Medical physicists and health physicists:

Radiation occupations
Summer 2011 • Occupational Outlook Quarterly 17

Jeffrey 

LaPointe

Jeffrey LaPointe 

is an economist 

in the Office of 

Occupational 

Statistics and 

Employment Projections, BLS. He 

can be reached 

at (202) 691-5013 

or lapointe.

jeffrey@bls.gov.

Did you know that physicists help save 

lives? Physicists aren’t found only in 

lecture halls and laboratories. Some 

use their knowledge of physics principles to 

work in medicine and health.

Physics is the study of matter and energy 

and the ways in which the two interact. Some 

physicists use their expertise in physics to 

focus on radiation. These specialists, called 

medical physicists and health physicists, work 

to help people or protect the environment. 

Medical physicists work with physicians, 

assisting patients who need imaging technology and radiation treatment in hospitals and 

other medical facilities. Health physicists 

protect people or the environment from the 

potential hazards of radiation in a variety of 

settings.

Keep reading to learn more about these 

two types of physicists. The first section 

describes what medical physicists and health 

physicists do on the job. The second section 

provides information about employment and 

wages. And the third section covers skills, 

training, and certification. Sources for finding 

more information are at the end of the article.

Physicists at work in 

medicine and health

Physicists devise theories and conduct 

research to further the knowledge of matter 

and energy. This knowledge may be used in 

practical applications, such as developing new 

technologies. Typically, physicists specialize 

in a particular subfield of physics, and some 

physicists combine physics with other disciplines in their work.

Medical physicists and health physicists 

are two such specialists who combine physics 

with other disciplines. Because of their training in physics and human biology, medical 

physicists and health physicists understand 

radiation and its effects on the human body. 

Additionally, health physicists have expertise 

in how radiation interacts with the environment. The ways in which both of these 

types of physicists apply their disciplines are 

described below.

Medical physicists

Medical physicists combine an understanding 

of physics, specifically as it concerns radiation, with an understanding of human biology. 

They are involved in the diagnosis and treatment of patients, as well as in research and 

education.

Medical physicists are concerned with the 

safe and effective use of radiological procedures—the application of radiation to the 

human body. These procedures are used to 

prevent, diagnose, and treat disease. Examples 

include medical-imaging technologies, such as 

X rays, and radiation therapy, in which radiation is used to kill malignant cancer cells.

The application of radiation to the human 

body entails risk. For example, radiation 

that is used to kill cancer cells can damage 

healthy cells, too. Medical physicists, working with other healthcare professionals, ensure 

the safety and effectiveness of radiological 
18 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Summer 2011

procedures by verifying the appropriate type, 

dosage, and application of radiation to the 

body.

Physicists who help in medicine may be 

employed at a hospital or other healthcare 

facility or in a solo or group practice for practitioner-clients. Medical physicists employed 

by a healthcare facility perform different 

types of work depending on the facility’s size 

and on the number of physicists on staff. A 

smaller facility may require physicists to work 

in a wider range of activities.

Medical physicists most commonly work 

in one of three areas: diagnostic radiology, 

radiotherapy, and nuclear medicine. Other 

medical physicists focus on research, teaching, 

or consulting.

Diagnostic radiology. Medical physicists 

involved in patient diagnosis are concerned 

with technologies, such as magnetic resonance 

imaging (MRI), that produce images of the 

body’s internal structure. These technologies 

allow physicians to see abnormalities and to 

monitor various processes, such as blood flow. 

The medical physicist’s role is to ensure that 

such technologies are used both safely and 

effectively.

Medical physicists are often responsible 

for the equipment used in medical imaging. 

This might include testing, managing inventory, and supervising the maintenance, repair, 

and calibration of equipment. Additionally, 

medical physicists are responsible for ensuring that the technologists who operate medical imaging equipment follow proper safety 

precautions and procedures. And to ensure 

that medical images show clearly what is 

being evaluated, these workers also review the 

quality of the images.

Along with assisting in diagnosis, medical 

physicists involved in medical imaging may 

help physicians in the treatment of disease. 

For example, some medical physicists might 

use imaging technologies to guide neurosurgeons during brain surgery.

