A candidate must have a first-rate technical education in order to become a nuclear power engineer. For entry into the field, a bachelor’s degree is required, and many positions require advanced post-graduate work. A nuclear engineering program is typically used to obtain this education. Some training programs, such as those used by the US Navy to train its personnel, may not require a nuclear engineering degree, but they will require formal training in a similarly demanding technical field.
Nuclear power engineers are in charge of making critical decisions about the design and operation of nuclear reactors that generate electricity. They keep track of the status of nuclear reactors, design key reactor systems, and oversee procedures that ensure reactors operate safely. Because even minor errors in judgment or planning can have disastrous consequences, the nature of this work necessitates a high level of skill and professional training. As a result, training programs ensure that only the most qualified candidates can work as nuclear power engineers.
The standard educational requirement for becoming a nuclear power engineer is a bachelor’s degree in engineering from an accredited university. This degree covers the fundamentals of physics and mathematics needed to comprehend nuclear power generation. It also includes practical training, as do most engineering degrees. This training focuses on the specific technologies used in modern nuclear reactor systems in this case.
For more advanced positions in the field of nuclear power engineering, a graduate degree may be required. A master’s degree is typically required to work as a nuclear power engineer in charge of the oversight or design of entire reactor complexes. Continuing education is an important part of this field, and many companies provide financial assistance and incentives to successful employees to make the process of obtaining continuing education and advanced degrees easier. Typically, such programs are designed to allow for the gradual completion of graduate coursework while maintaining normal job responsibilities.
Modified training programs are available from the US Navy and a few other large employers of engineers. Candidates for these programs must have a strong technical background as well as excellent academic credentials. The Navy or another large institution may then offer directed instruction to a suitable candidate to formally complete his training as a nuclear power engineer. This training is usually just as rigorous as that obtained through an engineering degree. It is simply made available through various channels.