Student operating a telescopic boom mobile crane during a beginner class in Seffner, Florida
Beginner Program

3 Week Mobile Crane Class

Three full-time weeks take a newcomer from the classroom to the controls of a telescopic boom crane, ending with NCCCO TSS and TLL testing.

$6,500 Tuition per student

Duration: 3 weeks, full-time Monday–Thursday, 7:00 AM–4:00 PM

Request enrollment and our office will confirm your seat and payment options.

What's included

  • Classroom instruction on load charts, setup and OSHA rules
  • Hands-on seat time on telescopic boom cranes (roughly 70–75% of the course)
  • Preparation for NCCCO TSS and TLL written and practical exams
  • Training materials and handouts

Who This Class Is For

Of the two tracks inside our Initial Mobile Crane Operator Training Program, the 3 week mobile crane class is the compact one. Students usually arrive having never sat in a crane cab, and they leave ready to pursue entry-level work on hydraulic telescopic machines. Operators who already have seat time and only need the card are better served by the once-a-month prep weekend.

What You Train On

Two kinds of telescopic machine get your attention here: the fixed cab (TSS) carrier and the swing cab (TLL) model. About 25–30% of the time is spent in the classroom on load charts, setup, signals and OSHA rules. The remaining 70–75% is spent operating cranes in the yard, building the control and judgment you need for the practical exam and the job.

Those three weeks build toward a single goal: sitting the NCCCO TSS and TLL exams, both the written tests and the hands-on portion. NCCCO issues the certification once you pass.

Schedule and Prerequisites

Plan on four full days a week, Monday to Thursday from 7:00 AM until 4:00 PM, at the Seffner, Florida, yard for the whole three-week run. No prior crane experience is required. Pack a hard hat, gloves, work clothes and hard-toe boots, and carry a government-issued photo ID plus a valid driver's license. Students traveling in can ask about our hotel rate.

How to Enroll

Choose your start date and pay securely by card in the Enroll & Pay Online box on this page; Stripe emails your receipt and our office calls to lock in your seat. Prefer to talk first, pay in installments arranged with the office, or have an employer invoiced? Send the enrollment request form instead. Open start dates are also posted on the training calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does this class compare with the five-week option?

Three weeks keeps the focus on telescopic boom machines and the TSS and TLL credentials. Choose the five-week version if you also want lattice boom seat time and a shot at the LAT exam.

Do I need experience to sign up?

No. Beginners are exactly who the course was written for, so no crane background is expected.

The Crane School

Training Programs & Services

All programs are delivered in compliance with current OSHA regulations.

Mobile Crane Operator Certification Prep Program

For experienced operators ready to certify or recertify. Includes NCCCO TSS, TLL and LAT written and practical exams.

Learn more about Mobile Crane Certification Prep

Initial Mobile Crane Operator Training Program

For people with little or no crane experience. 3-week (TSS/TLL) and 5-week (adds LAT) programs with NCCCO exams.

Learn more about Initial Mobile Crane Training (3 & 5 Week)

Articulating Crane Operator Certification Prep Program

For knuckle-boom operators. Prepares you for the NCCCO ABC, ABL and ABW written and practical exams.

Learn more about Articulating Crane Certification Prep

Rigger Qualification / Certification Program

For personnel who rig loads to cranes — supports your rigger qualification and NCCCO Rigger Level I/II exams.

Learn more about Rigger Level 1 & 2

Signalperson Qualification / Certification Program

Standard hand and voice signals for directing cranes, plus preparation for the NCCCO Signalperson exams.

Learn more about Signalperson

Managing Crane Safety Class

For managers and supervisors: OSHA compliance, lift planning, inspections, certification and liability.

Learn more about Managing Crane Safety

Telehandler Operator Program

Certification or recertification for telehandler operators. Includes the NCCCO THO written and practical exams.

Learn more about Telehandler Operator

Crane Inspection Services

Annual, monthly, post-assembly and post-incident inspections plus load testing by NCCCO-certified inspectors.

Learn more about Crane Inspections

Related Reading

Course

5 Week Mobile Crane Class With Lattice

Five-week mobile crane class covering telescopic and lattice boom cranes, with NCCCO TSS, TLL and LAT exam prep. $9,000. Request enrollment online.

Crane Operator Practice Test

Ten quick questions on crane safety rules and NCCCO basics. Pick one answer per question — your score shows on the next page.

1. Which OSHA standard covers cranes and derricks used in construction?
2. How long is an NCCCO crane operator certification valid before recertification?
3. What does NCCCO stand for?
4. Under OSHA's current construction crane rule, operator certification must be obtained by:
5. Under OSHA Table A (1926.1408), what is the minimum clearance from power lines rated up to 50 kV?
6. When is a signal person required?
7. Whose emergency stop signal must a crane operator obey?
8. What does an anti-two-block device prevent?
9. Which document gives a crane's rated capacity for a given boom length and radius?
10. Which NCCCO designation covers telescopic boom cranes with a swing cab?