If you are considering becoming a crane operator in this beautiful state of Wyoming, you need to know first what you should do and what it takes so that you would not waste time and money later on in the process.
If you still have doubt if this job pays well, doubt no more. It is a well-paying job and there’s a high demand in the cities. You would not have a hard time looking for a job.
But before you become one, training and certification must be attained in order to get accepted for employment. The training happens in this school while the certification administers by a testing body which involves passing the written exam and demonstration test.
If you don’t know where to start, in this article, we will provide you with the information you need in order to get begin the journey.
Let’s discuss first the steps you need to take.
Steps to Follow on How to Become a Crane Operator
If you decided to get a career as a crane operator, here is the simple process to take to be one.
- Prepare all that you need. To become a crane operator, you need to be at least at the age of 18 years old and must have a high school diploma or a GED certificate. Your body must be in good health condition and physically fit to become a crane operator. Obtaining NCCCO certification will require you to submit further requirements, see below.
- Decide what type of crane you want to get certified for. There are a variety of crane models and types and it is very important to decide on what type you want to focus on operating. Once you have decided, your next step is to join the training and be certified.
- Take the crane training program offered by a school. If you are considering professional training, attending school education would be best. There are several schools offering training programs including safety regulations and crane machine maintenance. This is a great help in equipping you for the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) exam. See below the list of training schools in Wyoming.
- Pass the NCCCO certification exams. Having an NCCCO certification is very much recommended since it is one of the requirements employers look for in hiring a potential candidate. The NCCCO exam is composed of two parts which are the written exam and the practical test. You have to pass both tests to be certified.
Crane Operator Schools in the State of Wyoming
- Paradise Crane Consultants LLC
Wyoming - 3573, 611 W 20th St, Cheyenne, WY 82001
505-286-1883 - OSTS, Inc. (National Crane Training)
Cheyenne, Wyoming
1 877 226-6006 - Rocky Mountain Hoist Services
5352 S Winland Dr., Gillette, WY 82718
Phone: 307-682-5724; Fax: 888-979-6297 - Industrial Hoist & Crane
P.O. Box 877, Rock Springs, WY 82902
Phone: 307-382-0089, Fax: 307-382-0679 - American Equipment Inc.
Located in UT but offers mobile crane training course for students and companies in Wyoming
Phone: 801-269-0896 - Crane Testing and Training, LLC
Covers WY as an area of operation
Phone: 303-241-5062, Fax: 303-453-1114 - Laguna Crane Services
Also covers the state of WY as their area of coverage
Phone: 361-758-3130 - American Equipment, Inc.
Located in UT but covers Wy as an area of business coverage
Phone: 801-269-0896 - All Purpose Crane Training
toll-free at (888)501-1355 - International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 800
4925 N. Wardwell Industrial Ave.
Bar Nunn, Wyoming 82601
Phone: (307) 265-1397
Website: http://www.iuoe800.org
Helpful Tips in Choosing the Righty School for Crane Operator
Here are some helpful tips that would help you in finding the right school for you in your career as a crane operator.
- Pick a school that is providing job assistance to graduates. Choose a school that will not only prepare you for the job but will also help you find one. There are schools helping students to get hired after program completion. This is one best option for choosing your school.
- Choose a school that provides comprehensive training. Since the NCCCO exam also has a practical test, better to equip yourself with the necessary skills you need. Choosing a school that provides hands-on training will help beginners in passing the test.
- Choose a class with a small student-to-teacher ratio. The number of students in a class also matters. A small number of students in a class receive better attention and can focus more on the training.
- With a modern training facility. Look for a school that is not only equipped to train but also has a state-of-the-art training facility. Make sure that all the modern equipment of the school is fully functional and well maintained. You can do this by visiting the preferred school and try to make your observation.
- Find a school that offers a training curriculum lined up with NCCCO. It is best to choose a school whose curriculum is aligned with NCCCO. This will give you greater help in passing the NCCCO certification tests.
- Look for a school with a long history of success. It is important to choose a school that continuously produces great crane operators. Most employers prefer to hire those who have trained in a well-known training center.
- With experienced Instructors. If you want to be an expert, you must be trained by an expert as they say.
Learning from the best school also requires learning from the best teachers. This field requires hands-on experience and the instructor's technical knowledge must satisfy the need for learning. - If you are an employer, choose a school that administers on-site training. Onsite training is the preferred way of conducting training to crane operators for a variety of good reasons such as cost-effectiveness and efficiency.
