ALMS RADIATION SAFETY EXAM STUDY GUIDE
2026 FULL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◉ nuclear regulatory commission (NRC). Answer: agency of the US
government that oversees radiation safety and security for any
facility involved with radiation; concerned with
regulations/guidance, licensing/decommission/certification,
oversight, operation experience, support for decisions
◉ NRC regulations and guidance. Answer: developing regulations
and guidance for applicants and licenses
◉ NRC licensing, decommissioning, and certification. Answer:
licensing or certifying applicants to use nuclear materials, operate
nuclear facilities, and decommission facilities
◉ NRC oversight. Answer: inspecting and assessing license
operations and facilities to ensure licenses comply with NRC
requirements, responding to incidents, investigating allegations of
wrongdoing, and taking appropriate follow-up or enforcement
actions when necessary
,◉ NRC operational experience. Answer: evaluating operational
experience of licensed facilities and activities
◉ NRC support for decisions. Answer: conducting research, holding
hearings, and obtaining independent reviews to support regulatory
decisions
◉ agreement state. Answer: a state that has signed an agreement
with the NRC authorizing the state to regulate uses of radioactive
materials within the state; issues licenses and authorizes the use of
radioactive materials
◉ number of agreement states. Answer: 39
◉ start date of the NRC. Answer: 1975
◉ Illinois regulatory agency. Answer: Illinois Emergency
Management Association (IEMA)
◉ department of transportation (DOT). Answer: federal agency that
oversees interstate travel of radioactive materials; regulates
shipment and how packages need to be labeled
,◉ food and drug administration (FDA). Answer: regulates
classification of radiopharmaceuticals into investigational or
approved
◉ environmental protection agency (EPA). Answer: regulates
radioactive waste disposal; tells how much radiation can be released
into the air, water, or land to protection human and environmental
health
◉ department of homeland security. Answer: key elements are
nuclear detection and forensics to prevent attacks on the United
States; Radiation Portal Monitors and other radiation detection
technologies are used at seaports, land border ports, and mail
facilities around the world
◉ institutional controls of radioactive materials. Answer: radiation
safety committee, radiation safety officer, authorized users
◉ radiation safety committee (RSC). Answer: responsible for all
radioactive materials within an institution
◉ radiation safety officer (RSO). Answer: responsible for radiation
safety and radioactive materials at the institution or institutions on
their RAM license on a daily basis
, ◉ authorized users (AU). Answer: request through the RSC to use
radioactive materials; specify radioactive materials and quantities
they would like to use; there are individual uses under the
authorized users
◉ members of a radiation safety committee. Answer: authorized
user of each type of use permitted by the license, RSO, nursing
representative, representative of management who is neither an
authorized user nor RSO; may include other members the licensee
considers appropriate; must have a quorum/50% present
◉ members of RSC required for quorum/meeting. Answer: half of
the committee members, RSO, chairman, someone from
management
◉ duties of an RSO. Answer: identify radiation safety problems;
initiate, recommend, or provide corrective actions; stop unsafe
operations; verify implementation of corrective actions; a licensee
shall retain appropriate records
◉ code of federal regulations (CFR). Answer: the code of the general
and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the
departments and agencies of the Federal Government; separated
into 50 titles
2026 FULL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◉ nuclear regulatory commission (NRC). Answer: agency of the US
government that oversees radiation safety and security for any
facility involved with radiation; concerned with
regulations/guidance, licensing/decommission/certification,
oversight, operation experience, support for decisions
◉ NRC regulations and guidance. Answer: developing regulations
and guidance for applicants and licenses
◉ NRC licensing, decommissioning, and certification. Answer:
licensing or certifying applicants to use nuclear materials, operate
nuclear facilities, and decommission facilities
◉ NRC oversight. Answer: inspecting and assessing license
operations and facilities to ensure licenses comply with NRC
requirements, responding to incidents, investigating allegations of
wrongdoing, and taking appropriate follow-up or enforcement
actions when necessary
,◉ NRC operational experience. Answer: evaluating operational
experience of licensed facilities and activities
◉ NRC support for decisions. Answer: conducting research, holding
hearings, and obtaining independent reviews to support regulatory
decisions
◉ agreement state. Answer: a state that has signed an agreement
with the NRC authorizing the state to regulate uses of radioactive
materials within the state; issues licenses and authorizes the use of
radioactive materials
◉ number of agreement states. Answer: 39
◉ start date of the NRC. Answer: 1975
◉ Illinois regulatory agency. Answer: Illinois Emergency
Management Association (IEMA)
◉ department of transportation (DOT). Answer: federal agency that
oversees interstate travel of radioactive materials; regulates
shipment and how packages need to be labeled
,◉ food and drug administration (FDA). Answer: regulates
classification of radiopharmaceuticals into investigational or
approved
◉ environmental protection agency (EPA). Answer: regulates
radioactive waste disposal; tells how much radiation can be released
into the air, water, or land to protection human and environmental
health
◉ department of homeland security. Answer: key elements are
nuclear detection and forensics to prevent attacks on the United
States; Radiation Portal Monitors and other radiation detection
technologies are used at seaports, land border ports, and mail
facilities around the world
◉ institutional controls of radioactive materials. Answer: radiation
safety committee, radiation safety officer, authorized users
◉ radiation safety committee (RSC). Answer: responsible for all
radioactive materials within an institution
◉ radiation safety officer (RSO). Answer: responsible for radiation
safety and radioactive materials at the institution or institutions on
their RAM license on a daily basis
, ◉ authorized users (AU). Answer: request through the RSC to use
radioactive materials; specify radioactive materials and quantities
they would like to use; there are individual uses under the
authorized users
◉ members of a radiation safety committee. Answer: authorized
user of each type of use permitted by the license, RSO, nursing
representative, representative of management who is neither an
authorized user nor RSO; may include other members the licensee
considers appropriate; must have a quorum/50% present
◉ members of RSC required for quorum/meeting. Answer: half of
the committee members, RSO, chairman, someone from
management
◉ duties of an RSO. Answer: identify radiation safety problems;
initiate, recommend, or provide corrective actions; stop unsafe
operations; verify implementation of corrective actions; a licensee
shall retain appropriate records
◉ code of federal regulations (CFR). Answer: the code of the general
and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the
departments and agencies of the Federal Government; separated
into 50 titles
