Top 3 Benefits of NCCCO Crane Operator Training
Wider job access, more leverage for better-paid work and safety knowledge you use every shift: the three practical payoffs of NCCCO exam preparation.
Careers
Two Layers of Crane Licensing in Chicago
National certification
OSHA's rule requires operators of covered construction cranes to be certified by an accredited body such as NCCCO. That applies in Chicago like everywhere else.
City of Chicago license
For work on permitted projects inside city limits, Chicago's Department of Buildings issues its own crane operator license, with classes tied to equipment type. Verify current requirements with the department.
Federal OSHA inspects
Private construction sites in Chicago are inspected by federal OSHA; Illinois' State Plan covers only public employers.
City licensing rules change. Confirm eligibility, classes and renewal with the Chicago Department of Buildings and your certifying body.
Lifting in the Windy City
High-rise construction
Tower cranes and big crawlers set steel and glass downtown, where wind off the lake shapes every lift plan.
Steel and manufacturing
The Calumet region and industrial corridors use heavy overhead cranes in mills and fabrication shops.
Airport and logistics
Cargo facilities and warehouses near O'Hare and Midway run overhead cranes and forklifts. See logistics team training.
Credentials Chicago Contractors Request
Skyline
Tower crane
The core certification for high-rise operators, paired with the city license.
Tower crane certification overview →Mills & shops
Overhead crane
Bridge and gantry cranes in steel, fabrication and distribution facilities.
Overhead crane prep →Big picks
Lattice boom crane
Crawler cranes for heavy steel and bridge work across the city.
Lattice boom prep →Supervisors
Lift director
For leads who plan multi-crane and critical picks in congested sites.
Lift director course →Your Chicago Certification Sequence
Earn the national card
Start with online prep for the NCCCO written exam for your crane type.
Pass the practical
Test at an approved site; read our practical exam checklist first.
Apply for the city license
Check the Department of Buildings for the license class, documentation and any experience or exam requirements.
Track both renewals
National cards last five years; city licenses have their own cycle. See renewing a crane certification online.