NCCCO Certification
Start to Finish
What it is, who needs it, the three exams you have to pass, what it costs, and how long it lasts.
Reviewed November 2026 against the CCO candidate handbook and the CCO fee schedule.
Who Needs It
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1427 requires employers to make sure operators of covered construction cranes are certified by an accredited testing organization or licensed by a qualifying state or city, and then evaluated by the employer. CCO is the most common accredited route. Some states and cities, such as New York City, add their own license on top.
How to Get Certified
- 1
Check eligibility
You must be at least 18 and comply with the CCO Substance Abuse Policy and Code of Ethics.
- 2
Choose your designation
Mobile crane designations are Telescopic Boom Swing Cab (TSS), Telescopic Boom Fixed Cab (TLL), Lattice Boom Crawler (LBC), and Lattice Boom Truck (LBT). You can add more later.
- 3
Pass the Core written exam
95 questions, 90 minutes, no calculator. Practice the Core exam free.
- 4
Pass the specialty written exam
28 questions, 60 minutes, calculator allowed. About 35% of it is reading the manufacturer's load chart.
- 5
Pass the practical exam
A hands-on test on the crane type you are certifying for, scored by point deductions. It must be done within 12 months of your first passed exam.
The Written Exams
| Exam | Questions | Time | Calculator | Domains |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core | 95 | 90 min | No | Site 22%, Operations 28%, Technical 23%, Load Charts 27% |
| Each specialty (TSS, TLL, LBC, LBT) | 28 | 60 min | Yes | Site 23%, Operations 23%, Technical 19%, Load Charts 35% |
Source: CCO Mobile Crane Operator Candidate Handbook. CCO does not publish a percentage passing score.
What It Costs
CCO lists $140 for the mobile crane Core exam, $80 for each specialty written exam, and $70 for each specialty practical. A first designation runs about $290 in CCO fees before test-site or training charges. See every fee.
Validity and Recertification
Certification lasts five years. Recertify in the final 12 months by passing the written exam again. With at least 1,000 hours of crane-related experience in the period, you skip the practical. Let it lapse and you retake both the written and practical exams.
Study the Whole Exam, Not 20 Questions
5,000+ practice questions across Core and every specialty, load chart trainers with the rating table on screen, timed exam simulations, and the pass guarantee.