Radiation Protection Technician: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Program Overview

Prepared to support critical safety operations in environments where radiation is present, this program equips learners with the technical expertise to monitor, manage, and mitigate radiation risks across healthcare facilities, industrial sites, and natural ecosystems. Under the guidance of health physicists and safety professionals, graduates play a vital role in protecting personnel, patients, and the public from harmful exposure through rigorous protocols and advanced detection techniques.

• Radiation Physics: Explores the fundamental principles of ionizing radiation, including emission, absorption, and interaction with matter, forming the scientific basis for safe radiation use and control.
• Environmental Radioactivity: Focuses on the presence, behavior, and impact of radioactive substances in soil, water, and air, with an emphasis on monitoring and assessing ecological risks.
• Radiological Instrumentation: Trains in the selection, operation, and calibration of devices used to detect and measure radiation levels, ensuring accurate and reliable data collection.
• Electronics of Radiation Detection Equipment: Covers the underlying electronic systems that enable real-time detection, signal processing, and data output from radiation monitoring tools.
• Radioactive Waste Management and Control: Addresses the safe handling, storage, treatment, and disposal of radioactive materials in compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations.
• Safety and Handling Procedures: Establishes standardized protocols for the secure transport, storage, and use of radioactive sources to prevent accidental exposure and contamination.
• Decontamination Procedures: Teaches systematic methods for removing radioactive contaminants from surfaces, equipment, and personnel to restore safe conditions after exposure incidents.
• Radioactivity Testing and Analysis: Involves laboratory techniques for measuring radioactivity levels, identifying isotopes, and interpreting results for risk assessment and reporting.
• Communications Skills: Develops the ability to convey complex radiation safety information clearly and effectively to technical teams, regulatory bodies, and the public.