How Do I Start a Career in the Nuclear Energy Industry?
This guide was developed to help prospective employees understand the typical application process and
provide guidance on which education and training programs provide typical avenues into the nuclear
energy industry.
Things You Should Know About Nuclear Energy Careers
Working at a Nuclear Energy Facility is Safe!
The nation’s nuclear power plants are among the safest and most secure industrial facilities in the United
States. Multiple layers of physical security, together with high levels of operational performance, protect
plant workers, the public and the environment.
You should want a career in Nuclear Energy!
Careers in nuclear energy offer challenging work with above-average and highly competitive salaries and
benefits. Every work day is unique, with opportunities to resolve problems and improve processes.
Opportunities are available in individual or team environments. Creativity and responsibility are rewarded
with career advancement and professional development.
The nuclear energy industry is experiencing a surge of retirements because of an aging work force.
Nuclear energy companies are building new nuclear power plants in the United States and worldwide.
These companies are looking to hire new workers to handle their expanded activities, and to replace
retirees.
Careers in nuclear energy also offer the opportunity to do well by doing good. How? Nuclear energy
professionals produce 20 percent of America’s electricity in a cost efficient and reliable way without
emitting greenhouse gases. It’s a win-win: good for you and good for the environment.
Here is How You Apply
Job opportunities at nuclear power plants and nuclear energy facilities are available around the country.
You must apply for vacancies via each nuclear energy company’s recruiting website. The Nuclear Energy
Institute maintains an online jobs board of many nuclear companies’ recruiting websites:
www.nei.org/careersandeducation/helpforyourjobsearch/onlinejobboards
Nuclear Energy Facility Access Authorization Requirements
Pre-Employment Background Investigations
Nuclear energy facilities must be kept safe and secure at all times. Therefore, the nuclear energy industry
is legally required to perform comprehensive background screenings of all potential employees to
establish that they are trustworthy and reliable before granting them unescorted access to facilities.
Background checks include a thorough review of an applicant’s employment, education, criminal,
military and credit history. Minor infractions like traffic violations and misdemeanors may not preclude
applicants from receiving employment as long as all of this information is fully disclosed on the personal
history questionnaire.
Applicants must also submit to psychological, drug and alcohol testing. These are routine assessments for
all nuclear energy employees.
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Pre-Employment Examinations
Many nuclear energy companies require entry-level personnel to pass pre-employment aptitude
examinations. These examinations help determine who will be successful in each company’s training
program. Applicants should refer to each company’s recruitment website for additional information about
required pre-employment aptitude examinations.
Post-Employment Background Investigations
All employees will be monitored for impaired performance. If hired, all employees will be required to
participate in periodic, random drug and alcohol testing.
Nuclear Education & Training Opportunities
Preparing for a Nuclear Energy Career
College graduates, retired military and union apprentices or journeymen are some of the typical paths into
nuclear energy careers. The education and training provided by these types of organizations can be highly
sought after by the nuclear energy industry.
The nuclear energy industry hires people with as little as a high school diploma through those with
doctorates. The industry looks for skills and knowledge applicable to nuclear energy.
Associate’s Degrees
People looking to become non-licensed operators, radiation protection technicians and maintenance
personnel can obtain a nuclear energy technology degree from the community colleges and trade
associations listed on page 4. These programs are a part of the industry-sponsored Nuclear Uniform
Curriculum Program. Graduates of these programs are eligible to receive a nationally recognized, portable
credential which corresponds to the industry’s required initial training program.
Undergraduate or Graduate Degrees
People looking to become nuclear engineers or health physicists can attend one of the schools listed on
page 5. Nuclear utilities generally hire college graduates with bachelor degrees while nuclear vendors
prefer candidates with graduate degrees.
Contrary to popular belief, the majority of engineers employed in the nuclear energy industry are nonnuclear engineers. The industry has a high demand for mechanical, electrical, civil and chemical
engineers who have an understanding of power systems. Engineering students looking to increase their
marketability in the nuclear energy industry can obtain a minor or certificate in nuclear engineering from
the universities listed on page 6.
