Government of India

Atomic Energy Regulatory Board

Radiological Safety Division
Date: 08 March 2021

Medical Physicist Courses in India

Contents
1 Minimum qualification for Medical Physicist/RSO....................................................... 2
1.1 Medical Physicists ................................................................................................... 2
1.2 Radiological Safety Officer (RSO) ............................................................................ 2
1.3 List of Medical Physics Courses............................................................................... 2
1.4 Important Note for Medical Physics Courses ......................................................... 2
2 Guidelines for Medical Physics Internship Programme ................................................ 3
2.1 General Information ............................................................................................... 3
2.2 Well equipped radiotherapy centre........................................................................ 3
2.2.1 Radiotherapy Equipment ........................................................................................ 3
2.2.2 Availability of experienced Medical Physicist ......................................................... 3
2.2.3 Eligibility for Internship Supervisor ......................................................................... 3
2.2.3.1 Ratio of Internship Supervisor to Medical Physics Intern ....................... 4
2.3 Evaluation and certification procedure .................................................................. 4
2.4 Internship implementation year………………………………………………………………………….4
2.5 Certificate format.................................................................................................... 4
2.6 Syllabus for Internship ............................................................................................ 5
2.6.1 Part – I: Core Components ...................................................................................... 5
2.6.1.1 CC1. Radiotherapy Equipment (treatment and imaging) and QA ........... 5
2.6.1.2 CC2. Beam Calibration and Dosimetry ..................................................... 6
2.6.1.3 CC3. External Beam Treatment Planning ................................................. 6
2.6.1.4 CC4. Brachytherapy Dosimetry and Treatment Planning ........................ 6
2.6.1.5 CC5. In‐Vivo Dosimetry and Patient Dose Verification ............................ 6
2.6.1.6 CC6. Radiation Protection and Safety ...................................................... 6
2.6.2 Part – II: Auxiliary Components .............................................................................. 7
2.6.2.1 AC1. Clinical Orientation .......................................................................... 7
2.6.2.2 AC2. Professional Skill Development and Career Planning ...................... 7
2.7 Important Note for internship ................................................................................ 7
Annexure‐1: List of Medical Physics Course ( As on December 31, 2020) ................................. 8
Annexure‐2: Internship Declaration Proforma ...................................................................... 10

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1 Minimum qualification for Medical Physicist/RSO
The minimum qualifications stipulated for Medical Physicist/Radiation Physicist/Radiological
Physicist and RSO (Radiological Safety Officer) in AERB safety code on Radiation Therapy
Sources, Equipment and Installations, AERB/RF‐SC/MED‐1 (rev.1), 2011 are as follows:

1.1 Medical Physicists

(i) A post graduate degree in Physics from a recognized university;
(ii) A Post M.Sc. diploma in radiological/medical physics from a recognized university;
&
(iii) An internship of minimum 12 months in a recognized well‐equipped radiation therapy
department.
OR
(i) A basic degree in science from a recognized university, with Physics as one of the main
subjects;
(ii) A post graduate degree in radiological/medical physics from a recognized university;
&
(iii) An internship of minimum 12 months in a recognized well‐equipped radiation therapy
department.

1.2 Radiological Safety Officer (RSO)

(i) Minimum qualifications required for a Medical Physicist/Radiation Physicist/ Radiological
Physicist as mentioned above;
&
(ii) An approval from the competent authority to function as Radiological Safety Officer.

1.3 List of Medical Physics Courses

List of the institutions whose Medical Physics course is in accordance with AERB requirements
as on December 31, 2020 is enclosed as Annexure‐1: List of Medical Physics Course

1.4 Important Note for Medical Physics Courses

• Only those candidates who successfully complete the Medical Physics course from the
institutions listed in annexure‐1 and undergo one year internship in a well equipped
radiotherapy centre meeting the internship criteria are eligible to work as Medical
Physicist in the country. They are also eligible to appear for Radiological Safety Officer
(RSO) examination conducted by Radiological Physics & Advisiory Division (RP&AD),
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai on successful completion of which they
become eligible to work as RSO in Medical Institutions and can function as RSO with
prior approval from AERB.
• It is advised that candidates must verify the status of the Medical Physics course with
the course conducting institutions and enroll themselves only in those institutions
whose course is in line with AERB requirements as listed in Annexure‐I. Candidates
completing the course from any other institutions will not be considered eligible to

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 work as Medical Physicist in radiotherapy facilities in the country and will not be
permitted to appear for RSO (Medical) examination.

