Simulator Examinations (Generic Letter 81-29)

                                UNITED STATES
                        NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
                           WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555
                                     
                               August 7, 1981

TO ALL LICENSEES OF OPERATING PLANTS AND APPLICANTS FOR OPERATING LICENSES 
AND HOLDERS OF CONSTRUCTION PERMITS 

Gentlemen: 

Subject:  Simulator Examinations (Generic Letter 81-29) 

Item I.A.3.1 of NUREG-0737, Clarification of TMI Action Plan Requirements, 
stated that simulator examinations will be included as part of the licensing
examinations. The clarification involved a deferral of simulator examination
requirements until after October 1, 1981 (or prior to fuel load for 
operating license applicants). Further, it was indicated that simulator 
examinations should be scheduled consecutively with the balance of the 
examination but that an allowance of up to two weeks is acceptable for any 
scheduling differences. 

The staff requests that you furnish, within sixty (60) days of this letter, 
your schedule of exams for the remainder of calendar year 1981 and all of 
1982. Please include the number of candidates, their type (Operator or 
Senior Operator), the date of the simulator exam, the simulator which will 
be utilized, and the dates of the balance of the examinations. The schedule 
should be forwarded to P. F. Colline, Chief, Operator Licensing Branch, 
Division of Human Factors Safety. 

The staff also wishes to provide the following additional clarification and 
guidelines for the conduct of simulator exams: 

1.   Simulator exams will generally consist of two applicants and two 
     examiners. One applicant will assume a supervisory role. The exam will 
     last 2-3 hours and involve at-power manipulations and concurrent 
     malfunctions. 

2.   Plants without simulators may be granted waivers of the two-week 
     allowance in scheduling simulator and plant examinations on a case-by-
     case basis, providing sufficient justification exists. 

3.   Applicants for a senior license, who hold a valid operator's license, 
     will be required to take a simulator exam. 

4.   Simulators used for an examination must be NSSS specific. 
.

                                     -2-

This request for information was approved by OMB under a blanket clearance 
number 3150-0071 which expires December 31, 1982. Comments on burden and 
duplication may be directed to the Office of Management and Budget, Reports 
Management Room 3208, New Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20503.


                              Darrell G. Eisenhut, Director 
                              Division of Licensing 
                              Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation