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: April 2026
Date Published: September 2026
Prepared by: Michele DeSouza
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555-0001
Abstract
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 consistent administration of examinations for all applicants and licensed operators at non-power reactor facilities. As stated in 10 CFR 55.40, “Implementation,” paragraph (a), “[t]he Commission shall use the criteria in … NUREG-1478 … in effect six months before the examination date … to prepare the written examinations required by [10 CFR] 55.41 and 55.43 and the operating tests required by [10 12 CFR] 55.45. The Commission shall also use the criteria in … NUREG-1478 … to evaluate the written examinations and operating tests prepared by facility licensees pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section.”
The NRC is issuing Revision 3 of NUREG-1478 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.