Therapeutic radiology. Most medical physicists work in therapeutic radiology, 

also called radiation oncology. Therapeutic 

radiology is the process of treating cancer by 

projecting high-energy radiation at targeted 

cancer cells to shrink and eliminate tumors. 

In this area, medical physicists work as part of 

an oncology team that implements a treatment 

plan.

Medical physicists review plans developed 

by dosimetrists, workers who calculate the 

amount of radiation to be used in treatment. 

Physicists verify that the treatment plans are 

safe and effective, based on their knowledge 

of physics and human biology.

Like medical physicists involved in imaging, those involved in treatment oversee the 

safe application of radiation. Duties include 

confirming that machinery is calibrated 
Summer 2011 • Occupational Outlook Quarterly 19

correctly and delivering the correct dosage 

of radiation. Additionally, medical physicists 

make sure that the patient is placed—and 

remains—in the proper position.

Nuclear medicine. Nuclear medicine is 

used for both imaging and treatment after 

patients have received small amounts of 

radioactive materials—called radiopharmaceuticals—whether orally, intravenously, or 

by inhalation. In imaging, special cameras 

detect the radiopharmaceuticals and display 

information based on biological changes that 

occur when disease is present. In treatment, 

radiopharmaceuticals act specifically on the 

area being treated.

As part of a nuclear medical team that 

includes physicians and technicians, medical physicists evaluate the physical aspects 

of nuclear medical applications. Medical 

physicists use their knowledge of the possible 

effects of radiation on patients and medical 

personnel to develop accurate estimates for 

the lowest effective dosage. These physicists 

may also have expertise in interpreting images 

and in analyzing data produced during administration of nuclear medical procedures.

Other areas. Medical physicists may also 

participate in medical research, teach or train 

medical professionals, or work as consultants.

As researchers, medical physicists concentrate in one of a variety of areas, including 

issues related to radioactivity, medical applications of computers, and developing imaging 

equipment and technologies. As educators, 

medical physicists instruct or train other 

medical physicists, medical students, and 

other healthcare workers who treat cancer. As 

consultants, medical physicists might participate in any of these activities or advise clients 

about issues related to medical physics.

Health physicists

Health physicists help protect people and 

the environment by ensuring that hospitals, 

nuclear power plants, and other industries 

use radiation safely. They may also work as 

instructors or train others in radiation safety. 

Like medical physicists, health physicists 

understand radiation, how it can affect the 

human body and the environment, and what 

doses of radiation are dangerous.

What health physicists do is determined, 

in large part, by where they work.

Hospitals. At hospitals and other medical facilities, health physicists help to protect 

workers, patients, and visitors by ensuring that 

facilities using radiation sources are doing so 

safely. These health physicists are responsible 

for evaluating radiation safety procedures, 

monitoring possible radiation exposure, and 

ensuring that the facility complies with government regulations on radiation safety.

Nuclear power plants. A health physicist at a nuclear power reactor may regularly 

review data related to radiation levels. These 

health physicists also analyze laboratory 

results to make sure that the reactor is operating safely and complying with federal regulations.

Other responsibilities include choosing 

and maintaining equipment used to detect 

radiation and to protect workers and the environment from excessive amounts of radiation. 

These physicists may help to train workers 

or supervise technicians, chemists, or others 

working at the reactor. Additionally, these 

health physicists may also write emergency 

plans and respond to radiation accidents.
20 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Summer 2011

Industry. Health physicists who do environmental work might help decontaminate 

areas affected by radioactivity. Their duties 

may include collecting environmental samples 

and analyzing the samples in a laboratory to 

detect radioactivity.

Health physicists also work for regulatory agencies that help to establish rules 

for the manufacture, use, and disposal of 

radioactive materials. In occupational safety, 

health physicists ensure that employers follow 

safety requirements. Researchers study how 

radiation affects matter to establish radiationprotection standards and to aid in designing 

radiation-detection equipment.

Education. Some health physicists teach. 

Colleges and universities hire health physicists 

to instruct people or perform research or both. 

