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Audit of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Qualification Programs

Report Information

Date Issued
Report Number
OIG-NRC-25-A-13
Report Type
Audit
Description
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) does not have an adequate process for managing, tracking, and monitoring staff qualification records. The OIG found that NRC offices use inconsistent information-gathering methods, driven by changes in management’s workforce planning and individual office preferences for using separate information systems. As a result, the NRC may face reduced efficiency in retrieving qualification records and may lack full visibility into staff qualification gaps─factors that could adversely impact the agency’s ability to carry out its mission.Additionally, the OIG found that refresher training is tracked informally, with many staff relying on personal reminders to complete mandatory requirements. This informal approach exists because the NRC lacks a structured, agency-wide system for managing refresher training. The absence of such a system could result in decreased staff productivity, non-compliance with safety and security requirements, and lower employee morale and retention. Refresher training is essential for maintaining up-to-date knowledge, skills, and safety practices, which are critical to ensuring that staff can perform their duties effectively and safely.This report makes three recommendations to improve the NRC’s process for managing, tracking, and monitoring its qualification programs.
Joint Report
No
Agency Wide
Yes (agency-wide)
Questioned Costs
$0
Funds for Better Use
$0
View report on Oversight.gov

Recommendations

The OIG recommends that the Executive Director for Operations establish policies, procedures, and a centralized information system to consistently manage, track, and monitor staff qualifications records.

Agency Response Dated January 14, 2026: The staff agrees with the recommendation. On August 11, 2025, the Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) published OCHCO Procedure 25-02-00, Governance for Qualification Program Development and Management. Its purpose is to establish a standardized governance framework for the<br />
development and management of qualifications programs across the Agency. The framework promotes a centralized and consistent approach for creating and managing qualification programs while preserving the ability for offices to customize their content. OCHCO announced this new policy to the agency and is currently working with the owners of the largest qualification programs (IMCs 1245, 1246, 1247, 1248, and ADM-504) to revise their program documents to a standard format and submit them under the centralized framework managed by OCHCO. To track records of qualification training in progress and completed, OCHCO is developing a system that will manage each employee’s qualification program assignments, monitor progress through required qualification elements, and automatically identify when<br />
post qualification training and refresher training is due to maintain qualified status. It will also track the review cycle for every qualification program, flagging when updates are required to keep program content current. These capabilities will strengthen consistency, accountability, and timeliness across the agency’s qualification programs.<br />
Target date for completion: Qualification assignments and tracking will be implemented by March 31, 2026. The system will initially include existing qualification programs and will be updated on a continuous basis as offices revise their programs to the standard format under the new OCHCO framework. OCHCO is currently working with the qualification<br />
program owners to implement revisions to the major qualification programs by September 30, 2026. <br />
OIG Analysis: The proposed actions described in the agency’s response meet the intent of this recommendation. The OIG will close this recommendation after reviewing and confirming that the qualification assignment and tracking system is in place and revisions to the major qualification programs have been implemented.

The OIG recommends that the Executive Director for Operations update inspection manual chapters and office instruction(s) addressing qualification programs to include guidance about reminding staff of required refresher training.

Agency Response Dated January 14, 2026: The staff agrees with the recommendation. Planned actions: As discussed in the response for Recommendation 1.1, the qualification program owners must revise and submit their written qualification program documents using the standard format outlined in OCHCO’s new Governance for Qualification Program Development and Management. Under the framework, all written qualification programs must include guidance for any Post-Qualification and Refresher Training requirements. Target date for completion: OCHCO is targeting September 30, 2026, for qualification program owner submittals of their revised written qualification programs that include post qualification and refresher training requirements. This target date applies to submittals for all five major qualification programs discussed in the response to Recommendation 1.1 above.<br />
OIG Analysis: The proposed actions described in the agency’s response meet the intent of this recommendation. The OIG will close this recommendation after reviewing and confirming that revisions to the major qualification programs have been implemented.

The OIG recommends that the Executive Director for Operations implement a centralized, automated information system to ensure compliance with mandatory refresher training requirements.

Agency Response Dated January 14, 2026: As discussed in the response to Recommendation 2.1, OCHCO will implement a centralized, automated information system that has specifically been designed to ensure ongoing compliance with refresher training requirements. The system will manage each employee’s qualification program assignments, monitor progress through required qualification elements, and automatically identify when post qualification and refresher training is due to maintain qualified status. Target date for completion: Qualification assignments and tracking will be implemented by March 31, 2026, including assignment of refresher training and any system-automated reminders that apply. Post-qualification and refresher training requirements will be updated in the system on an ongoing basis to ensure consistency with qualification program documentation updates discussed in response to recommendation 2.1.<br />
OIG Analysis: The proposed actions described in the agency’s response meet the intent of this recommendation. The OIG will close this recommendation after reviewing and confirming that the centralized, automated information system is<br />
implemented.