1306 - Health Physics

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Federal Occupation Description

Federal Occupation Description

This series includes positions that require primarily application of professional knowledge and competence in health physics, which is concerned with the protection of persons and their environment from unwarranted exposure to ionizing radiation.

For job opportunities in this series, go to the Office of Personnel Management USAJOBS website.

Other Federal Occupations

It is not uncommon for individuals in one federal occupational series to perform duties related to another series within the same federal occupational group. To find out about the certifications for another series in the PHYSICAL SCIENCES GROUP, click on that series below. Note that credentials have not yet been identified for all series – links are provided only to those series for which the identification of credentials has been completed. Additional series will be added over time.

  • 1301 - General Physical Science Series
  • 1310 - Physics
  • 1311 - Physical Science Technician
  • 1313 - Geophysics Series
  • 1315 - Hydrology Series
  • 1316 - Hydrologic Technician Series
  • 1320 - Chemistry Series
  • 1321 - Metallurgy Series
  • 1330 - Astronomy and Space Science Series
  • 1340 - Meteorology Series
  • 1341 - Meteorological Technician Series
  • 1350 - Geology Series
  • 1360 - Oceanography Series
  • 1361 - Navigational Information Series
  • 1370 - Cartography Series
  • 1371 - Cartographic Technician Series
  • 1372 - Geodesy Series
  • 1373 - Land Surveying Series
  • 1374 - Geodetic Technician Series
  • 1380 - Forest Products Technology Series
  • 1382 - Food Technology Series
  • 1384 - Textile Technology Series
  • 1386 - Photographic Technology Series
  • 1397 - Document Analysis Series
  • 1399 - Physical Science Student Trainee Series

The following certifications have been identified as most relevant to the broad duties of this federal occupational series. Please note that these credentials may not reflect all of the unique job functions that you perform within your organization. Also these credentials may require additional education, training or experience. For more information about any credential, click on the credential title below.

Compare Credential Agency Related As GI Bill® Accreditation ID
Certified Safety Professional (CSP) In DemandIs In Demand Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) someSome GI BillGI Bill AccreditationAccreditation
Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian (REHS/RS) Is Not In Demand National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) someSome GI BillGI Bill  
Registered Radiation Protection Technologist (RRPT) Is Not In Demand National Registry of Radiation Protection Technologists someSome    
Certified Health Physicist Is Not In Demand American Board of Health Physics mostMost    
Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) In DemandIs In Demand American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH) someSome GI BillGI Bill AccreditationAccreditation
Certified Safety and Health Manager (CSHM) Is Not In Demand Institute for Safety and Health Management (ISHM) someSome GI BillGI Bill AccreditationAccreditation
Qualified Environmental Professional Is Not In Demand Institute of Professional Environmental Practice someSome    
Certified Environmental Professional Is Not In Demand Academy of Board Certified Environmental Professionals (ABCEP) someSome    
Radon Measurement Specialist Is Not In Demand National Radon Safety Board (NRSB) someSome    
Associate Environmental Professional (AEP) Is Not In Demand National Registry of Environmental Professionals (NREP) someSome GI BillGI Bill  
Certified Environmental Auditor (CEA) Is Not In Demand National Registry of Environmental Professionals (NREP) someSome GI BillGI Bill  
Certified Environmental Systems Manager (CESM) Is Not In Demand National Registry of Environmental Professionals (NREP) someSome GI BillGI Bill  
Safety Trained Supervisor (STS) Is Not In Demand Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) someSome GI BillGI Bill AccreditationAccreditation
Chemical Hygiene Officer Is Not In Demand National Registry of Certified Chemists someSome    
Clinical Chemistry Technologist Is Not In Demand National Registry of Certified Chemists someSome    
Environmental Analytical Chemist Is Not In Demand National Registry of Certified Chemists someSome    
Environmental Analytical Technologist Is Not In Demand National Registry of Certified Chemists someSome    
Toxicological Chemist Is Not In Demand National Registry of Certified Chemists someSome    
Occupational Hygiene and Safety Technologist (OHST) Is Not In Demand Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) someSome GI BillGI Bill AccreditationAccreditation
Certified Hazard Control Manager (CHCM) (Associate, Senior and Master Levels) Is Not In Demand International Board for Certification of Safety Managers (IBFCSM) someSome    
Certified Healthcare Safety Professional (CHSP) Is Not In Demand International Board for Certification of Safety Managers (IBFCSM) someSome    
Associate Safety Professional (ASP) In DemandIs In Demand Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) someSome   AccreditationAccreditation
Certified Environmental Scientist Is Not In Demand National Registry of Environmental Professionals (NREP) someSome    
Registered Environmental Laboratory Technologist Is Not In Demand National Registry of Environmental Professionals (NREP) someSome    
Certified Safety Management Practitioner (CSMP) Is Not In Demand Institute for Safety and Health Management (ISHM) someSome   AccreditationAccreditation
Certified in Healthcare Safety - Environmental Services (CHS-EVS) Is Not In Demand International Board for Certification of Safety Managers (IBFCSM) someSome    
Safety Management Specialist (SMS) Is Not In Demand Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) someSome GI BillGI Bill AccreditationAccreditation

