§ 53.795 Expiration and renewal of operator and senior operator licenses.

(a) Expiration. (1) Each operator license and senior operator license expires 6 years after the date of issuance, upon termination of employment with the facility licensee, or upon determination by the facility licensee that the licensed individual no longer needs to maintain a license. (2) If a licensee files an application for renewal or an upgrade of an existing license on NRC Form 398 at least 30 days before the expiration of the existing license, it does not expire until disposition of the application for renewal or for an upgraded license has been finally determined by the Commission. Filing by mail will be deemed to be complete at the time the application is postmarked (b) Renewal. (1) The applicant for renewal of an operator license or senior operator license must— (i) Complete and sign NRC Form 398 and include the number of the license for which renewal is sought. (ii) File an original of NRC Form 398 as specified in § 53.775. (iii) Provide written evidence of the applicant's experience under the existing license and the approximate number of hours that the licensee has operated the facility. (iv) Provide a statement by an authorized representative of the facility licensee that during the effective term of the current license the applicant has satisfactorily completed the requalification program for the facility for which operator or senior operator license renewal is sought. (v) Provide evidence that the applicant has discharged the license responsibilities competently and safely. The Commission may accept as evidence of the applicant's having met this requirement a certificate of an authorized representative of the facility licensee or holder of an authorization by which the licensee has been employed. (vi) Provide certification by the facility licensee of medical condition and general health on NRC Form 396, to comply with § 53.765. (2) The license will be renewed if the Commission finds that— (i) The medical condition and the general health of the licensee continue to be such as not to cause operational errors that endanger public health and safety. The Commission will base this finding upon the certification by the facility licensee as described in § 53.765(b). (ii) The licensee— (A) Is capable of continuing to competently and safely assume licensed duties; (B) Has successfully completed a requalification program that has been approved by the Commission as required by § 53.780(c); and (C) Has passed the requalification examinations as required by § 53.780(c). (iii) There is a continued need for an operator to operate or for a senior operator to supervise operators at the facility designated in the application. (iv) The past performance of the licensee has been satisfactory to the Commission. In making its finding, the Commission will include in its evaluation information such as notices of violations or letters of reprimand in the licensee's docket.