Mandatory radiation safety training for interventionalists: the European perspective

Radiation protection (RP) knowledge is of paramount importance for interventionalists. All international bodies acknowledge the importance of education and training in reducing patient doses while maintaining the desired level of quality in medical exposures. The basic recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) on RP training for Interventional Radiology (IR) are summarized as follows: a second, specific level of training in RP; specific additional training whenever new X-ray systems or techniques are implemented, and quality assurance programs, including RP training. The European perspective is discussed in the framework of the Directive on Medical Exposures: Competence in RP must be certified. The Member States of the European Union shall ensure that appropriate curricula are established and shall recognize the corresponding diplomas, certificates, or formal qualifications. Some examples of the accredited training courses on RP organized by national IR Societies are described (content, training strategy, training material available, and results obtained). The work carried out in this area and the training material produced by the International Atomic Energy Agency are also quoted, together with a new set of recommendations on RP training and the certification produced by the ICRP that will be published in 2010.