Three key institutions unite to develop a Tennessee nuclear workforce talent pipeline
With 230 operating nuclear companies in Tennessee, the state's flagship university, Roane State Community College, and the Tennessee College of Applied Technology are working to develop a nuclear talent pipeline.
Between the 230 existing nuclear companies operating in Tennessee and the planned development of several new ones over the next decade, the nuclear workforce is at the forefront of community builders’ concerns.
A new partnership between the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK), Roane State Community College (RSCC), and the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) could address these concerns by transforming how students prepare for and advance in the nuclear workforce. The key partners spearheading this effort are Wes Hines, Chancellor’s Professor Emeritus in UT’s Tickle College of Engineering, Joseph Stainback IV, the Program Director for Nuclear Technology at RSCC, Christopher Ayers, the President of TCAT Harriman, and Teresa Duncan, the Vice President of Workforce Development at RSCC and the newly appointed Tennessee Board of Regents Lead Strategist for nuclear workforce development.
The collaboration will feature two pilot programs: one that’s 15 hours (aimed at students) and another that’s 30 hours (aimed at career professionals). The program contains academic rigor and practical training that is designed to meet students and professionals at different points in their careers.
The team at Roane State designed both of the curricula, with input from UTK and RSCC.
15-Hour Training
The three-day 15-hour course introduces students to nuclear energy through lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on experiments. The program is taught at four TCAT campuses. The program also partners with UT and the American Museum of Science and Energy (AMSE), which provides a portable lab that simulates real-world experiences, allowing students to explore radiation, shielding, safety protocols, and the proper containment and transport of radioactive materials.
“We’re teaching students to speak the language of nuclear,” Stainback said. “One of our [TCAT] graduates, a welder, was able to explain her nuclear training in an interview and land the job. That’s what success looks like.”
More than 100 TCAT students have already completed the program. While most participants are still finishing their primary studies, 11 are already employed in the nuclear industry, with more expected to join the workforce in 2026.
A defining feature of the initiative is its stackable credential system, which allows students and professionals to move seamlessly from technical training to college degrees and beyond. A TCAT machining student, for example, can add nuclear safety training through the 15-hour course, pursue Roane State’s associate’s degree in nuclear technology, and later transfer credits toward a UT engineering or policy program.
30-Hour Training
The weeklong 30-hour program is designed for working professionals wanting to transition into nuclear energy careers or advance within the industry. Taught by Stainback along with subject matter experts from Kairos Power and UT, the program is held at Roane State and combines campus lectures and lab work in Roane State’s Nuclear Technology Lab, a state-of-the-art facility equipped with radiation sources, detection instruments, and a reactor simulator donated by UT.
“Our long-term goal is to make sure every student and professional understands there’s a future for them in nuclear. These are jobs that matter — jobs that will be here for decades,” Duncan said.
Read more about the partnership on the UT website.
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