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Nuclear Power Plant Technician / Operator Prep

11 courses · 3,600 clock hours · 12–24 mo full-time. Grading is competency-based: each course requires the written exam, a competent skills demonstration with zero safety faults, a signed log, and a passed safety audit; percentage weights only rank performance above the competency floor.

11courses
3,600hours
39assessments
BLD-NUCL84-01 Universal core

Universal Core: Safety, Math, Communication & Career

148 hr

Shared first block for every VoTechWorks program. OSHA 10 (30 for construction management), first aid/CPR/AED, applied trade math and measurement, technical reading and writing, digital literacy, and career readiness. Completed before students enter the shop and live-work site unsupervised.

Outcomes
AssessmentTypeWeightPass standardMethod & rubric
OSHA 10 and first-aid written examsWritten exam25%OSHA card issued; CPR/AED card issuedAuthorized outreach trainer exam plus AHA/Red Cross skills check.
Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism
Applied math & measurement examWritten exam25%70%Timed exam: conversions, layout math, estimating from a drawing or recipe/order.
Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism
Technical reportProject25%Rubric ≥ 3 of 4 on every criterionA written report on a real task from the trade: problem, standard, method, result.
Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism
Employer panel interviewOral / panel25%Panel passResume, 3-minute portfolio walk-through, and interview with two employer advisors.
Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism
BLD-NUCL84-02 Trade course

Reactor physics & thermodynamics

314 hr

Competency course in Reactor physics & thermodynamics for the Nuclear Power Plant Technician / Operator Prep program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the shop and live-work site, measured against the governing code and manufacturer specifications. Students build, install and inspect real work in Reactor physics & thermodynamics and keep a shop log signed off by the instructor.

Outcomes
AssessmentTypeWeightPass standardMethod & rubric
Reactor physics & thermodynamics: written examWritten exam25%75%Theory, terminology, standards and safety for Reactor physics & thermodynamics. Multiple choice plus short calculation/interpretation items drawn from the certification body's task list.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Reactor physics & thermodynamics: skills demonstrationSkills demonstration45%Competent on every critical step; zero safety faultsObserved, timed performance of the core tasks of Reactor physics & thermodynamics against a checklist. A critical-step miss or a safety fault stops the assessment; re-attempt after remediation.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Reactor physics & thermodynamics: shop logLog15%Complete, signed, ≥ 90% attendance of lab hoursDaily entries: task, standard, method, result, time; instructor sign-off. Serves as hours evidence for the licensing/certifying body.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Reactor physics & thermodynamics: safety auditSafety audit15%Pass/fail — must passUnannounced audit of PPE, housekeeping, lockout/guarding, and hazard communication while performing Reactor physics & thermodynamics work.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
BLD-NUCL84-03 Trade course

Plant systems

313 hr

Competency course in plant systems for the Nuclear Power Plant Technician / Operator Prep program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the shop and live-work site, measured against the governing code and manufacturer specifications. Students build, install and inspect real work in plant systems and keep a shop log signed off by the instructor.

Outcomes
AssessmentTypeWeightPass standardMethod & rubric
Plant systems: written examWritten exam25%75%Theory, terminology, standards and safety for plant systems. Multiple choice plus short calculation/interpretation items drawn from the certification body's task list.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Plant systems: skills demonstrationSkills demonstration45%Competent on every critical step; zero safety faultsObserved, timed performance of the core tasks of plant systems against a checklist. A critical-step miss or a safety fault stops the assessment; re-attempt after remediation.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Plant systems: shop logLog15%Complete, signed, ≥ 90% attendance of lab hoursDaily entries: task, standard, method, result, time; instructor sign-off. Serves as hours evidence for the licensing/certifying body.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Plant systems: safety auditSafety audit15%Pass/fail — must passUnannounced audit of PPE, housekeeping, lockout/guarding, and hazard communication while performing plant systems work.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
BLD-NUCL84-04 Trade course

Instrumentation & control

313 hr

Competency course in instrumentation & control for the Nuclear Power Plant Technician / Operator Prep program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the shop and live-work site, measured against the governing code and manufacturer specifications. Students build, install and inspect real work in instrumentation & control and keep a shop log signed off by the instructor.

