Apprenticeship

Crane and Hoist Equipment Operator

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You want to be a mobile crane operator. You want to operate hoist and swing equipment used to move machinery, materials, and other large objects. You know all about booms that are mounted on crawlers and wheeled frames, as well as hoisting equipment with a vertical mast or tower and jib.

But you need to learn more, like how to service hoist and swing equipment, or how to set up the machine for the lift using blocking and leveling materials. Maybe you want to know how to rig up the machine by pinning the boom and pendant cables and pulling the hoist cable.

Here are a few of the other subjects covered in the CHEO – Mobile Crane apprenticeship program at NAIT:

  • load chart reading

  • operating procedures

  • safe rigging practices

  • lift planning

  • new technology

  • multi-crane lifts

Quick Facts

Credential: Journeyman Certificate

Hands-on and expert-led apprenticeship and industry training for skilled trades and technology professionals.

Campus: Spruce Grove

Any in-person components of your courses will be delivered at NAIT's Spruce Grove Crane and Hoist Campus. View map

Delivery Options:

  • Both On-Campus and Virtual - Some of your coursework will be in-person, on campus and some will be done online.

Periods: 3

Apprenticeship is a method of gaining the expertise needed to become a skilled tradesperson. This is done through a combination of on-the-job experience and classroom training.

Most apprenticeship programs are 3-4 periods in length, with an average of 8 weeks for each training period. In addition, there are specific allotments of on-the-job training hours associated with each period, so most apprentices complete 1 period per calendar year.

Hands-on, industry-relevant skills

If you are an independent worker and capable decision-maker who likes to work as part of a team, then you will enjoy working as a mobile crane operator.

Mobile crane operators mostly work outdoors and in noisy, dusty conditions. You will travel throughout Alberta and perform your work in all types of weather. By nature of the work, you must be aware of power line contact, crane overloads, falls and inclement weather conditions.

Training at NAIT

The Mobile Crane Operator apprenticeship term is:

  • 3 years (three 12-month periods)
  • minimum of 1500 hours on-the-job training each year
  • 6 weeks of technical training in year 1 and 3

This program is for training apprentices to use cranes with a lifting capacity of 15 tons and above.

We have 4 state-of-the-art crane simulators to give students a real experience of the physics of operating a mobile crane while in a safe environment.

PPE Requirements

Please ensure you have the following personal protective equipment (PPE) when you arrive for the first day of classes. Find everything you need online at shop.nait.ca.

  • CSA-approved steel-toed boots (min. 6”)
  • clear safety glasses
  • safety gloves
  • hard hat
  • seasonal workwear

Enter the workforce with confidence

Boom Truck

As a boom truck operator, you will often find yourself travelling to various job sites. Boom truck operator work can change with seasonal and economic fluctuations, and many crane operators are members of unions.

Boom truck operators are employed by general contractors and subcontractors in a variety of industries, including forestry, mining, construction, oil and gas and crane rental companies.

Journeyperson boom truck operators can also drive wellhead boom trucks and advance to supervisory positions. You could also set up your own crane rental business.

Boom Truck

Mobile Crane

As a mobile crane operator, you will often find yourself travelling to various job sites. Mobile crane operator work can change with seasonal and economic fluctuations, and many crane operators are members of unions.

Mobile crane operators are employed by general contractors and subcontractors in a variety of industries, including forestry, mining, construction, oil and gas and crane rental companies.

Journeyperson mobile crane operators can advance to supervisory positions, or you could set up your own crane rental business.

Mobile Crane

Resources

Want to learn more about this program?

Thank you for your interest! We want to get you in contact with the right person to answer your questions.

Please contact the Student Service Centre for general inquiries such as:

  • Student application support
  • Program entrance requirements, tuition & fees, and how to apply
  • Program admissions process
  • Enrolment support
  • Student funding options
  • Fee and refund inquiries
  • General program and course withdrawal procedures
  • Navigating nait.ca and MyNAITPortal

Contact Student Service Centre

Please fill out the form below if you have any program-specific questions relating to:

  • Program details
  • Work-integrated learning and cooperative education
  • Advance credit and Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
  • Program and course withdrawal

Periods

Select a branch to view the period overviews.

Year 1
Year 1 - Period 1

The first period of technical training is 6 weeks in length. Period one is a blend between boom truck and mobile crane first-period students. Apprentices are trained in load charts applicable to a journeyman boom truck operator as well as a first-year mobile crane apprentice. You will learn the fundamentals of operating, load chart calculation, rigging, crane/ truck placement, and maintenance of these machines.

Year 1
Year 1 - Period 1

The first period of technical training is 6 weeks in length. Period one is a blend between boom truck and mobile crane first-period students. Apprentices are trained in load charts applicable to a journeyman boom truck operator as well as a first-year mobile crane apprentice. You will learn the fundamentals of operating, load chart calculation, rigging, crane/ truck placement, and maintenance of these machines.

Year 2
Year 2 - Period 3

The third period of technical training is 6 weeks in length. Period three is our last period of technical training for mobile crane operator apprentices. Apprentices are trained in technical details that will have you leaving a knowledgeable and passionate professional of the mobile crane trade. Half of our time will be spent on the cranes, operating, installing jib, putting boom into a lattice boom crawler, removing boom from a lattice book crawler, and perfecting your rigging skills in our advanced rigging shop.

Tuition & Fees

The tuition and fee amounts below are estimates based on current academic year’s rates. For financial planning purposes, please use these totals as an approximate estimate of your costs. Actual fees may vary by term and enrolment activities. Students who take all of their courses online are exempt from U-Pass, Health & Dental, and Recreation & Athletics fees. All fees are subject to change. Please refer to the tuition and fees page for more detailed information.

View the technical equipment requirements (PDF)

Period 1

Tuition: $804.00
Books & Supplies: $860.00
Materials Fee: $84.00
Additional mandatory fees: View fee breakdown

Period 3

Tuition: $804.00
Books & Supplies: $850.00
Materials Fee: $84.00
Additional mandatory fees: View fee breakdown

Scholarships & Awards

How to Apply

Complete an apprenticeship application & contract form

Effective November 1, 2014, you must fillout the application located on the MyTradesecrets website for Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board staff to determine if you are eligible for status as an indentured apprentice.

Dates & Deadlines

Once you are an indentured apprentice, you can review the availability and start and end dates of the program you are interested in. Log into your MyTradesecrets profile and do a search under the Class Registration section. Then you can determine the schedule that best fits your needs.

We recommend submitting your program application at least 90 days before the application deadline.

Apply to Program

Apply to the program with step-by-step instructions on how to complete the application process. Please note, processing time may vary for applicants, so we recommend starting early.

Apply nowHow to apply checklist

Want to learn more about this program?

Thank you for your interest! We want to get you in contact with the right person to answer your questions.

Please contact the Student Service Centre for general inquiries such as:

  • Student application support
  • Program entrance requirements, tuition & fees, and how to apply
  • Program admissions process
  • Enrolment support
  • Student funding options
  • Fee and refund inquiries
  • General program and course withdrawal procedures
  • Navigating nait.ca and MyNAITPortal

Contact Student Service Centre

Please fill out the form below if you have any program-specific questions relating to:

  • Program details
  • Work-integrated learning and cooperative education
  • Advance credit and Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
  • Program and course withdrawal

Apply for Apprenticeship and Industry Training

Begin the application process through MyTradesecrets.

Apply Now How to Apply

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