How to Obtain Heavy Equipment Operator Certifications

To become a heavy equipment operator, all it takes is a high school diploma or GED, a driver’s license and the right skills to be able to perform the job. Those skills can come from a variety of places, but many employers will also be looking for official certification. Here’s some information on the value of heavy equipment operator certifications, and how to get a heavy equipment operator certification in Jeffersonville, IN.

The value of certifications

The value of heavy equipment operator certifications in Jeffersonville, IN goes both ways: it’s valuable for the operator and for the company.

For the company, a lot of the benefits and value are about safety. The more training the workers on a job have, the safer the worksite should be. This helps reduce the number of accidents on a job site.

A heavy equipment operator certification allows employers to be more confident in hiring an operator, since they can be assured the operator will have had to pass tests and demonstrate knowledge of not only the operation of the equipment, but also the safety requirements and best practices to avoid accidents.

In addition to job site safety, there are industry standards, rules and regulations surrounding the use of heavy equipment. The Directorate of Construction has regulations that apply nationwide, as does the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). States and companies may have additional rules and regulations to follow as well.

The value of training

Certification is a valuable asset for the employee as well as the employer. It can give workers more confidence in their skills, and can be useful when looking to gain employment. While it’s not necessary to have a degree beyond a high school diploma, it is good to have certifications beyond that to gain a leg up in the job market.

Starting in high school, it’s helpful to do well in math courses. It’s also a good idea to take shop classes, auto tech classes and any other classes where you’ll be working with your hands or machines.

Heavy equipment training after high school can include apprenticeships, four-year college degrees, technical school, classroom training and, of course, on-the-job training. While these types of training are useful, specialized certifications are going to be the most direct form of training.

Certifications can be obtained for many different aspects of the construction industry, but a heavy equipment operator certification can open the door to operating excavators, bulldozers, cranes, forklifts, backhoes, loaders and tractors. You’ll also need to have a driver’s license to obtain this certification.

A heavy equipment operator certification can take anywhere from four months to up to four years to obtain. In addition to the skills and written tests, it requires math skills to read construction plans, communication skills to make sure that, even when an operator is alone in their cab, they can still keep in touch with all the aspects of a job site and attention to detail to make sure the job is done correctly and safely.

Call Estes Excavating Inc. for more information on how to get heavy equipment operator certification in Jeffersonville, IN.

Categorised in: Heavy Equipment Operator Certification

This post was written by Writer