Nuclear Engineering Laboratory Manager Michael Ratliff has been granted the title of Certified Health Physicist by the American Board of Health Physics (ABHP), the certification board for health physicists in the United States.
The ABHP offers the certification process to allow radiation protection professionals to distinguish themselves as experts in their field. Certification indicates someone has completed certain requirements of study and professional experience, which ABHP considers to constitute an adequate foundation in health physics, and has passed an examination designed to test competence in the field.
Candidates for certification must meet strict requirements in academics, experience, professional references from other CHPs, technical writing skills, and a rigorous written examination. The certification process is only open once per year and takes a minimum of six years to complete.
“I am very proud to have completed this achievement, serving as a major milestone in my professional career,” Ratliff said. “The process is quite challenging, and historically, the majority of applicants are unsuccessful. For me, this achievement demonstrates my readiness to provide mentorship to others wanting to learn more about the diverse field of health physics.”
Ratliff, 32, is an expert in radiation protection, regulatory requirements, and risk assessment. He has professional experience in the handling of fissile materials, used nuclear fuel reprocessing, radiation generating devices, and radiological instrumentation.
Ratliff received his bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Tennessee in 2014. He joined the Department of Nuclear Engineering in June 2024 after spending three years as an engineer at Mirion Technologies. Previously, Ratliff worked at the Savannah River Site, as well as contracted for the NNSA’s Nuclear Emergency Support Team.