National pages

The Netherlands


Current system of E&T of RPEs and RPOs in the Netherlands

In recent years, the Education and Training system for Radiation Protection Officers (RPOs) in the Netherlands has changed significantly because of the implementation of the European Directive 2013/59/Euratom. The training programmes are much more application-specific than previously. For Radiation Protection Experts (RPEs), the new system has not led to significant changes. For Radiation Workers (RWs) there is no formal system in place.

 

A brief overview of the changes in the system of Education and training for RPEs and RPOs is given in the following paragraphs.

 

Short summary of the system of E&T in Radiation Protection

In the Netherlands, there are two different levels of education and training in radiation protection for RPEs: one for coordinating experts and one for 'geneal' coordinating experts usually acting as RPEs for licence holders with many and/or high risk applications.

For RPOs, there are nine different application-specific programmes, some of them divided into two or three levels, depending on the risk of the application.

Finally, there are three training programmes for medical professionals (radiotherapists, radiologists and other medical specialists) who are not responsible for the radiation protection of employees or the environment.

 

Learning outcomes for E&T Programmes

Current learning outcomes for the training of RPEs and RPOs are based on guidance documents produced by relevant stakeholders. First of all there is a document (in Dutch) that describes the learning outcomes for RPEs at the level of coordinating experts. There is a simila document (in Dutch) regarding th e-learning outcome for the RPEs at the level of general coordinating experts.

 For some of the RPO programmes, English versions of the guidance documents are available. this applies for the training of RPOs in the field of unsealed radioactive materials and of measurement and control applications.

The documents for the unsealed sources (RPO for dispersible radioactive material) describe the training depending on whether the activity levels involved are designated as Level C (medium risk) or Level D (Los risk). For Level B (high risk sources, the required training is equivalent to the RPE training for coordinating experts. 

For the RPO for Measurement and Control applications (RPO MC), a change in legislation is expected in 2020 based on the guidance document for RPO MC X-Ray devices on the one hand, and RPO MC Sealed sources on the other. 

 

List of training institutes or general webpage(s)

Training providers for these levels are government approved institutes. They can be found on the website of the Dutch Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ANVS).
 
Courses for RPE (coordinating expert, formerly Level 3) can be followed at:
The RPE Course for general coordinating experts (formerly known as Level 2) can be followed at:
  • Delft University of Technology, RID, NCSV, Delft
 

Accreditation body

In the Netherlands, RPEs are registered for a period of 5 years. Registration is conducted by the Dutch Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ANVS).
 

(Mutual) recognition

Requests and questions about (mutual) recognition of foreign documents should be addressed to the ANVS.