NANTeL -- National Academy of Nuclear Training e-Learning
The National Academy of Nuclear Training is the training branch of INPO (not a bunch of INPO retirees.) They took over the handling of what was the Northeast Utilities exam after NEU (who never really planned on their test being used nationwide) stopped supporting it for others. INPO saw the test as something good to screen contract technicians for fundamental knowledge (not skill) of their craft and decided it needed to be available for plants to use, so they took over the 'care and feeding' part.
It is up to the utilities to use it or show INPO that they are doing something equivalent for knowledge level assessment. Skill assessment is not covered and is the responsibility of each utility (or plant) to assess as they see fit. For some this is just a resume check, for others it can be an oral board.
The practical value of the knowledge tested by the exam is debatable, but it does show (to a point) how much effort someone has put into knowing the craft that pays their bills. Unfortunately, for most rent-a-techs, that means effort on their own time... house techs get initial and continuing training and get paid for it. I would rather work with a technician that can pass the test than one that can't, but I would much rather work with a tech whose SKILLS I can trust than one who can just pass the knowledge part.
As far as skills, that is up to each plant. If a plant has had troubles with technician skills, there will probably be more stringent requirements... if not, it is a resume check and go. Personally I like the former situation since I am not worried about my own skills and would like to know that I don't have to worry about the guy I am relieving, either. I am sure that if there are enough problems, INPO will 'guide' the industry to a more standardized skills assessment, too. That may or may not be a good thing, but I would not hate to see it.
Whether you like INPO or not, it has done some good for the industry (and some not so good, IMHO.) Either way, it is not going anywhere... the alternative is closer oversight by the NRC which is something the utilities definitely do not want.