Most Certified Health Physicists (CHPs) don’t talk about the times they failed, especially when it comes to certification exams.
But Richard Kice will.
“I bombed the first two attempts on the Part II,” he said. “Then I missed by 75 points. Then 25. That one was the gut punch. But I kept going.”
Now a CHP and Radiological Control Manager at Mission Support and Test Services, LLC. in Las Vegas, Nevada, Richard knows firsthand how long and humbling the road to certification can be.
He also knows the reward isn’t just in the credential. It’s in what you learn about yourself along the way.
Here’s his journey to his certification and how it might help you conquer the exam.
“It’s Just a Test”—Or Is It?
For years, Richard avoided the exam. In a twist, he worked alongside CHPs and well educated HPs early in his career, who downplayed the importance of certification or negatively represented the significance of the certification through poor actions, choices, and application of health physic concepts.
Some even flat-out discouraged it.
“They’d tell me, ‘It’s just a test. You don’t need it. It doesn’t make you a better health physicist’,” he said. “I believed them, which wasn’t a stretch when many of the questionable safety decisions I watched these CHPs make. It made me wonder what the title really stood for, or if it was even worth it”
“This seemed to drown out the few positive voices who encouraged me to reconsider the certification. Thanks by the way LtCol (retired) Thomas Johnson…AKA Dr. Johnson.”
So, for nearly 15 years, despite holding high-responsibility roles across the military—including as the Air Force’s only radioactive materials inspector—Richard shelved the idea of certification.
Then, something shifted.
As the Air Force’s sole radioactive materials inspector, Richard traveled the world, evaluating programs and NRC Master Material License issued permits within the Air Force, answering questions and being sought out for guidance.
And with each instance, one thing became increasingly clear: his knowledge wasn’t just useful.
It was trusted.
“I started to realize the scope of what I’d done. The situations I’d navigated. The decisions people counted on me to make,” he said. “And I thought, maybe it’s time to put something official behind all of it.”
He knew what that meant: It was time to take the CHP exam.
So, nearly 15 years into his career, he signed up.
What followed was a long, humbling journey marked by repeated attempts, evolving strategies and above all, growth.
Trial by Fire: The First CHP Exam Experience
Richard’s first attempt at the CHP exam was what he calls “the deep end of the pool.”
“I took both parts—Part I and Part II—on the same day. That’s nine hours of testing with a quick lunch break. It was brutal. I walked out exhausted, frustrated, and humbled,” he said.
He admits now that he underestimated the strategy required and thought his 15 years of experience as an HP alone was enough.
“As far as the domains of health physics were concerned, there were only a few areas where I didn’t have direct experience in the application of the concepts in my career. However, beyond knowing or having experience with the material, you must understand the test itself, how it’s designed, how questions are weighed and how to best manage your time.”
“I didn’t have any mentors who had taken the exam recently,” he said. “I didn’t know where to start. So, I studied based on what I thought would be tested, not what actually was tested. I paid the price for that, both figuratively and literally.”
In his first attempt at Part II, Richard spent nearly two and half hours on a single question in Part II—about lasers, one of his specialties.
“I knew for a fact that the question didn’t make any sense from a laser safety physics perspective. The application and understanding of ANSI Z136.1, of which I was a committee member at the time, was extremely faulty. So stupidly, instead of just answering it, I wrote a dissertation on why the question was flawed,” he said, laughing now. “Really not the best use of time.”
“This has become a self-deprecating tool of what not to do that I now use repeatedly when covering testing strategies with my health physicists and mentees.”
When Preparation Meets Persistence
The turning point came when Richard decided to take a formal prep course led by Dr. Tom Johnson, a professor of health physics at Colorado State University. “Having trained alongside LtCol Johnson as a member of the Air Force Radiation Assessment Team (AFRAT) when I was a lieutenant, I already had great respective for him as a military leader and officer. So when I saw Dr. Johnson was offering a prep course for military personnel, I jumped at the chance.”
“Dr. Johnson’s course changed a lot for me. He helped me connect my experience to the test, how to translate real-world knowledge into the right kind of answers,” he said. “I wasn’t just studying anymore. I was preparing.”
“From Dr. Johnson I learned to accept the small victories during this certification process and his prep course lead to me to passing my Part I exam the on my third attempt after narrowly missing it the year before.”
Richard also stated Dr. Johnson’s course helped him realized the necessity for proper mentorship. “I think it was shortly before passing my part I exam that I formally established a mentorship relationship Dr. Janine Katanic, whose unwavering encouragement and guidance ultimately helped me succeed.”
Although this success wasn’t instant. Richard experienced constant improvements in his score after every attempt—until, finally, the letter came: He passed.
“That moment—it’s hard to explain. Relief. Pride. And honestly, a little disbelief. It had been a long road,” Richard reminisced. “But knew I earned and deserved it.”
What the CHP Exam Actually Measures
One of the biggest misconceptions about certification that Richard tries to dispel is the exam is a simple test of memorization or academic ability.
“Part I is foundational. Sure. But Part II? That’s different. It tests how you think, how you approach real problems,” he said. “It’s not just about knowledge. It’s about judgment.”
Now serving on the Part II Exam Committee, Richard helps review and shape questions to ensure they’re measuring the right things.
“The exam isn’t meant to be a gatekeeper. This entire process is not about keeping people out,” he said. “It’s about making sure the people who earn those three letters, CHP, can be trusted with the responsibility that comes with them.”
That, to Richard, is the heart of it all. Not the title. Not the prestige.
The accountability and trust.
Lifting Others Along the Way
Richard’s experience shaped more than just his career. It shaped his leadership style as well.
Today, he oversees a team of health physicists and radiological control technicians and takes every opportunity to mentor them on the same path, be it CHP or NRRPT.
“We talk about the exam in generality. We facilitate study groups. I give them daily challenges and rules of thumb to keep the gears turning,” he said. “But more than anything, I encourage them not to give up.”
He’s honest about how tough it is. He tells them about the failures, the near misses, the late nights, the self-doubt.
And he makes sure they understand that failing isn’t the end, nor should it be a defining characteristic of their self-worth.
Quitting is.
With conviction, he stated, “I want them to know they don’t have to do this alone.”.
Why It Was All Worth It
Looking back, Richard wouldn’t change the journey—not even the failures—because those failures gave him something he now gives to others: perspective.
“You learn more about yourself through failure than through easy wins,” he said. “Every attempt made me sharper, more reflective, more prepared to lead.”
Today, the letters “CHP” after his name aren’t just a credential. They’re a symbol of perseverance. Of credibility. Of the commitment to do things the right way, even when it’s hard.
And that’s the message he wants others to walk away with.
“If you’re thinking about giving up—don’t. If you’re discouraged—reach out. You’ve got a community behind you. You’ve got people who’ve walked the road, failed the tests and made it through.”
“And,” he adds, “If I can do it, so can you.”
Thinking about taking the CHP exam? We’re here to help you prepare and pass with the tools, support and insight to get you across the finish li