Glossary
Nuclear Reactor Operator Terms & Vocabulary
15 essential nuclear reactor operator terms with plain-English definitions: the vocabulary you’ll hear in training and on day one.
Key nuclear reactor operator vocabulary
These 15 terms come up constantly in nuclear reactor operator training, on the job and in interviews. Knowing them helps you follow instructions, document accurately and sound prepared.
- ALARA
- As low as reasonably achievable radiation dose.
- Containment
- The structure enclosing the reactor.
- Control rods
- Rods that absorb neutrons to control power.
- Coolant
- Fluid that removes heat from the core.
- Criticality
- A steady chain reaction.
- Decay heat
- Heat produced after shutdown.
- Fission
- Splitting atoms to release energy.
- Fitness for duty
- Rules on alertness and substances.
- Limiting condition for operation
- A required equipment status.
- Reactor core
- Where fission occurs.
- Requalification
- Ongoing training and exams.
- Scram
- Rapid reactor shutdown.
- Simulator
- A control room replica for training.
- Surveillance test
- A required test of equipment.
- Technical specifications
- Required operating limits.
Practice these terms
Test yourself with the free Nuclear Reactor Operator practice test: it includes vocabulary questions built from this list. For a complete course, see Nuclear Reactor Operator training.
Browse terms from every career in our career glossary.