Portable Radiation Protection Instrumentation Course
Online 300 h course in portable radiation protection instrumentation. 6 modules covering IEC 60846-1 (ambient and directional dose equivalent meters), IEC 60325 (alpha and beta contamination meters) and Genie 2000. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Explain operational quantities and measurement criteria in radiation protection.
Describe how gas detectors work and their applications.
Compare scintillation and semiconductor detectors in portable equipment.
Apply calibration and verification procedures in accordance with the standard.
Select the appropriate instrument according to radiation type and situation.
Carry out field measurements and interpret their results and uncertainties.
Develop an integrated management programme for portable instrumentation.
Who it's for
- Radiation protection technician wishing to specialise in Portable Radiation Protection Instrumentation.
- Instrumentation calibration technician wishing to specialise in Portable Radiation Protection Instrumentation.
- Nuclear instrumentation specialist wishing to specialise in Portable Radiation Protection Instrumentation.
- Radiological emergency response technician wishing to specialise in Portable Radiation Protection Instrumentation.
- Measurement equipment manager wishing to specialise in Portable Radiation Protection Instrumentation.
- Instrumentation service technician wishing to specialise in Portable Radiation Protection Instrumentation.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter nuclear power plants.
What you'll work with
- IEC 60846-1 (ambient and directional dose equivalent meters)
- IEC 60325 (alpha and beta contamination meters)
- IEC 61005 (ambient dose equivalent meters for neutrons)
- IEC 62327 (portable radionuclide detection and identification instruments)
- ISO 4037 (X and gamma reference radiations)
- ISO 7503 (evaluation of surface contamination)
- ANSI N42.33 (portable radiation detection instrumentation)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Dosimetric quantities and operational quantities1.2Ambient dose equivalent and personal dose equivalent1.3Reference depths for whole body, lens of the eye and skin1.4Activity, fluence and dose rate1.5What a portable monitor actually measures1.6Energy response and angular response1.7Response time and integration constant1.8Range and saturation of the instrument1.9Criteria for choosing equipment according to the radiation field1.10Exercise: matching scenarios with instruments
2.1Ionisation chamber: principle and applications2.2Proportional counter and particle discrimination2.3Proportional counter for neutrons with helium-3 and boron trifluoride2.4Geiger-Müller tube: advantages and limitations2.5Dead time and count correction2.6Energy compensation of tubes2.7Thin-window probes for alpha and beta2.8Effect of pressure, temperature and humidity2.9Maintenance and detector checks2.10Practice: measuring the same field with three detectors
3.1Inorganic scintillators: sodium iodide and caesium iodide3.2Plastic and rare-earth scintillators3.3Photomultipliers and silicon photodiodes3.4Cadmium zinc telluride detectors3.5Portable germanium and electrical cooling3.6Energy resolution and its practical importance3.7Field spectrometry and radionuclide identification3.8Identification instruments and their limitations3.9Scintillation-based neutron detectors3.10Practice: identifying radionuclides from spectra
4.1Metrological traceability and calibration laboratories4.2Calibration and verification frequency4.3Daily check with a reference source4.4Calibration and correction factors4.5Evaluation of measurement uncertainty4.6Type tests and equipment regulatory requirements4.7Linearity, repeatability and drift4.8Document management of the instrument fleet4.9Withdrawal of equipment and acceptance criteria4.10Practice: verification sheet and control chart
5.1Area surveys and determination of dose rates5.2Source location and gradient searching5.3Fixed and removable surface contamination measurement5.4Smear technique and contamination calculation5.5Hand, foot and clothing monitors5.6Personnel and vehicle portal monitors5.7Measurement in mixed radiation fields5.8Protecting the instrument against contamination5.9Recording, traceability and measurement reporting5.10Practice: radiological characterisation of a room
6.1Choice of a facility and its measurement scenarios6.2Inventory of expected radiation fields6.3Technical specification of the required equipment6.4Calibration and verification programme6.5Written measurement procedures6.6Training plan for users6.7Budget and fleet lifecycle6.8Criteria for action in the event of anomalous results6.9Technical report6.10Project defence
How you'll learn
Fully 100 % online study on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Genie 2000, calibration management software (advanced Excel), MATLAB, Python (spectral analysis), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real calibration laboratory procedures with reference sources, field measurements with portable monitors and periodic response verifications. Assessment is continuous, module by module, plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Explain operational quantities and measurement criteria in radiation protection.
Describe how gas detectors work and their applications.
Compare scintillation and semiconductor detectors in portable equipment.
Apply calibration and verification procedures in accordance with the standard.
Select the appropriate instrument according to radiation type and situation.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient Spanish to follow technical standards documentation.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme consists of 300 hours in total, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
The work is carried out with Genie 2000, calibration management software (advanced Excel), MATLAB, Python (spectral analysis). Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be credited towards the advanced programme. Check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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