Summary
The Licensing & Applications section covers how NRC authorizes nuclear facilities, materials, and operators. Facility Licensing spans pre-application resources through fuel, non-power, power reactor, design, and environmental licensing. Materials Licensing covers radioactive and byproduct materials licensing. Operator Licensing details the process, regulations, exams, and applications. Tools include the Web-Based Licensing System, National Source Tracking System, and application status.
Facility Licensing
Facility Licensing covers how NRC authorizes entities to construct, operate, and decommission nuclear facilities. Pre-Application Resources help applicants prepare. Fuel Facility and Non-Power & Utilization Facility Licensing address fuel cycle plants, research, and test reactors. Power Reactor Licensing covers commercial power plants, and Facility Design Licensing addresses design certifications. Environmental licensing ensures reviews meet National Environmental Policy Act requirements.
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The NRC licenses all commercially owned nuclear power plants that produce electricity in the United States.
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NRC licenses fuel cycle facilities that include uranium conversion, enrichment, fuel fabrication, and uranium hexafluoride (UF6) deconversion.
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Licensing information and links to completed applications.
Operator Licensing
Operator Licensing covers NRC's requirements for individuals who operate or supervise the controls of a nuclear power or non-power reactor. The Licensing Process outlines steps to obtain a license, supported by Regulations & Guidelines and the License Application. Examination Schedule & Results tracks required written exams and operating tests. Tools & Resources and About Operator Licensing provide supporting materials for the roughly 3,600 licensed power reactor operators nationwide.
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The NRC licenses all individuals who either operate or supervise the operation of the controls of a commercially owned nuclear power reactor.
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Applicants must complete extensive training and pass rigorous examinations.
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The operator licensing examination schedule and the results of the initial operator licensing examinations are found below.
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The Electronic Submittals applications allow formal electronic transmission of information to the NRC pertaining to licensing actions, associated hearings, etc.
Materials Licensing
Materials Licensing covers NRC authorization to possess, use, and process nuclear materials outside of reactors. Radioactive Materials Licensing addresses medical, industrial, and academic uses, while By Product Materials Licensees covers a specific category of licensees using byproduct material. The Materials License Process outlines the steps an applicant follows to obtain, amend, renew, or transfer a materials license.
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NRC issues specific licenses for possession and use of byproduct, source, and special nuclear material.
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Resources for prospective applicants in the materials program areas overseen by the Division of Materials Safety, Security, State, and Tribal Programs.
Tools
The Tools section provides resources supporting the licensing process. The Web-Based Licensing System supports electronic submission of certain license applications, and the National Source Tracking System tracks specified categories of radioactive sources. Public Involvement in Licensing outlines how the public can participate in or comment on licensing proceedings, and Status of Applications lets users check where a pending application stands in NRC's review process.
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National Source Tracking System (NSTS). Secure NRC system that tracks high-risk radioactive sources through their life cycle.
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The public can become involved in the licensing of a facility and can make their views known to the Commission at various stages in the process.
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Web-Based Licensing (WBL). Online system within NRC's Integrated Source Management Portfolio for radioactive material licensing.