Do Crane Operator Jobs Require Continuing Education?

For the right type of person—driven, motivated, and not afraid of hard work—a career as a crane operator can be a lucrative career path. At times challenging, but always rewarding, crane operator jobs can net you as high as $80,000 a year. This is in addition to the great benefits that often come along with the job. Crane operators can look forward to health benefits, including medical, dental, and prescription medication coverage, as well as paid vacation time and a plan for retirement.

Of course, any field that has this much to offer for its workers is going to be an extremely competitive one. With a lot of people clamoring for the highly coveted position of crane operator, how do you get an edge in the field? Is it a position that requires continuing education?

What Does a Crane Operator Need to Know?

Of course, there’s a lot more to operating a crane than simply getting behind the controls of a piece of heavy machinery. Make no mistake; you certainly will need to master the controls of this machinery, but there’s a great deal more to it than that. Since you’re working on construction, you will need to learn how to read blueprints effectively so that you can successfully execute the project you’re working on. You’ll need to have a thorough understanding of rigging so that you can attach whatever materials are necessary to your crane. You will also have to be aware of the various types of soils that you might be working in. All of this is necessary for the successful operation of a crane.

This is in addition to the actual controls of the machine itself. Actually, crane operator jobs usually don’t involve just one type of equipment. There are many types of cranes, including fixed boom cranes, lattice boom cranes, and others. The more of these you are familiar with, the more employable you will be in the industry.

How Do I Learn All of This?

It’s clear that continuing education is a key part of crane operator jobs, especially if you want to be competitive in an industry that has so many qualified people looking to work in it. That’s why it’s critical to find the best crane operator school that you can; one that balances classroom learning with on-the-job training. One example of such a school is West Coast Training. Located in the Pacific Northwest, West Coast Training has an NCCCO-Certified Mobile Crane Operator Program. This means that their students leave the school with a certificate from the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators, an organization that seeks to standardize safety protocols and other key practices in the field.

A good school will also be sure to assist students in seeking employment after graduation. Continuing your education is only the beginning of what will hopefully be a lucrative career in the construction industry. West Coast Training will help you forge the connections in the industry that will ensure your success in a very competitive job market.