Heavy Equipment Operations – Mobile 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. 6:30 AM to 5:00 PM Monday – Thursday (Training Hours), weather and holidays permitted. All training hours will be offered but may be adjusted to accommodate weather conditions, holidays and other unforeseeable circumstances.

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.

21102: Basic Principles of Crane. This course offers students an introduction to mobile crane equipment with an in-depth discussion of terminology. It explains the basic scientific principles associated with mobile crane operations.

21103: Rigging Practices. This course offers the student an in-depth understanding of the fundamentals of rigging. It discusses a variety of rigging gear, components and configurations, and their applications within the mobile crane industry. Students get hands on practice rigging loads to be lifted.

21104: Crane Safety. This course introduces the student to various safety aspects of mobile crane operation, including equipment inspection, site hazard identification, and required personal protective equipment. The course discusses how to work with site plans and specifications.

21105: Operating a Crane. This course describes the basic functions of a crane as well as standard procedure for starting up and shutting down a crane. It provides the student with the opportunity to become familiar with the actual operation of a crane and the functions of its controls.

21203: Preventative Maintenance. This course covers preventative maintenance and compliance inspections on a crane. The trainee will gain an understanding of the safety considerations, procedures, and the equipment/materials required for these inspections

21204: Wire Rope. This course covers the components of wire rope and inspection requirements and procedures for wire rope, load blocks, and sheaves. It explains proper installation of wire rope, maintenance guidelines, and end terminations and preparations.

21206: Load Dynamics. This course covers leverage and stability, operational quadrants, submerged lifts, non-centered lifts, and other factors that affect stability.

21207: On Site Equipment Movement. – December 31, 2027 16 This course covers site hazards and restrictions that could hinder on-site crane movement, safety considerations involved in crane movement over unlevel ground, pick-and-carry operations, and power line contact. It addresses flotation capacity.

21301: Load Charts. This course will discuss the importance of load charts and charts that apply to different configurations. It includes on- rubber, on-outrigger, jib, and deduction charts as well as range diagrams and operational notes. This course also covers parts of line and capacity calculations.

21303: Advanced Operational Techniques. This course covers multi-crane lifts, critical lifts, blind lifts and demolition. It also includes sections on how to use magnet and vacuum lifting devices and how to operate a mobile crane in cold weather.

21304: Lift Planning. This course gives an in-depth discussion of lift plan implementation. It includes reference information, calculations, single and multiple-crane lifting, critical lifts, and engineering considerations.

21305: Hoisting Personnel. This course discusses ASME B30.23 and 29 CFR 1926.550(g) requirements while presenting advanced operation techniques for hoisting personnel.

21306: Lattice Boom. In this course students are provided a step-by-step look at short- and long-lattice boom assembly and disassembly.

21307: Emergency Procedures. This course includes information on accident prevention and investigation, the hazards of power line contact, and various failures that may occur during lifting operations.

LAB00041: Crane Operation and Maintenance. This lab is designed for trainees to put into action what they have learned in the classroom. Trainees will perform several basic lifts with the rough terrain crane. They will move and set up the unit in a stable area. Trainees will also perform the necessary preventive maintenance required by this machine to keep it functioning properly. Upon completion of this lab, students will be able to: 1) correctly perform pre- operational checks and preventive maintenance on the rough terrain crane; 2) properly start and warm up the rough terrain crane; 3) perform basic operations with the rough terrain crane; 4) properly cool down and shut down the rough terrain crane; 5) perform proper post-operation preventive maintenance on the rough terrain crane.

LAB00042: Communication and Rigging. – December 31, 2027 19 This course offers students an introduction to mobile crane equipment with an in-depth discussion of terminology. It explains the basic scientific principles associated with mobile crane operations.

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

Additional fees, if applicable. National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) Exam Fees (nccco.org).

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.

The demand for skilled and knowledgeable crane operators is projected to continue to grow over the next ten years. According to the BLS as mentioned above, the field of crane operation stands to grow as much as 4% from 2025 to 2035. When you complete your training at HEC, you will be ready to join 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.

Outcomes (California School Performance Fact Sheet). On-time completion rate, calendar years 2023 / 2024: 93% / 100%. Job placement rate, 2023 / 2024: 76% / 73%.

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.