NRC INSPECTION MANUAL FSME

MANUAL CHAPTER 1248

QUALIFICATION PROGRAMS FOR FEDERAL AND STATE MATERIALS AND 

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS
Issue Date: 04/19/13 i 1248

Contents

1248-01 PURPOSE............................................................................................................ 1

1248-02 OBJECTIVES ....................................................................................................... 1

1248-03 DEFINITIONS....................................................................................................... 1

03.01 Inspector, License Reviewer, Project Manager, or Technical Reviewer 

Qualification.......................................................................................................... 1

03.02 Candidate.. ........................................................................................................... 1

03.03 Category............................................................................................................... 1

03.04 Discipline.. ............................................................................................................ 1

03.05 Specialized Training Courses.. ............................................................................. 1

03.06 Individual Study Activity (ISA). .............................................................................. 1

03.07 On-the-Job Training (OJT).................................................................................... 2

03.08 Refresher Training.. .............................................................................................. 2

03.09 Qualification Journal.. ........................................................................................... 2

03.10 Qualification Board................................................................................................ 2

 03.11 Qualified Staff.. ..................................................................................................... 2

1248-04 RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITIES............................................................ 2

04.01 Chief Learning Officer (CLO) for Human Resources Training and Development, 

Office of Human Resources (or Designee)............................................................ 2

04.02 Director, Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management 

Programs (or Designee)........................................................................................ 2

04.03 Regional Administrator (or Designee).. ................................................................. 2

04.04 Directors, FSME and Regional Divisions (or Designee) ........................................ 2

04.05 Immediate Supervisor........................................................................................... 2

1248-05 BASIC REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................................... 3

1248-06 TRAINING ACTIVITIES ........................................................................................ 4

1248-07 QUALIFICATION JOURNAL COMPLETION......................................................... 4

1248-08 QUALIFICATION BOARD..................................................................................... 5

1248-09 INTERIM QUALIFICATIONS ................................................................................ 7

1248-10 PROGRAM REVISIONS....................................................................................... 7

1248-11 EXCEPTIONS....................................................................................................... 8

1248-12 REFRESHER TRAINING...................................................................................... 9

Attachment 1: Revision History for IMC 1248....................................................................Att 1-1
Issue Date: 04/19/13 1 1248

1248-01 PURPOSE

01.01 To define training and qualification requirements for staff under the Federal and State 

Materials and Environmental Management Programs (FSME) program areas.

01.02 To establish the requirements for maintaining qualification.

1248-02 OBJECTIVES

02.01 To ensure that staff under the FSME program areas meet minimum knowledge and 

qualification standards.

02.02 To provide standardized methodology for determining that staff under the FSME 

program area have met the minimum knowledge and qualification requirements.

1248-03 DEFINITIONS

03.01 Inspector, License Reviewer, Project Manager, or Technical Reviewer Qualification. The 

certification by the office director, regional administrator, or designee, the basis of which is a 

recommendation by the qualification board and/or division management. Inspector, license 

reviewer, project manager, and technical reviewer are general titles indicating that an individual 

has completed one of the “Qualification Journals” in the appendices to this Manual Chapter. As 

determined by division management, the qualification may have a more specific title, such as 

Materials License Reviewer, Decommissioning Inspector, Uranium Recovery Project Manager 

or Exempt Distribution License Reviewer. Completing a qualification allows staff members to be 

assigned the full scope of FSME program area activities in their specific discipline. The 

assigned tasks are performed independently with routine oversight and supervision. 

03.02 Candidate. A staff member who is working to complete one or more of the qualification 

journals in this Manual Chapter.

03.03 Category. An area or class of activity for which a license may be issued, such as 

uranium recovery, reactors, materials, and decommissioning.

03.04 Discipline. A specific qualification being sought by a candidate, such as Materials 

License Reviewer, Decommissioning Inspector and Uranium Recovery Inspector.

03.05 Specialized Training Courses. Additional training courses beyond those required. The 

candidate’s immediate supervisor determines additional training requirements depending on the 

candidate’s previous work experience and planned work activities.

03.06 Individual Study Activity (ISA). A training method candidates use to perform a self-study 

of certain topics in a specific discipline. 

03.07 On-the-job Training (OJT). A training method using structured hands-on activities to 

develop the required job-related knowledge and skills.
Issue Date: 04/19/13 2 1248

03.08 Refresher Training. Additional training required after qualification that allows a staff 

member to maintain a “qualified” status.

03.09 Qualification Journal. The document used by a candidate to record completion of the 

minimum training requirements for qualification in a discipline. The qualification journals are 

found in the appendices to this Manual Chapter. 

03.10 Qualification Board. A board established to assess the qualifications of a candidate to 

conduct the prescribed FSME program area activities. 

03.11 Qualified Staff. A staff member who has successfully completed a qualification journal 

from this Manual Chapter (or the predecessor Manual Chapter 1246) and who has been 

certified by the regional administrator, office director, or designee.

1248-04 RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITIES

04.01 Chief Learning Officer (CLO) for Human Resources Training and Development, Office of 

Human Resources (or Designee). Administers and implements the training programs for the 

FSME program areas. Provides the Human Resources Training and Development (HRTD) 

training courses described in the qualification journals found in the appendices to this Manual 

Chapter.

04.02 Director, Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management 

Programs (or Designee). Establishes the training requirements needed for staff under the 

FSME program areas to perform independent FSME program area activities. Ensures that 

appropriate headquarters candidates achieve qualification and qualified staff members maintain 

qualification in accordance with the guidelines provided in this Manual Chapter. Develops and 

implements qualification procedures for staff under the FSME program areas. Certifies that 

appropriate FSME staff is qualified under this Manual Chapter.

04.03 Regional Administrator (or Designee). Ensures that appropriate regional candidates 

achieve qualification and qualified staff members maintain qualification in accordance with the 

guidelines provided in this Manual Chapter. Develops and implements qualification procedures 

for regional staff as needed. Certifies that appropriate regional staff is qualified under this 

Manual Chapter.

04.04 Division Directors, FSME and Regional Divisions (or Designee). Assist the appropriate 

HRTD staff in developing, monitoring, and reviewing classroom training for the FSME 

qualification program. Identify and document in a candidate’s qualification journal specialized 

training courses necessary to supplement required training.

04.05 Immediate Supervisor. Ensure that candidates under their supervision complete 

required training and OJT. Determine if additional training or OJT is needed to adequately 

qualify the candidate. Ensures the candidate is prepared for evaluation by a qualification board. 

Assembles Qualification Board and arranges a date to hold the Qualification Board.
Issue Date: 04/19/13 3 1248

1248-05 BASIC REQUIREMENTS

Staff under the FSME program areas must understand the facilities, equipment, processes, and 

activities of the programs and/or projects they inspect, license, or manage, as well as the 

criteria, techniques, and mechanics of the specific discipline for which they are responsible. 

The qualification process provides candidates in all disciplines with sufficient information on 

appropriate technologies to allow candidates to carry out their responsibilities in accordance 

with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulations, policies, and procedures.

Candidates assigned to positions that require specific discipline qualifications must successfully 

complete the appropriate qualification journal(s) found in the appendices to this Manual 

Chapter. In addition to the requirements of this Manual Chapter, other training may be 

necessary to supplement or enhance the development of the candidate, as determined by the 

candidate’s immediate supervisor.

The qualification journal(s) in the appendices to this Manual Chapter specify the minimum 

qualification requirements for the specific disciplines in the FSME program areas. The 

immediate supervisor and/or division management may customize specific qualification journals 

to add other requirements, as appropriate. Before customizing a specific qualification journal, 

the candidate’s immediate supervisor must consider whether the change is needed for the 

candidate to perform her or his assigned function. Any customization must be documented to 

include the reason for the change. Division management will resolve any disagreement 

resulting from the customization of a qualification journal.

Upon completion of the training identified in the qualification journal, the qualification board 

evaluates the candidate’s understanding of the material. All qualification boards will be 

convened using the guidance in Section 1248-08.

In situations in which qualification is delayed as a result of the unavailability of required 

classroom training, or for other compelling reasons, the regional administrator, office director, or 

designee may provide the candidate written interim qualification under the provisions of 

Section 1248-09 for those categories in which the candidate is considered qualified. A 

candidate that changes disciplines must meet or complete the requirements for the new 

discipline. In such cases, the candidate need not repeat previous equivalent training 

requirements in common between the two disciplines. The new qualification journals shall 

indicate credit for similar training taken previously.

Special circumstances (e.g., budget reductions, delays in establishing replacement contracts, 

unavailability of critical instructors) may result in the temporary unavailability of courses required 

for qualification. In this case, the appropriate HRTD staff will communicate with the cognizant 

FSME or regional division managers explaining the situation. This does not remove the 

candidate’s requirement to attend the course(s). The candidate’s schedule will be adjusted, as 

appropriate, to allow and require the candidate to attend the required training when available. 

NRC Temporary Instructions (TIs) or Policies and Procedures (P&Ps) that focus on a specific 

discipline may require special training before personnel perform specific job functions. The 
Issue Date: 04/19/13 4 1248

FSME program division responsible for preparing the TIs or P&Ps shall identify these special 

training requirements and communicate the training needs to the appropriate HRTD staff, as 

necessary. The schedule for special training should allow enough time for the FSME division to 

prepare the required training course and implement it in coordination with HRTD before 

inspection or licensing is performed using the TIs or P&Ps.

Exemption from specific requirements may be granted in accordance with Section 1248-11 of 

this Manual Chapter.

1248-06 TRAINING ACTIVITIES

Candidates assigned to the FSME program areas must successfully complete the requirements 

they have been assigned in the qualification journal.

a. Written examinations for designated courses evaluate the candidate’s understanding of 

the material. 

b. Not all courses have examinations. In these cases, satisfactory course completion 

requires attendance and completion of class activities. For incomplete attendance, 

satisfactory course completion requires determination on a case-by-case basis in 

accordance with established HRTD policy.

c. Candidates or qualified staff taking training who fail examinations may be given the 

opportunity to review the material through self-study and may then be reexamined. If 

deemed desirable, candidates or qualified staff who do not complete the course, or who 

fail the course’s examination, may repeat the course in accordance with established 

HRTD policy. The staff member’s immediate supervisor and HRTD staff will determine 

whether the staff member can review the material through self-study and then retake the 

exam, if there is one associated with the course, or if the staff member must repeat the 

entire course.

d. HRTD staff will document the completion of classroom training in iLearn.

1248-07 QUALIFICATION JOURNAL COMPLETION

The qualification journals contain a detailed series of activities and study areas. The candidate 

will complete the activities in the qualification journals within a specific period, usually in the first 

2 years after the assignment. If candidates need more time to complete their qualification 

journal, division management may grant an extension. The justification and approval for the 

extension must be documented in the candidate’s training record.

Immediate supervisors may designate one or more qualified staff members to sign and certify 

the signature (qualification) cards for the training activities completed by the candidate. If no 

qualified staff members are available, senior staff members with expertise in a particular area 

can be utilized. Only a manager can certify completion of a qualification journal.
Issue Date: 04/19/13 5 1248

1248-08 QUALIFICATION BOARD

A candidate must be recommended by a qualification board and certified by a regional 

administrator, office director, or designee to be qualified. Alternatively, in accordance with 

Section 1248-11, this recommendation can be made by division management to the regional 

administrator, office director, or designee. This section describes the use of the qualification 

board. 

The qualification board evaluates how well a candidate can integrate and apply the 

specific qualification competencies to real-life scenarios. Upon completion of all 

requirements identified in the candidate’s qualification journals, a qualification board will 

be used to determine if the candidate has the necessary competencies to independently 

conduct the prescribed FSME program area responsibilities in the candidate’s specific 

discipline. A description of the competencies assessed by the qualification board is 

contained in the appendices to this Manual Chapter. It is the responsibility of the 

candidate and the candidate’s immediate supervisor that the candidate be ready for the 

board. The schedule for the board must be agreed to by the candidate, the candidate’s 

immediate supervisor, and the board members. 

1. Board Members. A qualification board consists of at least three (3) members and 

not more than five (5) members. The board should contain a cross-section of 

knowledgeable staff ranging from a peer with qualification in the discipline being 

sought by the candidate to a division director. Each board shall contain a member 

who is at least at the level of the candidate’s immediate supervisor. The board 

chairperson shall be at the level of the candidate’s immediate supervisor, as a 

minimum, but should not be the candidate’s immediate supervisor. Any 

disagreement with the membership of the qualification board will be resolved by 

division management.

2. Board Conduct.

(a) The board chairperson assigns topics for questioning to each of the board 

members to ensure that the questioning will address the training 

requirements in each of the appendices that require verification by the 

board. Prior to the qualification board, the board members should 

coordinate questions or scenarios to ensure the competencies are covered.

(b) Specific questions can be selected from those used during previous 

qualification boards or new questions can be written. Management has the 

flexibility to create and maintain a collection of qualification board 

questions. Each question must relate to at least one of the competencies 

to be verified by the board. Questions should be “open-ended” to allow and 

encourage the candidate to provide answers that demonstrate competency 

with NRC policy and philosophy, as they relate to the licensee, and to 

implementation of the FSME program areas. 
Issue Date: 04/19/13 6 1248

(c) Technical questions should be limited in number, pertain to the discipline in 

which qualification is being sought, and should not be the primary focus of 

the board’s assessment. Technically based scenarios and examples can 

be used to determine how well candidates can translate their technical 

knowledge into appropriate inspector actions; however, questioning merely 

to determine if a candidate can recall specific technical facts must be 

minimized.

(d) The board typically requires about 2 hours to complete its assessment. 

The time may vary based on the individual board and the candidate.

3. Board Recommendations. Each time the board examines a candidate, the board 

documents its assessment of the candidate in writing. 

(a) If the board’s assessment of the candidate is favorable, then the board will 

recommend granting the qualification. 

(b) If the board identifies minor areas of weakness that can be remediated by 

additional review, then the candidate will have a subsequent discussion

with the board chairperson or assigned member of the board, who will then 

recommend qualification. If the additional reviews (also called “look ups”) 

are not completed to the satisfaction of the board chairperson or assigned 

member of the board, the board will decide what additional work, if any, is 

required of the candidate before recommending qualification. 

(c) If the board has identified areas of weakness requiring more extensive 

remediation, then the board will identify the areas for improvement in writing 

and recommend that the candidate appear before another board for 

reexamination when the remediation activities are completed. The 

candidate, the board, and the candidate’s immediate supervisor will agree 

on a schedule for reexamination. 

(d) If the board has identified performance deficiencies that could not be 

successfully addressed with a remediation effort, then the board will 

document the full scope of the deficiencies and recommend that the 

candidate not be qualified.

4. Reexamination Board. A reexamination board must include at least one member 

from the original board. The board’s questioning during reexamination will focus 

on the area(s) of identified weakness. The board may explore any area in which 

weakness is identified during the conduct of the reexamination.

5. Board Documentation. The board will send its recommendation by memorandum 

to division management with the candidate, the candidate’s immediate supervisor, 

and division training coordinator on distribution. Division management will 

approve or disapprove of the board’s recommendation. 
Issue Date: 04/19/13 7 1248

6. If division management has been delegated the authority by the office director or 

regional administrator to certify qualification, division management will inform the 

candidate, the candidate’s immediate supervisor, and division training coordinator 

whether the candidate is qualified. If division management has not been 

delegated the authority by the office director or regional administrator to certify 

qualification, division management will forward the board’s recommendation and 

division management’s endorsement to the office director or regional administrator 

for review. If the candidate is determined to be qualified, a qualification certificate 

will be signed by the regional administrator, the office director, or their designee. 

The certificate will identify the effective date of the certification. This date 

determines when refresher training is due for each qualified staff member.

1248-09 INTERIM QUALIFICATIONS

A candidate who has not completed all of the requirements for final certification in his or her 

qualification program may obtain interim qualification to independently perform his or her 

specific work activities in the discipline for which prescribed training has been completed. The 

candidate’s immediate supervisor, in consultation with the qualified or senior staff assigned to 

work with the candidate, if used, will recommend whether to grant the candidate an interim 

qualification after evaluating the candidate’s body of work. The candidate’s immediate 

supervisor and qualified or senior staff assigned to work with the candidate, if used, will identify 

the categories for which interim qualification is appropriate. The candidate’s immediate 

supervisor will generate a request for interim qualification in the identified areas. The request 

shall be approved by the regional administrator, office director, or their designee. Approval of 

interim qualification will be documented and a record kept in the candidate’s training file. 

Additional interim qualifications can be obtained before full qualification and certification as skills 

improve and increase.

1248-10 PROGRAM REVISIONS

This chapter and qualification journals are periodically revised to reflect the training needs of 

candidates and staff already qualified as determined by changes to FSME program area

procedures. When new revisions are issued, personnel who qualified under previous 

requirements, including IMC-1246, shall remain qualified, but must complete any new required 

classroom training requirements in their discipline within 3 years from the date of the revision. 

Candidates in the process of qualifying when new revisions are issued will transition to and 

complete their qualification under the new program. Candidates will be given credit in the new 

program for activities completed under the old program. Waivers to specific new training 

requirements and extensions to the 3-year period can be granted using the procedures outlined 

in Section 1248-11.
Issue Date: 04/19/13 8 1248

1248-11 EXCEPTIONS

11.01 Candidates possessing sufficient knowledge to meet minimum requirements, through 

education and prior experience, may be waived from any and all requirements, including the 

qualification board. Requests for such exceptions must be made from the candidate’s

immediate supervisor by memorandum to division management. Such requests should 

consider the candidate’s ability to perform work activities without the benefit of the additional 

knowledge and regulatory perspective gained by completing the training requirements of the 

qualification journals. 

