Certificate of Competency

Yes. Anyone who wants to be a crane operator in B.C. or the Yukon must register with BC Crane Safety before they start work. Register now.

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 Passport and to prove your status to employers.

Note that Canadian Immigration and Citizenship rules apply if you are moving to Canada from another country. BC Crane Safety does not process or handle visas, work permits, or immigration, and you must contact the appropriate authorities to ensure that you can legally work in B.C.

Wages 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.

BC Crane Safety does not track crane operator earnings. However, WorkBC shows that the average yearly wage for crane operators in 2025 was $97,963, derived from the 2025 Job Bank Wage data published by the B.C. Labour Market Information Office.

Some crane operators make more than the average. Get the most current information on earning potential and labour demand at WorkBC.

It depends on the type of crane you want to work on. Some of the smaller cranes take one or two years, some of the larger ones can take three to five years if you go through an apprenticeship.

In B.C., 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.

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 our videos.

And of course, please contact us at [email protected] or 604-336-4699 if you have any questions!

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 becoming a provisional crane operator and the requirements for supervision of trainees and apprentices in our Knowledge Base: Provisional Crane Operator.

The provisional designation is good for up to 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.