Training
ORTEC not only provides superior products and services - but also superior training to help you make the most of your investment. Our classes, taught by our expert staff, industry leaders, and internationally known academics are tailored to your needs. ORTEC offers training courses for a variety of applications used in counting laboratories, waste assay and illicit material detection, as well as system maintenance and troubleshooting.
GammaVision Software Training
GammaVision Training Class follows an agenda which integrates lecture and student exercises. Topics include:
- Basic Physics for Gamma Ray Spectroscopy
- Coverage of typical hardware and software required
- Hardware Setup and Software Control of Hardware
- Signal processing for histogram spectra
- Software utilities for library, calibration (Energy and Efficiency), and analysis parameter setup.
- Interference Corrections
- Calculations (Peak Area, Peak Activity, Nuclide activity/concentration, Uncertainty)
- Minimum Detectable Activities
- Understanding the report (Understanding the individual GammaVision report sections)
- Automation
Taking place over 4.5 days, this course combines the theory of gamma spectroscopy measurements with the direct utilization of the GammaVision software application. The training covers the structure of a typical hardware/software configuration and then moves into the application basics and features, including: signal processing basics, nuclide libraries, energy and efficiency calibrations and verifications, analysis results interpretation, counting statistics, analysis settings, uncertainty calculations and interpretation and a basic review of radioanalytical anomalies and example spectra with associated parameters. Advanced spectral review and troubleshooting are also presented. The course is instructor-led with sufficient time for lab exercises using actual instrumentation found in a typical counting lab.
Course Schedule
| Date | October 12-16, 2026 |
| February 15-19, 2027 | |
| May 10-14, 2027 | |
| October 11-15, 2027 | |
| Location | ORTEC Facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee |
| Tuition | $2575 |
AlphaVision Software Training
AlphaVision follows an agenda which integrates lecture and student exercises. Topics include:
- Basic Physics refresher for Alpha Spectroscopy
- Coverage of the AlphaVision hardware and software required, including vacuum and performance considerations.
- Concepts of Batch Processing in the radiochemistry laboratory.
- Acquiring Quality Assurance (QA) data
- Introduction to the use of AlphaVision software utilities for Master Library, Nuclide Library, Standards, Tracers and QA setup.
- Acquiring Data for Batch Analysis
- Reviewing the Alpha Vision Reports
This course combines the basics of alpha spectroscopy measurements with the direct utilization of the AlphaVision software application. The training covers the requirements of a typical hardware/software configuration and then moves into the application basics and features, including: charged particle detector basics, vacuum chamber systems, introduction to AlphaVision software elements and functions, and spectra data review. The course is instructor-led with sufficient time for lab exercises with actual instrumentation used in a typical counting lab.
Course Schedule
| Date | March 23-25, 2027 |
| July 20-22, 2027 | |
| Location | ORTEC Facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee |
| Tuition | $2060 |
ISOTOPIC Software Training (NDA and In-Situ)
This course follows an agenda which integrates lecture and student exercises. Topics include:
- Basic Physics refresher for Gamma Ray Spectroscopy
- Presentation of efficiency modeling concepts
- Coverage of typical hardware setup and software control
- Introduction to the use of software utilities for library, calibration, analysis parameter and modeling setup.
- Understanding the Supervisor and Operator interfaces in Isotopic
- Simple overview of analysis review
This course combines the theory of gamma spectroscopy measurements with the direct utilization of the ISOTOPIC software application for performing analysis using different modeling methods. The training covers software and hardware setup, best practices for various modeling types, discussion of ISOTOPIC’s utility functions for configuration, operations, and adjustments for optimum confidence in analytical results. An overview of library functions and their significance is discussed combined with variants in application modes – supervisor and operators. The course is instructor-led with sufficient time for lab exercises with actual instrumentation used in a typical counting lab.
Course Schedule
| Date | Not Scheduled |
| Location | ORTEC Facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee |
| Tuition | $2060 |
ISOTOPIC software training is very well-suited for delivery at the customer site. The direct interaction with customer equipment can be most effective using ISOTOPIC software and hardware.
Alpha Spectrometry Training
The field of alpha spectrometry has seen some significant developments in recent years, both in the area of sample preparation as well as new system designs, which provide for more efficient counting and analysis. This 5-day course will begin with a review of the basics of alpha spectrometry and then present a detailed overview of some of the most useful innovations for the analyst. Real-world examples will be emphasized throughout and a "hands-on" approach will be emphasized with about 60-70% laboratory sessions.
