June 2006 - The Salt Lake City office of the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) celebrated the registration, in May, of the 1,000th CCO Practical Exam site.
The 1,000 registered sites include nine-hundred sixty two (962) mobile crane sites, thirty four (34) tower crane sites, and seven (7) overhead crane sites. Practical Exam sites have been registered in 47 states including Hawaii and Alaska. California leads the way with 440 sites, including twelve (12) tower crane sites.
Even more remarkable, perhaps, is the fact that no fewer than 3,159 cranes have been approved for use at those sites, every one of which has had a CAD drawing generated by NCCCO’s Salt Lake City office for use in CCO practical exams.
The practical exam as a required component of operator certification was introduced in 1998 to demonstrate proficiency in satisfactorily completing an “operation test” as defined in the ASME B30.5 standard. NCCCO began registering sites and their machines in 1999 in order to provide standardized exam layouts based on established criteria so candidates would be assessed through a valid and reliable process.
“The 47 states where CCO Practical Exam sites are located represent an enormous effort on the part of construction companies, organized labor, and training organizations to provide access to the CCO Practical Exam”, said Phillip Kinser, NCCCO Manager of Program Development and Manager of the Salt Lake City office.
While recognizing that providing cranes, test site equipment, and authorized Practical Examiners can challenge the resources of companies and organizations, Kinser noted, “The registration of the 1,000th CCO Practical Exam site is a milestone that clearly indicates the overall acceptance of operator certification in general, and of the CCO Practical Examination process in particular,” as crane operators seek certification in meeting individual goals and company and state requirements.