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  • Title: The education and training of clinical medical physicists in 25 European, 2 North American and 2 Australasian countries: similarities and differences.
    Author: Stefanoyiannis AP, Christofides S, Psichis K, Geoghegan DS, Gerogiannis I, Round WH, Geronikola-Trapali X, Armeniakos I, Kaplanis PA, Prentakis A, Chatziioannou SN.
    Journal: Phys Med; 2012 Jul; 28(3):183-90. PubMed ID: 21795090.
    Abstract:
    PURPOSE: The clinical medical physicist is part of a team responsible for safe and competent provision of radiation-based diagnostic examinations and therapeutic practices. To ensure that the physicist can provide an adequate service, sufficient education and training is indispensable. The aim of this study is to provide a structured description of the present status of the clinical medical physicist education and training framework in 25 European, 2 North American and 2 Australasian countries. METHODS: For this study, data collection was based on a questionnaire prepared by the European Federation of Organizations in Medical Physics (EFOMP) and filled-in either by the corresponding scientific societies-organizations or by the authors. RESULTS: In the majority of cases, a qualified medical physicist should have an MSc in medical physics and 1-3 years of clinical experience. Education and training takes place in both universities and hospitals and the total duration of the programs ranges from 2.5 to 9 years. In 56% of all European countries, it is mandatory to hold a diploma or license to work as a medical physicist, the situation being similar in Australasian and 4 states of USA. Generally, there are national registers of medical physicists with inclusion on the register being voluntary. There are renewal mechanisms in the registers usually based on a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) system. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, a common policy is followed in general, on topics concerning education and training as well as the practice of the medical physicist profession, notwithstanding the presence of a few differences.
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