I’m not asking if you’re certifiable. That’s none of my business. I am asking if you have your certifications for working in the heavy equipment business. Are you certified?

There are different certifications you can test for. Every state has its own rules and regulations, of course, but you can get a national certification that will allow you to work anywhere. If you are a truck driver or heavy equipment operator, then I highly recommend one of those certifications.

There are two national certification agencies you should be familiar with:

• National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER)
• and National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO)

You can get credentialed from either of these certification agencies by taking a heavy equipment training course offered by ATS. These are nationally recognized training programs and nationally recognized certifications. They are accepted by government agencies, educational institutions, most industry employers, and professionals in the trucking and heavy equipment industries.

NCCER is a non-profit educational foundation associated with the University of Florida. All ATS instructors are required to have NCCER certification. Our students receive it as well when they graduate.

NCCCO was established to develop crane safety operation standards. It is recognized as the authority on crane safety in the U.S.

If you have an interest in the heavy equipment industry and are looking for a solid career, learn how you can get your certifications and join this growing profession.

Years ago, being certified often meant being locked up in a mental institution. These days, certified is a term applied to those who receive recognition for their skills and abilities, often through the receipt of a certificate. Current work place regulations force employers to only hire crane operators who have been certified – that is, certified as competent to safely operate a crane.

If you attend formal crane operator training, then you should have direct access to the crane operator certification process. If you don’t, it may be wiser to seek training elsewhere. The ATS crane operator training program includes the option to undertake the certification processes at the conclusion of your training – and it all happens on our campus.

What does the certification process involve? It’s really very straightforward. You will be tested on your skills operating the crane, and tested on your knowledge of crane operations and workplace safety. Having just completed your training, this should all be fresh in mind and a piece of cake to complete. Once you satisfy all the requirements, you will receive certification, making you eligible to work as a crane operator – and your certification is recognized nationwide.

No one likes to sit for tests, however, with the right training and a little application to that training, crane operator certification tests are not something to fear. If you can complete your training satisfactorily, then you’ll breeze through these tests. Interested in becoming a certified crane operator? Come and talk to us – we can take you through the whole process – from initial training all the way through to certification. We’ll even help you find your first job as a crane operator.

If you’ve worked as a crane operator in the past and you’re considering moving back into the profession, you will have to consider many of the changes that have occurred in recent years. One of the biggest changes is that, in most states, crane operators are now required to be certified to a set of national standards. Technology has also improved so you may even require some retraining in order to pass certification assessments.

Retraining is an easy three week program that covers everything required to complete your certification tests and to receive certification. While basic crane operations will always remain the same, there are some areas that have now been taken over by computers. A good example is load monitoring. This is an alarm system that warns the operator when the computers have discovered an issue with the load.

Certification is awarded to those operators who complete the NCCCO-based written and practical examinations. The NCCCO (National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators) crane operator certification is one of the most widely recognized crane operator certifications available. Without this certification, operators are not allowed inside the cab of a working crane.

Associated Training Services (ATS) is one of our nation’s largest and most respected crane schools. While training operators is our core business, we are also accredited to undertake the examinations set out by the NCCCO for crane operator certification. This provides students (or former operators) with a clear path from training through to certification and then employment (via our Career Services department).

If you’re a former crane operator looking to return to the profession, or a rank novice looking to start a career, ATS has the skill, experience, and accreditation to help you achieve those goals.

Crane operators are now required to obtain certification in most states before being allowed onto a jobsite to operate a crane. Certification is a process that verifies an operator’s ability to operate a crane, and their knowledge of safety issues surrounding the setup and operation of a crane. Crane operator certification has been introduced to try and reduce the number of accidents that occur each year, some resulting in the loss of life.

ATS Crane Operator Training Schools has a variety of training and certification programs available for new operators, existing operators, and most importantly, operators looking to return to the profession after a sojourn in other fields. Those operators looking to return should be looking for training programs that can refresh their existing knowledge while bringing them up to date with the latest in technology and safety aspects. These operators will most likely not have undertaken any certification process in the past, and for those who have, they will need to consider re-certification prior to seeking employment.

