NRC Generic Letter 89-05, Pilot Testing of the Fundamentals Examination

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WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555

April 4, 1989

TO: LICENSEES OF ALL POWER REACTORS AND APPLICANTS FOR A REACTOR OPERATOR'S LICENSE UNDER 10 CFR PART 55

SUBJECT: PILOT TESTING OF THE FUNDAMENTALS EXAMINATION (Generic Letter 89-05)

This letter is to inform facility licensees and potential applicants under 10 CFR Part 55 that the NRC is offering a second pilot test of the fundamentals examination for candidates for an NRC operator's license. During this pilot test, examinations will be administered to candidates for a license to operate both Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs) and Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs). The pilot test will be used to refine the development, administration, and grading process for the fundamentals examination. Applicants who participate in this pilot test and achieve a passing grade of 70 percent or a higher percentage will receive a waiver under 10 CFR 55.47 of the applicable section of the written examination that is required by 10 CFR 55.41 or 55.43.

The staff's review of the content of examinations prepared in accordance with 10 CFR Part 55 and the Examiner Standards 301 and 401 of NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examiner Standards," Revision 5, indicates that the subject matter presented in some sections is generic to all BWRs or all PWRs. The subject matter includes reactor theory, heat transfer, thermodynamics, fluid flow, and component operations. The staff's review of current training programs indicates that these topics are normally presented early in the operator and senior operator training programs. Mastery of this fundamentals subject matter is an important first step of training, which includes 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 through 293000 series of the "Knowledge and Abilities (K/A) Catalog for Nuclear Power Plant Operators: Boiling Water Reactors" (NUREG-1123), and the 191000 through 193000 series of the "Knowledge and Abilities (K/A) Catalog for Nuclear Power Plant Operators: Pressurized Water Reactors" (NUREG-1122). The K/As provided the basis for the testing objectives from which a bank of multiple choice questions has been developed and screened for use in this examination. Each examination will contain approximately 50 multiple choice questions and will require approximately 3 hours3.472222e-5 days <br />8.333333e-4 hours <br />4.960317e-6 weeks <br />1.1415e-6 months <br /> to complete. We plan to administer the pilot examinations at one central location in each region. As the examinations will be graded by machine, we expect to promulgate the test results within 10 days after the administration of the examination.

Copies of the fundamentals examination test sheets will be returned to each volunteer and facility training department for comment. The NRC staff will summarize any comments received in a Commission paper. After reviewing this summary, the Commission will evaluate a policy to require passing the fundamentals examination as a prerequisite condition to applying for a license to operate a nuclear power plant under 10 CFR 55.31.The following conditions will apply to pilot testing of the fundamentals examination:

- 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.

- Volunteers should be enrolled in either a facility-sponsored reactor operator or senior reactor operator training course.

- Volunteers who pass the fundamentals examination with a score of 70 percent or a higher percentage will be granted a waiver under 10 CFR 55.47 of the appropriate section (1 or 4) of the written examination.

- Volunteers who do not achieve a grade of 70 percent will subsequently be able to take the entire regularly scheduled written examination at the site. As a formal application under 10 CFR 55.31 is not required, the provisions of 10 CFR 55.35, "Re-applications," will not apply.

- Pilot testing of these examinations is planned for June 28, 1989. You will be informed of the exact time, and location of the examinations within 60 days after the date of this generic letter.

Candidates interested in participating in this program are requested to submit the enclosed application to Mr. Kenneth E. Perkins, Chief, Operator Licensing Branch, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555, with a copy to the appropriate Regional Administrator. These applications must be received by April 21, 1989, to ensure participation in these pilot tests. We appreciate your cooperation. If you have any questions concerning this generic letter, please call Mr. Perkins at (301) 492-1031.

This request is covered by Office of Management and Budget Clearance Number 3150-0090 which expires January 31, 1992. The estimated average burden is 2 hours2.314815e-5 days <br />5.555556e-4 hours <br />3.306878e-6 weeks <br />7.61e-7 months <br /> per response. Comments on the accuracy of this estimate and suggestions to reduce the burden may be directed to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (3150-0090), Room 3208, New Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20503, and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Records and Reports Management Branch, Office of Information Resources Management, Washington, D.C. 20555.

Sincerely,

Steven A. Varga, Acting Associate Director for Projects Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Enclosure:

Application for Pilot Testing of Fundamentals Examination

.

Enclosure (GL 89-05)

I, , employed at the (Name) (Station Name)

50- request participation in the Pilot Test Program of (Facility Docket Number)

the Fundamentals Examination for an operator or a senior operator license. I

agree to the conditions outlined in GL-89-(05).

Applicant:

Date

Approved:

Training Department Manager Date