State Licenses

Some states have specific licensing requirements for the following related civilian occupations. These state licenses may require additional education, training or experience. Click on the occupation below to get more information on state requirements from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Related Civilian Private Sector Occupations

The following civilian private sector occupations are similar to the duties performed by 1306 - Health Physics. These occupations may require additional education, training or experience. For more information about these occupations, click on the civilian occupation below.

Civilian Job Duties Matched Bright Outlook Registered Apprenticeship Local Salary Info
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health someSome Bright OutlookBright Outlook  Registered ApprenticeshipApprenticeship  find local salaryfind local salary
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health someSome Bright OutlookBright Outlook  Registered ApprenticeshipApprenticeship  find local salaryfind local salary
Industrial Safety and Health Engineers someSome     find local salaryfind local salary
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists someSome   Registered ApprenticeshipApprenticeship  find local salaryfind local salary
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians someSome Bright OutlookBright Outlook  Registered ApprenticeshipApprenticeship  find local salaryfind local salary
Physicists someSome Bright OutlookBright Outlook    find local salaryfind local salary
Top
This is an official U.S. Navy websiteUpdated: October 16, 2019
Click here to go to Certified Safety Professional (CSP) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 5 years

The Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP), Certified Safety Professional (CSP) is an intermediate-level credential for professionals who support workplace safety practices. Candidates are required to have professional experience that includes safety responsibilities. CSPs conduct worksite assessments, determine risk, measure hazards and controls, evaluate risk and hazard control measures, investigate incidents, maintain incident and loss records, and prepare emergency response plans. Candidates are required to hold a bachelor's degree in any field. CSP candidates must meet experiential requirements that relate to the field of workplace safety. Candidates must pass a written exam.

Click here to go to Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian (REHS/RS) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 2 years

The Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian (REHS/RS) is a mid-career level certification developed for environmental health professionals. Individuals holding the REHS/RS credential demonstrate their competency in environmental health issues. These professionals direct and train personnel to respond to routine or emergency environmental situations and frequently provide education to their communities on environmental health concerns. In addition, REHS/RS credential holders are key members in ensuring communities are in compliance with local, state and federal environmental health regulations. To be eligible for the REHS/RS certification, a candidate must meet the educational and experiential criteria, this includes a minimum of a bachelor's degree and related work experience.

Click here to go to Registered Radiation Protection Technologist (RRPT) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 5 years

National Registry of Radiation Protection Technologists, Registered Radiation Protection Technologist (RRPT) validates competency in fundamental and operational topics related to radiation protection. A Radiation Protection Technologist is a person engaged in providing radiation protection to the radiation worker, the general public, and the environment from the effects of ionizing radiation. They have basic understanding of the natural laws of ionizing radiation, the mechanism of radiation damage, methods of detection, and hazards assessment. They provide supervisory, administrative, and/or physical control, utilizing sound health physics principles in compliance with local and statutory requirements and accepted industry practices. This is a mid-level certification and requires applicants to hold a high school diploma or equivalent. In addition, the applicant must submit to the Board evidence of operational abilities as a Radiation Protection Technologists and have a minimum of five years of experience. Experience credit allowed for formal education, company training programs and applicable military training is cumulative up to a maximum of two years. Applicants must also pass a national examination.

Click here to go to Certified Health Physicist COOL Snapshot page.

Credential description coming soon.

Click here to go to Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 5 years

The American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) certification is for individuals working in professions that are based on the science of protecting and enhancing the health, safety, and environment of people at work and in their communities. A CIH's major areas of responsibility include exposure assessment principles and practice, control selection, implementation, and validation, and risk management. To earn the CIH certification, applicants must currently work in the practice of industrial hygiene (IH), meet academic and IH coursework requirements, meet a professional IH experience requirement that is supported by two professional references, and pass a written exam.