Division management will approve, disapprove, or approve and disapprove in part the 

immediate supervisor’s exception request and will inform the candidate, the candidate’s 

immediate supervisor, and division training coordinator. If the exception approval will result in 

the candidate becoming eligible for certification, and the office director or regional administrator 

has delegated authority for certification to division management, division management will 

inform the candidate, the candidate’s immediate supervisor, and division training coordinator 

whether the candidate is qualified. If the office director or regional administrator has not 

delegated division management the authority to certify qualification, division management will 

forward the board’s recommendation and division management’s endorsement to the office 

director or regional administrator for review. If the candidate is determined to be qualified, a 

qualification certificate should be signed by the regional administrator, the office director, or the 

designee. The certificate will identify the effective date of the certification.

11.02 Staff qualified for one discipline covered in this Manual Chapter need not duplicate 

qualification requirements that are common for another discipline. Justification for accepting 

previous experience and training to meet program requirements must be documented in the 

candidate’s training record. After completing the additional training required for the new 

discipline, the candidate may receive qualification without the need of a qualification board; 

however, the regional administrator, office director, or their designee has the right to require the 

candidate to have a qualification board if he or she believes the discipline currently qualified for 

is too different from the discipline qualification being requested. Requests for such an additional 

qualification must be made from the candidate's immediate supervisor by memorandum to 

division management. 

Division management will approve or disapprove the immediate supervisor’s recommendation 

and, if division management has been delegated the authority by the office director or regional 

administrator to certify qualification, division management will inform the candidate, the 

candidate’s immediate supervisor and division training coordinator whether the candidate is 

qualified. If division management has not been delegated the authority by the office director or 

regional administrator to certify qualification, division management will forward the immediate 

supervisor’s recommendation and division management’s endorsement to the office director or 

regional administrator for review. If the candidate is certified, the division training coordinator 

will create and issue a qualification certificate to be signed by the regional administrator, the 

office director, or the designee. The certificate will identify the effective date of the certification. 

This date determines when refresher training is due for each qualified staff member.
Issue Date: 04/19/13 9 1248

1248-12 REFRESHER TRAINING

Qualified personnel are expected to maintain their qualification by completing refresher training 

in the established requalification cycle. The specific refresher training requirements may be 

found in the appendices to this Manual Chapter. In accordance with Section 1248-11 of this 

Manual Chapter, the requirement for receiving refresher training can be waived under special 

circumstances by division management when it is concluded that the qualified individual does 

not require refresher training. 

Refresher training may consist of either health and safety or security topics. Examples of 

training that may be considered include: Health Physics Topics (H-401), NRC technical training 

courses, external training courses, directed self-study courses related to health and safety or 

security, or other training approved by the qualified staff member’s supervisor. Before taking 

refresher training, the qualified staff member should receive approval from his or her immediate 

supervisor to confirm that the training will be credited as refresher training. In making this 

decision, the immediate supervisor should take into consideration the objectives of the training 

and the qualified staff member’s specific training needs. If the supervisor is unsure if a specific 

training course is appropriate, he or she should consider consulting with HRTD staff for their 

analysis of the training.

END

Attachments:

Attachment 1: Revision History

Appendices:

Appendix A, Materials Health Physics License Reviewer Qualification Journal

Appendix B, Materials Health Physics Inspector Qualification Journal

Appendix C, Training Requirements and Qualification Journal for Materials Exempt 

Distribution License Reviewers

Appendix D, Training Requirements and Qualification Journal for Byproduct Material Sealed 

Source and Device Reviewers

Appendix E, Training Requirements and Qualification Journal for Division of Waste 

Management Inspectors and License Reviewers

Appendix F, Training Requirements and Qualification Journal for Decommissioning Inspectors

Appendix G, Training Requirements and Qualification Journal for Decommissioning Project 

Managers/Technical Reviewers

Appendix H, Training Requirements and Qualification Journal for Uranium Recovery

Inspectors

Appendix I, Training Requirements and Qualification Journal Uranium Project 

Managers/Technical Reviewers
Issue Date: 04/19/13 Att1-1 1248

Attachment 1

Revision History for IMC 1248

Commitment 

Tracking 

Number

Accession 

Number

Issue Date

Change Notice

Description of Change Description of 

Training Required 

and Completion Date

Comment and 

Feedback Resolution 

Accession Number

N/A ML12240A129

04/19/13

CN 13-011

This is the initial issuance of IMC 1248, which 

is being issued to remove FMSE training 

requirements and qualification journals from 

the IMC 1246 NMSS series.

n/a ML12240A129