Frequently Asked Questions (Complete List)

California Crane School offers hands-on crane training packages. Our 5-day course comes with additional time in the field and on the cranes as well, which we recommend to anyone new to operating a crane.

OSHA’s Final Rule specifies that operators within the construction industry must be certified. NCCCO is the industry leader in certification for crane operators and is recognized nationwide (some employers only accept NCCCO certification), but aside from that NCCCO Certification is not required.

Yes, when the applicable DOT physical examination requirements satisfy the alternative provided by the California regulation.

Cal/OSHA specifically allows the physical examination requirement to be satisfied using the applicable U.S. DOT physical examination requirements contained in 49 CFR §§391.41 through 391.49, rather than the specified ASME B30.5-2000 criteria.

For more information Crane Operator Physical & Medical Requirements in California.

Yes. All your NCCCO mobile crane operator certification exams can being scheduled at the same time with California Crane School.

Yes, but in limited circumstances, including while properly operating as an operator-in-training.

To operate a crane without a certification in California the operator must meet an exemption covered in Cal-OSHA Title 8.

View California Crane Operator Exemptions

Generally, yes.

The referenced ASME criteria permit adequate hearing to be achieved with or without a hearing aid.

The important consideration is whether the operator can hear adequately to meet the demands of the operation.

Read more about Crane Operator Physical & Medical Requirements in California

Generally, yes.

The ASME vision criteria incorporated into California’s regulations expressly allow the required visual acuity to be achieved with or without corrective lenses.

Wearing glasses or contact lenses is therefore not, by itself, a disqualification.

Read more about Crane Operator Physical & Medical Requirements in California

That depends on the package you choose. With our 3-day crane operator certification course, you’ll receive a 20-minute familiarization session on each crane before taking your NCCCO practical exams. Additional hands-on training for this course is available for purchase separately.

However, if you enroll in our 5-day Beginner Crane Bundle, you’ll receive 16 hours of field operations, including up to 8 hours of practice time for hands-on experience.

A CDL is not required to operate a crane. Although, a CDL may be required by your current or future employer to drive cranes on public roads or highways.

Read more on Eligibility for Operating a Crane in California.

No. You do not need a driver’s license to attend California Crane School’s crane operator certification courses. Your employer may require this though.

Not necessarily.

Crane operation is safety-sensitive work, so certain medical conditions can require additional evaluation. However, the existence of a medical condition should not automatically be treated as a blanket disqualification unless the applicable standard requires it.

The ASME framework referenced by California recognizes that specialized clinical or medical judgment may sometimes be appropriate when an individual does not meet a particular qualification but the condition may not affect safe crane operation.

Individual medical qualification questions should therefore be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.

For more information Crane Operator Physical & Medical Requirements in California.

For candidates who pay their own fees (not covered by an employer), we’re often able to refer them to companies that reach out to us seeking certified operators—something we’ve successfully done for many past students.

Yes, for crane operators covered by California’s crane operator certification requirements.

Cal/OSHA Title 8 §5006.1 applies to covered mobile and tower cranes in general industry, while §5006.2 establishes operator training, certification, and evaluation requirements for covered cranes and derricks used in construction.

Under both regulations, a certificate of competency may be issued only after the operator meets several requirements, including passing a physical examination.

For more information read Crane Operator Physical & Medical Requirements in California

Not necessarily.

California’s crane regulations contain important exceptions and different requirements depending upon the equipment and type of work being performed.

For example, §5006.1 contains exceptions (read more on crane operator exemptions in California) for certain smaller mobile cranes, qualifying electric line trucks and marine terminal operations. Section 5006.2 also contains exceptions for certain equipment used in construction, including equipment based upon crane type, capacity and how it is being used.

For more information Crane Operator Physical & Medical Requirements in California.

Federal OSHA’s construction crane rules under 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC require covered crane operators to be properly trained, certified or licensed, and evaluated by their employer.

For more information Crane Operator Physical & Medical Requirements in California.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023), a crane operator in California makes a median of $32.14 an hour.

Currently (2025) in California the median hourly wage is $38.25 and the annual median wage is $79,570. The high earning wage goes up to $135,820 and the lower earning wages are at $50,550. You can view more statistics of the growth of wages over the years and earnings by city in our 2026 report ‘California Crane Operator Salary.’

California crane operators covered by these certification requirements must recertify every five years.

An operator who has at least 1,000 hours of documented experience operating the specific type of covered crane during the immediately preceding certification period may not have to repeat the hands-on examination during recertification, provided the operator meets the applicable physical examination, substance abuse and written examination requirements.

In other words, sufficient experience may eliminate the need for another practical examination during recertification, but it does not eliminate the physical examination requirement.

For more information Crane Operator Physical & Medical Requirements in California.

