How to Prepare for a Job as a Nuclear Technician

Nuclear technicians have the potential to work in a variety of capacities from the medical field to working on nuclear submarines or particle accelerators. Recent developments offer promising job opportunities in the future since it looks like 4 to 8 additional nuclear power plants are scheduled to be completed by 2018 to meet rising power demand loads in the future. The medical industry also employees a considerable amount of personnel who are trained in the use of nuclear medicine. Regardless of the direction chosen, preparing for a job as a nuclear technician is essential in landing one of the well paying jobs that doesn't always require a four year degree.

Things You'll Need

• An associate degree at least in most cases

Instructions

1. Decide on your path so you can take classes to specialize and earn any associate degree or bachelor's degree required. The possibilities include:
   Navy career on a nuclear submarine
   Particle Accelerator employee
   Nuclear Medical Technician
   Nuclear Reactor Operators
   Radiographers
   Decontamination Workers
   Hot Cell Technicians

2. Research the educational or vocational requirements. Two year associate programs are offered at many colleges or vocational institutes in the field of nuclear medicine. More in depth four year degrees are also offered and required for some of the nuclear job fields. See the links below in the resources section for more comprehensive information on educational requirements.

3. Check out the college's job placement program. Many of them work directly with companies to fill job positions for new graduates. Sometimes community colleges work with local employers to design programs and certifications to fill local job needs. These are excellent opportunities for those willing to get the certification or degree program.

4. Become knowledgeable about the nature of the work. Each one of the nuclear technician job subsets requires different skills and job environments. Working as a radiographer in the medical fields will involve working directly with patients, doctors and nurses and calming patient's fears. Knowledge about medical terminology will be invaluable in this pursuit. If you decide to get nuclear training in the Navy, you might work in a nuclear submarine. The Navy has a culture of its own and it would be beneficial to interview others who are or have been in the Navy and ask them about their job prospects post-navy and the working conditions and opportunities in the military. Some of this research can be done online. Nuclear reactor operators work in power stations and monitor and oversee the nuclear fission reactions that produce electricity. Hot-cell techs, also called Irradiation Technician, use remote control equipment to conduct tests on radioactive materials.

5. Target the medical sub specialties to even improve your chances of landing a job quickly. The health career field is booming now. The fields are mammography, MRI, radiation therapy, sonography, fluoroscopy, CT Technician, diagnostic radiography along with nuclear medicine. Research the topic with the hottest need and determine the education and certification needed to get there.

Tips & Warnings

• Research your chosen field well before embarking on a new career

Resources

• Occupational Outlook Handbook: Science Technicians - Training
• Wikipedia: Radiology Technologist
• freefoto.com
• Where the Jobs Are: Nucleur Plant Work