Crane operators (NOC 7371)

Education, training & qualifications

Completion of secondary school is usually required to work in this field. Competency in math is also necessary in order for crane operators to do their job safely.

As of July 1, 2007, most crane operators need to have documented proof that they are either certified or currently registered for assessment that will lead to certification by the British Columbia Association for Crane Safety (BCACS) in order to work in B.C.

In B.C., regulation applies to operators of boom trucks, mobile cranes, tower cranes and self erecting tower cranes. Note: operators who use cranes under five tons or that have a boom length of less than 25 feet are exempt from certification and bridge cranes are not covered by the regulation. For more information, please see the WorkSafeBC website at: https://www.worksafebc.com/en/health-safety/education-training-certification/crane-operator.

The BCACS issues certificates to operators after they have successfully completed a competency assessment. No specific training program is required. However, to be eligible for certification, individuals should have completed either a three-year apprenticeship program through the Industry Training Authority or have a combination of work experience in the trade and some college or industry courses.

Assessment is conducted by an independent third party. Level 1 certification allows trainees to work directly under the supervision of a qualified operator. The trainee may later request to be assessed again for a higher level of certification, Level 2 or 3. Assessment is competency-based and not based on the number of hours worked within the occupation. Under the regulation, existing operators are allowed to continue operating. However, within one year of registration with the BCACS they are required to take a practical assessment.

For more information on crane operator certification see BCACS at https://bccranesafety.ca/.

Mobile crane operators are currently eligible for Interprovincial Standards Red Seal qualification through the Industry Training Authority. This qualification allows holders to work in any province or territory. Once individuals pass the final examination of their accredited training program, they will achieve certification and will automatically receive a Red Seal qualification. Workers with 6,030 hours of documented, directly related work experience can challenge the Interprovincial Red Seal examination. For more information please see the Industry Training Authority website at www.itabc.ca.

Crane operators who are certified for that occupation by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references, or criminal record check.

For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.

Contact the Industry Training Authority of BC and/or the BC Association for Crane Safety for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.

For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.

View a list of B.C. occupational regulators.

Education programs in B.C.

For more information about programs offered specifically for this career, visit EducationPlannerBC.

Trades training resources

Visit our trades training page at www.workbc.ca/trades to learn about apprenticeship and trades training in B.C.