More details: ANS created the CNP credential to support both individuals and organizations in the field by addressing a critical gap in industry accreditation.
“When we looked at the industry as a whole, there were a lot of different credentials that require a really high level of education and a long number of years of experience in order to be eligible to even sit for the exam,” said Rebecca Steinman, senior manager of corporate licensing at Constellation and chair of the ANS President’s Special Committee on Certification, which created the CNP program.
As she explained, the largest component of the nuclear workforce is made up of thousands of people who don’t have four-year STEM degrees. So the CNP exam serves as a national benchmark for that currently underserved part of the industry, creating a pathway for the majority of the workforce to demonstrate their knowledge and skill sets.
In turn, the CNP credential also allows employers to know that a candidate has gone through a standard set of criteria and has a guaranteed level of relevant knowledge. This benefit is especially important considering the rapid growth of the nuclear industry. With many newcomers transferring into the sector from other fields or entering as new graduates of educational programs, a standardized benchmark is now more important than ever.
Eligibility requirements: The CNP credential is tailored to early- to mid-career professionals working across diverse areas in the sector, including nuclear operations, regulatory compliance, quality assurance, safety, and project management.
The following are eligibility criteria for the exam:
- A high-school diploma or a GED equivalent as a minimum.
- Demonstration of nuclear education or work experience:
- 2 years of nuclear on-the-job work experience or
- 80 hours of continuing professional education that is offered by any professional entity if the education is directly related to the domains covered by the CNP exam or
- 2 years of nuclear education at an associate-degree level or above.
- Alternative options to fulfill the nuclear education requirement include the following:
- A Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) license or Reactor Operator (RO) license.
- Completion of the U.S. Navy’s Nuclear Power School (enlisted or officer).
- Other forms of nuclear education or coursework will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
