General
What does BC Crane Safety Do?
BC Crane Safety runs the crane operator certification system in British Columbia and the Yukon. Our role is authorized by WorkSafeBC’s Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. Anyone who wants to operate a boom truck, mobile crane or tower crane in BC or the Yukon, needs to register with BC Crane Safety.
In 2008, BC Crane Safety completed the full theory and practical pilot crane operator assessment. During the development, the Yukon Territory, through Yukon Workers’ Compensation Board, participated in the process and adopted the same approach. That’s why BC Crane Safety works and continues to work closely with Yukon WCB.=
Register now to get on the path to certification.
We are here to help you, give you information and guide you along the way. Contact us at info@bccranesafety.ca or 604-336-4699.
We help employers, supervisors, and crane owners make sure they are following local safety laws and standards. We work with industry experts and government organizations to support worker safety, worksite safety and safe crane operations.
We are responsible for recognizing crane operator certificates from outside BC. We are a global leader in crane operator certification.
How is BC Crane Safety different from Fulford Certification and the Industry Training Authority?
We are an administrator. We manage the certification system overall. We don’t provide training or testing, but we do offer resources that can help operators planning to become certified
Fulford Certification is a separate business that works with us to do testing and issue certificates on our behalf. The reason we have an independent testing partner is because it allows us to be impartial and oversee the quality of the testing process.
The Industry Training Authority (ITA) leads BC’s trades apprenticeship system. The ITA also takes care of BC’s participation in the Canadian Red Seal program. The ITA has apprenticeship programs for some crane types, but not all. See the list of crane types eligible for ITA crane operator apprenticeships here.
Do I have to be a member of BC Crane Safety if I want to operate a crane in BC? How do I do that? What does it cost?
BC Crane Safety doesn’t have a general membership, but you DO need to register with us before you can operate a crane in BC or the Yukon.
There is no cost to register or take advantage of our resources.
What are the benefits of registering with BC Crane Safety?
Registering with BC Crane Safety allows you to begin your career as a crane operator in British Columbia. It is the law that everyone who wants to operate a crane in BC needs to register. If you have a credential from another place, you need to register if you want to apply to have it recognized in BC.
Once you are registered you get an online logbook called SkillRecord. Your SkillRecord account records your certificates and lets you track your achievements and work experiences as you earn full certification and throughout your career. Log in to your SkillRecord logbook using your email address.
Please keep your SkillRecord account email address current so you don’t miss important communications from us.
You can also let your employer, supervisor or prospective employer access a limited amount of your information to prove your certificate is valid. This is done through Credential Check or by getting them to call us at 604-336-4699.
How can I become a crane operator in BC or the Yukon?
What are the steps to become a BC Crane Safety certified crane operator?
These are the basic steps for new operators. Your situation might be different if you have lots of experience but aren’t yet certified or if you are coming to BC with a certificate from outside the province. Please contact us at info@bccranesafety.ca or 604-336-4699 and we will help you find the best way forward.
Step 1: Decide what kind of crane you want to operate
Check out our guide to crane classifications if you don’t already know.
Some types of cranes have apprenticeship opportunities through the Industry Training Authority (ITA). You can find out more about the paths to certification for different crane types on our Get Certified page.
Step 2: Register with BC Crane Safety
Everyone who wants to operate a crane in BC or Yukon must register before they start their training. If you already have a certificate from outside BC, you will have to register to have it recognized.
Step 3: Find an employer to sponsor your provisional designation
You need a provisional designation if you are a trainee or apprentice. A provisional designation allows you to work and learn under supervision until you are ready to become a certified full scope crane operator. You will need an employer to sponsor you. That means they will have to sign-off on your application and agree to make sure you will have proper training and supervision.
Step 4: Take the provisional designation test
The provisional designation test for BC and the Yukon is a multiple-choice theory exam. (It is sometimes called a “Level B” exam.) Apply at Fulford Certification.
The provisional designation is good for one year. You can apply to renew it. It’s only valid while you are working for the employer that sponsored you. If you change employers, you will need to apply for a new one.
Find out more about the test and get help preparing for it by using these resources.
Step 5: Take the practical test
The practical test includes a demonstration of your skills as well as a written part. Both are needed if you want to become a certified full scope operator. Full scope operators are sometimes called “Level A”. It is the highest level of certification.
The test is done by Fulford Certification on behalf of BC Crane Safety. In most cases an assessor will come to your worksite, so the test is done on the equipment you’re used to operating and in a familiar setting. You will need to book an appointment.