Outcomes
AssessmentTypeWeightPass standardMethod & rubric
Instrumentation & control: written examWritten exam25%75%Theory, terminology, standards and safety for instrumentation & control. Multiple choice plus short calculation/interpretation items drawn from the certification body's task list.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Instrumentation & control: skills demonstrationSkills demonstration45%Competent on every critical step; zero safety faultsObserved, timed performance of the core tasks of instrumentation & control against a checklist. A critical-step miss or a safety fault stops the assessment; re-attempt after remediation.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Instrumentation & control: shop logLog15%Complete, signed, ≥ 90% attendance of lab hoursDaily entries: task, standard, method, result, time; instructor sign-off. Serves as hours evidence for the licensing/certifying body.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Instrumentation & control: safety auditSafety audit15%Pass/fail — must passUnannounced audit of PPE, housekeeping, lockout/guarding, and hazard communication while performing instrumentation & control work.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
BLD-NUCL84-05 Trade course

Radiation protection & dosimetry

313 hr

Competency course in radiation protection & dosimetry for the Nuclear Power Plant Technician / Operator Prep program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the shop and live-work site, measured against the governing code and manufacturer specifications. Students build, install and inspect real work in radiation protection & dosimetry and keep a shop log signed off by the instructor.

Outcomes
AssessmentTypeWeightPass standardMethod & rubric
Radiation protection & dosimetry: written examWritten exam25%75%Theory, terminology, standards and safety for radiation protection & dosimetry. Multiple choice plus short calculation/interpretation items drawn from the certification body's task list.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Radiation protection & dosimetry: skills demonstrationSkills demonstration45%Competent on every critical step; zero safety faultsObserved, timed performance of the core tasks of radiation protection & dosimetry against a checklist. A critical-step miss or a safety fault stops the assessment; re-attempt after remediation.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Radiation protection & dosimetry: shop logLog15%Complete, signed, ≥ 90% attendance of lab hoursDaily entries: task, standard, method, result, time; instructor sign-off. Serves as hours evidence for the licensing/certifying body.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Radiation protection & dosimetry: safety auditSafety audit15%Pass/fail — must passUnannounced audit of PPE, housekeeping, lockout/guarding, and hazard communication while performing radiation protection & dosimetry work.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
BLD-NUCL84-06 Trade course

NRC regulations & safety culture

313 hr

Competency course in NRC regulations & safety culture for the Nuclear Power Plant Technician / Operator Prep program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the shop and live-work site, measured against the governing code and manufacturer specifications. Students build, install and inspect real work in NRC regulations & safety culture and keep a shop log signed off by the instructor.

Outcomes
AssessmentTypeWeightPass standardMethod & rubric
NRC regulations & safety culture: written examWritten exam25%75%Theory, terminology, standards and safety for NRC regulations & safety culture. Multiple choice plus short calculation/interpretation items drawn from the certification body's task list.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
NRC regulations & safety culture: skills demonstrationSkills demonstration45%Competent on every critical step; zero safety faultsObserved, timed performance of the core tasks of NRC regulations & safety culture against a checklist. A critical-step miss or a safety fault stops the assessment; re-attempt after remediation.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
NRC regulations & safety culture: shop logLog15%Complete, signed, ≥ 90% attendance of lab hoursDaily entries: task, standard, method, result, time; instructor sign-off. Serves as hours evidence for the licensing/certifying body.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
NRC regulations & safety culture: safety auditSafety audit15%Pass/fail — must passUnannounced audit of PPE, housekeeping, lockout/guarding, and hazard communication while performing NRC regulations & safety culture work.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
BLD-NUCL84-07 Trade course

Simulator training

313 hr

Competency course in simulator training for the Nuclear Power Plant Technician / Operator Prep program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the shop and live-work site, measured against the governing code and manufacturer specifications. Students build, install and inspect real work in simulator training and keep a shop log signed off by the instructor.

