Nuclear Monitoring Technicians
O*NET files this work under Nuclear Monitoring Technicians: people who collect and test samples to monitor results of nuclear experiments and contamination of humans, facilities, and environment. The skills rated most useful are monitoring, critical thinking, and active listening. A regular part of the work is to brief workers on radiation levels in work areas. The strongest interest signal is Realistic (6.1 of 7), then Conventional (5.5) and Investigative, which gives it the code RCI. Getting in usually takes one or two years of vocational training, an apprenticeship or an associate’s degree, a level O*NET calls medium preparation. If you want hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world, keep it on your list. If you need creative work with room for original expression, it may feel thin.
What they do
Collect and test samples to monitor results of nuclear experiments and contamination of humans, facilities, and environment.
Main tasks
- Brief workers on radiation levels in work areas.
- Calculate safe radiation exposure times for personnel using plant contamination readings and prescribed safe levels of radiation.
- Monitor personnel to determine the amounts and intensities of radiation exposure.
- Inform supervisors when individual exposures or area radiation levels approach maximum permissible limits.
- Provide initial response to abnormal events or to alarms from radiation monitoring equipment.
- Determine intensities and types of radiation in work areas, equipment, or materials, using radiation detectors or other instruments.
Skills
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Operations Monitoring
- Speaking
Who this career fits
May suit you if
- You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
- You like clear rules and getting the details right.
- You are willing to put in a year or two of focused training.
- You are comfortable relying on monitoring and critical thinking.
May not suit you if
- You would rather stay away from physical, hands-on tasks.
- You need creative expression to be a big part of your day. Artistic rates 1.0 out of 7 here.
- You need to start within a few months, with no training period.
Interest profile
O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code RCI takes the three highest, and Realistic comes first here.
Preparation
Medium preparation. Expect vocational school, an apprenticeship, related experience or an associate’s degree, usually one or two years in total.
Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.
Also called
- Health Physics Technician (HP Tech)
- Nuclear Chemistry Technician
- Radiation Control Technician (Radcon Technician)
- Radiation Protection Specialist (RP Specialist)
- Radiation Protection Technician (RPT)
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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.