Heavy Equipment Operations – Tower 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 – 2 Weeks; 66 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. 9/28/2026, 10/12/2026, 10/26/2026, 11/9/2026, 11/23/2026, 12/7/2026, 1/4/2027, 1/19/2027, 2/1/2027, 2/15/2027, 3/1/2027, 3/15/2027.

TC21104: Crane Safety. This lab is designed to introduce students to general tower crane safety, power line safety, crane power supply safety, crane, and load swing path safety. Explains how to identify site and environmental hazards associated with tower cranes and the safety practices for erecting and dismantling a tower crane. Outside coursework is required.

TC21102: Basic Principles of Cranes. Introduces students to the most common types of tower cranes used on construction sites with an emphasis on component and operations terminology and how they are applied to the crane industry. Explains the basic scientific principles of how the center(s) of gravity and leverage effect the safe operation of cranes. Explains wire rope reeving. How to calculate multi-part wire rope reeving and the advantages and disadvantages of multi-part wire rope reeving. This course also explains the factors effecting crane capacity during normal and critical lifting operations. Students will be introduced to basic gauges, instruments and safety devices installed on cranes.

TC21203: Preventative Maintenance. This class covers preventative maintenance and compliance inspections on a tower crane. Presents the safety considerations, procedures, and equipment/materials required for these inspections.

TC21105: Operating a Crane. Describes the basic functions of a tower crane as well as standard procedure for starting up and shutting down a tower crane. Provides the student with the opportunity to become familiar with the actual operation of a tower crane and the functions of its controls.

TC21207: Self-Erecting Tower Cranes. This course covers site hazards and restrictions that could hinder crane operations, safety considerations involved in crane set-up and dismantling, procedures to set-up and erect the tower crane, and identify safety considerations involved in operations.

TC21205: Computer/Operator Aids. Provides information on load moment indicators, ant-two-block devices, load indicators, and other operator aids that are installed on cranes. Includes an in-depth look at the input devices associated with these operator aids and the information they provided.

TC21204: Wire Rope. Covers the components of wire rope and inspection requirements and procedures for wire rope, load blocks, and sheaves. Explains proper installation of wire rope, maintenance guidelines and end terminations and preparations.

TC21301: Load Charts. This class will discuss the importance of load charts and charts that apply to different configurations. Includes jib, and deduction charts as well as range diagrams and operational notes. Covers parts of line and capacity calculations.

TC07: Emergency Procedures. Includes information on accident prevention and investigation, the hazards of power line contact, and various failures that may occur during lifting operations.

Housing. Available but not required: $380 – 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.

Over the next decade, thousands of new openings will be available for certified operators. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for material moving machine operators, such as tower crane operators, is projected to grow 4% from 2025-2035.

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.