Military Service
U.S. military personnel are a targeted population to fill entry-level and mid-career engineering,
technician, operator and security positions. Veterans from all branches of the U.S. military should
consider applying for vacancies. The industry is especially interested in graduates of the U.S. Navy’s
nuclear propulsion program since the nuclear fundamentals and components education graduates receive
is directly applicable to careers at nuclear power plants.
Apprenticeships
Many operators, technicians and maintenance personnel are represented by a union. The International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Sheet Metal Workers International Association, International
Brotherhood of Boilermakers, International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and
Reinforcing Iron Workers, United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters and the Union Millwrights all
participate in the Nuclear Mechanic Apprenticeship Program (NMAP). NMAP documents the training
provided to apprentices from these unions and aligns it to the required training at nuclear power plants.
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Nuclear Energy Training and Education Financial Support
Many people cannot afford to pay for their training and education in these difficult economic times, but
there are a variety of options to help reduce the financial burden.
Learn As You Earn
Both unions and the military employ a learn-as-you-earn model. Union apprentices receive classroom and
on-the-job training while receiving a paycheck. Completion of these programs makes applicants highly
marketable to nuclear energy companies.
Scholarships & Fellowships
There are many national scholarship and fellowship opportunities available to people looking to study
fields related to nuclear energy. More information can be found on the websites of the organizations that
sponsor these opportunities:
 Industry Scholarships & Fellowships
www.nei.org/careersandeducation/educationandresources/scholarships/industryschlrflw/
 American Nuclear Society Scholarships & Fellowships
www.new.ans.org/honors/scholarships
 Nuclear Regulatory Commission Scholarships & Fellowships
www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/grants.html#sf
 Department of Energy Scholarships & Fellowships
www.neup.gov
Prospective students should ask colleges and universities about opportunities that exist at each education
institution.
Frequently Asked Questions
I’m not a nuclear engineer. Is there a job for me in the nuclear energy industry?
Yes. It is a common myth that nuclear power plants only employ nuclear engineers. The industry needs
all kinds of engineers, technicians, craft workers and other professionals in positions ranging from entrylevel to mid-career and those with military training and service.
I passed a drug and alcohol screening test during my previous job. Do I need to take these tests
again?
Yes. Nuclear energy employees are required to pass drug and alcohol screenings. Everyone should expect
to have to take these tests before starting full time employment as well as periodically through their
career.
I’ve been accepted into a nuclear energy or nuclear technology program, but I don’t have any
money to pay the tuition. Is there a scholarship available for someone like me?
Yes. The American Nuclear Society has an incoming freshman scholarship that students can apply for.
Please note that the application deadline for this scholarship is in the early spring.
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Community Colleges & Trade Schools
Nuclear Energy Technology Associates Degree Programs
Alabama
Wallace Community College
www.wallace.edu
Arizona
Estrella Mountain Community
College
www.estrellamountain.edu
Michigan
Lake Michigan Community
College
www.lakemichigancollege.edu
Monroe County Community
College
www.monroeccc.edu
California
Miracosta College
www.miracosta.edu
Minnesota
Dakota County Technical College
www.dctc.edu
Connecticut
Three Rivers Community College
www.trcc.commnet.edu
St. Cloud Technical College
www.sctc.edu
Florida
Indian River State College
www.ircc.edu
Miami Dade College
www.mdc.edu
Georgia
Augusta Technical College
www.augustatech.edu
Idaho
ESTEC/Idaho State University
www.isu.edu
Kentucky
West Kentucky Community &
Technical College
www.westkentucky.kctcs.edu
Maryland
College of Southern Maryland
www.csmd.edu