Outcomes
AssessmentTypeWeightPass standardMethod & rubric
Simulator training: written examWritten exam25%75%Theory, terminology, standards and safety for simulator training. Multiple choice plus short calculation/interpretation items drawn from the certification body's task list.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Simulator training: skills demonstrationSkills demonstration45%Competent on every critical step; zero safety faultsObserved, timed performance of the core tasks of simulator training against a checklist. A critical-step miss or a safety fault stops the assessment; re-attempt after remediation.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Simulator training: shop logLog15%Complete, signed, ≥ 90% attendance of lab hoursDaily entries: task, standard, method, result, time; instructor sign-off. Serves as hours evidence for the licensing/certifying body.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Simulator training: safety auditSafety audit15%Pass/fail — must passUnannounced audit of PPE, housekeeping, lockout/guarding, and hazard communication while performing simulator training work.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
BLD-NUCL84-08 Trade course

Maintenance

313 hr

Competency course in maintenance for the Nuclear Power Plant Technician / Operator Prep program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the shop and live-work site, measured against the governing code and manufacturer specifications. Students build, install and inspect real work in maintenance and keep a shop log signed off by the instructor.

Outcomes
AssessmentTypeWeightPass standardMethod & rubric
Maintenance: written examWritten exam25%75%Theory, terminology, standards and safety for maintenance. Multiple choice plus short calculation/interpretation items drawn from the certification body's task list.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Maintenance: skills demonstrationSkills demonstration45%Competent on every critical step; zero safety faultsObserved, timed performance of the core tasks of maintenance against a checklist. A critical-step miss or a safety fault stops the assessment; re-attempt after remediation.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Maintenance: shop logLog15%Complete, signed, ≥ 90% attendance of lab hoursDaily entries: task, standard, method, result, time; instructor sign-off. Serves as hours evidence for the licensing/certifying body.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Maintenance: safety auditSafety audit15%Pass/fail — must passUnannounced audit of PPE, housekeeping, lockout/guarding, and hazard communication while performing maintenance work.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
BLD-NUCL84-09 Capstone

Capstone Project

432 hr

An integrated, assessed piece of real work that draws on every trade course in Nuclear Power Plant Technician / Operator Prep: planned, estimated, executed and documented by the student, reviewed by an employer advisor. Capstones are shown in the Student Yard or the Museum of VoTech where the work allows.

Outcomes
AssessmentTypeWeightPass standardMethod & rubric
Capstone: finished work + documentationProject60%Rubric ≥ 3 of 4 on every criterionEmployer advisor + instructor score the finished work against the specification, the estimate, and the documentation package.
Meets specification · Within estimate · Workmanship · Safety · Documentation
Capstone: portfolioPortfolio20%CompletePhotos/drawings/logs of every course skills demonstration plus the capstone, in the program portfolio format.
Completeness · Organization · Evidence quality
Capstone: defenseOral / panel20%Panel pass15-minute presentation and questions from the panel.
Explains decisions · Answers technical questions · Professional communication
BLD-NUCL84-10 Externship / clinical

Externship / Worksite Placement

648 hr

Supervised placement with an employer partner in Nuclear Power Plant Technician / Operator Prep work. Hours are logged against the certifying body's task list; the employer evaluates against the same rubric used in the shop.

Outcomes
AssessmentTypeWeightPass standardMethod & rubric
Employer evaluationSkills demonstration70%Satisfactory on every competencyMid-point and final evaluation by the site supervisor on the program competency list.
Competency · Safety · Attendance · Conduct · Initiative
Hours & task logLog30%Required hours complete and verifiedSigned log of hours and tasks; verified by the registrar for the board/certifying body.
Complete · Verified
BLD-NUCL84-11 Exam prep

Certification Exam Preparation

180 hr

Structured preparation for NRC Non-Licensed Operator Prep; NRC Reactor Operator (RO) License (utility-sponsored); NRRPT Radiation Protection Tech; NUCP Uniform Curriculum (NEI); OSHA 10: content review mapped to the exam blueprint, timed practice exams, practical-exam rehearsal, and registration/eligibility paperwork with the registrar.

Outcomes
AssessmentTypeWeightPass standardMethod & rubric
Mock certification exam (×2)Mock certification exam100%≥ 80% on bothFull-length timed mocks built from the certifying body's published blueprint; second attempt after targeted review.
Score · Time management
Program completion

External credential: NRC Non-Licensed Operator Prep; NRC Reactor Operator (RO) License (utility-sponsored); NRRPT Radiation Protection Tech; NUCP Uniform Curriculum (NEI); OSHA 10

The program completion credential(s). Sat at the school's authorized testing center or the body's test site; results recorded in the student record and reported in the annual outcomes report. Pass standard: Credential issued by the body.

Back to Nuclear Power Plant Technician / Operator Prep · How the school gets authority to award these credentials