What If There Isn’t a Heavy Equipment Operator School Near Me?

Learning to operate heavy equipment such as cranes, dozers, backhoes, excavators, and other related types of earth-moving machinery can be one of the best moves you can take to advance your career. Employers in the construction, forestry, and mining industries are always on the lookout for skilled heavy equipment operators.

You may have found yourself disappointed, however, when you asked your search engine to look for a heavy equipment operator school near me, only to discover there was no such school in your immediate vicinity. Many people who hoped to advance their careers by learning to operate heavy machinery have considered giving up on their dreams simply because they didn’t have easy access to a heavy machinery school.

Fortunately, it’s easier than you think since schools like West Coast Training will help you to follow your dream no matter where you live.

Is Attending Heavy Equipment School a Requirement?

First, it’s important to realize that if you want to pursue a career operating heavy machinery, you first need to earn your credentials. Most employers won’t even consider you for a position if you do not carry a certification from the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO). To earn that certification, you will need to receive your training at an organization that is licensed by the NCCCO.

Even once you have your credentials, you will often still need to demonstrate some level of experience with the equipment before prospective employers will seriously consider you for a job. This is something of a catch-22 since you cannot get a job without experience, and you cannot gain experience without a job. This is another reason why heavy equipment training is so important. The right school, like West Coast Training, will be able to equip you with hundreds of hours of hands-on experience.

How To Get Training If You Don’t Live Nearby

Of course, finding a heavy equipment operator school near you isn’t an easy task in most locations. It becomes an even greater challenge when you realize that most students want more than just the certification: they want to receive the best training they possibly can.

It’s for this reason that students flock from all fifty states to attend courses at West Coast Training. It’s why we help arrange nearby accommodations for our out-of-town students, much like colleges and other vocational schools do.

There are many ways you can take advantage of these accommodations. One way is to relocate to nearby Portland, Oregon, for the duration of our four or eight-week courses. We can then offer daily transportation from Portland to our location so you can enjoy all the city has to offer while still taking advantage of our training each day.

If you’d prefer to be located nearer to our campus, we can also refer you to one of a few nearby RV parks or secure you a discount at a nearby motel. There are also furnished apartments nearby our campus that students are also able to take advantage of if they desire.

Give us a call at 800-755-5477 and chat with one of our admissions specialists today. Let’s see if West Coast Training is the school for you and get you started on a path to a new career!