Tower Crane recertification now available

The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) has announced the availability of its CCO Tower Crane recertification written examination.

With the introduction of the new exam, crane operators who have been certified in tower crane operation can now make preparations to requalify in this category.

Since the CCO tower crane certification program was introduced in late 2004, more than 1,500 operators have sat for the written examination, and close to 1,000 for the practical, reported David Ritchie, chairman of the Tower Crane Management committee. Ritchie is St. Paul Travelers' risk control specialist, cranes and rigging.

Certificants who have maintained 1,000 hours of crane-related experience in the last five years, and have a current, completed CCO Physical Examination form or a current DOT medical certificate, do not need to retake the tower crane practical examination to recertify.

“Although none of the tower crane certifications issued has yet expired (certification is valid for five years), operators who need to recertify in mobile cranes can now also take the tower crane recertification written exam at the same time and thereby maintain their tower crane credential,” Ritchie said. This has the added advantage that CCO-certified operators have only one common expiration date for all the categories of crane they may be certified to operate. That not only aids accurate record keeping, added Ritchie, but also serves to clarify the certification process.

All tower crane operators in the state of California must be certified by an accredited, third-party certification organization, such as NCCCO. Many major employers throughout the US also require tower crane operators to be CCO-certified as a risk management measure, Ritchie noted.

• Further information on the NCCCO Tower Crane recertification written examination is available from NCCCO at (703) 560-2391 or [email protected]