Mobile Crane Operator Training
Nationwide Crane Training offers Mobile Crane Operator Training and testing by our NCCCO accredited examiners so you or your employees can get certified fast. We fully endorse the National Certification program offered by the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO), and will prepare candidates for the NCCCO examinations.
However, we know that OSHA requirements are constantly changing. That’s why we adapt our training so our students stay on the top of their game, avoiding any confusion or costly delays.
Our CCO Prep Class covers everything your operators need to know in order to earn their NCCCO certification. We start with a basic introduction/orientation to the trade and follow that with the basic principles of cranes and crane operation so our students have a well-constructed base of knowledge on which to build.
From there we cover:
- Rigging Practice and Safety – including an overview of the fundamentals of rigging with real-life examples of the variety of rigging gear, configurations and applications.
- Crane Safety – Which includes equipment inspection, site hazard identification and inspection, and the proper use of required personal protection equipment. We’ll also spend time on the importance of load dynamics so students learn how leverage and stability, operational quadrants, submerged lifts, non-centered lifts, and other non-standard elements can dramatically affect a crane’s operation capacities/abilities.
- Mobile Crane Operation – A review for those with experience and a primer for those with none, this unit quickly lays down basic functions and standard procedures for operating mobile cranes safely. It also includes an introduction to the power systems that enable various models of cranes to do what they were designed to do.
- Communication — Covers verbal and nonverbal methods of communications between the operator and signalperson as well as other on-site personnel using ASME B30.5 hand signals
- Preventative Maintenance and Safety Inspection — Covers preventive maintenance including safety compliance inspections on individual pieces of machinery.
- Mechanical and Computerized Operator Aids — An overview of computer-assisted operation including an introduction to:
- Load moment indicators
- Anti-two-block devices
- Load indicators
- And more
- On-Site Equipment Movement — concerning various site-related hazards that can and do hinder crane movement such as unleveled ground, power lines, and stationary hazards.
Throughout the course, our expert instructors focus on the types of questions that will be on the exam. We also use examples of how the questions will be asked in order to assists operators in determining what, exactly, the question means on the NCCCO Written Exam. This gives candidates the ability to apply their learning precisely and more fully understand the requirements measured by the written exam.
In fact, our training is so focused, complete, and easy to understand that we guarantee your operators will pass the written portion of their exams or they can re-attend anyone of our open enrollment classes free of charge to retest. Please see the disclaimer for questions about our guarantee.
Most employers are familiar with the crane operator training requirements OSHA published in 2010. The latest Rule published in November, 2018 modifies some of those. Here are some of those updates and helpful resource links.
Who needs to be certified or qualified?
Any person engaged in a construction activity who is operating a crane covered by the new cranes and derricks rule, except:
- sideboom cranes*
- derricks*
- equipment with a rated hoisting/lifting capacity of 2,000 pounds or less*
*Operators of the listed equipment must meet the criteria for minimum expertise described in the applicable section in subpart CC.
Does an operator need more than one certification?
With respect to certification from an accredited testing organization, an operator must be certified for the type and capacity of crane he or she is going to operate. Each accredited testing organization develops its own categories for crane type and capacity.
Can I get certification for my employees from anyone?
No! The issuing entity (e.g. NCCCO) must be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency (such as ANSI or NCCA) to be sure that industry-recognized criteria for written testing materials, practical examinations, test administration, grading, facilities/equipment, and personnel have been met.
What am I (Employer) required to do under OSHA’s new Evaluation requirement?
One of the key differences between the first Final Rule issued in 2010 and the Final Rule just published that modifies it, is the addition of a process OSHA calls Evaluation. In this Employer’s Guide we drill down into the main elements as prescribed by OSHA.
Download the Crane Operator Evaluation Form here.
What specific training does OSHA require me to provide my Crane Operators?
OSHA lists the knowledge and skills it has identified as critical to safe crane operation in 1926.1427 (j)(1) and (2). Get more info here.
Helpful references:
An Employer’s guide to the OSHA final rule: Crane Operator Certification
An Employer’s Guide to the OSHA final rule: Crane Operator Training
Employer’s Crane Operator Evaluation Form
OSHA Mobile Crane Operator fact sheet
There are some criteria that must be met and followed in order for a candidate to obtain and keep NCCCO certification.
- The candidate must be at least 18 years old.
- They must meet medical requirements.
- They must strictly follow NCCCO substance abuse and ethics policies.
- They must pass written examinations (including a core exam and a minimum of one specialty)
- They must pass a practical exam within 12 months of passing the written examinations. (If more than 12 months lapses before the practical exam is taken, the certification process must start from the beginning.)
While Nationwide Crane Training offers other courses for individuals with no experience in the industry, our mobile crane operator training programs are intended for those who are already trained and/or employed in crane operations.
The written exam is half of the testing that must be completed in order to earn certification. The Core Written Examination portion of the NCCCO written certification program includes 90 multiple choice questions. Candidates have a maximum of 90 minutes to finish this written exam.
