This publication has been issued for public comment. Comments will be accepted until November 9, 2026. To submit comments, please see Docket ID Number NRC-2025-1138.
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Publication Information
Manuscript Completed: August 2026
Date Published: September 2026
Prepared by:
M. Scheetz
T. Buchanan
J. Correll
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555-0001
Abstract
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) publishes NUREG-1021, “Operator Licensing 2 Examination Standards for Power Reactors,” to establish the policies, procedures, and practices for examining licensees and applicants for reactor operator and senior reactor operator licenses at power reactor facilities. These standards are in accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 55, “Operators’ licenses.” The agency intends these examination standards to help NRC examiners and facility licensees better understand the processes associated with initial and NRC-conducted requalification examinations. The standards also ensure the consistent administration of examinations for all applicants. The purpose of the standards is stated in 10 CFR 55.40, “Implementation”:
The Commission shall use the criteria in NUREG-1021…in effect six months before the examination date…to prepare the written examinations required by [10 CFR] 55.41 and [10 CFR] 55.43 and the operating tests required by [10 CFR] 55.45. The Commission shall also use the criteria in NUREG-1021…to evaluate the written examinations and operating tests prepared by power reactor facility licensees pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section.