NRC Generic Letter 1981-40
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ALL POWER REACTOR LICENSEES, APPLICANTS FOR OPERATING LICENSE, NSSS VENDORS,
REACTOR VENDORS AND ARCHITECT ENGINEERS
Gentlemen:
SubJect: Qualifications of Reactor Operators - License Examinations (Generic Letter 81-40)
In letters dated September 13, 1979 and March 28, 1980, we informed you of pro- posed recommendations and revised criteria to be used by the staff in evaluating reactor operator training and licensing. We also informed you that Commission review was continuing in this area and could be expected to result in additional criteria.
As part of our effort, we have conducted an in-depth review of the examination process, including the scope and format of the examination. The review has resulted in several changes to our internal procedures and a revised operator and senior operator written examination.
Both examinations will consist of five categories and have a six-hour time limit imposed. The weight given to theory is reduced from 38% in the operator written and 56% in the senior operator written, to about 25% in each. Consequently, the examination becomes less of a writing marathon than at present. Enclosure 1 presents the scope of the new examinations and how they relate to the current examinations.
In addition to the above, the senior operator written examination is restructured so that a senior operator need not take the operator written portion. Senior operator candidates who elect to sit only for this written examination will not be considered for an operator's license should they fail this examination.
We hope to initiate the administration of the new examinations early in 1982.
However, we believe that it is essential to receive public comments prior to implementation. In particular, we would welcome comments on how best to schedule the implementation of this program so as to minimize disruption of ongoing train- Ing programs and staffing plans for pending operating license applicants. Also, we believe it is essential to have some type of controlled experiment to assure that the proposed examination will result in well-qualified licensed individuals.
We welcome any suggestions regarding these experiments. We have scheduled an all-day meeting at the Holiday Inn, 8200 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Md. on January 6, 1982 at 9:00 am.
We plan a one-hour presentation and question/answer session. This will be followed by small roundtable discussions involving OLB examiners and industry, vendor, and members of the public to assure complete understanding of our approach Ada and answer additional questions and address individual concerns. We urge you to ,
have representation of your training department at this meeting. / 4
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NRC FORM 318 (10-80) NRCM 0240 O FFICIA L R EC O RD C OP Y USGPO: ts8a-33so960
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Mr. Paul F. Collins, Chief, Operator Licensing Branch, will conduct the meeting.
Mr. Collins can be reached on (301)492-4868 ifyou require additional information.
Sincerely, Darrell C. Eisenhut, firector Division of Licensing Enclosure:
Revised examinatiq's paper DISTRIBUTION:
OLB Rdg OLB F/F
PCollins JKramer DEisenhut HDenton ECase DHFS BCs DL BCs DL ADs ORB BCs ORB PMs ORB LAs OELD (5)
OI&E (7)
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'A 318 ( tO S0) NRCM 0240 O*ICIAL RECORD COPY >431 (1080)NRCM024 OF~CIAL RECRD C PY
OPERATI1Gf LICENSE, NSSS VENDORS,
ALL POWER REACTOR LICENSEES, APPLICANTS FOR
REACTOR VENDORS AUD ARCHITECT ENGINEERS
Gentlemen:
Examinations Subject: Qualifications of Reactor Onfrators - License (Generic Letter 81-40)
2`2, 198Q0 we informed you of pro- In letters dated Septenber 13, 1979 and March to be used by the staff in evaluating posed recommendations and revised criteria We also informed you that Conmnission reactor operator training and licensing.
could he expected to result in additional review was continuing in this area and criteria.
an in-denth review of the examination As part of our effort, we have conducted of the examination. The review has process, including the scope and format Procedures and a revised operator resulted in several changes to our internal and senior operator written examiniation.
categories and have a six-hour tine limit Both examinations will consist of five reduced from 33% in the operator written imposed. The weight given to theory is to about 25X in each. Consequently, the and 56% in the senior operator written, than at present. Enclosure 1 examination becomes less of a writing marathor how they relate to the current presents the scone of the new examinations and examinations.
written examination is restructured In addition to the above, the senior operator operator written portion. Senior so that a senior operator need not take thefor this written examination will not operator candidates who elect to sit onlyshould they fail this examination.
be considered for an operator's license new examinations early in 1982.
We hope to initiate the administration of tothereceive public comFents prior to However, we believe that it is essential welcomle comments on how best to schedule implementation. In particular, we would as to minimize disruption of ongoino train- the implementation of this program sopending ing programs and staffing plans for onerating license applicants. Also, of controlled experiment to assure we believe it is essential to have some type in well-qualified licensed individuals.
that the proposed examination will result expnriments. We have scheduled an We welcome any suggestions regarding theseWisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Md. on all-day meetinc at the Holiday Inn, 8200
January 6, 1982 at a:DO am.
session. This will be We plan a one-hour presentation and question/answer involving OLS examiners and industry, followed by small roundtable discussions assure complete understanding of our approach vendor, and members of the public to address individual concerns. We urge you to and answer additional questions and department at this meeting.
have representation of your training
Mr. Paul F. Collins, Chief, Operator Licensing Branch, will conduct the meetine.
?4r. Collins can be reached on (301)492-4P58 if you require additional Information.
Sincerely, Darrell 0. Fisenhut, Director Division of Licensing Revised examinations PAWe OLB/DHFS Acting Dir/DHFS Dir/DL
PCol l ins/bl JKramer DElsenhut
/ /81 / /81 / /81