The core exam is broken down into four sections, called domains. The domains are:
- Site
- Operations
- Technical knowledge
- Load charts
Depending on the type of crane an operator is training to use, there are four specialty written examinations as well. These include:
- Lattice boom crawler cranes
- Lattice boom truck cranes
- Large telescopic boom cranes with a swing cab
- Small telescopic boom cranes with a fixed cab
The specialty exams include 26 multiple choice questions and candidates have 60 minutes to complete the exam.
Specialty exams are divided into the same four domains as the core test, but each domain is weighted differently as outlined in the chart below.
Domain | Core Exam | Specialty Exam |
Site | 20% | 12% |
Operations | 26% | 30% |
Technical Knowledge | 28% | 23% |
Load Charts | 26% | 35% |
Candidates must pass both the core and at least one specialty written examination.
The practical portion of mobile crane operator training certification requires the candidate to prove proficiency by giving both hand and voice commands. These practical exams use real-world equipment and actual work-related simulations to paint an accurate-as-possible picture for both the examiner and the candidate.
The instruction you receive when preparing for the practical exam is key. Our experienced instructors have years of real-life job experience under their belts and can help new candidates grasp concepts like “catching the load” quickly and easily. This is essential when a candidate comes up on their practical exam.
Nationwide Crane Training offers multiple training location options to candidates and their employers to make mobile crane training and certification easy.
Not only do we offer Open Enrollment classes at various locations around the country (rotated every 3 months between Alabama, California, Iowa & Texas), we can also arrange Private On-Site training and testing wherever you are. This minimizes travel and related expenses, cuts “downtime,” and keeps your operators on equipment and in locations they’re already familiar with for a “home court advantage.”
And new to the lineup is our state-of-the-art crane school in Riverside, California. This school was built expressly for the purpose of crane training and testing with high-tech computerized simulations and a full line of real-world equipment to expedite the training process.
Nationwide Crane Training is a WBENC-Certified woman-owned business that retains some of the best instructors in the industry. Our instructors are NCCCO accredited practical examiners who bring experience from a variety of careers including Military, Firefighting, FEMA, IUOE Union, CALOSHA and FEDOSHA. Bringing in the best instructors is one of the ways we demonstrate our commitment to each client. In fact, we are so committed to your success that we GUARANTEE you will pass the written exams (please see our disclaimer).
If the candidate fails the written portion of his/her exam, they can re-attend any of our open enrollment classes to retest free of charge.
Our crane operator classes can supply the level of expertise, support and personal care you need to get certified. We believe that each student is unique and we work closely with each to be sure not only that you pass the exams but that you develop the necessary skills to excel in this competitive profession. It is our commitment to quality training and each student that has earned us a respected reputation in the crane industry.
Guarantee Disclaimer: The following will disqualify anyone and will void the guarantee:
- The test candidate is unable to comprehend, speak, read or write in English. This is a non-discriminatory remark, as the NCCCO only allows the tests to be administered in English. Throughout the prep course, the instructor will monitor the candidate and will be able to determine his or her progress.
- The test candidate is unable to comprehend technical terms and diagrams / charts. Throughout the prep course, the instructor will monitor the candidate and will be able to determine his or her progress.
- The test candidate is unable to perform basic arithmetic. Throughout the prep course, the instructor will monitor the candidate and will be able to determine his or her progress.
- If there are any unpaid fees at the time of the written exam.
- If the student repeatedly leaves the class, and / or does not sit for the entire length of the class, will also void the guarantee.
- This guarantee of paying of the sitting fees is limited to two (2) attempts and failures at any portion of the written exam. After two attempts, sitting fees will be required to be paid in full by the candidate or the candidate’s sponsoring company.
- The NCCCO has no obligations to this guarantee.
Once a candidate is certified, the certification is good for a period of five years. Candidates who are currently certified must begin the recertification process in the 12 month period prior to when their current certification expires.
Eight years after the rule was originally published, and fully 15 years after the Cranes and Derricks Advisory Committee (C-DAC) finished its revision of the crane rule, OSHA’s requirement for construction crane operators to be certified has come into effect. We look at five key elements of the final rule:
1. Crane Operator Certification Is in Effect Now! The Final Rule published in August 2010, and that was last modified in November 2017 to extend the deadline by one year, states that the operator certification requirement takes effect on November 10, 2018. The effective date of this requirement is unchanged by the (second) Final Rule published last month. So, if you are not certified for the type of crane you are operating, your time is up: Get certified!
2. Certification Can Be by Type Alone. The Interim Compliance Guidance Guidance issued on November 5, 2018, provides for OSHA to accept certifications issued by type only, rather than by type and capacity as the (first) Final Rule states. This is incorporated permanently into the federal regulation by the (second) Final Rule that went into effect on December 10, 2018.
