GER Category 2 study plan

GER Category 2 · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 6 hours per week

Week 1

Regulatory Framework and Legislation

Map every requirement of the regulatory framework onto a one-page outline covering licensing, notification, and the duties of the radiation protection officer (RPO).
Identify the national legislation, regulations, and competent authority relevant to industrial gamma radiography and note the citation for each.
Explain the difference between a licence, a registration, and a notification, and state which applies to a gamma source projector and to a sealed source.
List the regulatory conditions typically attached to a radiography licence, including source accountability, personnel certification, and record retention.

A one-page regulatory map listing each legal instrument, the authority responsible, and the obligation it imposes on a radiography employer.

Week 2

Define absorbed dose, equivalent dose, and effective dose, and convert between the SI units gray, sievert, and the legacy rad and rem.
Calculate the dose rate at a given distance using the inverse square law and a source-specific gamma constant, showing each step.
State the occupational dose limits, the public dose limits, and the dose constraints that apply to radiography, and explain what triggers an investigation level.
Describe the ALARA principle and give three practical ways a radiography team applies it in the field.
Explain the difference between controlled and supervised areas and state how each is demarcated.

A worked problem set of ten shielding and dose-rate calculations with answers, plus a one-page dose-limit reference sheet.

Week 3

Explain how time, distance, and shielding reduce dose and rank their effectiveness for a typical gamma radiography exposure.
Calculate the shielding thickness needed for a given attenuation factor using half-value and tenth-value layers for iridium-192 and cobalt-60.
Describe the construction and function of a gamma source projector, including the drive cable, guide tube, collimator, and source assembly.
Compare iridium-192, cobalt-60, and selenium-75 sources by energy, half-life, practical working life, and typical applications.
Explain how a sealed source is classified under ISO 2919 and why the classification matters for radiography use.

A source and shielding comparison table with worked half-value-layer calculations for both iridium-192 and cobalt-60.

Week 4

Assemble a pre-exposure checklist covering barrier placement, signage, source movement checks, and communication with the crew.
Describe the correct sequence for setting up a controlled area, conducting a survey, and beginning an exposure.
Explain the procedure for a source that fails to return to the shielded position and the immediate actions required.
Describe how a survey meter is selected, calibrated, and function-checked before use, including a battery and response check.
Outline the personal dosimetry arrangements for a radiography team, including extremity and whole-body monitoring.

A complete field procedure for a single-wall weld exposure, from site arrival to source lock-up, written as a numbered checklist.

Week 5

Describe the film and digital detector techniques used in industrial radiography and the factors that affect image quality.
Explain the role of the collimator and the beam angle in reducing scatter and dose to the surrounding area.
Identify the common causes of a source disconnect and describe the recovery steps for each.
Describe how to conduct a source inventory and leak test and state the action to take if a leak test result is abnormal.
Explain the requirements for a radiographer's certification and the difference between trainee, assistant, and certified radiographer roles.

A troubleshooting flowchart covering five common field faults, including source disconnect, drive cable jam, and lost source.

Week 6

Draft an emergency plan for a lost, stuck, or damaged source, listing the roles of the radiographer, RPO, and emergency services.
Describe how to calculate and establish an emergency cordon using dose-rate measurements and a target dose rate at the boundary.
Explain the notification and reporting chain for a radiological incident, including the timelines for reporting to the competent authority.
Describe the steps for recovering a source with a remote handling tool and the personal dose monitoring required during recovery.
Identify the lessons learned from a documented industrial radiography incident and map them to your own procedures.

A one-page emergency response card that a radiographer could carry, listing immediate actions, cordon distances, and notification contacts.

Week 7

Classify a package for transport using the transport regulations and determine the correct category and label.
Explain the requirements for a type A package and the documentation that must accompany a shipment.
Describe the storage requirements for a sealed source, including security, signage, inventory control, and access restriction.
Complete a mock transport document, including the UN number, proper shipping name, category, and emergency contact.
Explain the role of the transport index and how it affects segregation and stowage.

A completed mock transport document and a storage room inspection checklist with the regulatory basis for each item.

Week 8

Design a quality management system outline covering procedures, training records, equipment calibration, and audit frequency.
List the records a radiography facility must retain and state the retention period for each.
Review your notes from weeks 1 to 7 and build a consolidated one-page formula and limits sheet.
Complete a full-length timed practice exam and score each domain to identify remaining weak areas.
Write a final two-week revision schedule targeting the two domains with the lowest practice scores.

A complete records retention register and a scored practice exam with a written revision plan for the final two weeks.

Week 2: You can state all occupational and public dose limits from memory and correctly solve an inverse square law problem without notes.

Week 4: You can walk through a full field exposure procedure and explain the correct response to a stuck source without referring to your notes.

Week 6: You can state the immediate actions for a lost or damaged source and calculate a cordon distance from a measured dose rate.

Week 8: You score at least 70 percent overall on a full-length timed practice exam, with no single domain below 60 percent.