Find out more about the written part of the test and how to prepare by using these resources.
Find out more about what the practical test looks like by watching these videos.
Get an appointment to take your practical test through Fulford Certification.
What kinds of tests do I have to take?
BC’s crane operator certification system is unique in Canada. It is “competency-based” and is used in BC and the Yukon. In most other provinces and territories, certification is given based on the number of hours a person has spent in training. That’s important in BC too, but you also have to do an in-person demonstration to show that you can operate your chosen equipment safely.
New operators start by taking an online theory test. It is a multiple-choice test. Passing this test earns you a provisional designation. This is like a learner driver’s license so that you can get training and gain experience under supervision.
After passing the theory test, you accumulate hours “in the seat” under supervision at work and/or in an apprenticeship training program. The number of hours you need depends on the type of crane. When you’re ready, you can take a practical exam to demonstrate your real-life skills and earn full certification. This exam can usually be done on the equipment you’re used to operating and at the worksite you’re used to.
How can I prove that I put in my “seat time” hours?
You can use your online SkillRecord logbook to document your hours. Log in with your email address and password.
Apprentices registered with the ITA must use the logbook. Whether you are a registered apprentice or not, your employer or supervisor can sign-off on your logbook to verify the hours you worked operating a crane. We recommend all operators use the SkillRecord logbook throughout their careers. It’s a great way to document how you are keeping your skills up to date.
Experienced operators who want to challenge the full scope exams will need to include an employer declaration with their application. If you are self-employed or unable to contact your employer, you will need to submit a statutory declaration. The forms are different for different crane types. Find out more by visiting the ITA website.
Where can I get training?
Crane operators are trained on the job by an experienced operator/supervisor.
Registered apprentices also need to take some classroom training which is usually offered by labour unions, colleges and private companies. Search for training programs offered in BC at EducationPlannerBC.
I have lots of experience. Do I still have to go through the system?
There are options!
If you have experience operating any of the following crane types and want to work in BC, you need to register with BC Crane Safety. Once you have registered, go to Fulford Certification to book an appointment for the written test and practical assessment.
- Folding (knuckle) boom trucks up to 22 tonnes lifting capacity
- Stiff boom (telescopic) boom trucks up to 40 tonnes lifting capacity
- Mobile cranes up to 20 tonnes lifting capacity
- Self-erecting tower cranes.
If you have operated larger boom trucks, mobile cranes or tower cranes, you can apply to challenge the ITA certification exams. You will need to register with BC Crane Safety before you start the challenge process.
The ITA challenge process allows you to take the tests without having to go through a whole training program. After completing the written exams, contact Fulford Certification to make an appointment for the practical assessment.
If you are moving to BC and already have a certificate from another area, please get in touch with us at info@bccranesafety.ca or 604-336-4699. We may be able to recognize your qualifications so that you can work in BC.
Currently, BC Crane Safety typically recognizes credentials from Canadian provinces and territories, as well as some from the USA, Ireland, the UK and Europe. The list of regions keeps growing, so please contact us for the most up-to-date information!
Please note that you will need to have a provisional designation to operate a crane in BC until you are fully certified.
Do you have hard hat decals?
Yes! We’ll be happy to send you one (or more). Just contact us at info@bccranesafety.ca or 604-336-4699 and let us know where to send it.
Show your pride in BC’s world-class crane profession. Level up and send us a photo of you wearing your BC Crane Safety decal. You could be selected to be featured on our website!
What kind of help can I get to prepare for the tests?
How can I prepare for the tests?
We have a collection of resources including candidate handbooks and standards that describe exactly what skills and knowledge you’ll need to be able to demonstrate.
Check out our practice tests and learning guides for rigging, reading load charts, and a sample theory test for mobile cranes.
Find out what to expect during the practical test by watching these videos.
And of course, please contact us at info@bccranesafety.ca or 604-336-4699 if you have any questions!
What’s it like to be a crane operator?
I’m exploring my options. How can I find out if a career as a crane operator is a good fit for me?
There are lots of opportunities depending on where you want to work, the industry you want to work in, and the type of crane you’re interested in. A wide range of industries in BC rely on qualified crane operators such as marine industries, resource development, construction, roadbuilding, manufacturing, film and TV and many more. There’s also a broad range of crane equipment like boom trucks, mobile cranes and tower cranes.
Find out more by visiting these BC Crane Safety resources:
A Day in the Life of a Crane Operator – interviews with real-life operators of boom trucks, mobile cranes and tower cranes.
