Georgia Power said Monday that the first training class of operators for Plant Vogtle's Units 3 and 4 had passed the initial licensing exam, marking a significant milestone – albeit a preliminary one – for the operations of the plant where approximately 75 highly trained technicians will be on staff when the units go online.
Georgia Power called the achievement a milestone in the transition from the construction phase to the operations phase of the two reactors. In addition to the 75 highly trained operators, the new reactors will have a permanent attending workforce of more than 725 staff members, the company said.
The operators have passed the initial exam administered by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The testing included simulator operations, job performance measures and a written exam, all of which took three weeks. The next step, the company noted, included six months of preoperational testing required before receiving their licenses.
“Nearly four years have gone into training and preparation for this class with countless hours in the classroom and simulator, “ said Vogtle Units 3 and 4 site vice president Karen Fili, noting that the team in training is part of the technical personnel who will bring the two units through the inaugural criticality, the initial connection to the grid and other first-time milestones.