• Institutions who are interested to start Medical Physics course are advised to approach
AERB for assessment of their course in line with AERB requirements, failing to which
candidates completed their course will not be considered eligible to work as Medical
Physicist in the country and the institutions will be solely responsible for
unemployment or career of the candidates, those have been admitted by the
institutions without obtaining concurrence letter from AERB. Therefore, institutions
are advised not to admit the candidates until their course is in line with AERB
requirements.

2 Guidelines for Medical Physics Internship Programme

2.1 General Information
As per revised AERB safety code on Radiation Therapy Sources, Equipment and Installations,
2011 [Code No. AERB/ RF‐MED/SC‐1(Rev. 1)], minimum 12 months internship in a recognised
well‐equipped radiation therapy department has been specified as a mandatory requirement
for a qualified Medical Physicist and Radiological Safety Officer. To fulfil this requirement, all
the Medical Physics candidates passing out from different Institutions/Universities in the
country, the courses of which are in‐line with AERB requirements, should undergo Medical
Physics internship under the supervision of a qualified and adequately experienced Medical
Physicist for a duration not less than 12 months at a recognised well‐equipped radiotherapy
centres in the country, as described below:

2.2 Well equipped radiotherapy centre

A radiotherapy centre which is having at least following facilities is considered as well equipped
radiotherapy centre for internship program:

2.2.1 Radiotherapy Equipment

• One Linear Accelerator (with photon and electron beams)
• One HDR Brachytherapy Unit
• One Simulator/ CT‐Simulator
• One Treatment Planning System
• Adequate dosimetry and monitoring instruments

2.2.2 Availability of experienced Medical Physicist

 At least one Medical Physicist with minimum 5 years of experience

2.2.3 Eligibility for Internship Supervisor

The internship supervisor is a medical physicist with at least 3 years of working experience in a
Radiotherapy Department subject to availability of at least one Medical Physicist having
minimum 5 years of working experience.

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2.2.3.1 Ratio of Internship Supervisor to Medical Physics Intern
a) The ratio of Medical Physics Internship Supervisor to Medical Physics intern shall be 1:1
in case the supervisor is having working experience of at least 3 years but less than 5
years.
b) The ratio of Medical Physics Internship Supervisor to Medical Physics intern shall be 1:2
in case the supervisor is having working experience of 5 years or more.

2.3 Evaluation and certification procedure

The competency of conducting a clinical task by the intern should be evaluated at regular
intervals by the internship supervisor. While doing this evaluation the internship supervisor
should ensure that the intern is capable of conducting the desired task unsupervised. It is also
important that the intern should prepare a comprehensive report of the work done during the
12 months period of the internship. The report so prepared should jointly be authenticated by
the internship supervisor and the Head of Radiotherapy Department of the institute.

2.4 Internship implementation year

The candidates passing the Medical Physics courses (from institutes mentioned in annexure-1)
from the year 2013 onwards will mandatorily required to complete the one year internship
programme as mentioned above.

2.5 Certificate format

The internship completion certificate should be issued on the letterhead of the institution in
the following format:

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 Ref. No. and date of issuing the certificate
This is to certify that Dr./Mr/Ms .............................................. of .........................................
University/ Institution has underwent the medical physics internship at the department of
radiotherapy under the supervision of .................................................................. (name of the
internship supervisor) from (date) ...................... to (date) ...................... It is also certified that
the candidate has obtained the full competency in the following components
• Radiotherapy equipment (treatment and imaging) and QA
• Beam calibration and dosimetry
• External beam treatment planning
• Brachytherapy dosimetry and treatment planning
• In-vivo dosimetry and patient dose verification
• Radiation Protection and Safety

and has acquired sufficient knowledge in

• Clinical Orientation
• Professional skill development and career planning

(Signature with date) (Signature with date) (Signature with date)

(Name) (Name) (Name)
Head of the Institution Head, Medical Physics Department
Or Chief /Sr. Medical Physicist Internship Supervisor
Office Seal Office Seal Office Seal

2.6 Syllabus for Internship

2.6.1 Part – I: Core Components

2.6.1.1 CC1. Radiotherapy Equipment (treatment and imaging) and QA

Specifications, operation and use of telecobalt unit and its accessories such as wedges, breast
cone, trays (if available), medical LINAC and its accessories (MLC, EPID, Electron applicators,
etc), radiotherapy simulator and its accessories; remote after‐loading brachytherapy equipment
and its accessories (connectors, guide tubes, applicators, needles, etc), and radiotherapy
treatment planning system (RTPS), Familiarization with networking and Record and Verify
systems (if available).

