News Headlines

CCO is soliciting applications from qualified individuals to fill two open positions on its Commission. Applications must be received by October 9, 2023.

CCO has announced exam fees for 2024. Fees for practical exams and all written exam modalities except for paper-pencil testing (PPT) will remain the same as 2023.

CCO has filed legal action in Texas against three individuals and one company for claims arising from a scheme to fraudulently certify individuals, including claims for fraud, unfair competition, copyright infringement, breach of contract, and conspiracy.

CCO is excited to release details on Test Center Testing (TCT), the newest way for candidates to take written exams. TCT exams are delivered via computer at a facility established specifically for administering secure exams.

CCO is pleased to announce key elements of the new TCT modality testing experience for candidates and testing uniformity.

The newest ASME B30.5 standard for mobile cranes went into effect late last year and has new requirements for riggers. The two key differences in the new standard affect when a qualified rigger is required, and what constitutes a “qualified” rigger.

CCO is delighted to announce that test center testing (TCT) will be an option for CCO candidates taking written exams. In response to feedback from stakeholders, the CCO Board of Directors has taken action to allow for the creation of test center testing (TCT).

In many instances, OSHA or standards such as ASME require an individual to be qualified. But what does that mean, how is qualification documented, and what’s the difference between “qualification” and “certification”?

The Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA) has announced the 2023 recipients of their Crane & Rigging Safety Awards. This year, 84 CCO certificants each received Crane Operator Safety Awards.

The Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA) has announced the 2023 recipients of their Crane & Rigging Safety Awards. The Rigger Safety Award was presented to riggers who exhibit exemplary work achievements, including seven riggers who are CCO-certified.

The Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA) has announced the 2023 recipients of their Crane & Rigging Safety Awards. This year three of CCO’s Employer Award winners received Crane & Rigging Safety Awards due to their superior safety records.

CCO CEO Thom Sicklesteel has been appointed Vice-Chair of the ASME B30 Committee.

CCO is seeking applications from qualified individuals for open positions on its Spanish Bilingual Committee.

CCO was excited to participate in the largest-ever CONEXPO, visiting with stakeholders, making new connections, and even recognizing multiple companies and organizations that employ and train individuals for CCO certification.

Candidates can now opt to take their CCO written exams using the new Event Online Testing (EOT) option, in which they test in groups at authorized CCO EOT testing centers.

CCO announced today the inaugural awardees of its new Training Provider Awards, awarded to those companies that help prepare the most candidates for CCO exams leading to CCO certification. These awards are indicative of the recipients’ commitment to improving safety through CCO certification.

In response to feedback received during the initial launch of CCO’s new Online Proctored Testing (OPT) option, CCO is excited to announce a change to materials permitted during the exam.

CCO announced today the inaugural awardees of its new Employer Awards, awarded to those companies that have had the most candidates earn CCO certification over the last 12 months. These awards are indicative of the recipients’ commitment to improving safety through CCO certification.

CCO has announced plans to develop a new certification program for operators of side boom tractors. This development is a result of multiple industry requests, a desire to bring safety to operators of this equipment who encounter unique challenges and hazards, and to ensure compliance with ASME B30.14 and OSHA.

In response to numerous industry requests, CCO has announced plans to develop a new certification program for those serving as Assembly/Disassembly Directors (A/D Directors) and seeks subject matter experts to assist in exam development.

CCO is honored to announce that 19 industry experts have been selected to develop a new certification program for evaluators of crane operators.

As CCO continues to improve processes and review best practices in the industry, candidates will see changes in their score reports. Moving forward, candidates will receive a pass or fail result only rather than a numerical or percentage score.

Candidates can now opt to take their CCO written exams using the new Online Proctored Testing (OPT) option on their own internet-connected computer from almost anywhere, 24/7/365.

CCO has improved the design of the ID cards issued to CCO certificants by removing all time-sensitive data and relying instead on the real-time data reported via the Verify CCO Online (VCO) system. As a result, those who verify certification will have access to much more accurate and up-to-date data.

There’s exciting news from the CCO Customer Service Department! We’re excited to introduce you to a virtual web chat option, affectionately named "Derrick."

CCO is announcing the first telehandler operator certification that meets OSHA 1926 and OSHA 1910 requirements. Candidates will be able to apply for the new exams as early as December 1, the same day that the practical exams will be first available.

CCO will be debundling certification cycles to ensure that most candidates receive the full term of their certification period.

The updated myCCO portal website is the one-stop shop to create candidate and customer accounts, apply for certification exams, and see exam results and certifications. Sets the stage for launch of new exam modalities.

To help the industry comply with OSHA requirements for crane operators to be evaluated, CCO has announced plans to develop the first national credential for evaluators of crane operators. To create the strongest program possible, CCO seeks the expertise of those who are currently serving as evaluators of crane operators to serve on the task force that will develop this credential.

