After conducting a comprehensive evaluation of its curriculum, staff at the Westinghouse Nuclear Training Center in Zion, Illinois, undertook a research and development project aimed at upgrading the center's curriculum to the competency-based format. Included among the main activities of the curriculum development process were the following: completion of a study to identify the tasks performed by practicing reactor operators, identification of appropriate educational domains and taxonomies, development and sequencing of behavioral objectives, selection of a proper mode of instructional delivery, development of an effective format for curriculum materials, and evaluation of the effectiveness of the curriculum materials developed during the project. The project resulted in the development of an articulated curriculum consisting of three programs dealing with nuclear engineering technology, nuclear plant system design, and nuclear plant operations. For each separate program, instructional materials were developed that contained the following: objectives, lesson text, a summary, vocabulary, end notes, references, and a self-assessment instrument. After evaluating student performance on homework and examinations, analyzing utility training coordinator follow-up surveys, and considering the results of an external team review, researchers determined that the program has proven to be a successful means of preparing competent operations personnel. (MN)