ML18198A361
| ML18198A361 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 06/29/2018 |
| From: | NRC/OCIO |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML18198A343 | List: |
| References | |
| NRC-2018-000561, FOIA | |
| Download: ML18198A361 (17) | |
Text
POWER REACTOR OPERATOR LICENSING PROCESS Chris Cowdrey Senior Reactor Engineer / Chief Examiner NRR/DIRS/IOLB August 2, 2017
OVERVIEW
- Candidate Selection
- Generic Fundamentals Exam
- Training Process
- Application Process
- Candidate Pre-exam Screening
- Initial Exam Process
- Exam Results
- Licensing Process 2
APPLICANT SELECTION PROCESS
- Governed by the following documents:
- ACAD 10-001, Guidelines for Initial Training and Qualification of Licensed Operators.
(INPO document)
- ANSI/ANS-3.1, 2014, Selection, Qualification, and Training of Personnel for Nuclear Power Plants. (Industry document)
- Reg Guide 1.8, Rev. 3, Qualification and Training of Personnel for Nuclear Power Plants (NRC document) 3
GENERIC FUNDAMENTALS EXAMINATION
- Covers topics required by regulation
- 10 CFR 55.41 and 55.43
- Given nationally 2 times per year
- Industry may comment on exam prior to administration 4
TRAINING PROCESS
- Systems Approach to Training (SAT) required by regulation, 10 CFR 50.120(b)(2) and defined in 10 CFR 55.4
- INPO accreditation of training programs is accepted as meeting regulations
- NRC monitors/observes/participates in INPO training and accreditation activities
- Accreditation Team Visits
- Observation of Accreditation Boards 5
APPLICATION PROCESS
- Applicants submit NRC Forms 396 and 398 as examination date approaches
- Used to evaluate medical suitability and professional qualifications for an operator license
- NRC Form 396 - requires physical examination and certification
- NRC Form 398 - evaluates against training, education, and experience standards 6
FACILITY CANDIDATE PRE-EXAM SCREENING
- NRC Form 398 - Personal Qualification Statement - Licensee
- Facility certifies candidate has successfully completed an accredited training program and there is a need for the license
- Candidates are typically given an audit exam by the utility to determine readiness for NRC exam
- Format comparable to NRC exam 7
INITIAL LICENSE EXAMINATION PROCESS
- Applicants must pass both a written examination and an operating test developed IAW NUREG-1021
- Since FY1996, the NRC has allowed facility licensees to develop site-specific written examinations and operating tests for review and approval by the NRC with final rule implementation in 1999.
- Each NRC Region develops one examination per year 8
INITIAL LICENSE EXAMINATION PROCESS (contd)
- Develop the Sample Plan (random)
- Knowledge and Abilities (K/A) Catalogs -
NUREGs 1122/1123/2103/2104 and provide the basis for Content Valid Examinations
- Systematically and randomly (with an equal chance for all to be drawn) select specific K/A statements
- Exam authors can eliminate inapplicable or inappropriate K/As
- NRC develops sample plans and submits them to each facility at the start of the examination development process 9
INITIAL LICENSE EXAMINATION PROCESS (contd)
- Select and Develop the Questions
- Use combination of existing, modified, and new questions that match sample plan question RO examination with an additional 25 questions for SRO applicants
- Facility-developed examinations are independently reviewed by a facility supervisor or manager before submittal to NRC
- Facility Peer Review/Validation
- NRC Chief Examiner/Branch Chief Review 10
INITIAL LICENSE EXAMINATION PROCESS (contd)
- Written Examination Administration
- Typically administered by facility proctor with NRC Examiner available to address any questions or issues
- Each applicant briefed on Written Examination Guidelines
- Written Examination Grading - Facility licensee will:
- Review and resolve examination questions, comments, and issues
- Submit post-examination comments w/recommended grading changes 11
INITIAL LICENSE EXAMINATION PROCESS (contd)
- Operating Test - Simulator Scenarios
- Designed to evaluate individuals as a member of a crew
- Plant simulator used to evaluate applicants during normal, abnormal, and emergency conditions
- Applicants evaluated in multiple control room positions across a set of competencies for each license level
- Critical tasks with safety significance are identified
- Technical specifications are exercised for SROs
- Scenarios designed to have varied initial conditions and to meet a targeted number of attributes
- Each applicant must be evaluated on a minimum number of each event type over a set of scenarios 12
INITIAL LICENSE EXAMINATION PROCESS (contd)
- Operating Test - Job Performance Measures (JPM) Walk-Through
- Combination of control room JPMs, in-plant JPMs, and administrative JPMs
- Presents a task for the applicant to perform as an individual
- Identified Critical steps are required to be performed correctly
- Simulator/In-plant JPMs designed to evaluate different safety functions
- Certain JPMs are designated as Alternate Path
- Admin JPMs designed to evaluate four subject areas 13
INITIAL LICENSE EXAMINATION PROCESS (contd)
- If desired, candidate can appeal various questions/segments of exam
- Candidate provides justification for appeal
- NRCs determination made by program office at headquarters
- Candidate can request a hearing for final issue resolution 14
EXAMINATION RESULTS
- Overall pass rates generally > 90%
- 70-80% of exams have no failures
- Regional pass rates can be significantly affected by one exam with poor results
- No significant difference between NRC and facility-prepared exams
- NRR monitors grades and pass rates, including if facility or NRC prepared
- Performance results posted on NRC public website Note: Exam refers to a common test given to all candidates at a specific facility on a particular date 15
LICENSING PROCESS
- Operator license issued to applicants who pass all portions of the examination and meet experience and medical requirements
- Conditions added to licenses as necessary
- Physical examination required every two years
- License Renewal required every 6 years
- Operators must maintain license by participating in requalification training and taking an annual NRC operating test and biennial NRC written examination within the two-year requalification cycle 16
Questions/Comments?
17