CHP Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CHP facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which documentation practice is most important for evidence-based practice & research methods in the CHP field? → Maintaining complete, accurate, and timely records
2. Which US federal agency has primary regulatory authority over the transportation of radioactive materials by road, rail, and air within the US? → DOT/PHMSA (Department of Transportation)
3. Which radiation protection quantity is used to assess stochastic risk across different tissues and organs? → Effective dose
4. Which quality improvement method is most applicable to evidence-based practice & research methods in Certified Health Physicist? → Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) continuous improvement cycle
5. What is the significance of peer review in evidence-based practice & research methods for CHP professionals? → It promotes accountability, knowledge sharing, and quality improvement
6. A survey meter reads 2 mR/h at 1 meter from a point source. At 3 meters, the expected reading is approximately: → 0.22 mR/h
7. The nominal probability coefficient for fatal cancer from ICRP Publication 103 for the whole population is approximately: → 5% per Sv (0.05 Sv⁻¹)
8. For a controlled area adjacent to a fluoroscopy suite, NCRP 151 recommends a design goal (P) of: → 0.1 mSv/week
9. What ethical consideration is most relevant to evidence-based practice & research methods in CHP practice? → Maintaining confidentiality and acting in the best interest of stakeholders
10. Under 49 CFR, what is the maximum dose rate allowed at the surface of a Type A radioactive material package? → 2 mSv/h (200 mrem/h)
11. Streaming of radiation through a penetration (duct or pipe) in a shield is most effectively reduced by: → Using a stepped or offset duct design to eliminate line-of-sight through the penetration
12. In assessing radiation risk for in utero exposures, the period of GREATEST sensitivity for teratogenic effects (organ malformation) is: → Major organogenesis (2–8 weeks post-conception)
13. The NCRP Report No. 116 recommends which annual effective dose limit for occupational workers in the United States? → 50 mSv/year (5 rem/year)
14. What is the Ingestion Pathway Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) radius required for nuclear power plants? → 50 miles
15. What is the definition of a Type B shipping package for radioactive materials? → A package designed and tested to retain contents under severe accident conditions
16. Under 10 CFR Part 20, what is the annual occupational dose limit for the lens of the eye? → 15 rem (150 mSv)
17. What is the half-value layer (HVL) defined as? → The thickness of material that reduces radiation intensity by one-half
18. For a point isotropic gamma source in air, if the distance from the source doubles, the dose rate changes by a factor of: → Decreases by factor of 4
19. What is the most appropriate shielding material for high-energy gamma rays emitted by radionuclides such as Co-60? → Lead or dense concrete
20. Which type of dosimeter provides an immediate real-time readout of accumulated dose? → Electronic personal dosimeter (EPD)
21. How should a CHP professional handle a situation where communication & interprofessional collaboration protocols conflict with practical constraints? → Document the conflict and seek guidance from appropriate authorities
22. Plutonium-239 alpha particle emission is most accurately measured in the field using a: → Thin-window proportional counter with low-energy response
23. Under the concept of optimization in radiation protection, the goal is to keep doses: → As low as reasonably achievable considering economic and social factors
24. Radiation-induced apoptosis is predominantly triggered by: → p53-dependent pathways activated by DNA double-strand breaks
25. In neutron dosimetry, a rem meter (e.g., Andersson-Braun design) is constructed so that its response approximates: → The ICRP fluence-to-dose-equivalent conversion function for neutrons
26. The 'shelf effect' in portable survey meter calibration refers to: → Increased reading when the meter is placed on a reflective surface during calibration
27. What is the primary purpose of quality assurance & performance improvement in the context of Certified Health Physicist? → To ensure consistent quality and professional accountability
28. Which technology trend is most likely to impact quality assurance & performance improvement in the CHP field in coming years? → Digital tools for enhanced data collection, analysis, and reporting
29. When calibrating an air ionization chamber for exposure measurement, the calibration factor N_X converts: → Instrument reading to exposure in air
30. In NCRP 151 shielding calculations for diagnostic X-ray rooms, the 'use factor' (U) accounts for: → The fraction of the workload during which the primary beam is directed at a given wall