Onondaga Community College
www.sunyocc.edu
Spartanburg Technical College
www.sccsc.edu
Westchester Community College
www.sunywcc.edu
Tennessee
Chattanooga State Community
College
www.chattanoogastate.edu
North Carolina
Gaston College
www.gaston.edu
North Dakota
Bismarck State College
www.bismarckstate.edu
Ohio
Lakeland Community College
www.Lakelandcc.edu
Missouri
Linn State Technical College
www.linnstate.edu
Pennsylvania
Luzerne County Community
College
www.luzerne.edu
Nebraska
Metropolitan Community College
www.mccneb.edu
Southeast Community College
www.southeast.edu
South Carolina
Aiken Technical College
www.atc.edu
New Jersey
Salem Community College
www.salemcc.edu
Florence Darlington Technical
College
www.fdtc.edu
New Mexico
New Mexico Junior College
www.nmjc.edu
Midlands Technical College
www.midlandstech.edu
Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical
College
www.octech.edu
New York
Excelsior College
www.excelsior.edu
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Texas
Brazosport College
www.brazosport.edu
Texas State Technical College
www.tstc.edu
Wharton County Junior College
www.wcjc.edu
Washington
Columbia Basin College
www.columbiabasin.edu
Wisconsin
Lakeshore Technical College
www.gotoltc.edu
Nuclear Engineering & Health Physics
Undergraduate and Graduate Programs
California
University of California-Berkeley
www.berkeley.edu
Maryland
University of Maryland
www.umd.edu
Colorado
Air Force Institute of Technology
www.afit.edu
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Institute of
Technology
www.mit.edu
Florida
University of Florida
www.ufl.edu
Georgia
Georgia Institute of Technology
www.gatech.edu
Idaho
Idaho State University
www.isu.edu
Illinois
University of Illinois
www.illinois.edu
Indiana
Purdue University
www.purdue.edu
Kansas
Kansas State University
www.k-state.edu
Maine
University of Maine
www.umaine.edu
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
www.rpi.edu
North Carolina
North Carolina State University
www.ncsu.edu
Ohio
Ohio State University
www.osu.edu
University of Massachusetts,
Lowell
www.uml.edu
Oregon
University of Oregon
www.oregonstate.edu
Michigan
University of Michigan
www.umich.edu
Missouri
Missouri University of Science &
Technology
www.mst.edu
University of Missouri
www.missouri.edu
New Mexico
University of New Mexico
www.unm.edu
New York
Excelsior College
www.excelsior.edu
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University of Texas
www.utexas.edu
University of North Texas
www.unt.edu
Utah
University of Utah
www.utah.edu
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania State University
www.psu.edu
Virginia
Virginia Commonwealth
University
www.vcu.edu
South Carolina
South Carolina State University
www.scsu.edu
Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin
www.wisc.edu
Tennessee
University of Tennessee
www.utk.edu
Nevada
University of Nevada
go.unlv.edu
Texas
Texas A&M University
www.tamu.edu
Nuclear Engineering
Undergraduate Minor & Graduate Certificate Programs
Alabama
Auburn University
www.auburn.edu/
Arizona
Arizona State University
www.asu.edu/
California
UC Berkeley
www.berkeley.edu
Idaho
Idaho State University
www.isu.edu
Indiana
Purdue University
www.purdue.edu
Iowa
Iowa State University
www.iastate.edu
Kansas
Kansas State University
www.k-state.edu
Louisiana
Louisiana State University
www.lsu.edu
Maryland
University of Maryland
www.umd.edu
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Institute of
Technology
www.mit.edu
University of Pittsburgh
www.pitt.edu
Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island
www.uri.edu
University of Massachusetts
Lowell
www.uml.edu
South Carolina
South Carolina State University
www.scsu.edu
Missouri
University of Missouri
www.missouri.edu
South Dakota
South Dakota State University
www.sdstate.edu/
New Mexico
University of New Mexico
www.unm.edu
Tennessee
University of Tennessee
www.utk.edu
New York
Polytechnic Institute of New York
University
www.poly.edu
Texas
Texas A&M University
www.tamu.edu
North Carolina
North Carolina State University
www.ncsu.edu
Texas Tech University
www.ttu.edu/
Ohio
Ohio State University
www.osu.edu
University of Texas
www.utexas.edu
Utah
University of Utah
www.utah.edu
Pennsylvania
Drexel University
www.drexel.edu
Virginia
Virginia Commonwealth
University
www.vcu.edu
Lehigh University
www4.lehigh.edu
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