Approval of courses for licensing
Guidance for course providers seeking approval
Radiation course providers need to provide comprehensive details of any courses proposed to be used for radiation licensing. The suitability of courses are then assessed by DECC. Courses will be reviewed at intervals determined at the discretion of DECC.
DECC may recognise the completion of an approved course as being a suitable pre-requisite for obtaining a radiation licence allowing the use of radioactive substances or radiation apparatus for specified purposes.
To apply for your course/s to be assessed please download and complete the form Application for course providers seeking approval of radiation safety courses for the purposes of licensing (applncourseproviders.pdf, 51k)
To be able to assess the courses appropriately, the following information is required.
Documentation
Course title – should accurately reflect the course content.
Course provider details – should include the name, address and Australian Business Number (ABN) of the course provider.
Entry requirements for applicants – does the course require particular qualifications and/or experience for entry.
Licence category – the type of activities the person is being trained to undertake and the category (or categories) of EPA radiation licence the course is intended to apply to should be stated.
Core knowledge – the course must contain a minimum set of subjects as core knowledge to ensure the applicant is familiar with the basic principles of radiation safety and protection. The course should be at an appropriate level and length for the particular licence. The amount of time devoted to core knowledge may need to vary according to the type of licence being sought. The course should include the following elements:
Structure of matter atoms, mass number, atomic number, isotopes
Radiation Alpha, beta, gamma radiation and neutrons, Radioactive decay, Natural and induced radioactivity (cosmic radiation, radiation from terrestrial sources, radioactivity in the body, and man made sources of radiation), Units of radioactivity, Penetration power of radiation, Interaction of radiation and matter
Radiation dose Absorption of energy and ionisation, Absorbed dose, equivalent dose and effective dose, Dose rates, Relationship of units
Radiation detection and measurement Absorption of energy and ionisation, Absorbed dose, equivalent dose, and effective dose, Dose rates, Relationship of units, Detection and measurement
Biological effects of radiation Basic physiology and cell biology (DNA, etc), Interaction of radiation with living cells, Deterministic and stochastic effects
External hazard Time, distance and shielding, Neutron sources, Radiation monitoring and record keeping
Internal hazard Routes of entry, Annual limit of intake (ALI), Control of contamination and monitoring, Radiotoxicity and treatment of contaminated persons
Radioactive waste Consequences of waste, Liquid, gas and solid discharges, Regulations governing disposal of radioactive waste
Radiological protection System of radiological protection, ICRP 60, Dose limits, NSW and Australian legislation, standards and codes, etc
Certificate of attainment – a copy of the course certificate that will be awarded to individuals who have successfully completed the course is to be included. The certificate should contain: the course title; the provider's name and ABN; the date(s) course was run; the participant's name; a unique certificate serial number; the date of issue; the signature of the course provider or nominee and position in company.
Any other relevant information (such as VTAB provider registration and whether the qualifications offered are based on training packages or accredited courses recognised anywhere in Australia) should be provided.
Course management
Entry criteria – course providers may set entry criteria for particular courses.
Appeals policy – each provider must have an appeals procedure for assessments and course participants must be informed of the appeals process.
Duration – the duration of the course should be specified.
Location – the location of the course should be specified (there may be multiple locations or variable locations).
Review – if any significant changes are made to the content, then the course should be resubmitted to DECC for review. The provider may wish to make significant changes to the course, depending on factors such as technological advances, etc.
Records – a course provider should keep records, including: course documentation; participant attendance, signature and assessment results; certificate serial number; example certificate issued; review dates.
Records must be kept available for inspection.
Course educational aspects
General course objectives – the course objectives and the expected outcomes should be stated.
Content – a reasonably detailed account of the course content must be provided including a description of the core knowledge requirements. A copy of the course manual (as provided to the participants) should also be provided.
Presentation – brief details of how the course is to be delivered (i.e. components given as lectures, practical, correspondence, web based study, etc) should be included.
Assessment instrument – a copy of the final assessment instrument should be provided together with a brief description of the assessment process (including practical and written parts, whether open book, etc). This assessment should test both core and specialised knowledge, and the pass mark or grade must also be stated.
Reference material – references to any material used in the compilation of the course must be provided. The content of the course should be reviewed at regular intervals and any references updated.
Training staff and course coordinator – a list of the training staff involved in the programme and their qualifications and relevant experience must be supplied. Brief information on the person with responsibility for the content and assessment of the course should also be supplied.