Nuclear Technician

On a nuclear technician apprenticeship course, you’ll help provide technical support to engineers and scientists in the nuclear industry.

As a nuclear technician, you will gain an excellent technical understanding of processes and procedures for day-to-day operational requirements in nuclear facilities.

You will apply that knowledge to carry out a wide range of technical, scientific, and engineering tasks to operate systems and equipment safely, efficiently, and environmentally sustainably while meeting the requirements.

You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team, taking responsibility for the quality of work done, demonstrating strong collaboration skills, and the ability to interact with people at all levels of an organisation in various ways.

Since this is a task-oriented profession, you will typically follow advice and instructions. Nuclear technicians provide the technical support engineers and technologists need to run their businesses effectively.

What you’ll learn

On a nuclear technician apprenticeship course, you’ll learn to:

• Work in a technical nuclear environment professionally and safely, knowing and encouraging personal responsibility for concepts such as Health, Safety, Radiation Protection, Environmental Protection, Quality, Security, Safeguards, and Risk Management.
• Use mathematical, technical, and scientific methods to provide suitable answers for nuclear applications.
• Accurately observe, record, and draw conclusions from data and experimental evidence under supervision and convey findings.
• Create technical reports that support business goals such as process and service optimisation and continuous improvement.
• Utilise information technology (IT) to carry out and support business operations such as communication, work coordination, task analysis, and problem resolution.
• Encourage and actively encourage the adoption of the workplace and organisational quality standards.
• Demonstrate decision-making abilities commensurate with the agreed-upon levels of responsibility.

Entry requirements

You’ll usually need:

• Five GCSEs, including English, maths and a science subject, and a minimum of 240 UCAS points.
• Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this before taking the end-point assessment.

Assessment methods

The End Point Assessment comprises two distinct assessment methods: 

• Written technical report
• Interview

Restrictions and requirements

You’ll need to:

• pass security checks

Duration, level, subjects and potential salary upon completion

Apprenticeship standard

More information about the Level 5 Nuclear Technician Apprenticeship standard can be found here.

Apprenticeship end point assessment

For more information about the End Point Assessment Process, please read the Institute of Apprenticeships’ information page.