Radiotherapy is an important area of cancer medicine, with around 4 in 10 cancer patients receiving it as part of their primary treatment. For decades, NPL has supported clinical communities across a range of disciplines to administer safe, effective radiotherapy treatments through the provision of primary standards and the dissemination of traceable dosimetry. Accurate dosimetry is essential to maintain and improve radiotherapy and, ultimately, to improve cancer survival rates. NPL has a unique combination of radiotherapy dosimetry expertise and research, coupled with clinical experience, both in terms of measurement and modelling. This is complemented by a suite of clinically matched facilities.

This course has been primarily created for new/junior radiotherapy physicists or clinical scientists to provide them with guidance on the measurement of dose and introduce them to the accepted codes of practice for reference dosimetry. It is also useful for more experienced personnel who wish to refresh their dosimetry knowledge.

This course includes the theoretical component delivered via e-learning. If you would like to enroll in the full course that includes the classroom-based practical component at NPL’s Teddington site, please see the Reference Dosimetry Blended Course page.

This course consists of eight modules:

• Module 1: Units, Quantities and Radiation Fundamentals
• Module 2: An Overview of Dosimetry Detectors
• Module 3: Maintenance and General Care of Instruments
• Module 4: Measurement Uncertainty in Dosimetry
• Module 5: Brachytherapy
• Module 6: kV X-ray Dosimetry
• Module 7: MV Photon Dosimetry
• Module 8: Electron Dosimetry

Learners who successfully complete the course will receive an NPL Certificate of Completion.

A note on the content: This course follows accepted Codes of Practice for reference dosimetry within the United Kingdom (UK). Learners from outside the UK should check for local guidance on best practice. 

In-person practical course: While this e-learning course can be taken on its own, it also forms a pre-requisite a practical course. This comprises in-person practical sessions that cover all areas of dosimetry measurement, as explained theoretically on this e-learning course. Find out more about the practical course here.

The blended course, in addition to the e-learning component above, offers the opportunity to apply the theory during four practical sessions at NPL’s Teddington site. If you would like to enroll in the full course that includes the classroom-based practical component at NPL’s Teddington site, please see the Reference Dosimetry Blended Course page.