Nuclear engineers must earn at least a bachelor’s degree to secure an entry-level position. Some jobs require a master’s or special certifications. Aspiring nuclear engineering students should look for programs accredited by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET). ABET accreditation is crucial in ensuring a quality education that meets high standards. ABET accreditation may also be required for some graduate nuclear engineering programs, financial aid opportunities, and even future employers.
Students can earn ABET-accredited degrees online or on campus. Those who choose online nuclear engineering programs can usually satisfy hands-on, practical requirements within their home communities or through summer labs on campus.
Nuclear engineering bachelor’s programs provide the foundation students need to secure employment, become licensed, earn certifications, and continue to graduate school. Students can also choose to study in related fields before securing a graduate degree in nuclear engineering.
Students should seek programs that offer hands-on, collaborative learning, thus developing skills such as logical thinking, in-depth analysis, exceptional oral and written communication, problem-solving, and mathematics. Some colleges and universities offer combined five-year bachelor’s and master’s degrees, an accelerated option for students who can handle the workload, saving money and time.
Every nuclear engineering program establishes its own admissions criteria. Typically the more rigorous the program, the more elevated the requirements, such as more competitive GPAs, exams, and even admissions interviews with faculty. Here are some examples of typical admission requirements from actual nuclear engineering schools:
Bachelor’s programs in nuclear engineering usually offer various learning modes, including classroom, lab, and field-based learning. Most programs require students to fulfill general education requirement courses and core classes focusing on the field of nuclear engineering. Some typical courses in undergraduate nuclear engineering programs are:
Although a master’s degree is not necessarily required to enter the nuclear engineering field, it can broaden one’s access to job opportunities, especially in more advanced positions, academia, and management. Nuclear engineering master’s degree students often specialize in nuclear science and technology, nuclear fission technology, applied plasma physics, or radiation detection and application.
The following admission requirements are taken from real schools across the United States. Note that requirements can vary significantly from one program to the next. For example, some master’s programs only admit candidates who have a certain number of years of professional work experience in engineering, while others accept students right from bachelor’s programs:
Students earning master’s degrees in nuclear engineering complete a combination of core engineering coursework and electives that reflect their area of interest or formal concentration. Here are some examples of nuclear engineering master’s program courses:
Most nuclear engineers cannot practice independently without being licensed. According to the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), individual states set licensing requirements, which means they can vary. The Council advises students to examine licensing requirements in the state where they intend to secure a position as an engineer. Students can research state requirements through the NCEES.
Some states require nuclear engineering students and recent graduates to earn special Engineer in Training (EIT) or Engineer Intern (EI) licenses by passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam, which tests for a minimum level of competency in the engineering field chosen.
The FE exam verifies candidates have the foundational safety and engineering knowledge necessary to work in the field. The NCEES offers FE exams in several concentrations, and nuclear engineers can take the FE – Chemical Engineering or FE – Other Disciplines. According to NCEES official website, these exams explore knowledge in the following areas:
Undergraduate nuclear engineering curricula are often designed with FE exam requirements in mind. Students seeking licensure can usually find this information online or by contacting the academic department overseeing the program.
Nuclear engineering graduates who meet state practice requirements, including those related to EIT or EI licensing, can enter the engineering workforce, but only under the direction of a professional engineer (PE), as discussed below. Work and any practical experience completed in bachelor’s or master’s nuclear engineering programs can prepare new engineers to eventually become PEs themselves. Most board and professional certifications also require a certain number of years in the field.
Like a master’s degree in nuclear engineering, a professional engineering license is a voluntary but valuable credential. Professional engineers (PEs) typically enjoy higher earnings and advancement potential than non-credentialed peers. They can also complete a wider variety of tasks such as starting private businesses, managing major projects, mentoring EIT’s and EIs, serving the public directly, and bidding on government contracts.
