NRC Generic Letter 88-09, Pilot Testing of Fundamentals Examination

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May 17, 1988

TO LICENSEES OF ALL BOILING-WATER REACTORS AND APPLICANTS FOR A BOILING WATER REACTOR OPERATORS' LICENSE UNDER 10 CFR 55

SUBJECT: PILOT TESTING OF FUNDAMENTALS EXAMINATION (Generic Letter 88-09)

This letter is to inform facility licensees and potential applicants under 10 CFR 55 of a pilot testing program of a fundamentals examination for Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs). The pilot test is to refine the examination development methodology, administration, and grading process. Applicants who participate in this pilot test and achieve a passing grade of 70 percent or more will receive a waiver under 10 CFR 55.47 of the applicable section of the written examination under 55.41 or 55.43.

The staff's review of the content of examinations under 10 CFR 55, which is contained in Examiner Standards 202 and 402 of NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examiner Standards," indicates that the subject matter presented in some sections is generic to all BWRs. The subject matter includes reactor theory, heat transfer, thermodynamics, fluid flow and component operations. The staff's review of current training programs indicates that those topics are normally presented early in the operator and senior operator training programs. Mastery of these fundamentals is an important first step of training, which include systems and plant characteristics, on-the-job training, and simulator training.

In developing the fundamentals examination, the staff used subject matter contained in the 291000 to 293000 series of the "Knowledge and Abilities (K/A) Catalog for Nuclear Power Plant Operators: Boiling Water Reactors" (NUREG-1123). The K/As provided the basis of testing objectives and a bank of multiple choice questions has been developed and screened for use in this examination. The examination will contain approximately 50 multiple choice questions and will require approximately three hours to complete. For pilot testing, we expect to simultaneously administer the pilot examination at each regional office throughout the country. Since the examination will be graded by machine, we expect to promulgate the test results within 10 days after administration of the examination.

Copies of the fundamentals examination test sheets will be returned to each volunteer and facility training department. Comments by the volunteers and training department managers will be accepted and summarized in a subsequent Commission Paper. The Commission will evaluate a policy to require passing the fundamentals examination as a condition for nuclear power plant operator license applications under 10 CFR 55.31.

8805180235The conditions listed below will apply for pilot testing of the fundamentals examination.

o The Commission will waive the usual requirements under 10 CFR 55.31 Subpart D - Applications. Therefore, Form NRC-398 does not need to be submitted.

o Volunteers who pass the fundamental examination with a score of 70 percent or greater will be granted a waiver of the written examination under 55.47 of Section 1 or Section 5, as appropriate.

o Volunteers who do not achieve a grade of 70 percent will be able to take the entire regularly scheduled written examination at the site. Since a formal application under 55.31 is not required, the provision of 55.35, Re-applications, will not apply.

o Pilot testing of this examination is planned for Summer 1988. Licensees and volunteers will be informed of the date, time, and location of the examinations within 60 days after the date of this generic letter.

Licensees interested in participating in this program are requested to submit the enclosed application for each candidate to Mr. John N. Hannon, Chief, Operator Licensing Branch, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555, with a copy to the appropriate Regional Administrator. We appreciate the cooperation of each participant. If you have any questions concerning this generic letter, please call Mr. Hannon at (301) 492-1031.

This request was approved by the Office of Management and Budget under clearance number 3150-0131. Clearance number 3150-0131 expires August 31, 1988. Comments on burden and duplication may be directed to the Office of Management and Budget, Reports Management, Room 3208, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503.

Sincerely,

Frank J. Miraglia, Associate Director for Projects Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Enclosure:

Application for Pilot Testing of Fundamentals Examination