Health physicists may train other health physicists, medical personnel, nuclear plant workers, or others who need to understand the risks 

of radiation exposure—and how to prevent 

excessive amounts.

Employment and wages

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 

does not collect employment and wage data 

for medical physicists and health physicists 

specifically. However, BLS collects employment and wage data for physicists as a whole. 

According to that data, in May 2010, there 

were about 16,860 physicists employed nationwide—and they had a median annual wage 

of $106,370. That’s considerably higher than 

the median annual wage of $33,840 that BLS 

data show for workers across all occupations 

in May 2010.

Data available from industry organizations provide employment and wage estimates 

for both occupations, but these data may not 

be precise. For example, the Health Physics 

Society estimates that there are more than 

6,500 people working in health physics in 

the United States, a number that may include 

technicians and others in addition to health 

physicists.

Skills, training, 

and certification

Both medical physicists and health physicists 

usually need at least a master’s degree in a 

subject that demonstrates solid understanding 

of general physics. Generally, the more specialized their work, the more education they 

need. Jobs that are primarily technical usually 

have fewer training requirements.

In addition to knowing physics, medical 

physicists and health physicists must understand the effects of radiation on the human 

body. Knowledge of other disciplines is also 

required.

Other requirements for medical physicists 

and health physicists differ. For example, 

some states require licensing. And employers 

require all medical physicists and some health 

physicists to be certified.

Medical physicists

Medical physicists need to know biology, 

physiology, chemistry, and electronics. And 
Summer 2011 • Occupational Outlook Quarterly 21

because medical physicists work with physicians and other medical staff, they should 

have good interpersonal skills.

Minimum educational requirements for 

medical physicist jobs usually include either 

a master’s degree or doctorate in physics, 

medical physics, or a related field. This is 

usually preceded by an undergraduate degree 

in physics, although some students’ bachelor’s 

degrees are in other natural sciences or engineering. After obtaining a graduate degree, 

medical physicists complete a residency traineeship or a postdoctoral program at a hospital 

for 2 years.

Some states require licensing of medical 

physicists, and all employers require certification. Certification requirements vary by specialty but usually involve some combination 

of education, experience, and testing. Specific 

requirements are available from professional 

medical physicist organizations.

Health physicists

Health physicists must learn biology, chemistry, and electronics, along with mathematics and statistics, biochemistry, and genetics. 

Depending on where they work, health physicists may need knowledge in other areas, such 

as air and water sampling techniques or medical and industrial uses of radiation. Health 

physicists should also have strong analytical 

and communication skills.

Most health physicists have at least a master’s degree, but not all jobs in professional 

health physics require one. Relevant studies 

may be in health physics or in another scientific or engineering field that offers opportunities for gaining practical experience in radiation safety.

Not all employers require health physicists 

to be certified. But some employers, such as 

nuclear utilities, may either prefer or require 

certification for hiring health physicists. 

For more information

The Occupational Outlook Handbook

describes physicists in its profile “Physicists 

and Astronomers.” The Handbook is available 

in libraries and career centers or online at 

www.bls.gov/ooh.

For information about medical physics 

and medical physicists, contact:

American Association of Physicists 

in Medicine

One Physics Ellipse

College Park, MD 20740

(301) 209-3350

2011.aapm@aapm.org

www.aapm.org

For information about the medical physicist certification, contact the following organizations:

American Board of Medical Physics

P.O. Box 487

Barker, TX 77413

(281) 944-9482

abmpexdir@comcast.net

www.abmpexam.com

American Board of Radiology

5441 E. Williams Blvd.

Suite 200

Tucson AZ 85711

(520) 790-2900

www.theabr.org

American Board of Science in 

Nuclear Medicine

3000 Spout Run Pkwy.

D-401

Arlington, VA 22201

(571) 814-0227

absnm.hq@gmail.com

www.snm.org/absnm

For information about health physics and 

health physicists, contact:

Health Physics Society

1313 Dolley Madison Blvd.

Suite 402

McLean, VA 22101

(703) 790-1745

hps@burkinc.com

www.hps.org

And for information on the certification 

of health physicists, see the American Board 

of Health Physics website at www.hps1.org/

aahp/boardweb/abhphome.html.