ABMP Medical Health Physics study plan

Derive and interconvert activity, exposure, absorbed dose, equivalent dose, and effective dose using unit analysis

Explain decay schemes, secular vs transient equilibrium, and parent-daughter relationships from first principles

Calculate dose from point sources using inverse-square and gamma constant relationships

Define and distinguish KERMA, absorbed dose, and dose equivalent with worked examples

Compute organ doses and effective dose from given weighting factors and tissue weighting values

Differentiate stochastic and deterministic effects and identify threshold doses for key tissues

Explain cell survival curves, LET, RBE, and the oxygen effect qualitatively and quantitatively

Describe acute radiation syndrome subsyndromes and their dose ranges

Map the structure of 10 CFR Parts 19, 20, 30, 35, and equivalent state regulations to key dose limits

State occupational, public, embryo/fetus, and minor dose limits and the conditions for exceeding investigation levels

Outline license types, amendment and renewal processes, and required records retention

Apply ALARA principles and describe dosimeter types, wearing locations, and dose investigation workflows

Compare gas-filled, scintillation, and solid-state detectors by sensitivity, energy dependence, and dead time

Perform quality-control calculations for survey meters including calibration, constancy, and efficiency checks

Compute primary and secondary barrier shielding using TVL/HVL methods for diagnostic and therapy facilities

Determine controlled/uncontrolled area boundaries and occupancy factors for a sample room layout

Trace X-ray production, beam quality metrics (kVp, HVL, filtration), and patient dose indices (ESE, DAP, CTDIvol, DLP)

Explain fluoroscopy dose-rate management, last-image-hold, and dose-reduction techniques

Describe radiopharmacy practices including generator elution, radionuclide purity, and patient release criteria

Calculate internal dose from administered activity using dose coefficients and biokinetic models

Describe external-beam treatment delivery systems, source-to-axis distance, and isodose concepts

Explain brachytherapy source strength, implant dosimetry, and afterloading safety procedures

Identify accelerator room interlocks, door interlocks, and patient-specific QA checks

Compute workload, use factor, and leakage contributions for a linac vault shielding design

Draft a mock radiation safety program section covering training, dosimetry, and spill response

Walk through a mock contamination event from detection through reporting and corrective action

Reconcile conflicting dose-limit interpretations across regulatory sources

Explain the roles of RSO, medical physicist, and authorized user in a licensed program

Complete a full-length timed practice exam under exam conditions

Categorize missed questions by domain and root-cause the errors

Re-derive the 10 most commonly missed formulas from memory

Build a final review checklist of high-yield facts for each domain