Click here to go to Certified Safety and Health Manager (CSHM) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 5 years

The Certified Safety and Health Manager (CSHM) is a certification that recognizes individuals who demonstrate knowledge of health and safety management skills and techniques through examination and experience. In addition to technical knowledge of occupational safety and health, a successful safety and health manager must possess working knowledge of a broad range of business and financial principles and an understanding of related issues such as hazard analyses, accident investigations, safety audits and surveys, workers' compensation, product safety, environmental laws, quality, and labor relations. The Certified Safety and Health Manager program is designed to provide recognition of those who can apply a broad range of safety and health management tools. Candidates must have a Bachelor's Degree plus five qualifying years of work experience. Graduates of Institute for Safety and Health Management (ISHM) approved safety and health degree programs must have a minimum of two years qualifying experience.

Click here to go to Qualified Environmental Professional COOL Snapshot page.

Credential description coming soon.

Click here to go to Certified Environmental Professional COOL Snapshot page.

Credential description coming soon.

Click here to go to Radon Measurement Specialist COOL Snapshot page.

Credential description coming soon.

Click here to go to Associate Environmental Professional (AEP) COOL Snapshot page.

Credential description coming soon.

Click here to go to Certified Environmental Auditor (CEA) COOL Snapshot page.

Credential description coming soon.

Click here to go to Certified Environmental Systems Manager (CESM) COOL Snapshot page.

Credential description coming soon.

Click here to go to Safety Trained Supervisor (STS) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 5 years

The Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP), Safety Trained Supervisor (STS) certification is an intermediate, managerial credential developed for professionals who demonstrate competency and work part-time or full-time in supervisory positions with tasks devoted to the prevention of harm to individuals in the workplace environment. The STS is often sought by safety professionals who are first-line supervisors and managers. STS candidate must have expertise in monitoring worksites for job hazards, helping to ensure regulatory compliance occurs, training employees in safety practices, performing safety-related record keeping, coordinating corrections for safety problems within or among work groups, and communicating with safety specialists or management. Candidates must take a written examination.

Click here to go to Chemical Hygiene Officer COOL Snapshot page.

Credential description coming soon.

Click here to go to Clinical Chemistry Technologist COOL Snapshot page.

Credential description coming soon.

Click here to go to Environmental Analytical Chemist COOL Snapshot page.

Credential description coming soon.

Click here to go to Environmental Analytical Technologist COOL Snapshot page.

Credential description coming soon.

Click here to go to Toxicological Chemist COOL Snapshot page.

Credential description coming soon.

Click here to go to Occupational Hygiene and Safety Technologist (OHST) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 5 years

The Board of Certification Safety Professionals (BCSP), Occupational Hygiene and Safety Technologist (OHST) candidate performs occupational health and safety activities on a part-time or full-time basis.  The candidate's job duties will include worksite assessments to determine risks, potential hazards and controls, evaluating incident and loss records, and prepparing emergency response plans.  OHST candidate must work a minimum of three years in occupational hygiene or safety at least 35% of the time, have duties that require technical skills and knowledge in occupational hygiene and safety.  Candidate must pass a written exam.

Click here to go to Certified Hazard Control Manager (CHCM) (Associate, Senior and Master Levels) COOL Snapshot page.

The CHCM (Certified Hazard Control Manager) applies managerial techniques to eliminate or control unsafe and unhealthy conditions. It also deals with behaviors and other factors detrimental to people and property. The philosophy behind the CHCM is that safety and health administrators must understand and apply management principles in order to effectively manage hazard control programs. The CHCM is available at three levels: Associate, Senior and Master. A minimum of three years of experience is required at the Associate level.

Click here to go to Certified Healthcare Safety Professional (CHSP) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 1 year

The International Board for Certification of Safety Managers (IBFCSM), Certified Healthcare Safety Professional (CHSP) is a comprehensive certification that focuses on the importance of improving human safety, organizational performance, and compliance efforts of healthcare organizations of all types and sizes. The CHSP credential is for candidates desiring to improve their professional practice in healthcare safety and related functions. Candidates can qualify for the CHSP certification on a professional or an associate level. Professional level candidates must have eight (8) years of education and experience combined with at least three (3) years of relevant experience; or the candidate must hold a Bachelor's or Graduate degree in a safety or related discipline and provide documentation for at least two (2) years of relevant experience. Associate level candidates must document four years of education and experience combined with at least one year of relevant experience. Candidates are required to take and pass a written examination.

