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Radiation Safety Officer Online Training

Online training for health physicists responsible for their organization’s radiation safety program

Introduction

ORAU's Professional Training Programs (PTP) is now offering an online version of our one-week Radiation Safety Officer Training course, traditionally held in-person at our training facilities in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The lectures and lab materials are delivered via self-paced, pre-recorded webcasts that were developed by the same team that provides the instructor-led training.  

Personnel responsible for radiation safety activities are faced with numerous administrative and technical issues. These issues are often complex and require individuals who are well trained and responsive to existing and evolving regulations. To assist those individuals who desire a successful radiation safety program, ORAU conducts this training course—Radiation Safety Officer Online Training.

The American Academy of Health Physics grants 40 Continuing Education Credits for completion of this course. American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH) Diplomates can claim Certification Maintenance credit for this event. See ABIH Maintain Certification for more information.

Course description

This Radiation Safety Officer online training course covers the same material and is equivalent to taking the one-week, instructor-led course at the PTP training facility. The course is self-paced and can be completed as time allows.

This course contains 26 pre-recorded webcasts that introduce participants to relevant issues that influence the effectiveness of a radiation safety program. The course emphasizes a variety of administrative and technical issues that a Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) must address.

A list of the modules included in the course is provided below along with instructions about the registration process. In order to complete the course, you will be required to pass an 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. 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 who presently have or anticipate having the responsibility for RSO activities at their facility. Participants should be familiar with the basics of health physics and radiation safety. Individuals new to the field are advised to attend either the Introduction to Radiation Safety course or Applied Health Physics course as a prerequisite.

Cost

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

The instructional material will be provided in an electronic format via the ORAU PTP Learning Management System (LMS).

Register now

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.

  • Module 1: Radiation Interactions and Radiobiology Review
  • Module 2: Dosimetry Program Requirements
  • Module 3: Introduction to Radiation Math for RSOs
  • Module 4: Survey Instruments
  • Module 5: Responsibilities of the RSO
  • Module 6: Security of Radioactive Material
  • Module 7: Inventory Control and Records
  • Module 8: Overview of Radioactive Materials Licensing Requirements
  • Module 9: Radiation Sources and Equipment
  • Module 10: Radiation Surveys
  • Module 11: Lab/Demo: Inverse Square Law Video
  • Module 12: Lab/Demo: Survey Techniques – Instrument Response (SI-101 part I)
  • Module 13: Liquid Scintillation Counting
  • Module 14: Lab/Demo: Sealed Source Leak Testing (ST-200)
  • Module 15: Lab/Demo: Shipping RAM (ST-106)
  • Module 16: Radiation Instrument Quality Control
  • Module 17: Lab/Demo: Instrument Calibration (SI-106, SI-107)
  • Module 18: Lab/Demo: Chi-Square Testing and Instrument QC (S-225)
  • Module 19: Radiation Safety Regulations and Standards
  • Module 20: Transportation of Radioactive Materials
  • Module 21: Lab/Demo: Radiation Surveys (ST-102.1, ST-107)
  • Module 22: Internal Dosimetry for the RSO/MRSO
  • Module 23: Treatment for Internal Contamination
  • Module 24: Challenges for the Health Physicist
  • Module 25: Radioactive Waste Management
  • Module 26: Inspections and Audits

What our students are saying

“Overall this was a great course. I've been an RSO for years and this course gave me great reminders. The instructors were helpful and provided great resources I will be able to use.”

“I think the labs and hands-on experience is probably the most valuable aspect of this course. Also having multiple people talk about things really helped get different perspectives.”

“The instructors were great! Very knowledgeable and went out of their way to help and make sure the information was understood. Continually asked if students had any questions or needed assistance.”

A male and female health physicist conduct an indoor radiation survey

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)