The Process of Becoming a Professional Crane Operator

Crane Operator Does the idea of controlling a crane sound appealing to you? If so, there are plenty of companies looking for professional crane operators right now. But before you land a job working on a crane, you are going to need to follow a few steps. Take a look at how you can turn yourself into a crane operator below.

Go through a heavy-equipment operator program.

The first thing you need to do in order to become a crane operator is get the right education for it. There are specific courses that you can take on operating a crane. These courses will include work both inside and outside of the classroom, since field training is obviously a big part of working with cranes. During your operator courses, you will learn about everything from operating a crane safely and doing maintenance on a crane to reading blueprints properly and identifying all of the different parts on a crane. You can usually find courses on cranes through a local community college or vocational school.

Obtain a license or certification.

All states license and certify crane operators a little bit differently, so it’s important for you to find out how your state does it before you start training to become an operator. In some states, you will need to get a specific license that allows you to operate cranes. In others, you will need to get certified by the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators. Either way, it’s important for you to figure out what you need before applying for jobs.

Apply for crane operator positions.

Once you have completed the proper coursework and obtained a license or certificate, it will be time to start applying for jobs. Most employers will want experienced operators, so if you haven’t spent much time working on a crane, you will likely have to work an apprenticeship and learn the ropes before taking command of your own crane. But once you are able to work on your own, being a crane operator can be a very lucrative and rewarding job.

Does your company need help with renting a crane or obtaining the services of a good crane operator? Astro Crane can help. Call us at 978-429-8666 today to find out what we’re all about.