Effective January 2023, the structure of CCO’s Mobile Crane Operator Program will see two updates that will simplify the program, create consistency, and improve the overall testing process.

CCO is set to develop a credential for crane operator evaluators that will meet OSHA regulations. By offering this credential, CCO hopes to bring some clarity and uniformity to evaluations, to make evaluations more reliable and defensible, and to establish a “gold standard” for the qualification of crane operator evaluators.

CCO is preparing to release new certifications for operators of rotating and fixed telehandlers. As the Telehandler Task Force puts the final touches on the written and practical exams that will be required for CCO certification, CCO sat down with the Task Force chair Tony Dotto to discuss why and how this new certification was developed.

Graham Brent—CEO of the NCCCO Foundation and former CEO of CCO—retired, effective July 29, 2022.

CCO is excited to announce that as part of its technology initiative to improve efficiencies, those who administer practical exams will record candidate performance via a tablet rather than on a paper score sheet.

CCO wants candidates and certificants to know that they are more than just a certification number. CCO understands that behind each program participant is a hard-working, safety-minded professional who cares deeply about the work they do.

CCO is excited to announce its technology initiative to move all written exams to the computer.

Kerry Hulse, who served CCO for 25 years, first as Chair of the Commission and then as a member of the Board of Directors, will step down from the Board on June 30, 2022, as his term has been completed.

Candidates may now apply and take the exam for the new CCO Concrete Pump Operator certification.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released a new compliance directive CPL 02-01-063 for cranes and derricks.

The highly anticipated OSHA Compliance Directive for the Cranes and Derricks in Construction Standard (29 CFR Part 1926 Subpart CC) (dated February 11, 2022) has been published.

The CCO Concrete Pump Operator certification program will launch later this summer, and CCO recently spent some time with Kyle Rask, chair of the task force developing this new program.

CCO certification cards issued beginning May 1, 2022, will include a QR code that links directly to the Verify CCO Online (VCO) system.

A new version of the CCO Signalperson Practical Exam has been released as of April 1. The new exam consists of 30 scenarios of still imagery for which the candidate needs to provide the correct hand or voice signal to match the scenario.

Fifth in a series of related articles reviewing the roles that have been identified when working with cranes, explaining Signalpersons’ responsibilities, defining their training requirements, and outlining their documentation requirements.

Join us in congratulating Bob Mahlman, CCO Director of Certification & Credentialing, and Joel Oliva, CCO Senior Director of Innovation, who recently earned the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (I.C.E.) new Certified Credentialing Professional (ICE-CCP) certification.

A federal judge in Alabama has awarded CCO a nearly $1 million judgment for copyright infringement, as well as a permanent injunction against the two defendants involved in the misconduct.

NCCCO discusses the fundamental benefits of registering copyrights.

More than 150 volunteers and guests attended celebration of 25th anniversary of when CCO certifications first became available.

Fourth in a series of related articles reviewing the personnel roles that have been identified when working with cranes, explaining Crane Operators' responsibilities, defining their training requirements, and outlining their documentation requirements.

CCO is adopting standardized test site layouts for the Mobile Crane Operator certification program.

To improve fairness across all exams and candidates, CCO is migrating away from shortened recertification exams and replacing them with the initial (longer) certification written exams to be taken by all candidates.

Because one of its primary activities is lifting and moving loads, a digger derrick may be performing as a crane in construction activities and needs to follow OSHA regulations.

Third in a series of related articles reviewing the personnel roles that have been identified when working with cranes, explaining Lift Directors' responsibilities, defining their training requirements, and outlining their documentation requirements.

Second in a series of related articles reviewing each of the roles that have been identified when working with cranes, this article explains the responsibilities of Site Supervision/Controlling Entity, Crane Owner, and Crane User.

First in a series of related articles reviewing each of the roles that have been identified when working with cranes, explaining the responsibilities, defining the training requirements, as well as outlining the documentation requirements.

Those the pile driving industry may not have realized that they were also impacted by the OSHA crane rule that went into effect in November 2018, including the requirement for operators to be certified.

Find out how NCCCO and CCO certification programs can help employers ensure personnel working in and around their equipment have documented qualification through fair, unbiased, defensible certification, thereby avoiding costly OSHA fines.

Reflecting its expanding scope into personnel certifications for load handling equipment other than cranes, NCCCO is transitioning to a new logo, effective January 1, 2021.

Federal OSHA has specific—but different—qualification requirements for signalpersons and riggers. In both cases people often wonder whether “certification” equals “qualification,” and, if not, what the difference is.

Written and practical exams are developed after a comprehensive job analysis process.

In response to numerous industry requests to serve the growing Spanish-speaking construction labor force, NCCCO has made available its CCO Articulating Crane Operator written certification exams in Spanish.