Grads of radiation protection tech program find instant employment
High-demand occupation
By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Staff Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com

Pictured here are the graduates of the first Spartanburg Community College radiation protection technician program class that's offered through a partnership with Duke Energy.

There were no shortage of job offers in May for 16 graduates from a radiation protection technician training program offered locally.

Each Spartanburg Community College (SCC) graduate was immediately hired to work in the expanding field of nuclear power.

Fifteen of the 16 graduates are now working for Duke Energy's Oconee, Catawba and McGuire nuclear stations. The remaining graduate chose to work for Bartlett Nuclear.

Training for these jobs is now available on the SCC campus in Cherokee County.

The college has partnered with Duke Energy to develop a 2-year associate degree in industrial technology with a major in radiation protection technology.

This degree is designed to prepare graduates to work in a nuclear power facility as junior radiation protection technicians.

About 70 students have signed up since the college started the degree program in 2007.

Students complete 37 semester hours of classroom work on the Cherokee County branch campus. This is followed by 36 semester hours of Institute of Nuclear Power Operationscertified instruction by veteran Duke faculty.

The program includes two paid training internships taught by line supervisors from Duke nuclear power plants.

The college, in partnership with Duke Energy, will start training 20 students May 19. The internships will include a salary of $12 to $15 per hour and housing.

"This is a great opportunity for students to become trained radiation technicians and get on the ground floor working in the re-emerging nuclear power industry," said Chipley Bennett, science department head. "There is a great demand for technicians in the nuclear power industry."

By 2015, the Nuclear Energy Institute estimates there will be 4,500 jobs available for radiation protection technicians.

Bennett worked with Duke Energy's Larry McKenzie to develop the training program at SCC. The college designed the program specifically to meet the needs of future nuclear power plants like the proposed Lee Nuclear Station that Duke Energy wants to build in Cherokee County.

One of the requirements prior to program acceptance is to take a freshman introductory course in radiation protection technology.

"In this class the students are required to spend a day in a nuclear power plant to see if they really want to pursue a career in the nuclear industry," Bennett said. "About 10 to 15 percent of students get out of the program once they see the work environment and responsibilities involved in operating a nuclear plant."

Students who decide to pursue the program will complete a certificate in the "Fundamentals of Radiation Science." This qualifies students for entry into the associate degree program to become a radiation protection technician.

Duke Energy has invested $1 million to design a special laboratory area with a model of a working nuclear plant, Bennett said. Students perform five tasks to demonstrate their knowledge and training before graduating from the radiation protection technology program.

"The graduates from this program in the next five years will become the future radiation protection technology leaders of all nuclear power plants for the next 30 years," Bennett said.

SCC will begin accepting applications for the radiation protection training program this fall.