3. Employers Must Evaluate Their Certified Operators. Effective February 7, 2019, employers must also evaluate their operators to ensure they have the skills and knowledge necessary to operate the crane(s) they are assigned (taking into account the cranes’ size and configuration), as well as the hoisting activities required. They must also demonstrate they have the ability to “recognize and avert” risk. If an employer has already evaluated operators employed prior to December 10, those evaluations will suffice.
4. The Evaluations Must Be Documented. The evaluation document, which must be made available at the worksite, must include the names both of the operator and the evaluator (who also has to sign it), the date the evaluation was conducted, and the make, model, and configuration of the crane.
5. Employers Are Still Responsible for Training. Operators who are not yet certified are classified as “operators-in-training.” Employers must provide them with sufficient formal and practical instruction to ensure they have the skills, knowledge, and ability to recognize and avert risk needed to operate their cranes safely. Operators-in-training are allowed to operate cranes without being certified (subject to certain restrictions), and they must be continuously monitored. The employer is also responsible for retraining as necessary.
It’s been a long and challenging journey, but OSHA has finally resolved the last remaining issues that had held up its requirement for crane operators to be certified.
The initial confusion surrounding the effective dates of OSHA’s crane operator certification requirements stemmed from the fact there are two Final Rules in play. The (first) Final Rule published in August 2010 provided for operator certification to go into effect four years later. That never happened because of industry concerns about having to certify by capacity, and whether an employer had additional duties to ensure operators were qualified beyond having them certified.
The certification deadline was extended twice, to November 10, 2018, and that date was not changed by the (second) Final Rule published last month. The fact that that the second rule had its own effective date of December 10 led some to think that operator certification deadline had been extended again; it had not.
OSHA is updating the agency’s standard for cranes and derricks in construction by clarifying each employer’s duty to ensure the competency of crane operators through training, certification or licensing, and evaluation. OSHA is also altering a provision that required different levels of certification based on the rated lifting capacity of equipment. While testing organizations are not required to issue certifications distinguished by rated capacities, they are permitted to do so, and employers may accept them or continue to rely on certifications based on crane type alone. Finally, this rule establishes minimum requirements for determining operator competency. This final rule will maintain safety and health protections for workers while reducing compliance burdens.
Effective date: This final rule is effective on December 10, 2018, except the amendments to 29 CFR 1926.1427(a) and (f) (evaluation and documentation requirements), which are effective February 7, 2019.
View OSHA’s Final Rule here
Here are just a few of comments previous students have made regarding our mobile crane operator training classes:
I got my result from my boss last Wednesday, and passed. I really owe this to you and the way you run your class. Your questions are right there with the questions that were on the test, and your load chart questions are harder then what were on the test, making the test a walk in the park. The information you provided us in the course was also very helpful for me work, I’m able to set my crane up in a manner that will enable me to get the most out of my crane when lifting. My lifts are a lot more smoother now that I take my “boom flex” into consideration prior to making a lift. I will definitely say that your class without a doubt has made me an all around better operator, and my co-workers also notice the difference. ~John Ross
I wanted to thank Nationwide Crane Training for the extremely informative class I attended last January. I was able to gain an abundance amount of knowledge on crane operation and practices, most importantly crane safety.Your extensive background in the crane industry is very noticeable, and your ability to teach all of this information in a classroom atmosphere is very impressive. As one of your student’s I feel I gained a new perspective as a crane operator, by being more efficient, and developed a skill with controlling the cranes load. ~Juan
I had the pleasure of working with and observing NCT during the time of training and preparing our Crane Operators in order that they may obtain their “Certification of Crane Operators” here in the Mechanical Equipment Department at Barstow, California. NCT was organized, efficient, and willing to do whatever was needed to get our employees through this training process in a safe and timely manner. ~Daniel C. Rodriguez
Testimonials
Here are just a few of comments previous students have made regarding our mobile crane operator training classes…
I got my result from my boss last Wednesday, and passed. I really owe this to you and the way you run your class. Your questions are right there with the questions that were on the test, and your load chart questions are harder then what were on the test, making the test a walk in the park. The information you provided us in the course was also very helpful for me work, I’m able to set my crane up in a manner that will enable me to get the most out of my crane when lifting. My lifts are a lot more smoother now that I take my “boom flex” into consideration prior to making a lift. I will definitely say that your class without a doubt has made me an all around better operator, and my co-workers also notice the difference.
I wanted to thank Nationwide Crane Training for the extremely informative class I attended last January. I was able to gain an abundance amount of knowledge on crane operation and practices, most importantly crane safety.Your extensive background in the crane industry is very noticeable, and your ability to teach all of this information in a classroom atmosphere is very impressive. As one of your student’s I feel I gained a new perspective as a crane operator, by being more efficient, and developed a skill with controlling the cranes load.
I had the pleasure of working with and observing NCT during the time of training and preparing our Crane Operators in order that they may obtain their “Certification of Crane Operators” here in the Mechanical Equipment Department at Barstow, California.
NCT was organized, efficient, and willing to do whatever was needed to get our employees through this training process in a safe and timely manner.