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Applied Health Physics – Laboratory Exercises I

First of two sets of instructor-led laboratory exercises that are part of the new blended Applied Health Physics course

Introduction

ORAU's Professional Training Programs (PTP) is now offering a new way to experience the traditional five-week Applied Health Physics course that is offered at our training facilities in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. We are now offering a blended course that contains both online and in-class training. The lecture materials will be delivered online via self-paced modules and webcasts. The laboratory exercises will be delivered in-class at the ORAU PTP training facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where we will employ safe distancing, smaller lab groups, and disinfection protocols.

This option greatly reduces the on-site presence of the participant and the costs of travel, lodging, and per diem, while presenting all of the great instructional topics and content you have come to expect in the five-week course. The American Academy of Health Physics grants 40 Continuing Education Credits for completion of this course. 

Training dates

Course description

Applied Health Physics - Laboratory Exercises I is the first of two instructor-led laboratory exercises that are part of the new blended Applied Health Physics course. If you are planning to complete the requirements of the blended Applied Health Physics course, this is the fourth course in the series and follows the three self-paced training modules found in our online training catalog.

The three online courses must be successfully completed before attending these in-person lab exercises. The full requirements of the Applied Health Physics five-week course curriculum (and required order of completion) are listed below:

  1. Applied Health Physics I – Fundamental Concepts and Detector Technologies
  2. Operational Health Physics I – Instrumentation Calibration, Preparation, and Use, Radiation in Industry, and External Dosimetry
  3. Operational Health Physics II – Air Sampling, Internal Dosimetry, Neutrons, Decommissioning, Waste, Non-Ionizing, and Transportation)
  4. Applied Health Physics – Laboratory Exercises I
  5. Applied Health Physics – Laboratory Exercises II

Who should attend

Any person needing training in health physics and radiation protection should attend this course. Attendees should have some training in mathematics, including algebra, and have experience using a calculator with scientific functions.

Cost

$2,195The tuition includes the cost of training and instructional materials. Attendees will also receive a free copy of the ORAU Professional Training Programs Electronic Library DVD.

Questions

If you have additional questions about this course, please contact the Registrar.

Impact Areas

Registration Information

 

PTP has upgraded our instructional materials to an electronic format. Attendees should bring a laptop or tablet that is wifi enabled in order to download the instructional materials on the first day of the course. The lecture handouts that have traditionally been available in course notebooks will now be provided electronically. Textbooks and other resources may still be available in hardcopy for certain courses. If your preference is to work from printed materials please choose that option during registration and the notebook(s) will be provided for use on the first day of the course for an additional fee ($50). Lab handouts will still be provided for courses that include a laboratory component. If you have any questions, please contact the Registrar.

The decision deadline for running a course is 30 days prior to the course start date. If there are not enough registrants at that time, the course will be cancelled, so please REGISTER EARLY. If you are unable to register prior to the deadline, please contact the Registrar for assistance.

You have several options on registration and payment for an ORAU PTP course:

Please read the following carefully in its entirety. You must accept these terms and conditions in order to be successfully enrolled in the course. By accepting these terms and conditions, you are legally obligated to act in accordance with this agreement.

Restricted Materials Use Agreement

By registering for this course offered by ORAU's Professional Training Programs (PTP), I understand that I will be provided with PTP-developed course materials. In exchange for receiving these materials, I agree and understand that PTP’s course materials (both electronic or hardcopy) are provided for use by the registered participant only.

Duplication and/or distribution of the course materials, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, is strictly prohibited without the prior written permission of ORAU. The participant may retain and use the course materials for personal reference in perpetuity. Publications and other copyrighted materials provided during the course may be subject to additional restrictions as noted within these documents.

Payment Policy

Payment must be received 30 days prior to the start of the course. If you do not pay your balance in full by the payment deadline, you risk being dropped from the course. If you register after the payment deadline, you must pay in full immediately. Registration is not guaranteed until payment is received.

Confirmation

One month prior to the course starting date, if that much advance time is available, you will receive written confirmation of your registration, as well as a draft schedule, directions to our training facility, local lodging, and transportation options. You are responsible for your own lodging and transportation arrangements.

Non-citizens (U.S.)

This training takes place in a U.S. Department of Energy facility; therefore, certain security requirements must be met. Foreign nationals must be cleared before attending, a process that may take several months. If you are a foreign national, contact the PTP Registrar at Registrar@orau.org for additional information.

Recording

Sessions that contain webinars will be recorded by ORAU.