In most states, employers will not even consider employment for operators who are not currently certified. ATS offers certification through the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO), one of the most highly respected certifications in the industry. NCCCO certification meets all federal and state safety requirements and is achieved through a specific assessment process.

If you are considering returning to work as a crane operator, or have been working as a crane operator, then ATS can help you achieve your certification as a crane operator. If you require more information on crane operator certification, then check out our web pages on the subject.

We have come a long way as a nation. We arrived on this land with very little and over the years we have developed large cities, highways, and a lot of infrastructure. Much of this was done with unskilled or lightly skilled labor – it also came at heavy cost in terms of lives lost. Over the years our workforce has become more sophisticated with workers better skilled and work conditions far better than years ago.

Although our workforce was better skilled, loss of life and serious injuries still plagued the workplace. In an effort to reduce this, governments at state and federal level have introduced laws making it mandatory for certain workers to undertake training in specific areas. Safety is one area and in most states employees must complete safety training before commencing work on a construction site. Part of this push to improve safety included heavy equipment operators and crane operators.

Crane operators must now be certified to operate a crane before they can be employed. Certification in theory verifies that the holder of the certificate has met a minimum set of skills and knowledge of safety as it applies to crane operations. You can undertake crane operator training through any training body, however, certification can only be achieved through accredited organizations. With this in mind, it makes sense to undertake training through an organization that is also accredited to assess graduates for certification.

ATS Crane Operator Schools have a long and proud history of taking unskilled individuals and training them to not only perform well as crane operators, but to also have long and successful careers in the industry. Naturally, to be employed as a crane operator, ATS graduates can also undertake assessment for accreditation. This provides employers with proof that you meet the minimum requirements to be a successful crane operator.

Working as a crane operator has become a little more controlled over the last ten years as more states and more businesses insist on operators obtaining certification before being employed. The various states became involved because of the frequency of accidents. Certification was introduced as an attempt have all operators trained to an industry agreed set of core skills – these skills, of course, included safety issues. How do you obtain a crane operator certification? These five steps show you the way:

1. Seek out a training company that has NCCCO accreditation to deliver crane operator training
2. It is also advisable to obtain your training through a company that is accredited by the NCCCO to undertake crane operator assessments and is authorized to issue certification
3. Complete your training
4. Undertake and pass the certification assessments (theory and practical)
5. Issued with crane operator certification

And, yes, it is as straight forward as that. The hard part, of course, is finding a training organization that is accredited to deliver the training and who is also accredited to undertake assessments for certification. Find that combination and the rest is up to your own ability to learn and pass the assessment.

You are in luck. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools are accredited to deliver both the training and the assessments for crane operator certification. Now that you don’t have to look any further, the next question is how much would you like to work as a crane operator? At ATS you can have your training completed in as little as three weeks. This means you can literally be working as a crane operator within a month of starting your training. There are no guarantees, of course. You have to pass the assessments – no one else can do that for you. Complete those steps, and a great career as a crane operator awaits – and you will have the benefit of a crane operator certification behind you.

Some people ask why crane operator certification is worth the effort. Operating a crane is one of the most demanding jobs on a construction site with some cranes able to lift loads of 300 tons. Can you imagine having a 300 ton load slipping from the crane’s grasp? There would be two effects (probably more). The first, of course, is the 300-ton load hitting the ground – it would be a like a mini-earthquake for blocks. The second effect could be just as catastrophic. With the load suddenly released, the crane’s hook would suddenly spring back in the reverse direction – this could actually topple the crane itself.

That may give you some indication as to why crane operator certification is worth the effort. If you need any more convincing, you may consider that in many states, certification is a requirement before you can step into a crane’s cab. Safety isn’t the only reason for obtaining certification. From one perspective, whilst crane safety is very important, having a qualification that is recognized throughout the country has to be an important consideration.

In the past, a crane operator who was qualified to operate in one state may not have been considered qualified in a neighboring state. Too bad if you lived close to the state lines and could work on either side. With a qualification that is universal around the country, not only are you ready to work anywhere, your certification is valid anywhere.

Having a portable qualification is one of the best weapons you can have in your skills toolbox. It means that even in hard times, you are able to find employment somewhere. If you are undertaking crane operator training, don’t forget to sit for your crane operator certification at the conclusion of your training. If your training provider doesn’t offer it – then change provider. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools are accredited to deliver crane operator training to deliver crane operator certification testing at the conclusion of your training. Everything under the one roof – what more could you ask for?

