How to Get Certified in Forklift and Electric Jack Equipment
Also known as industrial truck operators, forklift operators drive a truck that is equipped with a hydraulic lifting mechanism that makes it easy to move heavy objects around a factory, warehouse or construction site. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment for industrial truck operators will grow by 3 percent through the year 2018. Earning a professional credential can improve a prospective forklift operator’s employment prospects. As of May 2010, industrial truck operators earned an annual mean wage of $31,500, according to the bureau’s Occupational Employment Statistics survey.
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Instructions
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Enroll in a forklift training program. Forklift Academy, a California-based training provider, notes on its website that prospective forklift operators can take classes at trucking schools and vocational centers. A training class teaches skills in areas including steering, refueling and rough terrain operation. In some instances, employers will offer training on the job.
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Select an online or classroom-based forklift certification program. A certification program for forklift operators, such as the one offered by Forklift Academy, meets standards set by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, or OSHA. You cannot enroll in a certification program until you have completed forklift operator training. Forklift Academy explains that certification covers a variety of equipment, including high-lift, low-lift, and pallet trucks, in addition to forklifts. To become certified, you must pass online tests and have your employer verify your forklift driving ability. You will then receive a certification card via mail.
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Maintain your certified forklift operator credential. Your employer must re-evaluate your forklift operating skills every three years in order for your credential to remain valid, according to Forklift Academy.
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References
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