TSA Health Physicist: 1306 Education, Duties and Career Path
TSA Health Physicists apply radiation-protection science to agency programs, equipment and occupational safety.
The occupation is classified in federal series 1306 Health Physics. It is a professional scientific series with a specific education standard. General safety experience or equipment familiarity does not automatically establish qualification.
TSA publicly identifies Health Physicist and Supervisory Health Physicist among its Mission Support science careers.
Role at a Glance
| Topic | General current information |
|---|---|
| Occupational series | 1306 Health Physics |
| Career family | Mission Support STEM and safety |
| Main purpose | Radiation protection and health-physics analysis |
| Basic education | Professional scientific standard applies |
| Transcripts | Commonly required |
| Specialized experience | Required for many positions |
| Certification | Helpful or position specific, not universally required |
| Federal resume | Required |
| Background process | Required |
| Clearance or sensitivity | Position specific |
| Travel | Position specific |
| Telework | Vacancy specific |
| Law-enforcement authority | No |
What Health Physicists Do
Work can include:
- radiation-safety program support;
- exposure assessment;
- equipment evaluation;
- dosimetry or monitoring-program review;
- technical policy;
- quality assurance;
- regulatory compliance;
- scientific consultation;
- risk communication;
- training;
- incident support;
- records review;
- corrective-action analysis;
- review of shielding or operating controls; and
- coordination with engineers, safety specialists and occupational-health personnel.
The exact portfolio depends on the office and vacancy.
Basic Education Requirement
OPM’s professional standard for series 1306 generally requires a degree in natural science or engineering with qualifying coursework in health physics, radiological science, physics, chemistry, engineering, mathematics or related fields, or another combination expressly permitted by the standard.
The hiring office may need to verify:
- degree field;
- semester hours;
- upper-level scientific coursework;
- laboratory work;
- mathematics;
- radiation-related study; and
- transcripts from accredited institutions.
A general occupational-safety degree does not automatically satisfy the Health Physics standard.
Specialized Experience
Higher-level positions can require experience involving:
- radiation-protection programs;
- dose assessment;
- radiation monitoring;
- instrument evaluation;
- exposure investigations;
- regulatory interpretation;
- quality assurance;
- technical reports;
- training;
- corrective actions;
- scientific review of equipment or facilities; and
- advice to management.
The resume must explain the scientific work personally performed, not merely proximity to radiation-producing equipment.
Health Physicist Versus Safety Specialist
A Safety and Occupational Health Specialist addresses broader workplace hazards, injury prevention and occupational-safety programs.
A Health Physicist focuses specifically on ionizing-radiation protection and related scientific analysis.
The roles can collaborate, but 0018 safety experience does not automatically meet the 1306 scientific standard.
Health Physicist Versus Medical Officer
A Medical Officer is a licensed physician who performs medical or occupational-health work. A Health Physicist is a scientist specializing in radiation protection.
The Health Physicist does not diagnose or treat patients merely by holding the title.
Health Physicist Versus Medical Physicist or Radiologic Technologist
A Medical Physicist commonly supports clinical imaging or radiation therapy. A Radiologic Technologist operates medical imaging equipment under clinical standards.
TSA Health Physics work is tied to radiation protection, equipment or agency safety programs rather than routine patient care.
Federal Resume Evidence
Show:
- radiation sources or environments evaluated;
- monitoring or dosimetry programs supported;
- instruments used or reviewed;
- assessments completed;
- standards or regulations applied;
- technical reports prepared;
- exposures or trends analyzed;
- training delivered;
- corrective actions recommended;
- engineering or operational teams advised;
- measurable safety or quality outcomes;
- dates; and
- hours worked per week.
Do not disclose protected screening-equipment configurations, vulnerabilities, classified information or Sensitive Security Information.
Interview Preparation
Prepare examples involving:
- conflicting monitoring data;
- an unexpected exposure result;
- equipment or instrument concerns;
- explaining radiation risk to nontechnical employees;
- incomplete scientific information;
- a compliance issue;
- a corrective-action plan;
- disagreement with an operational stakeholder;
- a training problem; and
- an error you identified in your own analysis.
A strong answer explains the scientific basis, uncertainty, protective action, communication and result.
Certifications
Credentials related to health physics, radiation protection or safety can strengthen an application when relevant.
However:
- no credential replaces the federal qualification standard unless the announcement says so;
- an expired credential should not be described as current;
- a general safety certification does not establish health-physics expertise; and
- certification does not guarantee selection.
List the issuing body, status and dates.
Can a TSO Move Into Health Physics?
Yes, after meeting the scientific education and specialized-experience requirements.
Operational TSA knowledge can provide context, but screening work does not replace the 1306 professional standard. A transition may require a qualifying science degree, radiation-protection coursework, laboratory experience or related professional work.
Work Location, Travel and Telework
Health Physicists can work in headquarters, technical offices, laboratories or field-support environments. Travel can apply for evaluations, training, investigations or program support.
Some analytical work can be telework eligible, but equipment review, field assessment and secure programs can require onsite presence.
Career Development
Possible progression includes:
- Health Physicist;
- senior or lead Health Physicist;
- program specialist;
- technical advisor;
- Supervisory Health Physicist;
- branch chief; and
- broader radiation-safety or STEM leadership.
Progression depends on qualifications, performance and competitive selection.
Common Application Mistakes
Applicants often:
- omit transcripts;
- fail to prove the scientific coursework requirement;
- confuse general safety with health physics;
- list equipment exposure without scientific responsibility;
- provide no quantitative or technical evidence;
- confuse the role with clinical medical physics;
- disclose protected equipment information;
- copy the vacancy;
- omit hours worked per week; or
- assume certification alone guarantees qualification.
Frequently Asked Questions
What series is TSA Health Physicist?
1306 Health Physics.
Is a science degree required?
A professional scientific qualification standard applies. The vacancy and OPM standard define accepted routes.
Is it the same as Safety and Occupational Health Specialist?
No. Health physics focuses on ionizing-radiation protection.
Is it a medical position?
No. The role is scientific, not physician practice or patient treatment.
Are transcripts required?
They are commonly required to verify scientific education.
Can a TSO become a Health Physicist?
Yes, after meeting the 1306 education and experience requirements.
Exploring Mission Support roles?
Use the Mission Support careers hub to compare series and education requirements. When a vacancy opens, apply through the TSA application guide and track progress with the application status guide. Many candidates start as TSOs — review the TSA test-prep hub and optional JobTestPrep TSA PrepPack.