NU Exam

[perdeim]

 How does everyone like the new rules for the Nu exam on  the Nantel system ? its all  computerized now. Seems you can only take this test 2 times per year , not at each site, 2 times period . It seems not really about the Nu exam , but more about Nantel any test you take Rad worker etc. 2 times .

[Brett LaVigne]

The exam is ridiculous in my opinion. The first time you take it may be valid as a test of knowledge about our field, taking it every 2 or 3 years makes no sense, the material has not changed. If you go to school and receive a degree in basket weaving and in turn get a job as a master basket weaver, do you have to go back and take a test to prove that you have an education in basket weaving every 2 or 3 years? Practical exams like the one at DC Cook have much more merit in my opinion, you are tested on job knowledge in a practical setting to put the plant at ease with your ability to perform HP stuff. I can deal with that.

What does this NUE test prove? My wife is not in this industry, far from it. She is smart. Smarter than I am for sure but...I could spend a few days with her on the subject of nuclear physics and she would probably pass the NUE on the first attempt. Does that make her a Sr. HP tech? Not even. I could also spend several weeks with her on the practical aspects of being a Sr. HP in the field and she would most likely not stand a chance of passing the practical exam at DC Cook...

It is also a source of irritation with me that people coming up through the ranks receive no organized training at all. We receive no continuous training at all...ever. The business of being a rent-a-tech is incredibly unprofessional and disorganized.

So, to your question of the test being on NANTEL...It sucks just like the paper version, maybe more.

Bitter...table for one

Love my job, just hate the lack of industry support for the profession.

[RAD-GHOST]

AGREE!

RG

[B.PRESGROVE]

That is the one thing that you will have to give about DOE, they are extremely organized when it came to getting requald.  Every two years I knew I had an exam, practical, and oral board.  Yah it was mundane and never changed, but you knew what was coming and was able to prepare for it.  It would seem that commercial would want to adopt some sort of common proving ground industry wide in order to set a standard for all techs, house and rent.

[remowil55]

How does everyone like the new rules for the Nu exam on  the Nantel system ? its all  computerized now. Seems you can only take this test 2 times per year , not at each site, 2 times period . It seems not really about the Nu exam , but more about Nantel any test you take Rad worker etc. 2 times .
[/quote
Let's be honest here. It sucks!! This is one of the latest, "will do's," from the worst organizations that has ever wormed it's way into the Nuclear Industry. INPO. I bet if the truth was know Nantel is owned by a bunch of ex washed up INPO personnel and with there contacts sold this to INPO and INPO has told the Nuke Plants, "YOU will do this," It and INPO needs to go. It you look at the credits on the study material guess who's name is at the top. Gollnick !!! In my opinion he believes that everyone has a Phd. in this business, or should have. Wonder when the last time he was in a real plant swingin a meter.

[RDTroja]

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.