[1] Electrician's Mates stand watch on generators, switchboards, control equipment and electrical equipment; operate and perform organizational and intermediate maintenance on power and lighting circuits, electrical fixtures, motors, generators, voltage and frequency regulators, controllers, distribution switchboards and other electrical equipment; test for short circuits, ground or other casualties; and rebuild electrical equipment, including solid state circuitry elements, in an electrical shop.

After boot camp, they attend the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command and are then are employed onboard nuclear-powered ships and submarines to maintain the control of electrical systems and subsystems for nuclear reactors.

The Nuclear Electrician's Mate (EMN) "A" school is located in Goose Creek, South Carolina.

This training is 6 months long, and is followed by an additional 6-month "Power" school, then 6 months of "Prototype" operational reactor time continued in Goose Creek or in Ballston Spa, New York.

[3] The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) overall score must be 50, with an additional requirement of a minimum value based on the sum of the following topics:[4] The ASVAB minimum scores for any nuclear rate, including EMN, are based on the sum of the line scores from the following topics on the ASVAB:[3] Depending on score, an additional test called the Navy Advanced Programs Test (NAPT) may be required.