Nuclear engineers must meet the following criteria to become licensed professional engineers:
This exam is designed for nuclear engineers who have gained a minimum of four years of post-graduate work experience. Some details about the exam are:
Engineers can prepare for the exam by reviewing the PE exam specifications, understanding scoring and reporting, studying the reference materials and supplied guide, and viewing the most up-to-date PE exam pass rates. Students are also encouraged to familiarize themselves with the designated state licensing board’s unique registration procedures before registering for a PE exam. According to NCEES official website, the PE Nuclear exam explores knowledge in the following areas:
Similar to the certification as a professional engineer, board and professional certifications are another way to advance a career in nuclear engineering. These focus on niche areas and demonstrate that a nuclear engineer is an expert in the field, whether on a broad or narrow scope. The following are the most common types of advanced certifications.
The American Board of Science in Nuclear Medicine (ABSNM) offers certifications in the following specialties: nuclear physics and instrumentation, radiopharmaceutical science; radiation protection; and molecular imaging. A certificate from the ABSNM validates that its holder has successfully completed the specific study and professional experience requirements, which the Board deems necessary to hold an adequate foundation in nuclear medicine science.
Candidates must pass an exam testifying to this ability and competence in the field. The following requirements are taken from the ABSNM examination and certification outlines.
Requirements for the Nuclear Medicine Physics and Instrumentation Specialty – Candidates must hold a master’s or a doctorate degree in physics, medical physics, engineering, applied mathematics, or other physical sciences from an accredited college or university; and two to three years of practical training and/or supervised experience in medical physics under qualifying supervision.
Requirements for the Radiopharmaceutical Science Specialty – Candidates must hold a master’s or a doctorate degree in physics, nuclear pharmacy, biological science, radiopharmaceutical science, chemistry, or other pharmaceutical science from an accredited college or university, and have three years of full-time practical training and/or experience in radiopharmaceutical science under the supervision of an authorized nuclear pharmacist.
Requirements for the Radiation Protection Specialty – Candidates must hold a master’s or a doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in physical science, engineering, health physics, or biological science with a minimum of 20 college credits in physical science, and have five or more years of professional experience in health physics including at least three years in applied health physics.
Requirements Molecular Imaging Specialty – Candidates must hold a master’s, a professional degree, or a doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in physics, medical physics, chemistry, biological sciences, engineering, applied mathematics, or other natural sciences, and have two to three years of full-time practical training and/or supervised experience in molecular imaging science under the supervision of an authorized nuclear medicine scientist or certified physician.
Several nuclear engineering schools offer graduate certificates or other certificates in the nuclear engineering field. These certifications may give nuclear engineers an edge when competing for jobs or advancements. Examples of some certificates include:
Prospective nuclear engineers may be interested in finding out potential earnings and job growth projections for the future. Fortunately for people seeking careers in this field, nuclear engineering is relatively lucrative and secure concerning future job opportunities.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS May 2021), nuclear engineers earn a mean annual salary of $121,760, with higher wages reaching upwards of $169,000 per year. States with the most positions for nuclear engineers are Virginia, New Mexico, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Idaho. In more precise terms, here’s a breakdown of national salary data in nuclear engineering:
United States (12,670 nuclear engineers employed): $121,760 average
Also, data from PayScale (August 2022)—a site for self-reported salaries—suggests that nuclear engineers with project management, systems engineering, and nuclear energy/nuclear power skills tend to earn more. In 2022, PayScale reported the average annual salary for nuclear engineers was $89,401. The lowest 10th percentile earned $66,000 or less, while the top 10th percentile earned $139,000 or more.
The BLS (2021) projected that nuclear engineering employment would decrease between 2020 and 2030—an expected loss of 1,500 jobs nationwide. Although positions in electric power generation are projected to decline, increases in the fields of research and development in engineering and scientific, management, and technical consulting services are expected.
Lastly, professional and educational nuclear engineering organizations support students and professionals throughout their careers. They provide career and training information, professional networking opportunities, continuing education courses, and more. Now-and-future nuclear engineers may find the following agencies helpful:
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