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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Health Physicist

💰 $95,000 - $150,000

HealthcareScience & ResearchSafety & ComplianceEngineering

🎯 Role Definition

A Health Physicist is a dedicated safety professional responsible for the protection of people and the environment from the potential hazards of ionizing radiation. In this critical role, you will be the cornerstone of the radiation safety program, developing policies, conducting risk assessments, and providing expert guidance to ensure all activities involving radioactive materials or radiation-producing equipment are performed safely and in full compliance with regulatory standards. You are both a scientist and a guardian, using your deep technical knowledge to solve complex radiological challenges and foster a world-class safety culture.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Health Physics Technician
  • Junior Radiation Safety Specialist
  • Nuclear Engineer (Entry-Level)

Advancement To:

  • Senior Health Physicist / Principal Health Physicist
  • Radiation Safety Officer (RSO)
  • Manager of Radiological Controls or Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS)

Lateral Moves:

  • Medical Physicist
  • Regulatory Affairs Specialist
  • Environmental Scientist (with a focus on remediation)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Develop, implement, and continuously improve the facility's comprehensive Radiation Protection Program to ensure full compliance with NRC, DOE, state, and local regulations.
  • Perform detailed radiological hazard assessments and risk analyses for new and modified processes, experiments, equipment, and facilities to proactively identify and mitigate risks.
  • Conduct and meticulously document routine and non-routine radiation and contamination surveys of work areas, laboratories, equipment, and personnel to verify radiological conditions.
  • Manage and provide technical oversight for the personnel dosimetry program, including the distribution of dosimeters, review and interpretation of exposure reports, and thorough investigation of any anomalous or elevated dose results.
  • Champion and enforce policies and procedures to ensure radiation exposures to workers and the public are maintained As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA).
  • Serve as the primary subject matter expert, providing authoritative technical consultation on all radiological safety matters to senior management, research staff, and operational teams.
  • Design, model, and verify the adequacy of radiation shielding for new installations, equipment modifications, and radioactive material storage and transport containers using specialized software (e.g., MCNP, MicroShield).
  • Function as a key technical leader on the emergency response team, providing rapid dose assessment, plume modeling, and protective action recommendations during radiological incidents.
  • Develop, update, and deliver engaging and effective radiation safety training programs for all personnel, from general awareness training to specialized instruction for radiation workers.
  • Oversee the complete lifecycle of radiation detection and measurement instrumentation, including selection, calibration, routine performance checks, and troubleshooting.
  • Manage the radioactive materials inventory and waste program, encompassing cradle-to-grave accountability, leak testing of sealed sources, and compliant segregation, packaging, storage, and disposal.
  • Prepare, review, and submit all necessary regulatory documentation, including license applications, amendments, renewals, and periodic reports to agencies like the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) or state authorities.
  • Lead the investigation, root cause analysis, and documentation of radiological incidents, spills, contaminations, or potential overexposures, and develop robust corrective action plans to prevent recurrence.
  • Perform complex dose calculations and radiological assessments for declared pregnant workers, members of the public, and for specific high-risk or non-routine work activities.
  • Review and formally approve work permits, experimental designs, and standard operating procedures involving the use of radioactive materials or radiation-producing machines.
  • Act as the primary point of contact and liaison with regulatory agency inspectors during site audits, confidently responding to inquiries and ensuring the timely and effective closure of any findings.
  • Evaluate and authorize the receipt, intra-facility transfer, and shipment of radioactive materials, ensuring strict adherence to Department of Transportation (DOT) and IATA regulations.
  • Provide direct technical oversight for the decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) of facilities, laboratories, and equipment, including final status survey design and execution.
  • Maintain impeccable, audit-ready records of all radiation protection program activities, including survey maps, dosimetry data, instrument calibrations, training completion, and waste manifests.
  • Conduct comprehensive air sampling and analysis to assess potential airborne radioactivity hazards and ensure airborne concentrations remain below regulatory limits.
  • Actively participate in and present technical findings to the Radiation Safety Committee and other governance bodies, providing data-driven recommendations to guide program strategy.
  • Evaluate the design of new facilities and renovations to existing areas, ensuring that radiological safety controls and regulatory requirements are integrated from the initial planning stages.

Secondary Functions

  • Mentor junior health physics staff and technicians, fostering their professional growth and technical skills.
  • Participate in industry working groups and professional organizations to stay current with best practices and emerging regulatory trends.
  • Support cross-functional EHS initiatives and audits, providing radiological expertise to broader safety programs.
  • Author or co-author technical reports, procedures, and publications related to operational health physics.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Regulatory Expertise: In-depth knowledge of federal and state radiation protection regulations, particularly 10 CFR 20, 10 CFR 35, 10 CFR 835, and DOT/IATA transport regulations.
  • Instrumentation & Measurement: Proficiency in the theory and practical use of a wide range of radiation detection and spectroscopy instruments (e.g., GM counters, ion chambers, liquid scintillation counters, gamma spectroscopy systems).
  • Dosimetry Management: Experience with personnel and environmental dosimetry technologies (e.g., TLD, OSLD, electronic dosimeters) and the software used to manage exposure records.
  • Dose Assessment & Shielding Calculation: Demonstrated ability to perform internal and external dose calculations and to use shielding software like MCNP, VARSKIN, or MicroShield.
  • Radioactive Waste Management: Comprehensive understanding of radioactive waste characterization, segregation, processing, and disposal protocols.
  • Emergency Response: Training and experience in radiological emergency response, including incident assessment, dose projection, and implementing protective actions.
  • Air Sampling & Analysis: Knowledge of air sampling techniques, equipment (e.g., high-volume air samplers), and interpretation of results against Derived Air Concentrations (DAC).

Soft Skills

  • Analytical & Critical Thinking: Superior ability to analyze complex data, investigate incidents, identify root causes, and develop effective, logical solutions.
  • Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills to effectively train employees, write technical reports, and interact with regulators and senior management.
  • Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to documentation, calculations, and procedural compliance to ensure the integrity and defensibility of the radiation safety program.
  • Leadership & Influence: Ability to promote a strong safety culture and influence personnel at all levels to adhere to safety standards without direct authority.
  • Problem-Solving: Proactive and resourceful in identifying and resolving radiological challenges in a dynamic operational or research environment.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's of Science (B.S.) in Health Physics, Nuclear Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, or a closely related scientific discipline.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's of Science (M.S.) or Ph.D. in Health Physics or Medical Physics.
  • Certification by the American Board of Health Physics (CHP).

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Health Physics
  • Nuclear Engineering
  • Radiological Sciences
  • Medical Physics
  • Physics

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3-7+ years of progressive, hands-on experience in an operational health physics program within a university, medical, industrial, or government setting.

Preferred:

  • Experience as an Assistant or designated Radiation Safety Officer (RSO).
  • Active or prior attainment of Certified Health Physicist (CHP) status.
  • Experience directly managing a broad-scope radioactive materials license and interacting with regulatory agencies.
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