Protecting People and the EnvironmentUNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
April 4, 1989
TO: LICENSEES OF ALL POWER REACTORS AND APPLICANTS FOR A REACTOR
OPERATOR'S LICENSE UNDER 10 CFR PART 55
SUBJECT: PILOT TESTING OF THE FUNDAMENTALS EXAMINATION (Generic Letter 89-05)
This letter is to inform facility licensees and potential applicants under
10 CFR Part 55 that the NRC is offering a second pilot test of the
fundamentals examination for candidates for an NRC operator's license. During
this pilot test, examinations will be administered to candidates for a license
to operate both Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs) and Pressurized Water Reactors
(PWRs). The pilot test will be used to refine the development, administration,
and grading process for the fundamentals examination. Applicants who
participate in this pilot test and achieve a passing grade of 70 percent or a
higher percentage will receive a waiver under 10 CFR 55.47 of the applicable
section of the written examination that is required by 10 CFR 55.41 or 55.43.
The staff's review of the content of examinations prepared in accordance with
10 CFR Part 55 and the Examiner Standards 301 and 401 of NUREG-1021, "Operator
Licensing Examiner Standards," Revision 5, indicates that the subject matter
presented in some sections is generic to all BWRs or all PWRs. The subject
matter includes reactor theory, heat transfer, thermodynamics, fluid flow, and
component operations. The staff's review of current training programs
indicates that these topics are normally presented early in the operator and
senior operator training programs. Mastery of this fundamentals subject
matter is an important first step of training, which includes systems and
plant characteristics, on-the-job training, and simulator training.
In developing the fundamentals examination, the staff used subject matter
contained in the 291000 through 293000 series of the "Knowledge and Abilities
(K/A) Catalog for Nuclear Power Plant Operators: Boiling Water Reactors"
(NUREG-1123), and the 191000 through 193000 series of the "Knowledge and
Abilities (K/A) Catalog for Nuclear Power Plant Operators: Pressurized Water
Reactors" (NUREG-1122). The K/As provided the basis for the testing
objectives from which a bank of multiple choice questions has been developed
and screened for use in this examination. Each examination will contain
approximately 50 multiple choice questions and will require approximately 3
hours to complete. We plan to administer the pilot examinations at one
central location in each region. As the examinations will be graded by
machine, we expect to promulgate the test results within 10 days after the
administration of the examination.
Copies of the fundamentals examination test sheets will be returned to each
volunteer and facility training department for comment. The NRC staff will
summarize any comments received in a Commission paper. After reviewing this
summary, the Commission will evaluate a policy to require passing the
fundamentals examination as a prerequisite condition to applying for a license
to operate a nuclear power plant under 10 CFR 55.31.
8903300106
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The following conditions will apply to pilot testing of the fundamentals
examination:
- The Commission will waive the usual requirements under 10 CFR 55.31,
"Subpart D - Applications." Therefore, Form NRC-398 does not need to be
submitted.
- Volunteers should be enrolled in either a facility-sponsored reactor
operator or senior reactor operator training course.
- Volunteers who pass the fundamentals examination with a score of 70 percent
or a higher percentage will be granted a waiver under 10 CFR 55.47 of the
appropriate section (1 or 4) of the written examination.
- Volunteers who do not achieve a grade of 70 percent will subsequently be
able to take the entire regularly scheduled written examination at the site.
As a formal application under 10 CFR 55.31 is not required, the provisions of
10 CFR 55.35, "Re-applications," will not apply.
- Pilot testing of these examinations is planned for June 28, 1989. You will
be informed of the exact time, and location of the examinations within 60 days
after the date of this generic letter.
Candidates interested in participating in this program are requested to submit
the enclosed application to Mr. Kenneth E. Perkins, Chief, Operator Licensing
Branch, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555, with a copy to the appropriate Regional
Administrator. These applications must be received by April 21, 1989, to
ensure participation in these pilot tests. We appreciate your cooperation.
If you have any questions concerning this generic letter, please call Mr.
Perkins at (301) 492-1031.
This request is covered by Office of Management and Budget Clearance Number
3150-0090 which expires January 31, 1992. The estimated average burden is 2
hours per response. Comments on the accuracy of this estimate and suggestions
to reduce the burden may be directed to the Office of Management and Budget,
Paperwork Reduction Project (3150-0090), Room 3208, New Executive Office
Building, Washington, D.C. 20503, and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
Records and Reports Management Branch, Office of Information Resources
Management, Washington, D.C. 20555.
Sincerely,
Steven A. Varga, Acting
Associate Director for Projects
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Enclosure:
Application for Pilot Testing
of Fundamentals Examination
.
Enclosure
(GL 89-05)
I, , employed at the
(Name) (Station Name)
50- request participation in the Pilot Test Program of
(Facility Docket Number)
the Fundamentals Examination for an operator or a senior operator license. I
agree to the conditions outlined in GL-89-(05).
Applicant:
Date
Approved:
Training Department Manager Date