Heavy equipment operators are trained to drive and work with bulldozers, excavators, cranes, street sweepers, rollers and backhoes, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics[1] . In-person training programs and apprenticeships are the most common forms of training.
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, 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[9] .
Heavy equipment operators should be trained in a program that meets Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards. Additional accreditation[10] is granted to heavy equipment training program from the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators[11] and the National Center for Construction Education and Research[12] .
Additional costs:
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[13] requires heavy equipment students to purchase steel-toed boots, for $50-$125. AVTEC: Alaska's Institute of Technology[14] estimates additional costs as $3,400 for meals, $4,400 for housing and $5,150 for books, supplies and tools.
Discounts:
Students may qualify for scholarships to pay for heavy equipment training, ranging from $500-$3,000. Associated Training Services[15] in Sun Prairie, WI, offers scholarships as well as Performance Training Solutions[16] in Reynoldsburg, OH.
Shopping for heavy equipment training:
The International Union of Operating Engineers provides links to local chapters[17] in the U.S. and Canada which may provide apprenticeships and training opportunities.
NCCER has a searchable database[18] of accredited heavy equipment training programs.
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