Operator Licensing National Examination Schedule

                                 UNITED STATES
                         NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
                     OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C.  20555

                               September 7, 1993


NRC ADMINISTRATIVE LETTER 93-03:  OPERATOR LICENSING NATIONAL EXAMINATION      
                                  SCHEDULE


Addressees

All power reactor licensees and applicants for an operating license.  

Purpose

The U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this administrative
letter to request addressees, on a voluntary basis, to update their previous
estimates of the number of candidates to be tested for fiscal years (FYs) 1994
through 1997.  The estimates will assist the NRC in planning its resources. 
The submittal of this information is strictly voluntary.  Therefore, no
specific action or written response is required.  

Background

In Generic Letter (GL) 89-03, "Operator Licensing National Examination
Schedule," March 24, 1989, the NRC issued its first national examination
schedule and requested licensees to provide estimates of the number of
candidates requiring examination.  Subsequent GLs have updated this process.
To plan its resources for FYs 1994 through 1997, the NRC is requesting 
licensees to update their estimates submitted in response to GL 92-06, 
"Operator Licensing National Examination Schedule," September 16, 1992.  

Discussion

The NRC regional offices normally schedule examinations consistent with the
enclosed examination schedule (Enclosure 1).  However, if the workload within
a region or across the nation is excessive during a particular month, the NRC
may need to adjust some designated examination dates to balance its resources. 
The NRC regional offices will coordinate shifts in examination dates with the
training managers of affected licensees if changes are required to the
requested examination schedules.  

The staff has proposed an amendment to "Operators' Licenses," Part 55 of 
Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations that will alter its approach for
conducting requalification program evaluations.  If the proposed amendment is
approved in its current form, the NRC will discontinue use of the national
examination schedule for licensee-administered requalification examinations.  




9309010007

                                                            AL 93-03
                                                            September 7, 1993
                                                            Page 2 of 3


Beginning in FY 1995, the generic fundamentals examination (GFE) will be given
only two times a year.  The GFE will be administered on the first Wednesday 
following the first Sunday in the months of October and April.  All other
aspects of and procedures for administering the GFE will remain the same.

Requested Information

Using the proposed format on NRC Form 536, "Operator Licensing Examination
Data," included as Enclosure 2, please update (1) the estimated number of
candidates to be examined during each scheduled site visit, (2) the annual
requalification examination schedule for FYs 1994 through 1997, and (3) the
estimated number of candidates that will participate in the GFE scheduled for
FY 1994.  

Licensees are requested to voluntarily submit their updated schedules to 
Mr. Robert M. Gallo, Chief, Operator Licensing Branch, OWFN-10D22, 
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555, with a courtesy
copy to the appropriate regional administrator within 30 days of receiving
this letter.  

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

The voluntary information collections contained in this request are covered by
the Office of Management and Budget clearance number 3150-0131, which expires
August 31, 1995.  The public reporting burden for this voluntary collection of
information is estimated to average 2 hours per response, including the time
for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of
information.  Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect
of this voluntary collection of information, including suggestions for
reducing this burden, to the Information and Records Management Branch 
(MNBB-7714), U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555, and
to the Desk Officer, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, NEOB-3019,
(3150-0131), Office of Management and Budget, Washington, D.C. 20503.                                                                 

                                                            AL 93-03
                                                            September 7, 1993
                                                            Page 3 of 3


This administrative letter requires no specific action or written response. 
If you have any questions about this letter, please contact the contact listed
below or the appropriate Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation project manager. 

                                    /s/'d by BKGrimes


                                    Brian K. Grimes, Director 
                                    Division of Operating Reactor Support
                                    Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Contact:  Robert M. Gallo, NRR
          (301) 504-1031

Attachments:
1.  National Examination Schedule
2.  NRC Form 536, "Operator Licensing 
      Examination Data"
3.  List of Recently Issued NRC
      Administrative Letters