Heavy Equipment Training Cost

Typical costs:

• Heavy equipment training typically costs $4,000-$15,000 and lasts three-eight weeks. West Coast Training in Woodland, WA, offers an eight-week heavy equipment training course for $9,613 (or $8,217 if paid upfront). The course allows students to practice operating backhoes, trackhoes, dozers, scrapers, graders and loaders. The company also offers a four-week advanced training course for $5,900 for graduates who want additional hands-on training. Tri-County Driving Academy^[2] in Lebanon, VA, offers a five-week beginner's heavy equipment training course for $4,250.
• Apprenticeships cost up to $5,000 and last three or four years. Heavy equipment apprenticeships are available through community colleges, technical schools, industry associations and trade unions. The Operating Engineers Local 701^[3] in Oregon City, OR, has a no-cost apprenticeship program, while the Alaska Operating Engineers^[4] have apprenticeships for a $30 application fee. The Western Apprenticeships Coordinators Association in Reno, NV, estimates apprentices will pay $100-$150 for books and $474 (plus $420 annually) for membership in the Operating Engineers Union. Summit Academy^[5] in Minneapolis, offers a pre-apprentice training course for $5,400, which prepares students to enter a paid apprenticeship. Apprentices may earn 50%-90% of a normal worker's wages while learning on the job, with pay increasing as they gain experience.
• Heavy equipment certification varies by state and costs $75-$200. The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators has a list of 18 states and six cities^[6] that license crane operators. For instance, California^[7] issues permits to crane operators for $100 annually. West Virginia^[8] certifies crane operators for $75 every five years. In Arkansas^[9] , heavy equipment operators should apply for a commercial contractor's license, which costs $100 for one year, plus $75 for initial testing costs. In states that do not require a heavy equipment or crane operator's license, workers may need to apply for a commercial driving license, which costs $50-$200.

• A heavy equipment training program should cover safe operation of vehicles, offering hands-on training and classroom topics like equipment maintenance and safety. Additional construction topics may include road building, grading and compaction, land clearing and pipe laying, according to Education Portal^[10] .
• Heavy equipment operators should be trained in a program that meets Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards. Additional accreditation^[11] is granted to heavy equipment training program from the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators^[12] and the National Center for Construction Education and Research^[13] .

• Additional costs for a heavy equipment training program are $500-$5,000 for supplies and $5,000-$10,000 for room and board. Francis Tuttle Technology Center^[14] requires heavy equipment students to purchase steel-toed boots, for $50-$125. AVTEC: Alaska's Institute of Technology^[15] estimates additional costs as $3,400 for meals, $4,400 for housing and $5,150 for books, supplies and tools.

• Students may qualify for scholarships to pay for heavy equipment training, ranging from $500-$3,000. Associated Training Services^[16] in Sun Prairie, WI, offers scholarships as well as Performance Training Solutions^[17] in Reynoldsburg, OH.

• The International Union of Operating Engineers provides links to local chapters^[18] in the U.S. and Canada which may provide apprenticeships and training opportunities.
• NCCER has a searchable database^[19] of accredited heavy equipment training programs.

1.  www.bls.gov/ooh/Installation-Maintenance-and-Repair/Heavy-vehicle-and-mobile-equip...
2.  tricountydrivingacademy.com/Products/2/heavy-equipment-training/
3.  www.oetraining.org/apprenticeshipPrograms-hints.html
4.  www.k12northstar.org/departments/curriculum/cte/apprenticeships
5.  saoicorg.hypersites.com/Pre-Apprentice-Heavy-Equipment-Operator.html
6.  www.nccco.org/licensing/index.html
7.  www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/ReqPermitRegCertNotificatio.htm#Permits
8.  www.wvlabor.com/newwebsite/Pages/FAQs_Cranes.html
9.  www.contractors-license.org/ar/Arkansas.html#ar1
10.  education-portal.com/articles/Heavy_Equipment_Training_Program_Overview.html
11.  www.operator-school.com/certification/index.php
12.  www.nccco.org/news/OSHARuleFAQs.html
13.  www.nccer.org/heavy-equipment-operations
14.  www.francistuttle.edu/classOfferings/careerTraining/dieselTech/tuitionAndExpenses....
15.  www.avtec.edu/Cost.htm
16.  www.equipmentoperator.com/ats-advantage/financing.php
17.  www.ptsworks.com/scholarships.html
18.  www.iuoe.org/IUOELocalUnions/FindanIUOELocalUnion/tabid/105/Default.aspx
19.  www.nccer.org/center-search.aspx

Check Out All Costs for Schools & Job Training		How Much Does Middle School Cost?		How Much Does Becoming a Photographer Cost?		How Much Does Veterinary School Cost?

Today's Featured Cost Articles

The hot summer weather has started. How much does central air conditioning cost? We give our advice on where to buy Purell and hand sanitizers. Looking for an indoor pet? Usage of streaming services is skyrocketing. We list the current deals. Staying cool during the summer also means on the road. We cover the cost of car air conditioning.

About CostHelper

CostHelper is based in Silicon Valley and provides consumers with unbiased price information about thousands of goods and services. Our writers are experienced journalists who adhere to our strict editorial ethics policy.

CostHelper Community

Replace Toilet Wax Ring (DIY) Paid: 25.00 Cost could have been cheaper, but previous owners hired a plumber and contractor who didn't do the job right. So we ran into problems. The first wax ring didn't work, so we had to buy the old fashioned type... [more] -JT Holm Toilet Repair Cost Plumbing totourial Paid: 0.00 I am appalled by some of these charges myself and yes plumbers have a hard,disgusting and exhausting job and it’s not for everyone... [more] -Caleb Domec Plumber Cost Ischemic stroke Paid: 89000.00 I had a CT scan, they called helicopter to transfer to trauma hospital in Atlanta, but neurosurgeon there said the stroke is is I n a deep area, and would be too dangerously to remove the clot surgically... [more] -Marie-Jose Stroke Treatment Cost Connective tissue graft Paid: 1300.00 Had to get a connective tissue graft for three of my teeth on my lower left and likely will need a few more done down the road (genetics). The procedure took about an hour and was pain-free... [more] - Gum Tissue Graft Cost Alaska propane pricing 2020 Paid: 130.71 No contract price is $3.87 x 32.8 gallons + $3.81 fee = delivered remote Cooper Landing Alaska. New contract renewal $1.91/gallon for delivery plus propane cost which I need to check on... [more] -Keith Mantey Propane Cost Funeral Paid: 160.00 Can somebody contact me... [more] -Terrance Samuel Releasing Doves Cost