Earning a crane operator certification requires extensive training, and the more hands-on experience you can get, the better. To safely and effectively help trainees become experts, crane simulation has become a popular training method. GlobalSim is taking simulation solutions further by offering crane operator training in multiple formats, including from a desktop computer! 

Whether you run a training center or want to become a grutier yourself, completing crane operation training with a simulator revolutionizes how students practice and how instructors teach. To create a comprehensive training experience, training managers and heavy equipment training centers can use the best equipment available while streamlining the certification process.

How to Become NCCCO Certified

The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) developed the nationally recognized and internationally accredited certification program, making it the primary way that crane operators are authorized to safely and legally use crane equipment. To become CCO certified, there are several key steps to prepare for and complete.

Eligibility

First, to be eligible to get a crane operator certification according to the NCCCO, you must:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Pass written examinations
• Pass practical examinations
• Comply with NCCCO’s substance abuse policy
• Comply with NCCCO’s code of ethics

Written Examinations

The written exams are an essential part of crane operator training and test the candidate’s knowledge of both the fundamentals and at least one specialized area. Everyone takes the Core Examination and one of up to four crane Specialty Examinations.

• The core examination: 90 multiple choice questions with 90 minutes given to complete the test
• Specialty examinations: 26 multiple choice questions with 60 minutes to complete a test

The types of specialty exams written by the NCCCO include:

• Mobile Harbour Crane (MHC)
• Overhead Crane
• Grue à tour
• Lattice Boom Crawler Cranes (LBC)
• Lattice Boom Truck Cranes (LBT)
• Telescopic Boom Cranes—Swing Cab (TLL)
• Telescopic Boom Cranes—Fixed Cab (TSS)

Practical Examinations

The mobile crane operator practical exam is how candidates show their crane operation proficiency in whatever crane specialty they choose. The crane practical exams correlate with the specialties available in the written exam and are put into these three crane types:

• Lattice Boom Cranes (includes both LBC and LBT)
• Telescopic Boom Cranes—Swing Cab (TLL)
• Telescopic Boom Cranes—Fixed Cab (TSS)
• Pont roulant aérien
• Grue à tour
• Articulating Crane

Note that it doesn’t matter whether you take the written or practical exam first, just that you pass the following test(s) within 12 months of taking the first exam. Any test passed within a 12-month time frame will count towards certification.

Any program that offers to train and certify future crane operators must offer adequate crane-use theory et experience to fully prepare their students. This is why simulation training is such a core aspect of certification classes since it provides hands-on experience right from the start.

Benefits of Simulation-Based Crane Training

Crane exam preparation can be intimidating and stressful without the right resources, but with simulation technology, candidates can feel confident in their abilities, knowledge, and experience. There are different types of simulation setups, including portable simulators, full cabin simulators, and more recently, desktop-based simulators that all offer practice opportunities. 

Using training available on a computer to prepare students is an excellent way to instill that confidence and comes with all kinds of advantages for both candidates and instructors, including the following:

• Less time on actual crane equipment. First and foremost, crane simulation systems reduce the time needed to train on real, on-site cranes, giving students extra time training without unnecessary wear and tear on real equipment.
• Variety of training opportunities. Large simulators are a great way to educate and test trainees as they advance in their education, but training on a computer is ideal for a classroom setting. It can quickly introduce new trainees to crane operation and prepare them for bigger simulations with a more robust setup.

• Affordable. Because it requires less equipment, a completely computer-ran simulation that can be conducted from a desk can easily integrate with your current classroom environment without driving up your costs.

• Simplifies instruction for trainers. A computer system is an easy simulation option to help students practice operating cranes without risking safety or wasting fuel, and it allows instructors to observe and monitor a student’s progress. This way, trainers can get more one-on-one training with students, offer customized environments, and assess their skills until those students are ready for their certification tests.

• Greater accessibility. Training centers can help more students at a time by having several units set up in the classroom, which means pushing more students through the program, giving students more time with the simulator, troubleshooting real-life scenarios, and offering a variety of crane-type training from one computer.

Best Simulators to Assist with CCO Training

The best crane simulators can offer real-world experiences in a synthetic environment, which is a priceless resource for thorough training centers. There are a lot of benefits of computer simulators, but there are even more options available depending on the training environment you use or want to implement. Some training simulators are best suited for novices while others are better for more advanced operator candidates, too. Some of the most useful simulations available for trainees and training managers from GlobalSim include:

• Desktop simulators are offered as standalone units that can be enhanced with VR and other hands-on controls. Perfect for training multiple students at a time, this model is excellent for a classroom setting.

• Mid-range simulators decked out with the essentiel system features, offering more realism than the desktop version but still suitable for an office environment.

• Cabin simulators that provide an enclosed or near-enclosed space with a crane operation setup for trainees to experience and test. More robust systems like these are hyper-realistic and can have specialized equipment, too.

Trust GlobalSim for Your Training Needs

Simulation training is the future of crane operation certification and creates safer, more skilled operators for every industry. From military to construction to port operations, simulated crane training helps professionals monitor their students and offer the most life-like education possible.

GlobalSim offers the most advanced technology and a range of simulation options for your training center. Without state-of-the-art simulator systems, you can get simulations as accessible as a desktop computer or some of the largest crane simulators in the world.