Course Schedule
Date: January 11-15, 2027
Location: Colorado State University
Tuition $2575
Date: June 7-11, 2027
Location: University of Southampton, UK
Tuition $2575
Topics will include:
- Sources and distribution of radioactive contamination of the environment
- Basics of sample preparation for alpha spectrometry
- New approaches to sample preparation
- Redox chemistry of the actinides (separating actinides by solution chemistry)
- Use of new types of ion exchange and extraction chromatographic resins
- Source preparation techniques by electro deposition and micro precipitation techniques
- Some specific method descriptions including screening procedures
- Basics of alpha radiation, detectors, sample counting
- Recommended QA/QC practices
- Energy and efficiency calibration
- Prevention of recoil contamination
- Background and reagent blank corrections
- Nuclide activity calculations (calculations for U, Th, Pu, Am analysis)
- Propagation of counting errors, MDA’s
The course has been designed so that students new to alpha spectrometry will benefit from the fundamentals being presented while the more experienced analysts will gain from exposure to a review as well as the presentation of new and developing techniques. Students will receive classroom instruction and will work in small groups in the laboratory under close supervision with instructor:
Dr. Bill Burnett
Environmental Radioactivity Measurement Facility
Department of Oceanography
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL 32306
List of Tentative Laboratory Experiments:
Standard Experiments
- Review of counting procedures-1 (energy calibration, pulser checks, etc.)
- Review of counting procedures-2 (recoil prevention, efficiency, geometry considerations)
- Calculation of theoretical counting geometries
- Methods of coprecipitation for actinide analyses
- U, Th, and Pu in soil via ion exchange procedures
- Screening analysis for actinides in water via extraction chromatography
- Preparation of counting sources by fluoride microprecipitation/filtration
- Electrodeposition of sources and determination of electrodeposition rates
- Calculation of sample activities, propagation of counting errors
Additional Experiments (By Request)
- Separation of U, Am, Pu from air filters via extraction chromatography
- Radium Isotopes in water samples via alpha spectrometry
Partners in Training
GEL Laboratories LLC, Charleston, South Carolina
National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, United Kingdom
Eichrom Technologies, Lisle, Illinois
TrisKem International, Bruz, France
University of Hawaii, Earth Sciences Department
University of Southampton, UK
Colorado State University
Detector Repair Training
The D150 Detector Repair Class follows an agenda which integrates lecture and student exercises. Topics include:
- Detector trouble shooting
- Preamplifier adjustments and repair
- Vacuum pumping and annealing
- Cooling maintenance (LN2, Mechanical)
Taking place over 3 days, this course combines classroom discussions with hands-on experience to provide guidance on what causes and how to remedy poor energy resolution, distorted peaks, missing signal, and drifting peaks. The training covers the requirements of a typical hardware/software configuration and then moves into how each component can affect the detector system. The course is instructor-led with sufficient time for lab exercises with actual instrumentation used in a typical detector system.
Course Schedule
| Date | March 30 - April 1, 2027 |
| September 7-9, 2027 | |
| Location | ORTEC Facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee |
| Tuition | $3407 |
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Registration Confirmation
Attendance is confirmed pursuant to receipt of a credit card or purchase order required to secure your registration. After submitting the course registration form you will be contacted via return email with instructions for providing this information. If a credit card is supplied to secure your registration, the card will not be charged until the course in completed. Course capacity is filled in order of the date of receipt of credit card or purchase order information.
Tuition
- Included in the tuition fee are all course materials, including texts and certificate.
- Not included are transportation costs, lodging accommodations, and other personal expenses.
- Prices subject to change without notice.
Cancellation Policy
- Cancellations received at least 20 business days prior to class will receive a full refund of class tuition.
- Cancellations received 10-19 business days before the class date will be refunded 75% of class tuition.
- Cancellations received 1-9 business days before the class date will be refunded 50% of class tuition.
- Refunds will not be given for ""no shows.""
Cancellation Liability
- ORTEC reserves the right to cancel classes for any reason.
- ORTEC's liability is limited to the return of the tuition fee only.
- ORTEC will not reimburse registrants for any travel or hotel cancellation fees or penalties.
Location(s)
Unless otherwise specified, all scheduled training will take place at ORTEC, 801 South Illinois Avenue, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, approximately 25 miles by car northwest of the Knoxville airport. As an alternative, we can work with you to hold courses at your facility, tailored to meet your particular needs.
Participant Identification
ORTEC is a secured facility. Please bring a form of photo identification with you to accommodate us with your visitor/badging check-in procedures. Any non U.S. citizen visiting the ORTEC facility will need to bring their passport as well.
Car Rental
Available at the Knoxville airport. A car is recommended."