ORAU Event Attendee Code of Conduct

This ORAU Event Attendee Code of Conduct (“Code of Conduct”) applies at all ORAU live and virtual meetings, conferences, forums, and meeting-related events, including those sponsored by ORAU or in conjunction with other organizations.

Please read the following Code of Conduct linked below in its entirety.

This Code of Conduct may be revised at any time by ORAU and the terms are non-negotiable.

Your registration for or attendance at any ORAU Event, whether it is held in-person or virtually, indicates your agreement to abide by this Code of Conduct.

ORAU Event Attendee Code of Conduct

Ordering Terms and Conditions

The terms and conditions agreed to herein comprise the entirety of the agreement between the customer and ORAU absent any other ORAU commercial contract.

You may cancel your registration 30 days prior to the course start date with no penalty. Individuals who cancel within 30 days of the course start date will be assessed a 10% cancellation fee based on the cost of the course. Individuals who do not notify ORAU of cancellation and do not attend the course will be assessed a 20% cancellation fee.

Cancellations must be communicated directly to the ORAU Professional Training Programs Registrar and a confirmation will be provided. Cancellation fees will be invoiced to participants after the completion of the course. If a course was paid in full at the time of registration, reimbursement (minus any applicable cancellation fee) will be processed after course completion.

ORAU’s Professional Training Programs reserves the right to cancel or reschedule a course due to insufficient participants, or for other reasons beyond our control. If a course is canceled, you will be notified by phone or email one month prior to the start date of the course. No cancellation fee will be assessed for courses canceled by ORAU. If ORAU cancels the course, any payments received prior to the cancellation of the course will be refunded in full.

ORAU does not recommend that participants make non-refundable travel arrangements prior to the one month cancellation window. ORAU is not liable for such costs if the course is canceled.

Time Action Cancellation Fee
≥ 30 days before start date of the course ORAU cancels course or participant cancels registration None
< 30 days before start date of the course Participant cancels registration 10% of course cost
Week of course Participant does not attend and/or provide notification before start date of the course 20% of course cost

  1. From the airport, take US 129 N (Alcoa Highway) toward Knoxville for approximately 2.3 miles.
  2. Use the right lane to merge onto I-140 W via the ramp to Oak Ridge.
  3. Continue on I-140 W for approximately 11.4 miles. As you cross I-40/I-75, I-140 ends and becomes TN-162. Continue on TN-162 (Pellissippi Parkway).
  4. In 5.9 miles, TN-162 N will merge with TN-62 W. You will travel through the small Solway community that primarily consists of gas stations and small stores. Continue over the Clinch River/Solway Bridge, and past a local cemetery that will be on the right.
  5. Stay in one of the left two lanes and continue another 6.3 miles to Oak Ridge.

Directions to the training center:

  1. After you have crossed over the Clinch River/Solway Bridge and cemetery is on your right, you will see a sign that says “Bethel Valley Road ORNL Y-12 Complex, CLOSED TO THROUGH TRAFFIC.” Exit to the right onto Bethel Valley Road.
  2. In approximately 0.8 miles, the training center will be on the left at the intersection of Bethel Valley Road and Pumphouse Road (to the left) and Scarboro Road (to the right). Turn left onto Pumphouse Road. There will be two entrances immediately on the left into the parking lot.
  3. To enter the facility, walk around to the front of the building. The training center entrance faces Bethel Valley Road closest to the intersection.

Google Earth coordinates of training facility: 35.983667 -84.222

Hotel Address Phone Distance
Candlewood Suites* 10206 Parkside Drive, Knoxville 1(865) 777-0400
1(877) 226-3539
10 miles
Comfort Inn 433 S. Rutgers Ave., Oak Ridge 1(865) 481-8200
1(800) 228-5150
2.5 miles
Courtyard by Marriott 216 Langley Place, Knoxville 1(865) 539-0600 9 miles
Days Inn 206 S. Illinois Ave., Oak Ridge 1(865) 483-5615
1(800) 329-7466
3 miles
Doubletree 215 S. Illinois Ave., Oak Ridge 1(865) 481-2468
1(800) 222-TREE
3 miles
Hampton Inn 208 S. Illinois Ave., Oak Ridge 1(865) 482-7889
1(800) HAMPTON
3 miles
Holiday Inn Express* 114 Tulsa Road, Oak Ridge 1(888) 465-4329 3.5 miles
Homewood Suites by Hilton 10935 Turkey Drive, Knoxville 1(865) 777-0375 10 miles
Quality Inn 216 S. Rutgers Ave., Oak Ridge 1(865) 483-6809 3 miles
Residence Inn by Marriott* 215 Langley Place, Knoxville 1(865) 539-5339 9 miles
SpringHill Suites by Marriott 10955 Turkey Drive, Knoxville 1(865) 966-8888 10 miles
Staybridge Suites (Extended Stay)* 420 S. Illinois Ave., Oak Ridge 1(865) 298-0050
1(800) 238-8000
2.5 miles
TownePlace Suites by Marriott* 205 Langley Place, Knoxville 1(865) 693-5216 9 miles
Westgate Apartments 101-O Gates Drive 1(865) 481-0603 8 miles

*Ask for the ORAU special rate.

