National Commission for the
Certification of Crane Operators
Committed to Quality, Integrity, and Fairness in Testing since 1995

RESOURCES

Verifying Certification

CCO Certification Designation Codes

Given the wide range of CCO certifications offered, CCO frequently uses abbreviations (or “codes”) for certification designations. You’ll find these codes on your certification card(s), in VerifyCCO, in the myCCO app, on the CCO website, and elsewhere.

The table below spells out what each code stands for; links are provided for those codes that require further explanation:

Operator Certifications
ABC Articulating Boom Cranes
ABL Articulating Boom Loaders
ABW Articulating Boom Cranes with Winch
AMP Anchor/Micropile Drill Rigs
BTF* Boom Trucks – Fixed Cab (*no longer available; may appear on older cards)
CPO Concrete Pumps 
DDO
Digger Derricks
DPD Dedicated Pile Drivers
FDR Foundation Drill Rigs
LBC Lattice Boom Crawlers
LBC-SP  Lattice Boom Crawlers – Tested in Spanish language
LBC-SB* Lattice Boom Crawlers – Short Boom Restriction (*no longer available; may appear on older cards)
LBT Lattice Boom Trucks
LBT-SB Lattice Boom Trucks – Short Boom Restriction (*no longer available; may appear on older cards)
OVR Overhead Cranes
STC Service Truck Cranes
THF
Fixed Telehandler Operator
THR
Rotating Telehandler Operator
TLL Telescopic Boom Cranes – Swing Cab
TLL-SB* Telescopic Boom Cranes – Swing Cab – Short Boom Restriction (*no longer available; may appear on older cards)
TLL-SP  Telescopic Boom Cranes – Swing Cab – Tested in Spanish Language
TLL-R Telescopic Boom Cranes – Swing Cab – Restricted (*no longer available; may appear on older cards)
TSS Telescopic Boom Cranes – Fixed Cab
TSS-SB*  Telescopic Boom Cranes – Fixed Cab – Short Boom Restriction (*no longer available; may appear on older cards)
TSS-SP  Telescopic Boom Cranes – Fixed Cab – Tested in Spanish Language
TSS-R Telescopic Boom Cranes – Fixed Cab – Restricted (*no longer available; may appear on older cards)
TWR Tower Cranes
Non-Operator Certifications
MCI Mobile Crane Inspector
MLD Lift Director – Mobile Cranes
OCI Overhead Crane Inspector
RIG-I   Rigger Level I
RIG-II   Rigger Level II
SGP  Signalperson
TCI Tower Crane Inspector
TLD Lift Director – Tower Cranes
 

Testing in Languages Other Than English

The OSHA crane rule allows for certification tests to be administered in any language the operator candidate understands, as long as the certification card indicates the language the tests were given in. The employer must also provide the operator with operating manuals written in the language of the certification, and all onsite communication has to be understood by all parties. Currently NCCCO is offering Mobile Crane Operator written exams in Spanish; certificants who have tested in Spanish will have “-SP” appended to the applicable certification codes (i.e., LBC-SP, TLL-SP, TSS-SP).

Service Truck Crane

The CCO Service Truck Crane Operator certification (STC) is a subcategory of the Telescopic Boom—Fixed Cab certification (TSS) and was developed for operators who use these smaller machines. Since crane operators holding TSS certification are also certified to run service truck cranes by virtue of already being certified in TSS, all TSS-certified operators also have STC listed on their cards when first certified or at recertification. For more information, see the Service Truck Crane Operator certification overview page.

Restricted Certifications

Certain CCO certifications may be issued with a restriction on the certification limiting the scope of the certification. These restrictions are noted on the certification card with either “-R” (Restricted) or “-SB” (Short Boom Restricted), and the detailed explanation of the restriction is provided below:

Certification Code
Certification Designation Name Restriction
TLL-R
Telescopic Boom Cranes—Swing Cab – Restricted
  • Maximum boom length of 37 ft.
  • Not equipped with attachments or jibs
  • Basic load chart
Certificants with this designation are limited to operating telescopic boom cranes with a rotating operator station (controls move as the boom rotates) with a maximum boom length of 37 ft. The crane may not be equipped with any attachments or jibs/extensions (operation must be from the main boom only). The crane must be outfitted with a basic load chart. As an example, see the QMC Load Chart here.
TSS-R
Telescopic Boom Cranes—Fixed Cab – Restricted
  • Maximum boom length of 37 ft.
  • Not equipped with attachments or jibs
  • Basic load chart
Certificants with this designation are limited to operating telescopic boom cranes with a fixed operator station (controls are fixed and do not move as the boom rotates) with a maximum boom length of 37 ft. The crane may not be equipped with any attachments or jibs/extensions (operation must be from the main boom only). The crane must be outfitted with a basic load chart. As an example, see the QMC Load Chart here.
LBC-SB
LBT-SB
TSS-SB
BTF-SB
Short Boom Restriction

Candidates passing NCCCO practical exams on cranes not meeting minimum standardized boom configurations will have “Short Boom Restriction” added to their certification card for the crane designations for which they receive certification; for example, “Telescopic Boom Crane—Fixed Cab (Short Boom Restriction).”