The PAKS is conducted every six to eight years to ensure that the Nuclear PE exam continues to reflect current professional practice. The first and most important step of the PAKS is an online survey. The NCEES requires a cross section of engineers practicing in the nuclear field—including those working in industry, consulting, the public sector, and academia—to complete the survey to ensure the exam reflects diverse professional experience.
This online survey is estimated to take 20–40 minutes and is open to both licensed and nonlicensed nuclear engineers. It will be open until June 8. Click here to take it now.
The American Nuclear Society will award one professional development hour for completing the survey, which can be used to satisfy continuing education requirements.
More on PE licensure: ANS is involved in a variety of continually developing programs to support licensing and certification across the nuclear sector. While the Nuclear PE exam is administered by the NCEES, ANS offers a preparation module program and a detailed study guide for the exam.
ANS also has developed a number of its own professional development opportunities outside of the Nuclear PE exam. One such offering is the Certified Nuclear Professional (CNP) credential, which addresses the critical gap in accreditation for those in the nuclear workforce who do not hold four-year STEM degrees.
The Society also currently offers three certification courses: Licensing & Regulation, Nuclear 101, and Radioactive Waste Management, each of which seeks to teach the fundamentals of their respective focuses to students looking to expand their technical understanding.