NCCCO Program Key Facts

• The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) is an independent, not-for-profit organization incorporated in January 1995 to establish and administer a nationwide program for the certification of crane operators
  
  
• Among the goals of NCCCO's nationwide certification program are: reduced risk of loss, fewer accidents, more consistent training, and expanded job opportunities for operators.
  
  
• NCCCO programs meet federal OSHA regulations and American National Standard ASME B30.
  
  
• NCCCO has the support of a wide and diverse group of crane-using industries such as construction, utilities, energy, steel erection, crane rental, automotive petrochemical, and pulp/paper.
  
  
• NCCCO activities center around three specific areas: 1) validating crane operators' knowledge and proficiency; 2) developing and administering examinations to test that knowledge and proficiency; and, 3) issuing certification to those operators who meet the criteria for crane operator certification.
  
  
• CCO certification is designed to assure both industry and the general public that operators are skilled and knowledgeable.
  
  
• Features of the NCCCO program are that it is:
  • National in scope;
  • Operated by the private sector (not-for-profit);
  • Independent of labor relations policies;
  • Tailored to different types of cranes;
  • Designed so certifications must be renewed every 5 years (recertification);
  • Tested in two parts: written and practical.
  • Accredited by nationally recognized professional credentialing authorities (ANSI and NCCA)
  • Officially recognized by Federal OSHA
    

• Examinations are administered on demand at sites across the US. While a minimum of 15 candidates is preferred for a written examination, fewer candidates can be accommodated for a modest administrative fee.
  
  
• A Certification Card is issued to those operators who meet eligibility requirements and pass written and practical exams, demonstrating their fundamental knowledge of, and skill in, safe crane operation.
  
  
• All CCO written examinations comprise questions in multiple-choice format.  While the Tower Crane and Overhead Crane programs use a single written exam, the Mobile Crane program consist of a Core Exam and four Specialty Exams.  The Specialties are: Lattice Boom Truck Crane, Lattice Boom Crawler Crane, Small Telescopic Boom Crane (fixed cab), and Large Telescopic Boom Crane (swing cab).
  
  
• The Mobile Crane practical (hands-on) examination is offered in three categories: Lattice Boom Crane, Large Telescopic Boom Crane (Swing Cab), and Small Telescopic Boom Crane (Fixed Cab). The Tower Crane and Overhead Crane practical  examinations consist of one category each since the skill sets tested are essentially the same within each category.  The Tower Crane exam may be taken on a hammerhead, luffing or self-erecting type of crane.  The Overhead Crane exam may be taken on a cab-controlled or pendant-controlled crane. The NCCCO Practical Examiner Accreditation Program trains CCO-certified crane operators in the administration of the practical exam, and authorizes them to administer the CCO hands-on tests at sites nationwide.
  
  
• In its first twelve years, CCO administered over 320,000 written examinations to more than 60,000 operators in all 50 states, a significant step toward its goal of ensuring an informed, trained and qualified population of crane operators throughout the nation.
  
  
• The CCO national crane operator certification program is recognized by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration as meeting OSHA's requirements for crane operator competency.  The formal Agreement between OSHA and NCCCO, the only one of its kind between a private sector organization and a government agency in this field, provides significant benefits for employers who adopt the CCO certification program.
  
  
• In addition to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, NCCCO also works closely with other federal agencies including the U.S. Corps of Engineers, the Department of Defense, the Department of Education, the Department of Energy, Department of the Navy, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  
  
• NCCCO coordinates its testing services through all major industry groups, and is formally recognized by many including the American Society of Civil engineers (ASCE); American Subcontractors Association (ASA); the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM); the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC); the Crane Manufacturers Association of America (CMAA); the Association of Union Constructors (TAUC); the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA); the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE); and the Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA).