ML20217F473

Ack Receipt of Clarifying Relationships Between Inst for Medical Education,Inc & American Academy of Health Physics & Acceptance of Continuing Education Credits

ML20217F473
Person / Time
Issue date:	03/24/1998
From:	Cool D NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
To:	Kathern R AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
References
NUDOCS 9804010005
Download: ML20217F473 (7)

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Ronald L. Kathern, President" American Academy of Health Physics 1313 Dolley Madison Boulevard Suite 402 -

McLean, Virginia 22101-

Dear Mr. Kathem:

Thank you for your letter dated February 13,1398, in which you clarify the relationships between the Institute for Nuclear Medical Education, Inc. (INME), and the American Academy of Health Physics (AAHP), and the acceptance of continuing education credits.

. You expressed contem that INME appears to be misleading its constituents by implying that

~ AAHP has validated, accepted, endorsed or approved INME courses, for a specific number of y'

- hours, as indicated in INME's promotional materials. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission

_ (NRC) is well aware of the relationship of courses offered by various organizations and their

- acceptance as continuing eclucation credits by a certifying body. NRC also understands that it in no way means that an organization, such as AAHP, has reviewed and approved the courses.

. You also indicated that possible safety and regulatory issues might occur from a misunderstanding of the INME-AAHP relationship involving continuing education credits, as "lNME courses are likely to be used by physicians seeking a license under the provisions of 10 CFR Part 35." NRC does not approve authorizations for physicians based only on i

continuing education credits associated with the completion of courses. Instead, NRC

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evaluates the physician's training and experience against the requirements in 10 CFR Part 35, 1

including reviewing the numlier of hours of training, which includes classroom and laboratory training covering topics related to radiation safety and handling of radioactive material.

Thank you for bringing th,is matter to my attention.

P Sincerely, (Orig. signed by)

Donald A. Cool, Director Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety 4T4Y Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards DISTRIBUTION NMSS-9800072 PDR-YES IMNS r#

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Ron:Id L. Kathern, President American Academy of Hrlth Physics 1313 Dolley M:dison Boulevrrd Suite 402 McLean, Virginia 22101

Dear Mr. Kathern:

Thank you for your letter dateo February 13,1998, in which you clarify the rel nships between the Institute for Nuclear Medical Education, Inc. (INME), and the A erican Academy of Health Physics (AAHP), and the acceptance of continuing education er dits.-

l appreciate your concern that INME appears to be misleading its co tituents by implying that AAHP has validated, accepted, endorsed or approved INME cour s, for a specific number of hours, as indicated in INME's promotional materials. The Nucl r Regulatory Commission (NRC) is well aware of the relationship of courses offered by rious organizations and their acceptance as continuing education credits by a certifying dy. NRC also understands that it in no way means that an organization, such as AAHP, h reviewed and approved the courses.

You expressed concem about possible safety and r ulatory issues that might occur from a misunderstanding of the INME-AAHP relationship ' volving continuing education credits, and the fact that the "INME courses are likely to be ed by physicians seeking c license under the provisions of 10 CFR Part 35." When a licens submits a request to obtain authorization for a physician as an authorized user under its lic se, NRC evaluates the physician's training and experience against the requirements in 10 FR Part 35. These requirements are quite specific, requiring either a board certification by o e of the boards listed in 10 CFR Part 35, or a certain number of hours of training, which inci es classroom and laboratory training covering topics related to radiation safety and handii g of radioactive material. This training also requires a certain number of hours of supervi d work experience and supervised clinical experience.

The number of hours of training r quired varies depending on the authorization requested. If a physician submits training and xperience which includes continuing education credits, staff will review the submital to ensur hat the topics covered and the number of classroom and laboratory hours are suffici t to meet the requirements in 10 CFR Part 35.

Thank you for bringing is matter to my attention.

Sincerely, Donald A. Cool, Director Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguaras Di RIBUTION: NMSS-9800072 F' R-YES IMNS r/f NRC file center RbFW EGCFS, w/ copy ofincoming CPoland NMSS R/F Document name:g:\\ taylor \\9800072 5/03/<4'6d C

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q Ronald L. Kathern, President

. American Academy of Health Physics 1313 Dolley Madison Boulevard Suite 402 McLean, Virginia 22101

Dear Mr. Kathem:

Thank you for your letter dated February 13,1998, in which you clarify the relationships between the Institute for Nuclear Medical Education, Inc. (INME), and the American Academy of Health Physics (AAHP), and the acceptance of continuing education credits.

You expressed concern that INME appears to be misleading its constituents by implying that AAHP has validated, accepted, endorsed or approved INME courses, for a specific number of hours, as indicated in INME's promotional materials. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is well aware of the relationship of courses offered by various organizations and their acceptance as continuing education credits by a certifying body. NRC also understands that it in no way means that an organization, such as AAHP, has reviewed and approved the courses.

You also indicated that possible safety and regulatory issues might occur from a misunderstanding of the INME-AAHP relationship involving continuing education credits, as "lNME courses are likely to be used by physicians seeking a license under the provisions of

- 10 CFR Part 35." NRC does not approve authorizations for physicians based only on continuing education credits associated with the completion of courses. Instead, NRC evaluates the physician's training and experience against the requirements in 10 CFR Part 35, including reviewing the number of hours of training, which includes classroom and laboratory training covering topics related to radiation safety and handling of radioactive material.

Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention.

Sincerely, Donald A. Cool, Director Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

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March 24, 1998 Ronald L. Kathern, President American Academy of Health Physics 1313 Dolley Madison Boulevard Suite 402 McLean, Virginia 22101

Dear Mr. Kathern:

Thank you for your letter dated February 13,1998, in which you clarify the relationships between the institute for Nuclear Medical Education, Inc. (INME), and the American Academy of Health Physics (AAHP), and the acceptance of continuing education credits.

You expressed concern that INME appears to be misleading its constituents by implying that AAHP has validated, accepted, endorsed or approved INME courses, for a specific number of hours, as indicated in INME's promotional materials. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is well aware of the relationship of courses offered by various organizations and their acceptance as continuing education credits by a certifying body. NRC also understands that it in no way means that an organization, such as AAHP, has reviewed and approved the courses.

You also indicated that possible safety and regulatory issues might occur from a misunderstanding of the INME-AAHP relationship involving continuing education credits, as "lNME courses are likely to be used by physicians seeking a license under the provisions of 10 CFR Part 35." NRC does not approve authorizations for physicians based only on continuing education credits associated with the completion of courses. Instead, NRC evaluates the physician's training and experience against the requirements in 10 CFR Part 35, including reviewing the number of hours of training, which includes classroom and laboratory training covering topics related to radiation safety and handling of radioactive material.

Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention.

Sincerely, Donald A. Cool, Director Divisic 1 of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

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Ronsid'L. Kathern, Pr:sident American Academy of Health Physics

. 1313 Dolley Madison Boulevard Suite 402 McLean, Virginia 22101 4

Dear Mr. Kathem:

4 Thank you for your letter dated February 13,1998, in which yoiiclarify the relation ips between the Institute for Nuclear Medical Education, Inc. (INME), and the Amerie,an Acad y of Health Physics (AAHP), and the acceptance of continuing education credits.

I appreciate your concem that INME appears to be misleading its constitu ts by implying that AAHP has validated, accepted, endorsed or approved INME courses, fo a specific number of hours, as indicated in INME's promotional materials. The Nuclear R latory Commission (NRC) is well aware of the relationship of courses offered by variou rganizations and their acceptance as continuing education credits by a certifying body.

C also understands that it in

. no way means that an organization, such as AAHP, has review and approved the courses.

You expressed concern about possible safety and regulator ssues that might occur from a misunderstanding of the INME-AAHP relationehip involving continuing education credits, and the fact that the *INME courses are likely to be used by physi 6ians seeking a license under the provisions of 10 CFR Part 35." When a licensee sub 's a request to obtain authorization for a physician as an authorized user under its license, N evaluates the physician's training and experience against the requirements in 10 CFR P

35. These requirements are quite specific, requiring either a board certification by one of tho' boards listed in 10 CFR Part 35, or a certain number of hours of training, which includes clasisroom and laboratory training covering topics related to radiation safety and handling of radioactive material.. This training also requires a certain number of hours of supervised work experience and supervised clinical experience. The number of hours of training required var)ss depending on the authorization requested. If a physician submits training and exper/ ice which includes continuing education credits, staff will review the submital to ensure that t e topics covered and the number of classroom and laboratory hours are sufficient to eet the requirements in 10 CFR Part 35.