Click here to go to Associate Safety Professional (ASP) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 5 years

The Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP), Associate Safety Professional certification (ASP) validates an individual's knowledge and experience in the safety profession. ASP certifies an individual's ability to perform at least 50% of professional-level safety duties in safety, health, environment and ergonomics. Safety professionals are required to make worksite assessments to determine risks, potential hazards and controls, evaluate risks and hazard control measures for equipment, systems, facilities and processes, investigate incidents, maintain and evaluate incident and loss records, and prepare emergency response plans. ASP candidates are required to have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in any field or an associate's in safety, health, or the environment, or a closely related field. In addition, candidates must have one year of professional safety experience where safety is at least 50%, preventative, professional level with breadth and depth of safety duties. Candidates must take a written exam.

Click here to go to Certified Environmental Scientist COOL Snapshot page.

Credential description coming soon.

Click here to go to Registered Environmental Laboratory Technologist COOL Snapshot page.

Credential description coming soon.

Click here to go to Certified Safety Management Practitioner (CSMP) COOL Snapshot page.

The Institute for Safety and Health Management (ISHM), Certified Safety Management Practitioner (CSMP) is an intermediate-level credential for professionals with occupational safety and health management responsibilities. CSMPs have working knowledge of business issues and principles as well as understanding of safety related issues such as hazard analysis, accident investigation, safety audits, workers comp, product safety, environmental laws, labor relations, and more.

Click here to go to Certified in Healthcare Safety - Environmental Services (CHS-EVS) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 1 year

The International Board for Certification of Safety Managers (IBFCSM), Certified in Healthcare Safety - Environmental Services (CHS-EVS) credential focuses on the importance of improving and maintaining safety during completion of environmental services task. The CHS-EVS credential is appropriate for individuals who desire to improve their safety knowledge. Candidates can qualify for the CHS-EVS certification on a professional or an associate level. Professional level candidates must have eight (8) years of education and experience combined with at least three (3) years of relevant experience; or the candidate must hold a Bachelor's or Graduate degree in a safety or related discipline and provide documentation for at least two (2) years of relevant experience. Associate level candidates must document four years of education and experience combined with at least one year of relevant experience. Candidates are required to take and pass a written examination.

Click here to go to Safety Management Specialist (SMS) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 5 years

The Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP), Safety Management Specialists (SMS) certification provides candidates management skills required for a business's safe operation. The SMS candidate's job duties include defining and utilizing an organization's safety management systems; risk management; incident investigation and emergency preparedness; maintaining current knowledge of safety, health and environmental (SH&E) concepts; and identifying the business case for safety. Candidates must meet the minimum work qualifications of either part-time or full-time in an occupational health or safety (at least 35% of the job tasks related to management of safety related programs, processes, procedures, and/or personnel). Candidate's must have at least ten years of experience in occupational health or safety, and pass a written exam.

In Demand

This certification is considered in demand

GI Bill®

Reimbursement for exam fees has been approved for payment through the GI Bill. Click for external link to GI Bill licensing and certification information.

Note: GI Bill approval data is updated quarterly. For the latest information, visit the WEAMS Licenses/Certifications Search page. Make sure to select "Both" in the LAC Category Type drop-down before searching.

Click here to go to the GI Bill site.

ANSI

This credential has been accredited by ANSI. Click for external link to the ANSI web site.

ICAC

This credential has been accredited by ICAC. Click for external link to the ICAC web site.

NCCA

This credentialing program has been accredited by NCCA. Click for external link to the NCCA web site.

ABSNC

This credential has been accredited by ABSNC. Click for external link to the ABSNC web site.

IAS

This credential has been accredited by IAS. Click for external link to the IAS web site.

Some

Credential is related to some tasks associated with the duties of the rating (at least one critical task but less than 80%)

Most

Credential is directly related to most of the major duties associated with the rating (at least 80%)

Other

Credential is related to this military occupation, but is more advanced or specialized and therefore will likely require additional education, training, or experience

Most – Tasks in these careers match most duties of the military job or specialty (approximately 80% or greater)
Some – Tasks in these careers match some duties of the military job or specialty (greater than 20% but less than 80%)
Bright Outlook – new job opportunities are very likely in the future for this job
Registered Apprenticeship
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
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Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Industrial Safety and Health Engineers
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Industrial Safety and Health Engineers
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Occupational Health and Safety Technicians
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Occupational Health and Safety Technicians
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Physicists
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Physicists