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CHP Certified Health Physicist Examination Practice Test

140 questions available

Health physics board certification for radiation protection professionals covering radiation physics, instrumentation, dosimetry, regulatory compliance, and shielding design. Administered by American Board of Health Physics. Key domains include Measurements and Instrumentation, Hazards Analysis and Controls, Operations and Procedures and Standards and Requirements.

Certification exam
9 hours Time Limit
Practice bank
140 Practice Questions
2 hours 20 minutes Practice Time
Start Practice
The bank 140 Practice questions checked against the official objectives.
qf-import140 practice questions101 answers with a checkable referenceBlueprint 1.0Bank updated 2026-05-04

Sample Questions

Try a few questions to see what the full exam is like.

101 of 140 answers carry a checkable reference.

Measurements and Instrumentation

A check source reading on a survey meter is 18 percent below the established control-chart mean but still inside the manufacturer's broad tolerance. The meter will be used for release surveys. What is the best action?

Operations and Procedures

A radiological environmental monitoring program samples only the site boundary downwind of the prevailing annual wind direction. A new stack release point operates mainly during winter inversions. What should be revised?

Hazards Analysis and Controls

A spent-source storage room has low routine dose rates, but a fire analysis shows potential airborne release if sealed sources fail in a severe fire. Which control is most directly responsive to that accident scenario?

Measurements and Instrumentation

An ion chamber is selected to measure a pulsed high dose-rate X-ray field from an interventional unit. A GM meter in the same field repeatedly saturates and then recovers. Why is the ion chamber preferred for this measurement?

Operations and Procedures

A maintenance department wants one generic radiation work permit for all valve work in a reactor auxiliary building. Dose rates range from background to 80 mrem/h, and some valves have contamination histories. What procedure feature is most important?

Why This Certification Opens Doors

In the real world, the decisions of a Health Physicist have direct consequences for worker and public safety, environmental stewardship, and regulatory compliance. A CHP is often the responsible authority for ensuring the safe use of radiation in medicine (like cancer therapy and diagnostics), nuclear power generation, national laboratories, industrial applications, and academic research. The credential matters because it provides an objective, peer-reviewed standard of excellence. It assures that complex safety analyses, dose assessments, and protection programs are managed by individuals with proven, comprehensive expertise, thereby preventing overexposures, ensuring legal operation, and maintaining public trust in vital technologies.

Exam Blueprint

Each domain is weighted to match the real certification exam, so a full practice simulation predicts your result.

01Measurements and Instrumentation
25%
02Hazards Analysis and Controls
20%
03Operations and Procedures
20%
04Standards and Requirements
20%
05Fundamentals and Education
15%

Exam Details ABHP-CHP | 9 hours

Exam Code ABHP-CHP
Vendor qf-import
Time Limit 9 hours

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the experience and education requirements to sit for the CHP exam?

Candidates typically need a bachelor's degree in a physical science or engineering, plus six years of professional health physics experience. A master's degree reduces the requirement to five years, and a doctorate reduces it to four years. Specific details and alternative pathways are provided in the ABHP Candidate Handbook, which is the authoritative source for eligibility.

How is the exam structured and how long is it?

The exam is a two-part, one-day event. Part 1 is a 4-hour, 100-question multiple-choice exam covering core principles. Part 2 is a 4-hour, scenario-based written exam where candidates must solve and explain complex, open-ended problems. Both parts are taken on the same day.

What is the best way to start preparing?

Begin by thoroughly reviewing the current ABHP Certification Guide and Detailed Content Outline. Form a study plan that covers all domains, allocating more time to your weaker areas. Use primary textbooks (e.g., Cember, Turner), join a study group, and practice with available problem sets. Many successful candidates recommend dedicating 200-300 hours of preparation over several months.

Are there recommended study resources or review courses?

Yes, the Health Physics Society and other organizations offer intensive review courses. Key resources include the 'Health Physics Society Study Guide,' the 'CHP Practice Exam' book, and past ABHP newsletters which often contain sample questions. Utilizing a mix of formal courses, peer study groups, and self-directed textbook review is most effective.

What happens if I only pass one part of the exam?

The ABHP offers conditional status. If you pass one part but not the other, you only need to retake the failed part within a specified number of subsequent exam administrations, as detailed in the board's policies.