Certification Overview 
Welcome to the CCO Mobile Crane Operator certification program. The NCCCO Mobile Crane Task Force that developed this nationally recognized and internationally accredited certification program was made up of experts from all aspects of the crane industry—crane operators, crane users, trainers, safety supervisors, manufacturers—who together represent many thousands of hours of crane-related experience. These volunteers gave freely of their time and expertise with the primary goal of improving the safety of all whose work brings them into contact with cranes and lifting equipment.
HOW TO BECOME CCO CERTIFIED
Visit How to Test for instructions on applying for and taking CCO Written and Practical Exams; visit How to Recertify for instructions on recertification.
Complete instructions and exam applications are also contained in the Candidate Handbook for each program.
ELIGIBILITY
Requirements for CCO Mobile Crane Operator certification include the following:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Meet Medical Requirements
- Comply with NCCCO’s Substance Abuse Policy
- Pass Written Examinations (Core and at least one Specialty)
- Pass Practical Examination(s)—Candidates must pass the Practical exam within twelve months of passing the written examination
- Comply with the NCCCO Code of Ethics
EXPERIENCE
CCO certification exams are designed for operators who are trained and who currently work in crane operation.
PHYSICAL EVALUATION
Certified crane operators must continue to meet ASME B30 physical requirements throughout their certification period and attest to their agreement to this requirement in their applications.
In appropriate circumstances, means of compliance with ASME physical requirements may include, but are not limited to, a current Department of Transportation (DOT) Medical Examiner’s Certificate.
CCO MOBILE CRANE OPERATOR WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS
The Mobile Crane Operator Written Examinations consist of a Core Examination in crane operation and up to four crane Specialty Examinations. Certification requires competency in both the Core and one or more Specialty designation(s).
The Core Examination has 90 multiple-choice questions. Candidates are allowed 90 minutes to complete the Core Examination. Each Specialty Examinations consists of 26 multiple-choice questions. Candidates are allowed 60 minutes to complete each Specialty Examination.
All candidates are required to take the Core Examination, regardless of the Specialty(s) in which they wish to be certified.
Written exams may be taken as either paper/pencil tests (PPT) or computer-based tests (CBT), as described under How to Test.
The NCCCO Written Specialty Examinations are:
- Lattice Boom Crawler Cranes (LBC)
- Lattice Boom Truck Cranes (LBT)
- Telescopic Boom Cranes—Swing Cab (TLL)
- Telescopic Boom Cranes—Fixed Cab (TSS)
Candidates must register for the Core and at least one of the Specialty Examinations. Candidates meeting the eligibility requirements may take the Written and Practical Examinations in any order.
CCO MOBILE CRANE OPERATOR PRACTICAL EXAMINATIONS
The Mobile Crane Operator Practical Examinations demonstrate crane operation proficiency and are available in three crane types:
- Lattice Boom Cranes (covering both LBC and LBT)
- Telescopic Boom Cranes—Swing Cab (TLL)
- Telescopic Boom Cranes—Fixed Cab (TSS)
A candidate must pass the Written Core and at least one Specialty Examination as well as the corresponding Practical Exam(s) to be certified for a five-year period.
TELESCOPIC BOOM—RESTRICTED
The CCO Telescopic Boom—Swing Cab Restricted (TLL-R) and Telescopic Boom—Fixed Cab Restricted (TSS-R) Operator certifications are restricted versions of the CCO Telescopic Boom—Swing Cab (TLL) and Telescopic Boom—Fixed Cab (TSS). These were developed specifically for operators of cranes that are used in industries such as the precast concrete industry.
Get more information about the CCO Telescopic Boom—Restricted certifications.
SHORT BOOM RESTRICTION
Candidates passing NCCCO practical exams on cranes not meeting minimum standardized boom configurations will have “Short Boom Restriction” added to their certification card for the crane designations for which they receive certification; for example, “Telescopic Boom Crane—Fixed Cab (Short Boom Restriction).”
CCO CERTIFICATION TIME FRAMES
Candidates must pass Written Exams (Core + Specialty) and a Practical Exam in the designation(s) for which they seek certification. Candidates may take their Written and Practical Exams in any order.
Candidates have 12 months after they pass their first exam (Written or Practical) to pass the corresponding Written or Practical Exam(s) in the same designation(s). For example, a candidate passing the Written Exams (Core + Specialty) in the Telescopic Boom Cranes—Swing Cab (TLL) designation in January 2015 has until the end of January 2016 to pass the Telescopic Boom Cranes-Swing Cab (TLL) Practical Exam.
Any tests passed within a 12-month period count towards certification. For example, a candidate who passes the Written Core Exam in January 2015 and the Practical Exam in June 2015 but does not pass the corresponding Written Specialty Exam until February 2016 will then be required to retake (and pass) the Written Core Exam. The Practical Exam would count toward certification until the end of June 2016.
If a certified operator subsequently becomes certified in additional operator designations by taking the appropriate written and practical Specialty exams, the five-year certification period for the additional designations begins at the same time as he/she was originally certified (i.e., all operator designations expire on the same date, regardless of when in the five-year certification period the candidate passed them). If the new designation is added within the final 24 months of his/her certification period, the certificant is exempt from recertifying for the new designation after five years; after that, however, certificants must recertify for all designations during the 12 months prior to their certifications’ expiration date. This ensures that all of the certificant’s operator designations maintain the same expiration date.
Candidates for certification or recertification may petition for an extension of NCCCO’s standard timeline(s). NCCCO staff shall have the discretion to make the initial determination of whether a requested extension should be granted. Petitions for an extension of time are generally denied absent a showing of extraordinary circumstances. Denials of such petitions may be appealed to the Appeals Committee.
CERTIFICATION POLICIES
The following policies apply to all CCO certification programs:
These policies are also covered in the Candidate Handbooks for each program.
CCO CERTIFICATION CARDS
Certified operators receive a laminated photo ID card at no cost when they certify for the first time and when they complete the requirements for recertification.
Please note that all operators with Telescopic Boom—Fixed Cab (TSS) certification also receive the Boom Truck—Fixed Cab (BTF) and Service Truck Crane (STC) certification designations because Boom Trucks and Service Truck Cranes are subcategories of Telescopic Boom—Fixed Cab cranes. Visit the appropriate Frequently Asked Questions page for additional information about the BTF and/or STC designations as they pertain to TSS certification.
Replacement cards, cards showing certification in an additional designation, or updated cards for candidates who retake and pass a designation they previously failed may be obtained from NCCCO at a cost of $25. Cards may be ordered online or by contacting Jennifer at jwarner@nccco.org or 727-449-8525.
Certification cards remain the property of NCCCO, are not transferable, and must be returned to NCCCO upon demand.
RECERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
NCCCO certification is valid for five years. Recertification candidates must complete all recertification requirements during the 12 months prior to their certification’s expiration date.
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 full examination in that Specialty.
Review recertification requirements for Mobile Crane Operators.
Get complete instructions on How to Recertify.