Purchase document preparation, tendering and selection of equipment; Acceptance testing,

commissioning measurements and Quality assurance (QA) of radiotherapy treatment and
imaging equipment, maintenance of QA records.

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2.6.1.2 CC2. Beam Calibration and Dosimetry
Dosimeters, phantoms and protocols (e.g. IAEA TRS 398/TG‐51) for reference dosimetry;
output measurements in reference conditions of telecobalt gamma ray beams, high energy x‐
ray and electron beams from medical LINACs; Familiarization with radiation field analyser
(RFA); Measurements of relative dosimetry parameters and factors such as PDD,TPR, TMR,
Scatter factors, Wedge factor, Tray transmission factor, electron applicator output factor;
Measurement of beam profiles and evaluation of flatness, symmetry and beam penumbra.
Uncertainty analysis and testing the authenticity of measured data; Verification of measured
data by alternate techniques such as film dosimetry; Quality assurance and up‐keeping of
dosimetry systems.

2.6.1.3 CC3. External Beam Treatment Planning

Customization and creation of beam library in the RTPS; Capabilities and limitations of the RTPS,
Forward and inverse planning ‐ algorithms; Definition and localization of PTV, CTV, ITV, Organ at
risks (OARs), Time and monitor unit calculations for simple treatments, time dose fractionation
and gap correction; Steps of treatment planning and treatment planning procedures – patient
data acquisition, contouring, immobilization, mould preparation; optimization and evaluation –
DVH/ TCP/ NTCP; Planning of common treatment cases; Execution of treatment plans and
supervision. Practice with conventional planning, 3D CRT, SRS/SRT, IMRT/IGRT; Acceptance
testing and quality assurance of RTPS.

2.6.1.4 CC4. Brachytherapy Dosimetry and Treatment Planning

Dosimeters for source strength measurements, source strength measurement methods and
protocols; dosimetry formalisms, measurement of dosimetry parameters, Definition of
reference points of dose calculation, applicator placements, image acquisition, planning
procedures, optimization, evaluation; Brachytherapy treatment protocols and
recommendations; Practice of planning with clinical cases of intracavitary, intraluminal and
interstitial brachytherapy. Execution and supervision of brachytherapy treatments.

2.6.1.5 CC5. In‐Vivo Dosimetry and Patient Dose Verification

Objectives of patient in‐vivo dosimetry and dose verification; Understanding the use of
different dosimeters in such measurements e.g. ionization chambers, TLD, diodes, MOSFET,
films; Selection criteria for the dosimeter; In‐vivo dosimetry measurements in gamma rays, x‐
rays and electron beams; Familiarization with national/ international protocols/ procedures of
in‐vivo dosimetry and patient dose verification.

2.6.1.6 CC6. Radiation Protection and Safety

Familiarization with regulatory requirements ‐ safety codes and guides; Responsibilities and
duties of a Medical Physicist and radiological safety officer (RSO) in radiotherapy; Working out
room layout and shielding calculations for external beam, brachytherapy and simulator
(Physical/CT) installations; Submission of safety status report to AERB – ASR, Unusual
occurrences, source loss etc. Maintenance of records – QA, calibration certificates of
equipment, source inventory, personnel dose records, protection survey

Radiation safety requirements for radiotherapy equipment; Radiation protection survey of

equipment and installations; Analysis of survey data and assessing the safety status of
equipment and installations; Familiarization with national regulation pertaining to
procurement, use and decommissioning of radiotherapy equipment and sources; Safety of
radioactive sources; Experience in handling emergency situations. Safety requirements for

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occupational, medical and public exposures; Understanding the methods for minimizing the
dose to critical sites of the patients. Orientation for RSO certification examination.

2.6.2 Part – II: Auxiliary Components

2.6.2.1 AC1. Clinical Orientation

Surface and cross sectional anatomy with reference to radiotherapy, identify key anatomical
features on x‐ray/ CT images, role of radiotherapy in cancer treatment, benign and malignant
tumours, primary and secondary tumours, metastasis and routes of metastases, tumour stage
and grading, common cancer sites, identification of abnormal size of organs due to primary
tumours and metastases on radiological images, identification of organs at risk surrounding the
tumours, palliative and curative therapy, time dose fractionation, accuracy requirement in
radiotherapy, tissue tolerances, therapeutic gain, clinical targets, anatomical and physiological
changes due to radiotherapy treatment, Patient related clinical experiences. Familiarisation
with different professionals/ departments involved directly or indirectly with radiation
treatment of cancer.

