NRC generic schedules are listed in the table. The following figures reflect historical performance that has exceeded the generic schedules:
Design certification (4-9 years)
Combined operating license (4 years)
Early site permit (3-6 years)
Operating license (8 years)
Both the generic and
historical schedules shown in this statistic do not include the pre-application, acceptance, commission approval, and hearings/rulemakings phases, which add between one and three to the overall schedule.
Citation formats
Licensing timeframe for nuclear power plants in the U.S. 2023, by license type
Licensing durations for nuclear power plants in the United States vary according to the license type, with design certifications having the longest duration on average. A design certification grants approval for a nuclear power plant design – as the name indicates – but is independent of an application to construct or operate a plant. For instance, operating licenses in the U.S. have a duration of up to *** years and licensing costs of about ** million U.S. dollars.
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NEI, & Canadian Nuclear Association. (September 19, 2023). Licensing timeframe for nuclear power plants in the United States as of 2023, by license type (in years) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 21, 2026, from /statistics/1450533/nuclear-power-plants-licensing-duration-us/
NEI, und Canadian Nuclear Association. "Licensing timeframe for nuclear power plants in the United States as of 2023, by license type (in years)." Chart. September 19, 2023. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 21, 2026. /statistics/1450533/nuclear-power-plants-licensing-duration-us/
NEI, Canadian Nuclear Association. (2023). Licensing timeframe for nuclear power plants in the United States as of 2023, by license type (in years). ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 21, 2026. /statistics/1450533/nuclear-power-plants-licensing-duration-us/
NEI, and Canadian Nuclear Association. "Licensing Timeframe for Nuclear Power Plants in The United States as of 2023, by License Type (in Years)." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 19 Sep 2023, /statistics/1450533/nuclear-power-plants-licensing-duration-us/
NEI & Canadian Nuclear Association, Licensing timeframe for nuclear power plants in the United States as of 2023, by license type (in years) ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1450533/nuclear-power-plants-licensing-duration-us/ (last visited July 21, 2026)
Licensing timeframe for nuclear power plants in the United States as of 2023, by license type (in years) [Graph], NEI, & Canadian Nuclear Association, September 19, 2023. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1450533/nuclear-power-plants-licensing-duration-us/
