Table 1Transition record

nuclear engineertonuclear reactor operator

A nuclear engineer already meets 67% of what the nuclear reactor operator role asks for. The move turns on 7 required skills not yet in the profile.

From nuclear engineer

67%

Overlap1

To nuclear reactor operator

27 Skills carried over

7 Required, not held

38.8 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 38.8

This move: 38.8 of 100 · moderate

1 Share of the nuclear reactor operator role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the nuclear engineer profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 27 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A nuclear reactor operator role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a nuclear engineer background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held maintain nuclear reactors working with machinery and specialised equipment
already held nuclear reprocessing engineering, manufacturing and construction
already held ensure equipment cooling working with machinery and specialised equipment
already held design strategies for nuclear emergencies management skills
already held nuclear physics natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
already held monitor radiation levels information skills

All 27 carried skills, including the 18 the nuclear reactor operator role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 17 missing skills fall into 10 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 engineering, manufacturing and construction 2 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held electricity required
required, not held hydraulics required

optional, not held maintenance operations optional

02 working with computers 2 required

required, not held operate computerised control systems required
required, not held use remote control equipment required

03 assisting and caring 1 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held avoid contamination required

optional, not held follow safety precautions in work practices optional

04 working with machinery and specialised equipment 1 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held monitor automated machines required

optional, not held respond to electrical power contingencies optional

05 natural sciences, mathematics and statistics 1 required

required, not held pneumatics required

06 communication, collaboration and creativity 3 supplementary

optional, not held instruct employees on radiation protection optional
optional, not held liaise with engineers optional
optional, not held manage emergency evacuation plans optional

4 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a nuclear reactor operator role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 27 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held automation technology knowledge
already held contamination exposure regulations knowledge
already held ensure compliance with environmental legislation skill
already held ensure compliance with radiation protection regulations skill
already held ensure equipment cooling skill
already held follow nuclear plant safety precautions skill
already held maintain nuclear reactors skill
already held mechanical engineering knowledge
already held metrology knowledge
already held monitor nuclear power plant systems skill
already held monitor radiation levels skill
already held nuclear energy knowledge
already held radiation protection knowledge
already held radioactive contamination knowledge
already held resolve equipment malfunctions skill
already held respond to nuclear emergencies skill
already held technical drawings knowledge
already held thermodynamics knowledge
already held calculate exposure to radiation skill
already held design strategies for nuclear emergencies skill
already held electric generators knowledge
already held electrical power safety regulations knowledge
already held nuclear physics knowledge
already held nuclear reprocessing knowledge
already held perform risk analysis skill
already held test safety strategies skill
already held wear appropriate protective gear skill

The 4 learning areas not shown above

Skill to acquire Tier

07 constructing 1 supplementary

optional, not held monitor electric generators optional

08 information skills 1 supplementary

optional, not held ensure compliance with electricity distribution schedule optional

09 management skills 1 supplementary

optional, not held plan maintenance activities optional

10 services 1 supplementary

optional, not held protective safety equipment optional

10 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held monitor electric generators optional
optional, not held protective safety equipment optional
optional, not held respond to electrical power contingencies optional
optional, not held ensure compliance with electricity distribution schedule optional
optional, not held follow safety precautions in work practices optional
optional, not held instruct employees on radiation protection optional
optional, not held liaise with engineers optional
optional, not held maintenance operations optional
optional, not held manage emergency evacuation plans optional
optional, not held plan maintenance activities optional

18 held skills the nuclear reactor operator role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role adjust engineering designs skill
not needed by the target role approve engineering design skill
not needed by the target role calibrate precision instrument skill
not needed by the target role civil engineering knowledge
not needed by the target role design automation components skill
not needed by the target role design power plant systems skill
not needed by the target role develop radiation protection strategies skill
not needed by the target role develop strategies for electricity contingencies skill
not needed by the target role electricity consumption knowledge
not needed by the target role engineering principles knowledge
not needed by the target role engineering processes knowledge
not needed by the target role ensure compliance with safety legislation skill
not needed by the target role mechanics knowledge
not needed by the target role mining, construction and civil engineering machinery products knowledge
not needed by the target role nuclear legislation knowledge
not needed by the target role perform scientific research skill
not needed by the target role safety engineering knowledge
not needed by the target role use technical drawing software skill

5 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held electricity required
required, not held hydraulics required
required, not held pneumatics required
optional, not held protective safety equipment optional
optional, not held maintenance operations optional

Index

Other moves recorded from nuclear engineer

Full index of moves from nuclear engineer

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.