ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
Latest Magazine Issues
May 2026
Jan 2026
2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
June 2026
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Getting back to yes: A local perspective on decommissioning, restart, and responsibility
For 45 years, Duane Arnold Energy Center operated in Linn County, Ia., near the town of Palo and just northwest of Cedar Rapids. The facility, owned by NextEra Energy, was the only nuclear power plant in the state.
In August 2020, a historic derecho swept across eastern Iowa with winds approaching 140 miles per hour. Damage to the plant’s cooling towers accelerated a shutdown that had already been planned, and the facility entered decommissioning soon after, with its fuel removed in October of that year. Iowa’s only nuclear plant had gone off line.
Today the national energy landscape looks very different than it did just six short years ago. Electricity demand is rising rapidly as data centers, artificial intelligence infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and electrification expand across the country. Reliable, carbon-free baseload power has become increasingly valuable. In that context, Linn County has approved the rezoning necessary to support the recommissioning and restart of Duane Arnold and is actively supporting NextEra’s efforts to secure the remaining state and federal approvals.
The CNP exam is offered three times per year, in spring, summer, and fall. Your application and exam fees are due when you submit your application. Any candidate found ineligible at the time of application will forfeit $125 of the application fee; the balance of the application fee will then be refunded.
Summer 2026
Applications Open: Monday, May 18, 2026
Application Deadline: Thursday, July 2, 2026
Testing Period: Tuesday, July 28 - Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Fall 2026
Applications Open: Monday, September 14, 2026
Application Deadline: Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Testing Period: Wednesday, November 18 - Wednesday, December 16, 2026
The review period for applications is 7-14 business days. After you application is approved, you will receive an email notification from ANS, followed by an email from PearsonVUE with information about scheduling your exam appointment. To schedule your exam, visit the Pearson VUE website and either sign in or create a new account.
Go To Pearson VUE
How to Schedule Your Exam Appointment
The system will take you to the scheduling portal and show you the examinations for which you are eligible. Based on your address or using a location that you enter into the system, Pearson will show the closest three centers to you. You can change the range of centers by changing the search at the top of the screen. You may select up to three test centers to see availability at the testing centers.
The available dates and times are presented; please select the preferred test center, along with a date/time using the calendar screen. If no appointments are available at a center during the time you are authorized, you will need to pick a different center.
Once you select a date/time, you will be presented with information about your appointment. Please review the details before you confirm your appointment.
Once confirmed, you will receive a final confirmation screen and an email with the exam details, test center location, directions to the test center, and testing policies. Making additional changes after confirmation may result in additional fees.
How to Reschedule Your Exam Appointment
Requests for rescheduling an examination appointment to a different date within the same testing period must be submitted directly to Pearson VUE through the scheduling web link listed on your Exam Appointment (EA) email.
If you reschedule at least 72 hours before your appointment and use the Pearson VUE online portal, there is no fee. If you do not use the online portal for rescheduling, you will be charged a $125 rescheduling fee. Rescheduling is not permitted after the 72-hour cut-off point.
How to Transfer Your Exam Appointment to a Different Testing Period
Requests for transferring an examination appointment to a different testing period must be submitted by following the instructions provided by Pearson VUE testing service. All transfers of examinations to a different period are subject to a $125 transfer fee.
Failure to keep an appointment or cancelling an appointment without the appropriate notice (fewer than two weeks before the scheduled appointment) will result in forfeiture of all applicable exam fees.
You may transfer your exam to the next testing period up to two times. Upon transferring your exam, you are no longer eligible for a refund and will forfeit all applicable exam fees should you decide to cancel your exam after it has been transferred to a later testing period. If you wish to transfer your examination further than two testing periods from the original application, you must submit for a cancellation and refund and resubmit a new application.
It is strongly recommended that you familiarize yourself with the testing center location and parking facilities before the day of your exam so that you arrive at the testing center stress-free and on time.