Practical test preparation videos – short videos that show what a competency test looks like and the skills needed for success.
Find out about current job openings and learn about training programs and entrance requirements for courses delivered by the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE Local 115), a major training organization in BC.
Also check out WorkBC for information about labour market forecasts, recommended aptitudes, earning potential and much more.
How much can I make as a crane operator?
In 2020, the average wage of a crane operator was around $65,696 a year. But this can vary a lot depending on the type of equipment you want to operate, the industry, the location, the job market and other factors like overtime. Some crane operators make more than the average. Get the most current information on earning potential and labour demand at WorkBC.
How long does it take to get fully certified?
It depends on the type of crane you want to work on. Some of the smaller cranes take 1 or 2 years, some of the larger ones can take 3 to 5 years if you go through an apprenticeship.
In BC, the most important factor is that you first pass the theory test and then, after getting some supervised experience, show that you can operate your equipment safely in a practical test. The time it takes is less important than being able to demonstrate that you have the experience and skills to pass the practical test.
I’m moving to BC or the Yukon to work on a crane. What do I need to do?
Do I need to register with BC Crane Safety if I want to operate a crane in BC or the Yukon?
Yes. Anyone who wants to be a crane operator in BC, or the Yukon must register with BC Crane Safety before they start work.
Complete the online form. We will send you a confirmation email. Click the link in the email to verify your email address and we’ll send your registration number. You will need this registration number to access SkillRecord and to prove your status to employers.
Note that Canadian Immigration and Citizenship rules apply if you are moving to Canada from another country.
I have a crane operator certificate from outside of BC. Can’t I just use that?
Even if you have a crane operator certificate from outside of BC, you still need to register with BC Crane Safety. This will let you ask to have your current certificate recognized as valid in BC. We call this “Credential Recognition”. Learn more about this process here.
BC Crane Safety typically recognizes credentials from Canadian provinces and territories, as well as some from the USA, Ireland, the UK and Europe. The list of regions keeps growing, so please contact us for the most up-to-date information at info@bccranesafety.ca or 604-336-4699.
How do I apply for Credential Recognition?
Visit our website to see an overview of the Credential Recognition process. Note that you will need to register with BC Crane Safety before you get started with your application to have your out-of-province credential recognized in BC.
Once you have registered, carefully read the BC laws, regulations and standards that apply to crane operations. It is very important that you understand this information before you apply for credential recognition. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@bccranesafety.ca or 604-336-4699 and we will help you find answers.
Read and complete the application package. It contains full instructions, an application form, and a lot of information that you will need to be familiar with if your application is approved. You will need to include a copy of your current credential and a passport-type photo. You can take this photo yourself.
Once we receive your application, we will review it and send you an email with the results. If you are successful, you will be able to work in BC using your original credential. If not, we will let you know what next steps you can take.
What are the supervision requirements for apprentices and trainees?
If I’m in training, I have to work under supervision. What does that mean?
That means that your employer, who signed off on your provisional designation, has to have a written supervision plan for you. Every situation is different. The plan needs to be based on the type of work you’ll be doing. The plan is your employer’s responsibility, but you should be involved in making it.
Your supervisor must be someone qualified and competent. The person could be a full scope operator but doesn’t necessarily have to be. The level of supervision they have to provide depends on whether you have a provisional designation or a letter of permission. It also depends on what kind of work you’re doing.
Find more information on the requirements for supervision of trainees and apprentices with the provisional designation.
Find more information on the requirements for supervision for the letter of permission designation.
What is a provisional designation?
What is a provisional crane operator?
A provisional crane operator is a trainee or apprentice who holds a provisional designation. All crane operators in BC or the Yukon working toward full scope certification must have a provisional designation. The operator must work under supervision until they are fully certified.
How long is a provisional designation good for?
The provisional designation is good for one year. You can apply to renew it. It’s only valid while you are working for the employer that sponsored you. If you change employers, you will need to apply for a new one.
My provisional designation is expiring soon, how can I renew it?
Provisional designation renewal application forms are available at Fulford Certification.
I am waiting for my provisional card to arrive. Can I operate a crane with a photocopy?
No. A photocopy is not an official record. But once we have recorded your provisional designation in your SkillRecord account, you can operate. You can check by logging into your account through the SkillRecord app on your mobile device or by using the Credential Checker on our website.
What information do you have for crane inspections?
Is there a checklist for crane inspections?
Yes, we are working on developing checklists for crane inspections under the Level Up Inspection Program. Check out the ones available so far on our Resources page.