Thank you for bringing this tter to my attention.

Sincerely, Donald A. Cool, Director Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety Disin ion' closes nmss9800072 PDR-YES IM r/f

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R:n;:Id L. Kcthern, President American Academy of Health Physics 1313 Dolley Madison Boulevard Suite 402 McLean, Virginia 22101

Dear Mr. Kathern:

Thank you for your letter dated February 13,1998, in which you clarify the ationships between the Institute for Nuclear Medical Education, Inc. (INME), and t American Academy of Health Physics (AAHP), and the acceptance of continuing educatio credits.

I appreciate your concern that INME appears to be misleading i constituents by implying that AAHP has validated, accepted, endorsed or approved INME po,urses, for a specific number of hours, as indicated in INME's promotional materials. The Ndelear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is well aware of the relationship of courses offered l$y various organizations and their acceptance as continuing education credits by a certifying body. NRC also understands that it in no way means that an organization, such as AAHp,' has reviewed and approved the courses.

You expressed concern about possible safety regulatory issues that might accrue from a misunderstanding of the INME-AAHP relation ip involving continuing education credits, and the fact that the "lNME courses are likely t used by physicians seeking license under the provisions of 10 CFR Part 35.".When a lipensee submits a request to obtain authorization for a physician as an authorized user under its license, NRC evaluates the physician's training and experience against the requirementsJn'10 CFR Part 35. These requirements are quite specific, requiring either a board certificatiopby one of the boards listed in 10 CFR Part 35, or a certain number of hours of training, whic,h includes classroom and laboratory training covering topics related to radiation safety and handling of radioactive material. This training also requires a certain number of hours of supervised work experience and supervised clinical experience.

The number of hours of tra,ining required varies depending on the authorization requested.

NRC does not routinely accept continuing education credits in and of themselves. If a physician submits training and experience which includes continuing education credits, staff will review the course syllabus to' ensure that the topics covered and the number of classroom and laboratory hours are' sufficient to meet the requirements in 10 CFR Part 35.

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i Thank you for bf nging this matter to my attention. I trust my response alleviates your concerns.

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Sincerely, Donald A. Cool, Director Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety Distribution: closes nmss9800072 PDR-YES IMNS r/f NRC file center REGCFS, with copy of incoming Document name: g:\\ taylor \\9800072 To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box: "C"= Copy w/o att/ encl. "E" = Copy w/att/ encl."N" = No copy OFC MSB MSB MSB IMNS Tech Ed IMNS TTaylork SBagget LCamper FCom'bs EKraus DCool NAME' DATE SfM f0A OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

Ronald L. Kathern, President American Academy of Health Physics 1313 Dolley Madison Boulevard ~

Suite 402 McLean, Virginia 22101

Dear Mr. Kathern:

Thank you for your letter dated February 13,1998, in which you clari e relationships between the Institute for Nuclear Medical Education, Inc. (INME),

the American Academy of Health Physics (AAHP), and the acceptance of continuing edu ion credits.

I appreciate your concern that INME appears to be misleadi its constituents by implying that AAHP has validated, accepted, endorsed or approved IN courses, for a specific number of hours, as indicated in INME's promotional materials. N 'is well cware of the relationship of continuing education credits offered by various organ' ations and their acceptance by a certifying body as such. NRC also understands th it in no way means that an organization, such as AAHP, has reviewed and approved the urses.

Thank you for bringing this matter to my atte ion. I trust my response alleviates your concems.

Sincerely, Carl J. Paperiello, Director Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards l

Distribution: close nmss9800072 PDR-YES IMI S r/f NS S r/f NRC file center REGCFS, with copy of incoming j

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