This refers to all sub-professional level personnel who have scientific and technical training at an appreciable level beyond the 12th grade but less than the minimum educational requirement of the professional level. Technicians are trained persons who are broadly knowledgeable in such disciplines as mechanical, chemical, electrical or electronic technology, or who have specialized knowledge and capability in specific fields such as radiation protection, instrumentation, materials testing, quality control and process control.

A typical distribution of the technician-level workforce for a nuclear power programme might be approximately as shown in Fig. 6.2.