Personnel Certification
Canadian nuclear facilities must have qualified personnel to carry out operations according to the Nuclear Safety and Control Act and its regulations, and as reflected in the licence conditions.
Key safety-related positions at nuclear facilities must have personnel who have been certified by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) as being qualified, trained and capable of performing their duties.
The CNSC certifies the following workers:
- nuclear power plant personnel
- non-power reactor personnel
- exposure device operators
Nuclear facilities can apply for CNSC certification of key power plant or non-power reactor personnel after demonstrating that they meet the necessary qualifications, have successfully completed the relevant training and have passed the certification examinations, as stated in their licences. Exposure device operator candidates must apply directly to the CNSC.
Nuclear power plant personnel certification
Nuclear power plant operating licences state that the positions of senior health physicists, reactor operators and shift supervisors require personnel who have CNSC certification. The licences also contain details about the qualifications and specific training these personnel must have before taking CNSC certification examinations.
The CNSC has established and implemented training and examination program requirements for the certification of nuclear power plant personnel which are fully managed by nuclear power plant licensees. For more information, please see Certification of Persons Working at Nuclear Power Plants (RD-204) (PDF).
Non-power reactor personnel certification
Non-power and research reactor operating licences state, when applicable, that the jobs of health physicists, reactor operators and shift supervisors require personnel who have CNSC certification.
Exposure device operators
The Nuclear Substance and Radiation Devices Regulations state that industrial radiography licensees can only permit CNSC-certified personnel and supervised trainees to use exposure devices containing nuclear substances. Exposure device operator candidates must apply directly to the CNSC.
For information on how to become a Certified Exposure Device Operator, or on how to order a replacement CEDO certificate, please see Exposure Device Operators apply directly to the CNSC.