Becoming a certified crane operator is not that difficult. Becoming an employed certified crane operator is a little bit more difficult. What you can do of course is ensure your training and certification is done through an accredited training provider. Whilst not guaranteeing you a job, it will certainly enhance your ability to win a job. Let’s look at the three components separately.

Crane Operator Training

Receiving your crane operator training through an accredited training provider means you are receiving training that has been approved at a national level. This means your training credentials will be respected across the nation, relieving you of the need to pass a test or do more training in each state.

Accredited training is delivered to a standard set of skills. Every person that undertakes accredited training should in theory have the same set of operating skills no matter where they undertook their training.

Crane Operator Certification

Like the training, crane operator certification has to be undertaken through an accredited provider. These are providers who have been approved to deliver assessments and issue certificates to those that pass. Like the accredited training, the assumption is that everyone who has been certified is able to demonstrate the same skills and knowledge no matter where they undertook their training.

There are many states now where all crane operators must be certified before they can be employed to operate a crane. It doesn’t matter where that certification was done so long as it was done through an accredited provider.

Crane Operator Employment

Once you have completed your training and passed all the requirements for certification, you are ready to seek employment. More importantly, you will have all the requirements for an employer to hire you.

Some accredited training providers also provide job placement services. These services are designed to try and match your skills and attributes to the right employers.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools are accredited to deliver crane operator training. They are also accredited to undertake crane operator assessments and to issue crane operator certifications. Finally, to complete the picture, they also provide a job placement service. That’s everything you need to become an employed certified crane operator. If that’s your career plan, what are you waiting for?

If you have your commercial drivers license (CDL) then you may want to consider adding a crane operators certification to your range skills. This will certainly improve your job prospects and can offer a diversity of employment options. Employers today are looking for potential employees that are are multi-skilled and can work in various areas.

You may wonder the association between crane operators and truck drivers. There is one. For starters, mobile crane operators require a truck driver’s license anyway. However, moving away from mobile cranes, if you can operate an overhead crane then you can potentially help to load or unload your own truck. Having skills to operate a fork lift places you in a similar situation.

Adding a crane operator’s certificate only takes three weeks – yet it adds a life time of opportunities to your resume. I won’t try and fool you. There are not employers jumping out of the woodwork looking for multi-skilled truck drivers. Having said that, it’s not until an employer sees your resume and understands that you can drive a truck, operate a crane (as a certified operator) and perhaps drive a fork lift that your true worth will show through.

Employers don’t always see the associations until it is there in black and white in front of them – suddenly a host of possibilities opens up. Your first step is to find a training provider that is accredited to deliver crane operator training and who is also accredited to undertake the follow up assessment and certification. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools have both of these accreditations – in three weeks you can add a crane operator certification to your truck driving skills.

Crane’s are potentially one of the most dangerous machines on a building site so many states have introduced crane operator certification. By certifying operators, the theory is that crane-related accidents will fall, thus reducing workplace injuries and deaths. That, in a nutshell, is why you need crane operator training.

That was the short version. The long version is a little more involved. Yes, safety is a primary concern. However, to get to a level where all crane operators are acting to identical sets of rules, there needs to be a consensus on what those rules should be. The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) is the organization that was formed to plan training and assessment guidelines for crane operators.

Training and assessment for certification is now a nationwide standard. No matter where you do your crane operator training, if the training organization is accredited by NCCCO then everyone will receive similar training and pass the same assessments. So the first step was to establish a set standard throughout the country.

The second component was to accredit those organizations that were capable of delivering the training required. Accreditation was also given to those organization that met the minimum standards for assessing crane operators. There is now a national standard of training and assessing, which ensures that any crane operator that has been certified can effectively work anywhere in the country.

Whilst crane operator certification was originally planned to reduce workplace accidents, the end result is a set of minimum standards for all crane operators. These standards cover the complete range of crane operations, including, of course, safety. Find a training organization that is NCCCO accredited to deliver both the training and assessment of crane operators and you will be assured your training meets national standards.