Nuclear Technicians
The occupation Nuclear Technicians covers people who assist nuclear physicists, nuclear engineers, or other scientists in laboratory, power generation, or electricity production activities. O*NET rates it as medium preparation, which usually means one or two years of vocational training, an apprenticeship or an associate’s degree. It leans on operations monitoring, monitoring, and reading comprehension. A regular part of the work is to follow nuclear equipment operational policies and procedures that ensure environmental safety. Interest ratings put Realistic on top at 5.8 out of 7 and Conventional second, so the code is RCI and the day leans toward hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world. It tends to suit people who want hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world, and it offers little for anyone seeking creative work with room for original expression.
What they do
Assist nuclear physicists, nuclear engineers, or other scientists in laboratory, power generation, or electricity production activities. May operate, maintain, or provide quality control for nuclear testing and research equipment. May monitor radiation.
Main tasks
- Follow nuclear equipment operational policies and procedures that ensure environmental safety.
- Conduct surveillance testing to determine safety of nuclear equipment.
- Monitor nuclear reactor equipment performance to identify operational inefficiencies, hazards, or needs for maintenance or repair.
- Test plant equipment to ensure it is operating properly.
- Apply safety tags to equipment needing maintenance.
- Follow policies and procedures for radiation workers to ensure personnel safety.
Skills
- Operations Monitoring
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Quality Control Analysis
Who this career fits
May suit you if
- You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
- You like clear rules and getting the details right.
- You are willing to put in a year or two of focused training.
- You are comfortable relying on operations monitoring and monitoring.
May not suit you if
- You would rather stay away from physical, hands-on tasks.
- You need creative expression to be a big part of your day. Artistic rates 1.0 out of 7 here.
- You need to start within a few months, with no training period.
Interest profile
O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code RCI takes the three highest, and Realistic comes first here.
Preparation
Medium preparation. Expect vocational school, an apprenticeship, related experience or an associate’s degree, usually one or two years in total.
Also called
- Auxiliary Operator
- Equipment Operator
- Licensed Nuclear Operator
- Non-Licensed Nuclear Equipment Operator (NLO)
- Non-Licensed Nuclear Plant Operator (NLO)
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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.