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MARSSIM Online Training

Online continuing education course on implementing the Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual

Introduction

As more and more attention is directed toward the decommissioning of nuclear facilities, the need for a standardized approach for implementing the necessary radiological surveys has become apparent. A multi-agency committee representing the NRC, DOE, EPA, and DOD has attempted to address this need by producing a guidance document known as the Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual (MARSSIM).

The American Academy of Health Physics grants 40 Continuing Education Credits for completion of this course.

Course description

The MARSSIM online training course emphasizes the decision-making processes involved in the design and implementation of a MARSSIM-based decommissioning survey. Topics include an overview of radiological survey types, the data quality objectives process, selection and application of DCGLs, background reference area selection, survey instrument detection sensitivity, area classification, statistical design of surveys, measurement uncertainty, and performing statistical tests.

A list of the modules included in the course is provided below along with instructions about the registration process. This course is the equivalent of taking the one-week instructor-led course at the PTP training facility. PTP instructors will be available via email, phone, or Microsoft Teams to answer questions and provide assistance when needed.

Target audience

This course is designed for individuals responsible for designing decommissioning radiological survey plans, overseeing the implementation of these plans, and evaluating the collected data.

Cost

2024 cost: $1,995
2025 cost: $2,195

Tuition includes access to the course materials via the ORAU Learning Management System (LMS).

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Questions

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

Impact Areas

Registration Information

 

These are asynchronous (self-paced) online courses. The training staff recommends that you complete the training within six months of enrollment. Once registration is complete, you will receive an email confirming that your registration has been received. Once your payment has been confirmed, you will receive an email containing your user name and temporary password if this is the first time you have registered for an online course. If you have registered before, you will receive notification that the course is now available.

Each course contains a series of modules/exercises to be completed. When all modules are complete, you will be granted access to the exam. A passing score is 70 out of 100. You will have three attempts to successfully complete the exam. Upon successful completion of the exam, a course certificate of completion will be provided.

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 in full is required in advance.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Once access to the course material has been granted via the Learning Management System, no cancellations will be accepted and no refunds will be issued.

Links to Third-Party Websites

PTP's Online Training may include links to third-party websites that are controlled and maintained by other organizations. Any link to third-party websites is not an endorsement of said websites, and ORAU is not responsible for the content or availability of any such sites.

Recording

Sessions that contain webinars will be recorded.

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.

The ORAU-ANL Decommissioning Certificate Program is a formal curriculum that documents that an individual has achieved a baseline level of training in the subject of facility/site decommissioning.

To complete the certificate program, participants must attend two requisite core courses and one additional elective course. They do not need to be taken in any specific order. After the training requirements have been met, it is the responsibility of the participant to contact the ORAU Registrar and request the Decommissioning Certificate. When it has been confirmed by the ORAU Registrar that the requirements have been completed, the individual will be awarded the Decommissioning Certificate.

At this time, no administrative fees are being imposed for the certificate. The sole expense to the participant is the cost of attending the courses.

Requisite Courses

Participants must attend the following two core courses:

Elective Courses

Participants must attend one elective course from the following:

Issuance of Decommissioning Certificate

For the Decommissioning Certificate to be issued, the participant must provide the ORAU Registrar with documentation that the training requirements have been met. This documentation could consist of copies of the certificates of completion from the core and elective courses. If a certificate of completion for one of the ANL courses is unavailable, it would be acceptable to provide the ORAU Registrar with a letter or email from Argonne National Laboratory confirming that the individual attended the course(s). Without a certificate of completion for one of the ORAU courses, the participant must be able to provide the Registrar with the specific dates that the course(s) was attended and the attendance must be confirmed by the Registrar.

Continuing Education Credits

All of the requisite and elective courses have been assigned at least 16 Continuing Education Credits (CECs) by the American Academy of Health Physics.

  • Module 01: MARSSIM Overview, Part 1: Purpose, Advantages and Limitations, RSSI Process
  • Module 02: MARSSIM Overview, Part 2: DCGLs, Classification, Survey Unit, Nonparametric Test, Unity Rule
  • Module 03: MARSSIM Overview, Part 3: Scan Requirements, Sample Measurement/Collection, Sample Distribution
  • Module 04: MARSSIM Overview, Part 4: Decision Errors, Relative Shift, Sample Size
  • Module 05: MARSSIM Overview, Part 5: Data Verification and Validation, Performing Statistical Tests, Elevated Measurement Comparison
  • Module 06: Radiological Survey Types in Support of Decommissioning
  • Module 07: DCGLs: Selection and Application Pt. 1
  • Module 08: DCGLs: Selection and Application Pt. 2
  • Module 09: DCGL Problem Set
  • Module 10: RESRAD
  • Module 11: RESRAD-BUILD
  • Module 12: DandD
  • Module 13: VSP
  • Module 14: Classification and Survey Units
  • Module 15: Reference Areas
  • Module 16: Surface Activity Assessment and Detection Sensitivity of Survey Instrumentation
  • Module 17: Statistical Design of Final Status Surveys
  • Module 18: FSS Design Examples Pt. 1
  • Module 19: FSS Design Examples Pt. 2
  • Module 20: Integrated Final Status Survey
  • Module 21: Performing the Statistical Tests
  • Module 22: Data Quality Assessment, Power Curves, and the Assessment of Multiple Radionuclides
  • Module 23: Evaluating the Cushing Data Set
  • Module 24: Special Survey Issues
  • Module 25: Indistinguishable from Background Pt. 1
  • Module 26: Indistinguishable from Background Pt. 2
  • Module 27: Final Status Survey Reports

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)