Key data
| Regulation | Instruction IS-11, revision 2, of the Nuclear Safety Council |
|---|---|
| BOE Publication | April 9, 2026 |
| Entry into force | February 23, 2026 |
| Affected parties | Operating personnel of nuclear power plants and companies holding nuclear facility licenses |
| Category | Energy / Nuclear Safety |
| Issuing body | Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) |
| International references | IAEA and WENRA standards |
Spanish nuclear power plants face an immediate internal review obligation: Instruction IS-11 revision 2, issued by the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN), updates as of February 23, 2026 the rules governing licenses for all operating personnel. Operators, supervisors and shift supervisors must comply with the new criteria to maintain their authorization. Facility operators that do not adapt their programs face direct consequences to their operational capacity.
The instruction responds to the evolution of international standards from the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) and WENRA (Western European Nuclear Regulators Association), as well as to the accumulated operational experience in Spanish nuclear facilities.
What does this regulation establish?
IS-11 revision 2 defines the complete regulatory framework for the granting, renewal and revocation of licenses for nuclear power plant operating personnel. The areas it regulates are as follows:
| Regulated area | Content |
|---|---|
| Technical training | Updated training requirements that operators, supervisors and shift supervisors must demonstrate |
| Practical experience | Experience criteria required for obtaining and renewing licenses |
| Evaluation | Evaluation procedures that license candidates must pass |
| Qualification programs | Possible changes in the internal qualification programs of the facilities |
| Psychophysical fitness | Psychophysical fitness criteria required for operating personnel |
| Internal certification | Internal certification processes that power plants must adapt to the regulator's new criteria |
The instruction covers three types of administrative decisions regarding licenses: their initial granting, their periodic renewal and their revocation in case of non-compliance. This means that the impact is not only for new personnel, but also for active personnel who must renew their authorization.
Economic and operational impact
The impact of this instruction is not a fixed fee or amount: it is an operational cost derived from the obligation to adapt processes. The specific consequences for facility operators are:
- Review and update of internal training plans to align them with the new technical requirements and practical experience requirements of the CSN.
- Update of internal personnel certification processes for operating, supervisory and shift leadership personnel.
- Possible review of psychophysical fitness criteria applied in personnel medical examinations.
- Risk of personnel disqualification if they do not meet the new criteria, with the consequent impact on shift planning and facility operability.
- Risk of administrative sanctions for the facility operator in case of non-compliance with the new regulatory requirements.
The actual cost will depend on the degree of divergence between each plant's current training and certification programs and the new criteria established by the CSN. Facilities with programs more outdated with respect to IAEA and WENRA standards will be those that must face greater adaptation investments.
Who does it affect?
- Companies holding nuclear facility licenses in Spain: responsible for adapting training plans and certification processes.
- Nuclear power plant operators: must comply with the new training, experience and psychophysical fitness requirements to maintain or renew their license.
- Operating supervisors: subject to updated qualification and evaluation criteria.
- Shift supervisors: affected by the new license requirements established in the instruction.
- Training and HR departments of nuclear power plants: responsible for implementing changes in qualification programs.
- Nuclear safety managers of the facilities: must verify compliance with the new CSN regulatory criteria.
Practical example
A Spanish nuclear power plant has a shift supervisor on staff whose license is due for renewal. Under IS-11 revision 2, the renewal process must be adjusted to the new criteria for technical training, practical experience and psychophysical fitness established by the CSN. If the plant's internal qualification program has not been updated to reflect the new requirements, license renewal may be suspended until compliance is demonstrated. This means that the plant must have its training program documented and updated before initiating any license renewal process under the new instruction.
Similarly, if during a CSN inspection it is detected that internal certification processes have not been adapted to IS-11 revision 2, the facility operator may face administrative sanctions, in addition to the disqualification of affected personnel.
What should companies do now?
- Review the current status of internal training plans and compare them with the new IS-11 revision 2 requirements to identify compliance gaps.
- Audit internal certification processes for operating, supervisory and shift leadership personnel to verify their alignment with the new CSN criteria.
- Update psychophysical fitness criteria applied to operating personnel in accordance with the new instruction parameters.
- Identify personnel with licenses due for renewal and ensure they meet the new requirements before initiating the renewal process with the CSN.
- Document all adaptations made in qualification and certification programs to be able to demonstrate compliance to the regulator in case of inspection.
- Consult with the CSN any interpretive questions about the new criteria, especially regarding changes in qualification programs and psychophysical fitness criteria.
Frequently asked questions
What changes with IS-11 revision 2 from the CSN for nuclear power plants?
IS-11 revision 2 updates the regulatory framework for granting, renewing and revoking licenses for operating personnel. It introduces changes in qualification programs, psychophysical fitness criteria and technical training and practical experience requirements for operators, supervisors and shift supervisors.
When does IS-11 revision 2 from the CSN enter into force?
The instruction entered into force on February 23, 2026, although it was published in the BOE on April 9, 2026. This means that the compliance obligation is retroactive to the entry into force date.
What happens if a nuclear power plant does not adapt its training plans to IS-11 rev.2?
Non-compliance can result in the disqualification of affected operating personnel and administrative sanctions for the nuclear facility operator, as established by the instruction itself.
Which personnel profiles does IS-11 revision 2 affect?
It affects operators, supervisors and shift supervisors at Spanish nuclear power plants, as well as the companies holding the facility licenses, which must adapt their training plans and internal certification processes.
Why has the CSN's IS-11 been revised now?
The revision responds to the evolution of international standards from the IAEA and WENRA, as well as to the accumulated operational experience in Spanish nuclear facilities and the need to maintain alignment with the best international practices in nuclear safety.