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Subpart CC – Cranes and Derricks in 

Construction: Operator Qualification 

and Certification 

This fact sheet explains the operator qualification 

and certification requirements of subpart CC – 

Cranes and Derricks in Construction, as specified 

in 29 CFR 1926.1427. State or local government 

licensing is effective November 8, 2010. Other 

certification and qualification is effective November 

10, 2014. 

Who needs to be certified or qualified? 

Any person engaged in a construction activity who 

is operating a crane covered by the new cranes 

and derricks rule, except: 

• sideboom cranes* 

• derricks* 

• equipment with a rated hoisting/lifting 

capacity of 2,000 pounds or less* 

*Operators of the listed equipment must meet the 

criteria for minimum expertise described in the 

applicable section in subpart CC. 

Are operators of digger derricks 

required to be qualified or certified? 

Yes, unless the digger derrick is being used to 

auger holes for poles carrying electric or 

telecommunication lines, place or remove the 

poles, or handle associated materials to be 

installed on or removed from the poles. 

What is required in the testing for 

certification?

Certification has two parts: 

1. A written examination that includes the safe 

operating procedures for the particular type of 

equipment the applicant will be operating and 

technical understanding of the subject matter 

criteria required in 1926.1427(j). 

2. A practical exam showing the applicant has the 

skills needed to safely operate the equipment, 

Including, among other skills, the ability to 

properly use load chart information and 

recognize items required in the shift inspection. 

Does an operator need more than one 

certification?

With respect to certification from an accredited 

testing organization, an operator must be certified 

for the type and capacity of crane he or she is 

going to operate. Each accredited testing 

organization develops its own categories for crane 

type and capacity. 

How is an operator certified or 

qualified?

There are 4 ways that an equipment operator can 

be qualified or certified and meet OSHA 

requirements. 

1. A certificate from an accredited crane operator 

testing organization 

2. Qualification from the employer through an 

audited employer program 

3. Qualification by the US Military (only applies to 

employees of Department of Defense or Armed 

Forces and does not include private contractors) 

4. *Licensing by a state or local government (if that 

licensing meets the minimum requirements set 

forth by OSHA) 

*When a state or local government requires a 

crane operator license, the crane operator must be 

licensed accordingly to meet OSHA requirements.
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Operator Qualification and 

Certification, continued. 

Accredited crane operator testing 

organization. The testing organization must be 

accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting 

agency and test according to the criteria listed at 

§§ 1926.1427(j)(1) and (j)(2). This certification is 

portable from employer to employer. The testing 

organization must have its accreditation reviewed 

every 3 years. The certificate must note the type 

and capacity of equipment for which the operator 

is tested and certified. The certificate is valid for 

5 years. 

Audited employer program. An employer 

may provide a crane operator testing program 

under the oversight of an independent auditor. 

An accredited crane operator testing organization 

must certify the auditor to evaluate the 

administration of written and practical tests. The 

auditor must conduct audits of the employer’s 

program according to nationally recognized 

auditing standards. Crane operator qualification 

under an employer program is only valid while the 

operator is an employee of the employer and 

operating a crane for the employer. The 

qualification is valid up to 5 years. 

U.S. Military. This qualification applies only to 

civilian employees of the Department of Defense 

or Armed Services and is not portable. This 

qualification does not include employees of 

private contractors. 

Licensing by a government entity. This 

license is obtained from a government entity, 

such as a city or state that has a required 

certification program. When this license meets 

the minimum requirements of 1926.1427(e)(2) 

and (j), OSHA requires a crane operator to have 

this license when operating in the applicable city, 

county, or state. This license is not portable 

outside the boundaries of the government entity 

that issues the license, and is valid for a 

maximum of 5 years.