind of impact RSOs/Health Physicists may face after this decision?

Hello! I’m an aspiring health physicist (rising senior in high school) preparing to apply to colleges and was wondering which degree programs are the best. I looked on the list of degree programs on health physics society website already but it’s hard to find any information from graduates on the quality of the programs, (e.g. how easy it was to find internships, research opportunities, class quality, etc.). I’m from TN so I’ve been considering UT Knoxville and Oregon state but don’t know much about other programs or places to apply. Any advice would be appreciated