The Qualifications or Certifications Required for a Heavy Equipment Operator
Heavy equipment operators use the large machines on construction sites to move earth, equipment and other heavy materials necessary to building structures. The machines they operate include pile drivers, paving equipment, road graders, bulldozers and trench excavators. The job can be hazardous, with injuries and illnesses at higher than average rates. Meeting certain qualifications and certifications can reduce these hazards and maximize compensation.
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Preparation
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Though some employers will hire those with minimal education for heavy equipment operation, most prefer high school graduates or GED holders. Students interested in these positions can prepare by taking courses in automobile mechanics, since vehicle maintenance is part of the job. Other useful courses include science, for understanding how physical objects move and how construction materials interact, and mechanical drawing, for understanding construction plans. Electronics is also helpful for operating advanced machinery governed by complex electronics. Those who have previous equipment experience on farms or from the armed forces have an advantage.
Apprenticeships
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Apprenticeships are a common way of obtaining heavy equipment qualifications. These programs are usually administered by the International Union of Operating Engineers. They last at least three years or 6,000 hours, and consist of paid on-the-job training combined with 144 hours of classroom work each year. These programs provide better job opportunities because apprentices learn to operate a wider array of machines under more types of conditions. Depending on the union local, qualifications for these programs include a birth certificate, proof of U.S. citizenship or eligibility to work in the country, a transcript from the last attended school, and being 18 or over.
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Vocational Programs
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Formal post-secondary training from private vocational schools provides another route to obtaining skills. Many of these programs concentrate on classroom work, with simulators providing some familiarity with equipment in a controlled environment, but they often do not incorporate work with actual equipment in real-life construction environments. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recommends that potential students of such programs check out the reputation of the school with local contractors. Some of these contractors may have partnered up with the programs to offer equipment experience in realistic situations.
Certifications
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States have different requirements regarding heavy equipment certification. Many may mandate a commercial driver's license if operators haul equipment to different construction zones. Certifications can improve job opportunities, and some employers do require them. These credentials are available from professional schools and associations. Red Rock College, for example, offers two programs for heavy equipment operations, and two more for mobile crane operations.
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References
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