CCO Crane Recertification Requirements
Mobile Crane Operator Recertification Guidelines
NCCCO certification is valid for five years. However, candidates must complete all of their recertification requirements during the 12 months prior to their expiration date. This includes:
- Passing the written certification examinations
- Continuing to meet physical and medical requirements
- Compliance with NCCCO’s Substance Abuse Policy and Code of Ethics
Candidates who can document at least 1,000 hours of any crane-related experience during their period of certification do not need to take the practical exam to recertify. Crane-related experience is defined as operating, maintenance, inspection, or training. However, candidates lacking the work hours will also need to pass the practical exam before their current certification expires. Candidates whose certification has lapsed must take the full written and practical examinations all over again in order to be recertified.
The written recertification examination is identical to the first-timer certification written exams, consisting of a core examination in crane operation, as well as a minimum of one and up to three specialty examinations. The core examination has 90 multiple-choice questions with a time limit of 90 minutes.
Each specialty examination consists of 26 multiple choice questions with a time limit of 60 minutes. Four of the questions in each specialty exam are calculation load-chart questions. Candidates who are not certified in all specialties may add a new specialty at the same time as they take their recertification examinations by taking the written examination in that specialty.
Certified candidates may take their written certification examinations up to one year prior to their date of expiration. Regardless of the date of the certification examination within that one year period, the new five-year certification period begins from the date of expiration of the candidate’s initial certification.
Certification exams are available at regularly scheduled test administrations. Candidates wishing to recertify should contact the test site coordinator who set up the initial certification. Candidates whose employment circumstances have changed should ask their new employer to schedule a test administration.
Do You Need Recertification Prep?
Even when you’ve been on the job for years, taking a crane training refresher course may be a good idea in order to ensure you pass the CCO written exam for recertification on your first try. NCT offers in-person, open-enrollment classes as well as online certification prep courses for experienced operators to prepare fully for the written exams, and even pick up a new specialty. What’s more, if you take our courses at one of our locations, we guarantee you will pass!