How Much Does It Cost Attending School
It is somehow difficult to come up with an estimate since there’s no accurate answer for this and the tuition constantly varies from school to school.
Many schools offer a complete course ranging from $1500 to $2500 depending on the type of crane you wanted to be certified for. This amount does not include board, textbooks, and other study materials.
Assuming that you’ve already received your training certificate and now know how to operate the machine, you now have to keep up with your skills and credentials. This is done by obtaining the NCCCO certification, and getting it involves spending some amount at as well that is not included in the school tuition. See below the process of taking the NCCCO certification exams.
NCCCO Certification Requirements
If you are now ready to take the NCCCO certification exams, here is what you need to prepare:
- The aspiring crane operator must be at least 18 years old.
- Need to pass written Examinations (the core exam, as well as at least one specialty exams, must be passed)
- Pass Practical Examination – after successfully passing the written exam, the candidate has 12 months in order to pass the practical test.
- You will sign as confirmation that you will comply with NCCCO’s Substance Abuse Policy
- You will affirm that you will comply with the NCCCO Code of Ethics.
You have the option to take the written exams either in paper-and-pencil or computer-based, there are approximately 300 testing sites across the country. Find a testing site here near you.
When submitting an application for the written exam, please take note that the application must be submitted two weeks prior to the scheduled exam date. If your application has been accepted, you will receive an admission letter a week before the exam date.
If you want to apply now for the NCCCO certification written exam, click this.
When taking the practical exam, the NCCCO practical mobile crane operator practical examinations are available in three types of cranes: Lattice Boom Crane, Telescopic Boom Cranes—Fixed Cab, Telescopic Boom Crane—Swing Cab. You have the option to take the exams on one or all three types mentioned.
If you will take practical exam, you will be tested on six main tasks, namely, equipment inspection, hoisting a load, booming, swinging, following hand signals, and combination operations.
If you are successful in passing the written test and practical exam, you will get your certificate or operator card. The certification is valid for five (5) years.
Recertification is required every five (5) years to ensure that knowledge is retained and the operator is kept up-to-date to the latest applicable government regulations. Recertification involves passing a written test and acquisition of 1,000 hours of crane operation experience within that time period.
Being a Crane Operator Apprentice is Another Way to Get into This Career
Being an apprentice is another way to get into the industry and practical solution to gain the practical experience needed for the certification and actual job.
If you want to take this route, you can go to the nearest local of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) in your area and inquire if they are accepting applicants. Here’s how to locate a local in Wyoming.
Since interviews and applications are held just once a year, you need to keep an eye of the openings. If you want to get accepted, please make sure that you do not have a current job and do not have a Contractor Crane Apprentice Training Agreement. You may also ask for other requirements so that you can prepare for them.
IUOE Local 800 is located in Bar Nunn, for the complete contact information, see above.
To give a sneak peek of what you need to submit to apply for the apprenticeship program, here are what you need/be:
- You must comply to the requirements stated in the ANSI B 30.2004
- You need to complete OSHA 10 or 30hour training completed within your first year of employment
- You will undergo DOT physical tests to obtain DOT Health Card.
- You will need OSHA Competent Person Certification
- You will need to pass a written exam, an entrance exam so to say, the passing rate is 70%, but will depend on the local.
- You will undergo substance abuse screening as a mandatory requirement.
Salary of Crane Operators Working in Wyoming
Now everything boils down to this – your salary. If you are asking how much you could make being a crane operator in this state, well, according to the latest October 29, 2021 report of Salary.com, the average is $43,757 but since there’s a deviation, it could be somewhere in the range of $35,189 and $53,348.
The obvious factors that affect your salary are the location or city in Wyoming where are you working, your experience and education level, size of the company you are working for and other applicable skills you have as a crane operator you can use in the job.
There is a projection that there will be a 2.8% increase in demand for this job until the year 2026. As the construction of new buildings and residential houses grow so as the demand for crane operators. What this means to you is that you can establish a long-term career in this industry, you will not be having a hard time getting a job.
To Make a Finalization
In the state of Wyoming, the demand for crane operators continues to rise due to improvements and industrialization.
But again, before you get a job, the most important requirement that employers look for from a candidate is certified to operate the crane.
This certification will be your best credential, proving that you have enough skills and have undergone proper training to be equipped with the necessary experience that a crane operator should have.