Yes, we can help you get certified—even if you’ve never operated a crane before. In fact, sometimes candidates with no prior experience perform better on the written exams because they haven’t developed habits that conflict with the “by-the-book” methods used in certification testing.

While we can’t turn someone into an expert crane operator in just three days, we can help you earn your certification. If you can add, subtract, and understand English, we can prepare you to pass the written exams on your first try. We’ve also helped hundreds of English-as-a-second-language (ESL) candidates pass successfully.

For the practical exam, if you can control the load and prevent the hook from swinging—with a few pointers—you can likely pass. If you need hands-on practice, we offer crane time with an instructor for $150 per hour. Most beginners can pass the practical test with less than two hours of instruction.

Keep in mind, our program is not a substitute for years of field experience or a formal apprenticeship. Our goal is to help you meet the certification requirements and get that card in your pocket. We don’t set the standards—we just provide the most effective path to certification.

Yes, for operators subject to California’s certification requirements.

In addition to the physical examination, Cal/OSHA requires operators to pass a substance abuse test.

For more information Crane Operator Physical & Medical Requirements in California.

This article will cover:

• Who Can Perform the Crane Operator Physical?
• Can a DOT Physical Be Used?
• Is the California Crane Physical an NCCCO/CCO Requirement?
• Does Federal OSHA Require a Crane Operator Physical?
• What Is ASME B30.5?
• How Often Is a Physical Examination Required?
• Does Every Crane Operator in California Fall Under These Requirements?
• Does a Medical Condition Automatically Prevent Someone From Becoming a Crane Operator?

Crane operator certification is required to operate a crane in California.

View California Crane Operator Laws and California Crane Regulations: Understanding Cal-OSHA Title 8 Unique Requirements.

Also see California Crane Operator Exemptions.

California’s medical examination requirement comes from California law — not simply from holding a CCO certification.

Current CCO Mobile Crane Operator eligibility requirements include:

• Being at least 18 years old
• Compliance with CCO’s Substance Abuse Policy
• Compliance with CCO’s Code of Ethics
• Passing the required written examination(s)
• Passing the required practical examination(s)

For more information Crane Operator Physical & Medical Requirements in California.

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) B30.5 standard addresses safety requirements for mobile and locomotive cranes.

ASME B30.5-2000, Chapter 5-3.1.2(a)(1-5, 7, 8).

ASME B30.5 has been revised many times since 2000, and newer editions contain updated requirements. However, when determining what California’s §§5006.1 and 5006.2 require, operators and employers should look to the specific edition and provisions incorporated by California, rather than assuming the newest ASME edition automatically replaces the edition named in the regulation.

For more information Crane Operator Physical & Medical Requirements in California.

The ASME criteria incorporated by California also address physical (i.e. Seizures or Loss of Physical Control) or emotional conditions that could interfere with safe crane operation.

For more details see Crane Operator Physical & Medical Requirements in California

California specifically incorporates portions of ASME B30.5-2000 into its crane operator certification regulations.

The criteria generally evaluate the following:

1. Vision
2. Ability to Distinguish Colors
3. Hearing
4. Strength, Endurance & Agility
5. Depth Perception, Field of Vision and Coordination

For more details see Crane Operator Physical & Medical Requirements in California

The median annual salary for a crane operator in California is over $68,000 a year with the highest overall reaching near $100,000 a year. View more about on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023).

The regulations state that the physical examination may be conducted by a physician or other licensed healthcare professional, giving examples such as:

• Physician
• Physician assistant
• Nurse practitioner

For more information please see Crane Operator Physical & Medical Requirements in California

‘Qualified person’ means a person who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training and experience, successfully demonstrated the ability to solve/resolve problems relating to the subject matter, the work, or the project.

OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1401

Read more on Eligibility for Operating a Crane in California.

Those operating cranes that meet Cal-OSHA’s Title 8 specifications or fall under the limited ‘operator-in-training’ category. To ensure that the exemptions are followed correctly you must review §5006, §5006.1 and §5006.2 of Cal-OSHA Title 8.

View California Crane Operator Exemptions

According to the OSHA Final Rule “1926.1427(c)(3): No cost to employees. Whenever operator certification/licensure is required under this section, the employer must provide the certification/licensure at no cost to employees.” In summary, the employer is responsible. Often crane operators choose to pay for their own certification, which can be seen as a display of initiative and reduces the cost to employers when hiring a new employee.

Landing a crane job without certification is extremely difficult. While the cost of obtaining a crane operator certification (such as a CCO card) is often criticized—primarily due to its price—employers see it as a crucial requirement. Imagine you’re the employer: would you spend thousands certifying a new hire who might leave shortly after for slightly higher pay elsewhere? Most companies prefer to onboard candidates who already hold valid certifications, as it reduces financial risk and ensures they’re job-ready. Holding a certification signals to potential employers that you’re serious, qualified, and ready to start working immediately—making you a much more attractive hire.