Heavy Equipment Operations – Lattice Boom Crawler Crane

To qualify for enrollment, applicants must be able to read and write the English language and be at least 18 years of age. Applicants must possess a high school diploma or equivalent. Most employers require a drug test; therefore, it is recommended that students are able to pass a drug screening test.

Certain criteria may disqualify an applicant because they may prevent a graduate from obtaining employment; admission may still be granted if the Institution determines the applicant is capable of obtaining employment upon graduation. The Institution will make this determination on a case-by-case basis.

Length. Full Time – 3 Weeks; 120 total instructional clock hours. A clock hour is defined as 50 minutes of instruction in a 60-minute period.

Training hours. Training hours range from: Monday through Saturday 7:00am – 5:00pm. Training times may be adjusted to accommodate seasonal weather conditions, holidays and other unforeseen circumstances. However, all program hours will be offered. Fridays and Saturdays are reserved for additional training time with instructors and for students to make-up any missed coursework.

Class size. The number of students per class range from one to thirty students. Maximum student to instructor ratios is as follows: Classroom Instruction - 30:1, and field instruction - 12:1. The normal training day runs approximately ten hours with a lunch break.

Upcoming start dates. 10/5/2026, 10/26/2026, 11/16/2026, 12/7/2026, 1/4/2027, 1/25/2027, 2/15/2027, 3/8/2027, 3/29/2027, 4/19/2027, 5/10/2027, 5/31/2027.

21303: Advanced Operational Techniques. This course addresses operational techniques beyond simple lifts. These include more advanced lifting operations, such as multiple-crane lifts, and the use of different lifting devices, such as personnel lifts. Demolition is discussed, as well as cold weather operation.

21307: Emergency Procedures. This course gives an overview of accident situations that could possibly occur on the job site, and the steps that need to be taken to ensure the safety of equipment and personnel.

21308: Transporting Equipment. Knowledge of the appropriate handling guidelines, safety guidelines, and Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations for interstate and intrastate travel is essential for safely transporting crane components to the job site in an undamaged condition.

38201: Intermediate Rigging. This class describes some of the more complex rigging situations such as larger loads, multiple crane lifts, personnel lifts, lateral positioning of loads with equipment such as tuggers, skids, and rollers.

10001: Weights & Calculations. This course introduces basic math concepts for weight calculations and conversions when determining lift loads for crane operators.

10015: Lattice Load Charts. In depth look at load/ capacity charts including crane and boom configurations, crane base configurations, and quadrants of operations. Students will be given exercises to solve the many situations and variations from basic chart information. Students will be introduced to several load charts of the lattice crane models. Students will be shown load calculations and be given exercises to complete.

21305: Personnel Lifting. This class covers in-depth guidelines of both the federal regulations and the consensus standard for hoisting personnel.

Housing. Available but not required: $570 – double-occupancy.

Financial aid. Heavy Equipment Colleges of America does not participate in Title IV federal funding. HEC works with several sources of funding, including, but not limited to: Approved for VA Education; Vocational Rehabilitation; Federal Trade Adjustment Assistance Program; Workforce Innovations and Opportunity Act; In-house financing; Bureau of Indian Affairs; Students may also pay cash; Other financing options for those who qualify. HEC does accept WIOA funds provided an agreement between the Agency and HEC can be reached.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the field of heavy equipment operation will grow as much as 4% from 2025 to 2035. That means that when you complete your training program(s) at HEC, you can become part of a growing field with a variety of job opportunities around the country.

Career services. The Institution's job placement service is available to assist graduates with finding employment. Students will undergo a job placement entrance interview/orientation with HEC. HEC will then begin contacting employers within the same geographical area as the students’ zip code, including those zip codes of out-of-state students, post job openings and assist the student in contacting prospective employers. Upon a student's successful completion of the program, the Institution will give each graduate a list of employers who have hired graduates or requested to be on the Institution's list. The Institution does not guarantee any of its graduates that they will become employed as a result of the training.

Training material. Required books and supplies are provided to students. A training book containing the program curriculum is checked-out to students upon enrollment and students return the training book at program completion.

Training environment. Training may take place in a variety of academic environments including but not limited to lecture, hands-on, field, site, and lab. Field training is structured where students are organized in groups.

Licensing. Heavy equipment operators are not required to have any state issued license in Oklahoma. Heavy Equipment Operators do not need a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) prior to employment.