How to Be a Certified Radio Tower Climber

Repairmen must be certified to climb radio towers.

Radio towers are the tall, antenna-adorned structures you see dotting the landscape around your town. These huge towers, which can soar to heights as tall as 1,800 feet, are essential for transmitting radio waves that make communications services -- such as cellular phones, cable television and radio -- readily available to consumers. Maintaining and repairing radio towers is both a necessary and dangerous job. If you are looking to climb to new heights with a career in this field, you will need to earn training and certification to meet the stringent safety standards.

Things You'll Need

• Training course
• Study materials

Instructions

1. Review the safety standards that are applicable in the state where you intend to work. Some states establish their own guidelines in addition to federal OSHA standards. According to Safety One International, OSHA standards specify that employees who climb higher than 6 feet must be trained and certified in fall protection.

2. Seek a job -- or an apprentice program, if you are inexperienced -- at local radio tower companies in your area. This will help you gain experience in the field and become more familiar with the safety standards and certification process. It can also provide you with an opportunity to have the company help pay for the certification -- a big plus, since costs run as high as $1,000 for the course and subsequent test.

3. Enroll in a tower climbing certification course that offers the programs you need to pursue a career as a tower climber. According to the Green Careers Guide, these courses can vary from fall prevention and standard safety certification, to advanced specialized training. This certification can be finished quickly, even within a matter of days, so it is a worthy investment that will not drastically cut into your work time.

Tips & Warnings

• Continue to stay abreast of the federal and local tower regulation standards throughout your career. Once you are working as a tower repair professional, your company will support your further education and training, including additional certifications.

References

• Safety One International: Tower Climbing Safety & Rescue Courses
• Green Careers Guide: Tower Climbing Schooling Training