Licensed plant operators undergo 18 months of initial training, including classroom study and hands-on simulator experience before they can take a comprehensive examination to earn an individual operator's license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
Every reactor operator at our nuclear power plants must then pass comprehensive testing to earn a license from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
Once licensed, nuclear operators spend one week out of every six weeks in training and simulator exercises throughout their entire careers, logging more training hours than airline pilots.
Reactor operators must complete rigorous exams and testing to renew their NRC licenses every two years.