Operator Licensing Examiner Standards for Research and Test Reactors - Draft Report for Comment (NUREG-1478, Revision 3)

This publication has been issued for public comment. Comments will be accepted until February 6, 2023. To submit comments, please see Docket ID Number NRC-2023-0034.

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Publication Information

Manuscript Completed: April 2025
Date Published: July 2025

Prepared by: Michele DeSouza

Division of Policy and Rulemaking
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555-0001

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Purpose and Format

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) publishes NUREG-1478, "Operator Licensing Examiner Standards for Research and Test Reactors," to establish the procedures and practices for administration of operator licensing examinations for reactor operator and senior reactor operator licenses at non-power reactor facilities in accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 55, "Operators’ Licenses."

The NRC intends these examiner standards (ESs) to ensure the equitable and consistent administration of examinations for all applicants and licensed operators at non-power reactor facilities. As stated in 10 CFR 55.40, "Implementation," paragraph (d), "[t]he Commission shall use the criteria in NUREG-1478 … for all test and research reactors to prepare, proctor, and grade the written examinations required by [10 CFR] 55.41 and [10 CFR] 55.43 and the operating tests required by [10 CFR] 55.45 for non-power reactor facility licensees."

The NRC is issuing Revision 3 of NUREG-1478 for the ESs to (1) introduce electronic systems and technology, (2) include changes to the 10 CFR Part 55 regulations since Revision 2, (3) correct grading criteria for accuracy, and (4) reorganize the ESs into topic-based sections for ease of use.