Airline Phone Number
Allegiant Air 1(702) 505-8888
American Airlines 1(800) 433-7300
Delta Airlines 1(702) 505-8888
Frontier Airlines 1(801) 401-9000
United Airlines 1(800) 864-8331
McGhee Tyson Airport 1(865) 342-3000
Rental Car Agency Phone Number Reservations
Alamo 1(865) 342-3210 1(800) 327-9633
AVIS 1(865) 342-3220 1(800) 331-1212
Budget Car Rental 1(865) 342-3220 1(800) 527-0700
Dollar Car Rental 1(865) 342-3250 1(800) 366-2277
Enterprise Rent-a-Car 1(865) 342-1650 1(800) Rent-A-Car
Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Oak Ridge 1(865) 483-8494 1(800) 325-8007
Hertz 1(865) 342-3232 1(800) 654-3131
National Car Rental 1(865) 342-3240 1(800) 227-7368

Tentative Course Schedule

 

Monday

 

8:00 - 8:50 AM Badging, Orientation, Tour
9:00 AM - Noon Laboratory and Radiation Safety
Demonstration: Cloud Chamber (CC-100)
Lab: GM Counting I (GM-100.1, 101.1, 103.1, 104.1, 105.1)
Noon - 1:00 PM Lunch
1:00 - 4:00 PM Lab: GM Counting II (GM-106.1, GM-300.1, 303)
Lab: Radon Charcoal Canisters and Electrets – Part I (AS-209, 111)
Tuesday

 

8:00 - 8:50 AM Q&A Session
9:00 AM - Noon Lab: Electronic Calibration (SI-105)
Lab: α and β Instrument Calibration (SI-106), GM-106.1 Demonstration)
Noon - 1:00 PM Lunch
1:00 - 4:00 PM Lab: γ Instrument Calibration (gamma) (SI-107)
Lab: Proportional Counting (PC-220, 222, 223)
Wednesday

 

8:00 - 8:50 AM Q&A Session
9:00 AM - Noon Lab: Survey Instruments I (SI-101, size of beam video)
Lab: Floor Monitoring (ST-103.2)
Noon - 1:00 PM Lunch
1:00 - 4:00 PM Demonstration: Inverse Square Law, and Angular Dependence (SI-100, 102)
Lab: Half-Life of Long-Lived Radionuclide (GM-107.1)
Thursday

 

8:00 - 8:50 AM Q&A Session
9:00 AM - Noon Lab: Counting Statistics (S-210)
Lab: Low Energy Spectral Features (SD-257, 258)
Noon - 1:00 PM Lunch
1:00 - 4:00 PM Lab: High Resolution Gamma Spectroscopy Ge-210. 211. 213
Lab: SD-260 HPGe Efficiency Curve)
Friday

 

8:00 - 8:50 AM Q&A Session
9:00 AM - Noon Lab: Alpha Spectroscopy (APS-100, 101, 102, 103)
Demonstrations: Practical Shielding Demonstration, Leak Testing (ST-200) 
Noon - 1:00 PM Lunch
1:00 - 4:00 PM Lab: Instrument Quality Assurance (SI-306, S-225)
Lab: Walkover Survey (ST-103)
4:00 - 4:30 PM Course Critique

What our students are saying

“Overall, I thought this class was excellent. As a student new to the field, I felt it covered most of what I would be doing at work. It is a good introductory class, very thorough, and sparked my interest even more in the field of health physics.”

“Overall a well designed course, taught by personnel that are not only knowledgeable in the topics, but have obviously refined their teaching skills. I have been in nuclear engineering and/or health physics for over 30 years and have received some very good training at times and this course was one of the best I have been involved in, I would recommend it to anyone in the field.”

Applied Health Physics Course instructor and students

Contact us

For more information about ORAU's Professional Training Programs, contact:

Registrar
ORAU Professional Training Programs 
P.O. Box 117, MS-11
Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0117
Phone: (865) 576-3576
Fax: (865) 241-9152
registrar@orau.org

ORAU Professional Training Programs flyer

View the PTP course flyer (.PDF, 1.28 MB)