Is one week enough for you?
That depends on what you bring. The 40-hour course works well when you have some exposure already: you have oiled for an operator, worked a ground crew, run a crane informally or held a certification that has lapsed. You know what a pick looks like; you need formal instruction, chart practice and seat time on the tasks the exams measure.
It is also the practical choice when time is short. One week of eight-hour days fits between jobs or inside a block of vacation, and you still spend a good share of it at the controls.
If you have never operated, be realistic. Students with no crane background generally do better in the 120-hour course, which gives about three weeks to learn the machine before testing. Tell us your history and we will recommend one.
The week, day by day
| Days | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 and 2 | Classroom: crane theory, the safety rules behind each lift and load chart calculations |
| 3 and 4 | Seat time: inspection, set-up and controlled lifts on telescopic cranes |
| 5 | Exam-style runs of the practical tasks with instructor feedback |
After the week you sit the NCCCO written exams and the practical exam for your crane type.
Topics packed into 40 hours
With only five days, nothing is filler. Instructors start with the material the written exams test hardest, then carry it straight into the yard so you apply it the same week you learn it.
- Load charts. Reading the chart, finding the right capacity column for your configuration and running capacity calculations until they come quickly. Chart drills repeat through the week.
- Fixed cab versus swing cab. How controls and set-up differ between a cab that stays on the carrier and one that turns with the upper.
- Outriggers and the ground. Setting outriggers, judging ground conditions and spotting site hazards such as power lines and soft fill.
- Inspection. A walk-around routine you can repeat every morning on the job.
- Signals. Recognizing and answering standard hand signals the way you will see them on exam day.
- Practical tasks. Running the exam course with an instructor coaching your control and timing.
What the NCCCO exams ask of you
NCCCO mobile crane certification, the credential most contractors look for under OSHA's operator certification rule (29 CFR 1926.1427), needs both written and practical results. This week prepares you for:
- The mobile crane Core written exam
- The telescopic boom specialty written exam (swing cab TLL or fixed cab TSS)
- The practical exam on a telescopic crane in our yard: an inspection, timed placement of a test weight, a hand signal check, a corridor run forward and back, and a proper shutdown
You have 12 months to pass the written and practical for the same designation. NCCCO grades the exams and awards the certification. Read the mobile practical exam guide and try our practice questions before you arrive.
Getting the most out of five days
A short course rewards students who show up ready. A few things help:
- Work through some chart problems and our chart practice before class in the weeks before class, so day one is review rather than first contact.
- On the first morning you meet your instructor, go over safety expectations and get an outline of the week. Have a government-issued photo ID with you.
- For the practical exam, NCCCO wants a photo ID showing your date of birth, PPE that meets federal OSHA rules and proof you watched its candidate video within the 24 hours before you test.
- Dress for the yard: work boots and clothes suited to heat, wind or a cold morning.
Cost and enrollment
Tuition is $2,800. Eligible veterans can ask about GI Bill® benefits; others use workforce funding, an employer or self-pay. The funding options page lists each.
Before you enroll we review the school's admission requirements with you, along with NCCCO's: at least 18 years old, its physical requirements and its substance abuse policy. Then you talk with admissions, confirm funding, pick a class week and travel to Seagoville for day one. Steps are on the admission page; our grievance policy is worth reading too.
Need a place to stay? The Premium fixed/swing cab course is these same 40 hours with premium extras and optional room and board.