MPE Certification Scheme

  1. Legal Requirement

The medical exposures elements of the Basic Safety Standards Directive, were transposed into  UK legislation by The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 in England, Scotland and Wales and by The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2018 in Northern Ireland. A key requirement of these regulations is that the competence of Medical Physics Experts (MPEs) is to be recognised by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) which is the competent authority for medical exposures.

DHSC has appointed RPA 2000 to act as the authorised Assessing Body for MPE recognition.

Any person wishing to act as a Medical Physics Expert must have an MPE Certificate of Competence from RPA 2000 (see details below).

Certificates from RPA 2000 are valid for a period of five years.

IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR ALL EXISTING MPEs ON ONGOING RECOGNITION
The first phase of the RPA 2000 scheme for the ongoing recognition of MPEs will commence in the first quarter of 2025. The scheme has been approved by the DHSC. Please ensure you read this document and take prompt action to ensure that we have your correct email address.

For further background information and an update (as at July 2023) on the current situation regarding MPE recognition, please click here.

  1. Applications for initial certification to act as an MPE

Applicants for initial certification by RPA 2000 will require:

MPE Application Form (MPE1) Please note:  This form (v1.1 November 2022) must be used for all new submissions.
Instructions for the Creation of the Portfolio of Evidence  (MPE2)
DHSC Syllabus for MPEs  (this is also found within the application form)

They are also advised to consult the following generic RPA 2000 documents:

Doc. Ref Document Title
 G1 RPA 2000 Operating Procedures
 G2 Information for Applicants seeking Certification or Renewal of Certification under any RPA 2000 Competence Certification Scheme
 G3 Protocol for the introduction and maintenance of Specialist Certificates of Competence
G4 Code of Technical Conduct
G5 Complaints and Disciplinary
G6 Assessment Appeals
G7 Resources and Resilience
 GD2 Consequences of the failure of applicants to meet timescales for the renewal of certification
 GD3 Consequences of the failure of applicants to meet timescales for the provision of further information required by assessors