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Non-Degree College Courses: A Practical Guide to Lifelong Learning

The traditional path to a college degree isn't for everyone. Many individuals find themselves seeking education and personal development opportunities outside the confines of a formal degree program. Non-degree college courses have become increasingly popular for those who want to acquire new skills, explore their interests, and enhance their professional prospects without committing to a full degree. In this article, we will explore the world of non-degree college courses, shedding light on their benefits, types, and how to make the most of them. What Are Non-Degree College Courses? Non-degree college courses, often referred to as continuing education or adult education, encompass a wide array of learning opportunities offered by colleges and universities. These courses do not lead to a degree but instead provide a more flexible, accessible, and targeted approach to learning. Non-degree courses are designed for individuals of all backgrounds and ages who wish to gain specific know...

Nuclear Technician or Radiation Protection Technician

Nuclear technician or Radiation Protection technician is a professional job of someone who works where the need for proper recording and monitoring of radioactive elements exists. This can be a vary of different places such as the monitoring of nuclear power plants, handling of radioactive materials, monitoring of machinists that are working on a radioactive turbine for re-fabrication, new technologies or medicines.

Working as a nuclear technician you would be monitoring and operating various types of equipment such as radiation detectors nuclear instrumentation and monitoring operations to insure safety standards. Being a nuclear technician you have to follow strict safety protocols to help protect themselves as well as others. Since handling radioactive materials is hazardous. Another part of being a nuclear technician is the data collection and analysis often nuclear technicians conduct experiments and tests then analyze the results which is used for regulatory compliance, quality control, and research. Nuclear technicians also perform maintenance and troubleshooting on equipment and technical issues that might arise during operations. With that is also the requirement to be able to calibrate and maintain radiation detection instruments to properly ensure accurate levels of radiation. They often either work in conjunction with quality assurance technicians in order to meet safety and regulatory compliance.

Training requirements can vary for nuclear technicians depending on what the specific job requirements are.  And some area like medicine could require either different certifications and college class requirements such as radiology technician requirements. But many nuclear technicians have at least an associate’s degree in nuclear technology, radiation protection or a similar field. Certain positions might require a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering technology or a similar discipline especially when it comes to research or development or working on a reactor in a power plant. Nuclear technology or radiation protection completion is common and these programs are usually offered by colleges, technical schools or universities. They typically include coursework in nuclear physics, radiation safety, instrumentation and hands on laboratory training. Some jobs might offer on the job training working under the supervision of technicians or engineers while learning how to operate the systems but even in this case you would still need to complete NISP certification in order to be able to work under the supervision. NISP or National Industry Security Program is a certification or clearance related to national security and classified information access. It’s a certification standard that must be met when working either in nuclear that’s used for defense or facilities that handle classified information such as working in a power plant. Some of the other certifications that are offered are Nuclear Uniform Curriculum Program or NUCP for certification for nuclear power plant technicians. There’s radiologic and radiation therapy technologist which can be obtained at the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists or ARRT and certification for radiation protection and technologists offered by NRRPT. Nuclear technicians also need to participate in ongoing training to stay current with advances in the technology and the regulations since they do change over time. And they also need to meet any security clearance requirements so having a criminal record would make it difficult in order to work in many areas’ that a nuclear technician would be able to. Want to see whether this could be something that you’re interested in? Check below in the NISP certification section to see some of the course. College algebra chapter 6.7 has some of the calculations for half life related to nuclear technician. 

 

Radiation Protection Associates Degree:

A. Intellectual and Practical Skills (12 Credits)

ENC-1010 Writing for Success     3

ENC-1020 English Composition II               3

MAT-120 College Algebra            3

B. Civic and Global Leadership (6 Credits)

SOC-1010 Our Changing World: An Introduction to Sociology        3

ETH-2200 Leading the Way: A Path Towards Ethical Leadership     3

C. Knowledge of Human Cultures (6 Credits)

CRJ-2800 Forensic Science            3

FIL-1100 Exploring American Cinema       3

D. Scientific Knowledge (8 Credits)

PHY-1150 Physics I with Lab         4

PHY-1160 Physics II with Lab        4

II. Radiation Protection Requirements (21 Credits)


Radiation Protection Bachelors Degree Requirements:

A. Intellectual and Practical Skills (15 Credits)

ENC-1010 Writing for Success 3

ENC-1020 English Composition II 3

COM-2090 Public Speaking 3

MAT-120 College Algebra 3

SOS-1100 Fact, Fiction, or Fake? Information Literacy Today 3


B. Civic and Global Leadership (9 Credits)

SOC-1010 Our Changing World: An Introduction to Sociology 3

ETH-2200 Leading the Way: A Path Towards Ethical Leadership 3

POS-1100 American Government 3


C. Knowledge of Human Cultures (15 Credits)

CRJ-2800 Forensic Science 3

HIS-1130 American History I 3

FIL-1100 Exploring American Cinema 3

Select two featured courses from the list below:

SOC-2910 Criminology 3

HIS-1140 American History II 3

HUM-1030 Introduction to the Humanities III: Music 3


D. Scientific Knowledge (6 Credits)

CIS-1070 Computer Concepts and Applications 3

BIO-1010 Introductory Biology 3

II. Radiation Protection (59 Credits)

STA-2010 Principles of Statistics 3

PHY-1150 Physics I with Lab 4

PHY-1160 Physics II with Lab 4

- Higher-Level Mathematics above College Algebra 3

A. Complete the following two courses (6 Credits):

NUC-3030 Nuclear Physics for Technology 3

RPT-2710 Radiation Biology 3

B. General Radiation Protections (6 Credits)

-TRSFR REQ. General Radiation Protections 6

C. Radiation Measurement (6 Credits)

RPT-2600 Radiation Detection and Instrumentation 3

NUC-3510 Nuclear Instrumentation and Control 3

D. Radiation Effects (3 Credits)

NUC-4130 Radiation Interactions 3

E. Applied Health Physics (6 Credits)

RPT-2750 Introduction to Radiation Generating Devices 3

RPT-2700 Introduction to Nuclear Engineering Technology and Radiation Health Physics 3

F. Radiation Protection Electives (15 Credits)

-TRSFR REQ. Radiation Protection Electives 15

G. Capstone

APS-4010 Current Trends and Applications in Applied Science and Technology 3

III. Electives (16 Credits)

 

Required Courses

NUC-3030 Nuclear Physics for Technology             3

RPT-2700 Introduction to Nuclear Engineering Technology and Radiation Health Physics   3

RPT-2710 Radiation Biology         3

RPT-2600 Radiation Detection and Instrumentation          3

-              Radiation Protection Electives     6

Associate Capstone

APS-2950 Associate Capstone     3

III. Electives (7 Credits)

 

NISP certification:

NISP-RP-01 Portable Survey Instruments

NISP-RP-02 Radiation and Contamination Surveys

NISP-RP-03 Radiological Air Sampling

NISP-RP-04 Radiological Posting and Labeling

NISP-RP-05 Access Controls for High Radiation Areas

NISP-RP-06 Personnel Contamination Monitoring 1

NISP-RP-07 Control of Radioactive Material

NISP-RP-08 Use of HEPA Equipment

NISP-RP-09 Radiography

NISP-RP-10 Radiological Job Coverage 1

NISP-RP-11 RP Fundamentals

NISP-RP-12 Training and Qualification of Supplemental RP Technicians

NISP-RP-13 RP Standard Glossary Terms

 

 

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