NCCCO is the acronym for National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators and it is more commonly known as CCO. NCCCO was formed in January 1995 as a non-profit organization with its mission to develop effective performance standards for safe load handling equipment operation to assist all segments of general industry and construction. By providing thorough, independent assessments of knowledge and skills, NCCCO aims to enhance lifting equipment safety, reduce workplace risk, improve performance records, stimulate training, and give due recognition to the professionals who work in, with, and around load handling equipment.

A NCCCO Certification is not required. However, NCCCO is the industry leader in certification for crane operators and is recognized nationwide. In fact, some employers may only accept NCCCO certification. Although, It's important to remember that OSHA's Final Rule specifies that operators within the construction industry must be certified.

Times vary although you can expect to receive your certification card in the mail within 3 to 5 weeks from the date you successfully passed your written and practical exams. You may also download the MyCCO App to receive your results faster and digitally.

Accidents cost us all dearly-in terms of serious injury, property damage, lost time and litigation. Safety is one of the most important issues we face, and proficiency of crane operators is key. Standardized assessment and certification of the skills and knowledge required for safe crane operation can improve our ability to enhance safety.

Clearly, reducing accidents is goal #1. And there is clear evidence that certification can help achieve this. The Province of Ontario instituted a certification program in 1979 requiring more thorough training of crane operators. The net result has been fewer injuries and fatalities, and an improvement in overall safety records. There is every reason to believe the U.S. can expect similar results.

All exam items have been developed by experts with knowledge and expertise in the area of load handling equipment operation. Development of the written certification examinations involves panels of load handling equipment operation content experts who work with NCCCO staff to write and review all questions used in the examinations. Each examination contains a unique combination of items from the item bank; items are selected for the examination on the basis of the content areas as defined by the test blueprints. The content areas have been developed through the original role delineation and serve to guarantee each test is consistent in difficulty and question content. Each of the written exams are based on the operator validation study conducted by NCCCO.

The CCO crane operator certification program was built around the ASME /ANSI B30.5 mobile crane standard and OSHA’s crane regulations. OSHA has officially recognized the CCO program as meeting its requirements for crane operator competency, and will accept CCO certification as proof of training. The presence of CCO-certified operators on site also positions employers well to qualify for OSHA’s “focused inspection”.

From the outset, this has been an industry-led program, with crane operators themselves playing a central role. Representatives from many different sectors have helped to determine what a crane operator should know to safely operate a crane. Volunteers come from construction, steel erection, and general industry, as well as training, manufacturing, insurance, military, OSHA and the IUOE.

The program is designed by CCO to be a voluntary program. Nevertheless, as the benefits of certification are realized, more and more employers are requiring operators to be certified as a condition of work In accordance with Federal OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1427 all crane operators must be certified by a nationally accredited certification for construction activities.

In order to provide an independent and objective assessment of a crane operator’s proficiency, CCO is not able to offer training. However, training is clearly essential to the process of improving operator skills, and CCO works with many training organizations who provide professional instruction in this area. A current list can be accessed at CCO’s web site at www.nccco.org.

A fair, objective, independent assessment of the skills and knowledge of crane operators is critical to realizing the long-term benefits of crane operator certification. It is important to involve representatives from all segments of construction and general industry, without any special interest taking precedence. CCO has succeeded in combining their expertise with that of examination development professionals to develop and administer tests.

Because of the sound methodology employed at all stages of program development, an employer can be assured that operators carrying CCO certification cards have demonstrated that they possess the fundamental knowledge necessary for the safe operation of cranes-without relying on subjective recommend; or judgment. In turn, operators who earn the distinction of the CCO credential can take satisfaction that their skills have been recognized by an independent profession authority.

Written examinations are held on demand at sites around the country when requested by employers, unions, employer organization testing companies or other groups. The Crane School offers CCO written exams every month at our headquarters in Seffner, FL. The Crane School has a staff of accredited practical examiners and we offer CCO practical examinations anywhere and anytime nationwide. Contact The Crane School to schedule your exams.

When choosing a crane school, we recommend considering a couple of items. 1. How much does the crane school cost? 2. How long is the course? 3. Can the prep class, written exams, and hands-on exams be completed during the course? 4. What are the crane school pass rates for the written exams? Here at The  Crane School we not only offer the fastest path to crane operator certification but we have had some of the highest pass rates in the country for over 18+ years. The best part? We guarantee that you pass your NCCCO crane operator certification written exams or our class is FREE until you do! 

Everything needed will be provided upon arriving to The Crane School's NCCCO mobile crane operator certification course. However, it is required that students bring their own personal protection equipment including a hard hat and boots for their hands-on crane training and NCCCO practical exams in the field.

The NCCCO crane operator certification is good for five years from the date the candidate passes their exams. We encourage students to enroll anytime within their last year of certification to prevent any lapses in certification. After successfully passing your recertification exams, NCCCO will add an additional 5 years onto your original expiration date.

According to the OSHA Final Rule 1926 subpart CC operators are required to be certified by the type of crane (not capacity). Therefore, you will need a crane operator certification for each crane type you are operating.

Yes. The certification is issued through the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) which has certified over 90% of every certified crane operator in the United States. It is the same program that is offered by many labor unions around the country, and is by far the most popular certification program in the US.

A CDL is not required to operate a crane. Although, a CDL may be required by your current or future employer to drive cranes on public roads or highways.

Please refer to your local department of transportation for more information and specifications.

OSHA Final Rule states that crane operators within the construction industry are required to obtain a crane operator certification.

You can call NCCCO Testing Services Department at 727-449-8525 to seek clarification on this matter. The Crane School does not have any information as to why candidates fail, we will only be able to specify whether or not a student has passed or failed.

Absolutely! You can take all of your NCCCO mobile crane operator certification exams during your scheduled crane operator certification course at The Crane School.

Depending on the location, a crane operator can make anywhere from $32,000 to $100,000+ a year. More detailed information can be found on the Bureau of Labor Statistics website https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes537021.htm

The median wage for crane operators is $58,000 although there are multiple variables that will weigh into this. Such as location, experience, and more. We recommend checking out the Bureau of Labor Statistics to get a better idea on how much crane operators make geographically. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes537021.htm

A crane operator's hourly rate will depend and vary based on multiple factors. Although, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a crane operator can make a median of $27.50 an hour.