Radioactive Material Branches

The radioactive material section of the Alabama Office of Radiation Control includes the Licensing Branch and the Compliance Branch.

Radioactive Materials Licensing Branch

The Licensing Branch is responsible for issuing and maintaining all types of radioactive material licenses. This includes byproduct material, source material, special nuclear material, accelerator produced material and Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM). The Licensing Branch is also responsible for issuance and maintenance of registrations for all accelerators capable of producing energies greater than 0.9 MeV.

If you are a particle accelerator service company, or a medical physicist wishing to work at multiple facilities in Alabama, you should register with the Agency by completing a particle accelerator service registration form.

If you wish to apply for a license or registration, please visit our Forms Page to find the appropriate application. Prior to submitting your application, please check with our office to determine what fees are associated with that type of license or registration. You may also view our current license fees by viewing our fee schedule, located on our Forms Page. If you need assistance in preparing your license or registration application, please feel free to contact the Agency at (334) 290-6244, or on our in-state toll free line, 1-800-582-1866.

Radioactive Materials Compliance Branch

Facilities and individuals that possess and use radioactive materials in Alabama (i.e. “specific licensees” and/or “general licensees”) are inspected by the Agency’s Radioactive Materials Compliance Branch. Inspections are performed in accordance with procedures and guidance from the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, among others, and are performed at time intervals based on the license category.

The Radioactive Materials Compliance Branch is also responsible for routine inspections of facilities with particle accelerators and facilities that possess and use x-ray producing devices for non-medical purposes. The Agency uses guidance and procedures from national radiation protection organizations and professional industries for inspections of these types of radiation use. The inspection programs for registrants using particle accelerators and x-ray producing machines (non-medical) are similar to the programs for licensees.

Reciprocity

Pursuant to Rule 420-3-26-.02(20)(a), the State of Alabama may grant reciprocal recognition of an out of state license provided written notification is made at least three days in advance. To receive notifications, we maintain a 24 hour fax machine at 334-285-9342. Exceptions to the three days advanced time limit can be made in cases where you notify the State of Alabama immediately after your company is notified of the need to work in Alabama. Followup by telephone to this Agency should be made to verify approval to the exception. A copy of the Agency's reciprocity request form may be downloaded from our Forms Page.

A maximum of 30 days of possession and/or use under reciprocity is allowed during each calendar year. The only exceptions to the 30 day limit is reciprocity for a license authorizing installation, transfer, or service of a device distributed and possessed pursuant to a general license. Rule 420-3-26-.02(20)(b) places no limit on the numbers of days of reciprocity for installation, transfer, and service of general license devices. View Rule Page.