2.6.2.2 AC2. Professional Skill Development and Career Planning

Ethics in medical use of ionizing radiation; Development of research and teaching skills;
Planning research and development on a given topic related to development of dosimetry
methods, development of dosimeters, development of QA tools and methods, development of
treatment devices and accessories, etc. Training to work as effective educator and mentor in
radiation oncology physics.

2.7 Important Note for internship

1. The institutions fulfilling the above mentioned guidelines for Medical Physics Internship
Programme and desirous of conducting the internship programme are allowed to take
Medical physics interns and no separate permission is required from AERB for carrying
out the internship programme. However, the institution providing internship are advised
to ensure that the candidates have undergone their Medical Physics Course from an
institution who’s Course has been assessed by AERB (Ref: Annexure‐1).
2. The co‐ordinator the medical physics course conducting institution/candidates are
advised to ensure that the institution where the internship is sought by them is meeting
the guidelines for Medical Physics Internship Programme laid down by AERB as
mentioned above.
3. After successful completion of 12 months internship, intern and supervisor need to fill
an internship declaration form (Annnexure‐2), which is required to be attached by the
intern along with the internship certificate for obtaining radiation professional
registration from AERB through e‐LORA.

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Annexure‐1:
List of Medical Physics Course (As on February, 2021)

Sr. No. Name of the Institute Affiliated by Course Name Duration

1. Osmania University Osmania University, Post M.Sc. Diploma 1 Year
Hyderabad Hyderabad Course in Radiological
{Andhra Pradesh} Physics (Dip. R. P.)
2. Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Gauhati University, M.Sc. (Radiological 2 Years
Institute, Guwahati Guwahati Physics)
{Assam}
3. Mahavir Cancer Aryabhatta Post M.Sc. Diploma in 1 Year
Sansthan Knowledge Medical Physics
Patna{Bihar} University, Patna
[Presently course is
stopped]
4. Pt. J. N. M. Medical AYUSH and Health Post M.Sc. Diploma 1 Year
College & Dr. B.R. Sciences University Course in Radiological
Ambedkar Memorial of Chhattisgarh, Physics (Dip. R.P.)
Hospital Raipur
Raipur{Chattisgarh}
[Presently course is
stopped]
5. Guru Gobind Singh Guru Gobind Singh Post M.Sc. Diploma 1 Year
Indraprastha University Indraprastha Course in Radiological
New Delhi{Delhi} University, New Physics (Dip. R.P.)
Delhi
6. Vydehi Institute of Rajiv Gandhi M.Sc.(Radiation 2 Years
Medical Sciences University of Health Physics)
Bangalore{karnataka} Sciences, Bangalore
7. Manipal Academy of Manipal Academy of M.Sc.( Medical 2 Years
Higher Education, Higher Education, Radiation Physics)
Manipal, Karnataka Manipal, Karnataka
(Formerly known as Formerly known as:
:Manipal University) Manipal University,
Manipal{karnataka} Manipal, Karnataka
8. Kidwai Memorial Rajiv Gandhi M.Sc.(Radiation 2 Years
Institute of Oncology University of Health Physics)
Bangalore{Karnataka} Sciences, Bangalore
9. Regional Cancer Center Kerala University of Post M.Sc. Diploma 1 Year
Thiruvananthapuram Health Sciences, Course in Radiological
{Kerala} Thrissur Physics (Dip. R. P.)
10. Calicut University Calicut University, M.Sc.(Radiation 2 Years
Calicut{Kerala} Calicut Physics)
11. Amrita Institute of Amrita Vishwa Post Graduate 1 Year
Medical Science & Vidyapeetham, Diploma in Medical
Research Center Coimbatore Radiological Sciences(
Kochi{Kerala} PG DMRP)

