Nuclear Technicians Occupation Details

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Nuclear Technicians

The main tasks and work activities of Nuclear Technicians are to monitor operational procedures in technical environments to ensure conformance to standards, measure radiation levels, inspect equipment to ensure proper functioning, communicate safety or hazard information to others. In general, for the Nuclear Technicians, operation Monitoring, monitoring, active Listening, critical Thinking and other 17 skills are required.

Nuclear Technicians Job Description
Education	Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Related Experience	Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Job Training	Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Example	These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, travel guides, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters, and medical assistants.

The following chart shows the education/training levels for Nuclear Technicians jobs. 27.15% of Nuclear Technicians have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 16.59% of Nuclear Technicians have Post-Secondary Certificate.

Less than a High School Diploma

0.00%

High School Diploma (or the equivalent)

27.15%

Post-Secondary Certificate

16.59%

Some College Courses

11.06%

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)

29.35%

Bachelor's Degree and Above

15.85%

Tasks and Work Activities of Nuclear Technicians

Follow policies and procedures for radiation workers to ensure personnel safety.
Submit computations to supervisors for review.
Calculate equipment operating factors, such as radiation times, dosages, temperatures, gamma intensities, or pressures, using standard formulas and conversion tables.
Perform testing, maintenance, repair, or upgrading of accelerator systems.
Warn maintenance workers of radiation hazards and direct workers to vacate hazardous areas.
Adjust controls of equipment to control particle beam movement, pulse rates, energy or intensity, or radiation, according to specifications.
Communicate with accelerator maintenance personnel to ensure readiness of support systems, such as vacuum, water cooling, or radio frequency power sources.
Collect air, water, gas or solid samples for testing to determine radioactivity levels or to ensure appropriate radioactive containment.
Decontaminate objects by cleaning them using soap or solvents or by abrading using brushes, buffing machines, or sandblasting machines.
Follow nuclear equipment operational policies and procedures that ensure environmental safety.
Identify and implement appropriate decontamination procedures, based on equipment and the size, nature, and type of contamination.
Measure the intensity and identify the types of radiation in work areas, equipment, or materials, using radiation detectors or other instruments.
Monitor nuclear reactor equipment performance to identify operational inefficiencies, hazards, or needs for maintenance or repair.
Prepare reports to communicate information such as contamination test results, decontamination results, or decontamination procedures.
Conduct surveillance testing to determine safety of nuclear equipment.
Test plant equipment to ensure it is operating properly.
Apply safety tags to equipment needing maintenance.
Modify, devise, or maintain nuclear equipment used in operations.
Monitor instruments, gauges, or recording devices under direction of nuclear experimenters.
Set control panel switches to route electric power from sources and direct particle beams through injector units.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Documenting/Recording InformationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeKeeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Controlling Machines and ProcessesUsing either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsUsing relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Processing InformationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Monitor operational procedures in technical environments to ensure conformance to standards.
Measure radiation levels.
Inspect equipment to ensure proper functioning.
Communicate safety or hazard information to others.
Train personnel in technical or scientific procedures.
Set up laboratory or field equipment.
Advise others on management of emergencies or hazardous situations or materials.
Record research or operational data.
Prepare biological samples for testing or analysis.
Collaborate on research activities with scientists or technical specialists.
Calibrate scientific or technical equipment.
Collect environmental data or samples.
Clean objects.
Identify sustainable business practices.
Prepare operational reports.
Analyze environmental data.
Inspect work sites to identify potential environmental or safety hazards.
Test mechanical systems to ensure proper functioning.
Maintain work equipment or machinery.
Maintain laboratory or technical equipment.

Skills and Abilities for Nuclear Technicians

Operation MonitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
Operation and ControlControlling operations of equipment or systems.
Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
InstructingTeaching others how to do something.
Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Learning StrategiesSelecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
MathematicsUsing mathematics to solve problems.
WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Quality Control AnalysisConducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Systems AnalysisDetermining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.

Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Perceptual SpeedThe ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Flexibility of ClosureThe ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Far VisionThe ability to see details at a distance.
Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Auditory AttentionThe ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
Hearing SensitivityThe ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Visual Color DiscriminationThe ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
Reaction TimeThe ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
Number FacilityThe ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.

Air compressorse.g. Air compressors
Respiratorse.g. Air purifying respirators
Respiratorse.g. Airline respirators
Gamma counterse.g. Area gamma monitors
Respiratorse.g. Atmosphere supplying respirators
Water purification equipmente.g. Condensate demineralizers
Radiation detectorse.g. Contamination probes
Nuclear reactor control rod systemse.g. Control rod drives
Cryostatse.g. Cryostats
Radiation detectorse.g. Digital ratemeters
Frequency analyzerse.g. Digital signal analyzers
Frequency analyzerse.g. Digital spectrum analyzers
Eddy current examination equipmente.g. Eddy current testing equipment
Diesel generatorse.g. Emergency diesel generators
Nuclear fuel rode.g. Fuel handling systems
Radiation detectorse.g. Gamma exit/entrance contamination monitors
Bridge cranese.g. Gantry cranes
Hot cell remote viewing devicee.g. Hot cell remote viewing devices
Leak testing equipmente.g. Leak detection equipment
Level sensors or transmitterse.g. Level transmitters

Public Safety and SecurityKnowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
MechanicalKnowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
PhysicsKnowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
Engineering and TechnologyKnowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Education and TrainingKnowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
ChemistryKnowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Computers and ElectronicsKnowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Law and GovernmentKnowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

Nuclear Technicians Occupation Detailed Description

Tasks and Work Activities of Nuclear Technicians

Skills and Abilities for Nuclear Technicians