National Radiation Laboratory

National Radiation Laboratory
Te Whare Rangahau Pūhihi o Aotearoa

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Licences to Use Radioactive Materials and Irradiating Apparatus

In this section:

General

The Radiation Protection Act 1965 prohibits the use radioactive materials or irradiating apparatus (other than exemptions) for any purpose unless the user holds a licence under the Act for that purpose, or is acting under the supervision or instructions of a person holding such a licence. 

A licence under the Act is a licence to use and is not a “site/facility licence” or a licence for a piece of equipment.  A licence under the Act will generally be granted subject to conditions including a requirement to comply with a Code of Safe Practice.

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How to Apply for a Licence

An application for a new licence must be made on the prescribed form.  To obtain an application pack including relevant legislation, codes of safe practice, guidance notes (if applicable) and the application form contact Licensing Administration specifying which of the purposes the licence will be for (see below for further information regarding licence purposes).

The application cannot be dealt with until the prescribed fee has been paid (regulation 27(4)).  The fee for a licence is as follows:

Purpose Fee (incl GST)
Medical therapy restricted to superficial therapy;
chiropractic diagnosis; dental diagnosis;
podiatric diagnosis; veterinary diagnosis; or
pathology tests		 $190
Medical diagnosis; medical therapy; research
on humans medical physics; research using a
particle accelerator		 $300
All other purposes $225

If the application must be referred to the Medical Licensing Advisory Committee there is a further fee of $180. 

Licences must be renewed annually.  An application form for renewal is sent automatically to each licensee before the licence renewal is due.  The fee for a renewal is the same as the fee for an application for a new licence (except that referral to MLAC is generally only required for new licence applications).  Further information on fees can be found in NRL matters no. 1.

Please Note:  NRL does not currently support payment by credit card.  Payment options are by cheque or direct credit/electronic banking.

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Licences for Medical Purposes

Licences may be granted for the following medical purposes:

Chiropractic Diagnosis
Dental Radiographic Diagnosis
Medical Diagnosis
Medical Physics
Medical Radiography
Diagnostic Imaging - Nuclear Medicine
Medical Therapy
Podiatric Diagnosis
Research on Humans

Further information is available regarding the licensing of medical specialists.

Application for some classes of licence for medical purposes must be referred to the Medical Licensing Advisory Committee, a committee appointed by the RPAC.  Further information is available regarding MLAC referrals.

Cores of knowledge set out the basic level of radiation safety knowledge an applicant must demonstrate to be granted a licence.  They are available for:

Use of irradiating apparatus for medical imaging (cardiology, urology, orthopaedic and vascular procedures) (PDF - 50 kB).
Use of DEXA bone densitometers (PDF - 48 kB)

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Licences for Non-Medical Purposes

Licences may be granted for the following non-medical purposes:

Commerce
Education
Electron Beam Welding
Industrial Gauging
Industrial Processing
Industrial Radiography
Inspection (Particle Accelerators)
Installation and Servicing
Lightning Prevention
Pathology Tests
Radiopharmacy
Scientific Practice
Smoke Detection
Static Elimination
Use of Nuclear Density Meters
Use of Research Particle Accelerators
Veterinary Diagnosis
Veterinary Therapy
X-ray Analysis
X-ray Equipment Performance Testing
X-Ray Fluorescence
X-ray Security and Inspection

Cores of knowledge set out the basic level of radiation safety knowledge an applicant must demonstrate to be granted a licence.  They are available for:

Nuclear Density Meters (PDF - 163 kB)
Industrial processing (sealed source irradiators) (PDF - 75 kB)
Installation and servicing (dental x-ray equipment) (PDF - 67 kB)
Installation and servicing (general medical x-ray equipment - including CT, fluoroscopy and mammography equipment) (PDF - 50 kB)
Installation and servicing (industrial gauges) (PDF - 53 kB)
Installation and servicing (medical linear accelerators) (PDF - 50 kB)
Installation and servicing (veterinary x-ray equipment) (PDF - 76 kB)
Use of radioactive materials for industrial gauging (PDF - 53 kB)
Use of radioactive materials for veterinary therapy (PDF - 51 kB)
Use of radioactive materials in laboratories (PDF - 190 kB)
X-ray Analysis (PDF - 154 kB)
X-ray inspection systems based on particle accelerator technology (PDF - 57 kB)
X-ray security and inspection systems (PDF - 153 kB)

The NRL has also recognised the following courses for the delivery of training requirements:

Licensee Training for use of Industrial Gauges containing Radioactive Sources
National Isotope Centre
Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Ltd
Contact: Bernard Barry

NDM Training Course
Groundtest Equipment
Contact: Richard Burden

Radiation Safety for the NZ Civil Engineering Industry
Geotechnics Ltd
Contact: Brigitte Sargent

Safe Handling of Radioisotopes in Biological Laboratories
Auckland University
Contact: David Jenkins

X-ray inspection systems based on accelerator technology
National Isotope Centre
Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Ltd
Contact: Bernard Barry

X-ray security and inspection systems
National Isotope Centre
Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Ltd
Contact: Bernard Barry

Industrial Processing (Sealed Source Irradiators)
National Isotope Centre
Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Ltd
Contact: Bernard Barry

Radiation Safety for the NZ Civil Engineering Industry - correspondence course
Geotechnics Ltd
Contact: Brigitte Sargent

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