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Sr. No. Name of the Institute Affiliated by Course Name Duration
12. Radiological Physics & Homi Bhabha Post M.Sc. Diploma 1 Year
Advisory Division, National Institute, Course in Radiological
Bhabha Atomic Mumbai Physics (Dip. R. P.)
Reseraach Centre
Mumbai{Maharashtra}
13. Panjab University Panjab University, M.Sc.(Medical 2 Years
Chandigarh{Punjab} Chandigarh Physics)
14. PSG College of Anna University, M.Sc.(Medical 2 Years
Technology Chennai Physics)
Coimbatore{Tamil
Nadu} [conducted for
first batch(2007) only
and thereafter course
was stopped by the
institutte]
15. Christan Medical The Tamil Nadu Dr M.Sc.(Medical 2 Years
College M. G. R. Medical Physics)
Vellore{Tamil Nadu} University, Chennai
16. Bharthiar University Bharthiar University, M.Sc.(Medical 2 Years
Coimbatore{Tamil Coimbatore Physics)
Nadu}
17. Anna University Anna University, M.Sc.(Medical 2 Years
Chennai{Tamil Nadu} Chennai Physics)
18. Jadavpur University Jadavpur University, Post M.Sc. Diploma in 1 Year
Kolkata{West Bengal} Kolkata Medical Physics
19. Dr. N.G.P. Arts & Bharthiar University, M.Sc.(Medical 2 Years
Science College, Coimbatore Physics)
Coimbatore{Tamil
Nadu}
20. D.Y.Patil Education D.Y.Patil Education M.Sc.(Medical 2 Years
Society, Kolhapur Society, Physics)
{Maharashtra} Kolhapur{Maharash
(Formerly known as: tra}
D.Y. Patil University, Formerly known as:
Kolhapur, D.Y. Patil University,
Maharashtra) Kolhapur{Maharash
tra
21. Bharathidasan Bharathidasan M.Sc.(Medical 2 Years
University University Physics)
Tiruchirapalli Tiruchirapalli
{Tamilnadu}

22. Mangalore University Mangalore University M.Sc.(Medical 2 Years

Mangalore, Karnataka Mangalore, Physics)
Karnataka
23. Jagadguru Sri Jagadguru Sri M.Sc. (Medical 2 Years
Shivarathreeshwara Shivarathreeshwara Physics)
University, Mysore, University, Mysore,
Karnataka Karnataka

Page 9 of 12
Sr. No. Name of the Institute Affiliated by Course Name Duration
24. Indian Institute of Indian Institute of M.Sc. (Medical 2 Years
Technology, Technology, Physics)
Kharagpur,West Bengal Kharagpur,West
Bengal

25. Gujarat Cancer Gujarat University, M.Sc. (Medical 2 Years

Research Institute, Ahmedabad, Gujarat Physics)
Ahmedabad, Gujarat
26. Amity Institute of Amity University M.Sc. (Medical 2 Years
Applied Sciences, Noida Physics)

In addition to the above, candidates admitted in 2009 & 2014 for M.Sc. Medical Physics course
at Government Arignar Anna Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Institute, Kanchipuram,
Tamil Nadu and successfully completed the same are permitted to work as a Medical Physicist.

Annexure‐2: Internship Declaration Proforma

AERB/RSD/RT/Med Phys- Intern/Decl-Form

DECLARATION FOR MEDICAL PHYSICS INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME

(To be filled in by the institution conducting internship)

1. Name and address of the Institution:

2. Institution e-LORA ID :

3. Name of the Head, Medical Physics Department or Chief/Senior Medical Physicist:

Email :

Contact number/Mobile number:

4. Number of Medical Physicists available in the institution having working experience

of at least 3 years but less than 5 years:

5. Number of Medical Physicists available in the institution having working experience

of 5 years or more:

6. Total number of Intern Medical Physicists admitted during the period from …..to….. :

7. Number of functional Radiotherapy equipments and associated accessories:

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a) Medical Linear Accelerator (with both photon and electron beams)

i) Photon Beam Energy(ies) :

ii) Electron Beam Energy(ies):

b) HDR Brachytherapy Unit :

c) CT-Simulator/Simulator :

d) Treatment Planning System :

e) Radiation Field Analyzer (RFA) :

f) Appropriate dosimeters for Medical Accelerator :

g) Appropriate dosimeter for HDR Brachytherapy :

h) Appropriate radiation protection instrument(s) :

Page 11 of 12
 8. Details of All the Intern Medical Physicists admitted and their respective supervisors:

Sr. Name of the Name of the Name of Name of Year of Name of the Period of Experience of the Signature of
No. intern course undergone the the passin supervisor(s)* supervisio supervisor(s) at the the supervisor
medical (e.g. M.Sc.(MP/MRP)/ College University g n time of intern
physicist(s) Post Dip.R.P./Post Dip.M.P. admitted
etc.)
admitted

i). ……….

ii). …………

* In case a candidate has undergone internship under multiple supervisors, name of the supervisors and the period of supervision shall explicitly be indicated

Signature of Head, Medical Physics Department Signature of Head, Radiotherapy Department:

Or Chief/Senior Medical Physicist:
Name: Name:

Signature of Head of the Institution:

Name:

Date: Place
……………………………………………………..xxxxxxxxx……………………………………………………………………………………..
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