Frequently Asked Questions

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 B.C. 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’ Safety and 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 WSCB.

Register now with BC Crane Safety 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 [email protected] 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 B.C. We are a global leader in crane operator certification.

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.

SkilledTradesBC leads B.C.’s trades apprenticeship system. SkilledTradesBC also takes care of B.C.’s participation in the Canadian Red Seal program. SkilledTradesBC has apprenticeship programs for some crane types, but not all. Visit our Crane Operators page to see the list of crane types eligible for crane operator apprenticeships.

Yes! We’ll be happy to send you one (or more). Just contact us at [email protected] or 604-336-4699 and let us know where to send it.

Show your pride in B.C.’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!

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 B.C. 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 Videos – short videos that show what a crane competency test looks like and the skills needed for success.

Many crane operators become certified while working with an employer and getting certified while being employed can provide additional support.

While BC Crane Safety does not promote or endorse specific employers or training providers, you can search for current job openings and find available training programs on the web.

WorkBC has current job listings and information about labour market forecasts, recommended aptitudes, earning potential, and much more.

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.

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.

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 B.C. 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 B.C. Register now.

Once you are registered, you get access to an app called SkillRecord Passport that includes an online logbook. Your SkillRecord Passport app records your certificates and lets you track your achievements and work experiences as you earn full scope certification and throughout your career.

Log in to your SkillRecord Passport app logbook using your email address. Please keep your 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.

These are the basic steps for new crane operators:

Step 1: Decide what kind of crane you want to operate.
Step 2: Register with BC Crane Safety.
Step 3: Find an employer to sponsor your provisional designation.
Step 4: Take the provisional designation test.
Step 5: Take the required practical and theory tests.

The steps and requirements may vary depending on the crane certificate you choose. You can find more specific certification requirements by starting with the Crane Types in B.C. page and choosing the crane(s) you are interested in.

Additionally, explore the Get Certified tab in the site navigation for more information on requirements, study materials, and more.

If you have lots of crane operating experience but aren’t yet certified, or if you are coming to B.C. with a certificate from outside the province, please see our FAQs for Experienced Operators and Moving to B.C. or the Yukon (Credential Recognition).

Please contact us if you need further assistance and we will help you find the best way forward.

B.C.’s crane operator certification system is unique in Canada. It is “competency-based” and is used in B.C. 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 B.C. 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.

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!

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 B.C. at EducationPlannerBC.

You can use your online SkillRecord logbook to document your hours. Log in with your email address and password.

Apprentices registered with SkilledTradesBC 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 SkilledTradesBC.

A provisional crane operator is a trainee or apprentice who holds a provisional designation. All crane operators in B.C. or the Yukon working toward full scope certification must have a provisional designation. The operator must work under supervision until they are fully certified.

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.

Provisional designation renewal application forms are available at Fulford Certification.

Fulford Certification issues digital cards for provisional designations. Once we have recorded your provisional designation in your SkillRecord Passport account, you can operate. You can check your designation by logging into your account through the SkillRecord Passport app on your mobile device or by using the Credential Checker on our website.

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.

There are options! If you want to work in B.C. and you have experience operating select crane types, there are challenge processes that allow you to take the required tests without having to go through a whole training program.

For the following crane types, you can obtain your certificate using this Challenge Process with Fulford Certification. 

• 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 use this Challenge Process with SkilledTradesBC for the written exams and with Fulford Certification for the practical test.

If you are moving to B.C. and already have a certificate from another area, please go to our Transferring Crane Operator page for more details on how to get your credentials recognized. We may be able to recognize your qualifications so that you can work in B.C. BC Crane Safety currently recognizes credentials from Canadian provinces and territories, as well as some from the USA, Ireland, the UK and Europe.

Please note that you will need to have a provisional designation to operate a crane in B.C. until your credentials are recognized, or you become fully certified in B.C.

Even if you have a crane operator certificate from outside of B.C., you still need to register with BC Crane Safety. Once registered, you can then ask to have your current certificate recognized as valid in B.C. We call this “Credential Recognition”.

BC Crane Safety typically recognizes credentials from Canadian provinces and territories, as well as some from the USA, Ireland, the UK and Europe.

To learn more about Credential Recognition, visit our Transferring Crane Operator page.

Crane operators with government-issued credentials from other Canadian provinces and territories, the USA, Ireland, the UK, and some European countries may be able to work in B.C. if approved by BC Crane Safety.

If you are from one of these jurisdictions listed above and want to work in B.C. or the Yukon, you must apply to BC Crane Safety to obtain credential recognition.

Credential recognition is the process of having your crane operator credential verified and recognized in B.C. It ensures employers, WorkSafeBC, and others know your certificate is valid.

This is not an equivalency but rather a recognition of your certification. It enables you to operate in B.C.—whatever you are able to operate in your home jurisdiction.

You will need to have a provisional designation to work in B.C. until your home credential is approved by BC Crane Safety.

Visit our Transferring Crane Operator page for more details. 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 B.C.

Once you have registered, carefully read the B.C. 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, 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 B.C. using your original credential. If not, we will let you know what next steps you can take.

There is no fee for this service.

Yes, you can add your hours to your online logbook.

A Crane Mechanic (Limited Scope, Non-Commercial Lift) designation allows the mechanic to operate a crane in the role of mechanic on behalf of an employer. The designation is restricted to that role and does not allow commercial lifts to be made. The employer is responsible for all lifts.

What You Need to Know

Employer responsibilities:

• Document required competency information for the specific crane(s) operated.
• Determine the competence of the Mechanic.
• Be prepared to show evidence of the training the Mechanic has received and what lifts the Mechanic is competent to perform for the specific crane(s) operated.
• Maintain a record of activities/lifts performed.
• Complete and retain in your files the Crane Mechanic (Limited Scope, Non-Commercial Lift) Competency Checklist and Employer Sign-Off

Operator/employee responsibilities:

• Only perform lifts determined and trained for by the employer.
• Cannot serve contractors and other off-site personnel.

General restrictions:

• Critical lifts are not allowed.
• Non-employees cannot work with or around the crane while it is being operated.

How to Apply

Apply using the BC Crane Safety application form: Compliance Verification for Crane Mechanic (Limited Scope, Non-Commercial Lift).

Evidence of training could include:

• a BC Crane Safety mobile logbook approved and signed off by the employer
• purchased training materials
• confirmation of training by a designated instructor

A B.C. Crane Operator – Limited Scope (Fixed Location) designation (formerly known as a Level D) allows the operator to operate a crane at a specific address on behalf of an employer.

This designation is held in the name of the employer on behalf of an employee and is invalidated if that employee leaves the employ of the employer.

What You Need to Know

The employer is responsible for all lifts.

Example where this designation may apply: A log home builder yard where log homes are constructed.

(The designation would not be valid when assembling or building the log home at the customer’s site. That would be a multi-employer worksite requiring a BC Crane Operator — Full Scope.)

Employer responsibilities:

• Document required competency information for the specific crane(s) operated.
• Assign a supervisor to the operator.
• Determine the competence of the operator.
• Be prepared to show evidence of the training the operator has received and what lifts the operator is competent to perform for the specific crane(s) operated.
• Maintain a record of activities/lifts performed.

Evidence of training could include:

• a BC Crane Safety mobile logbook approved and signed off by the employer
• purchased training materials
• confirmation of training by a designated instructor

Operator/employee responsibilities:

• Operate only on the worksite trained on and designated by the employer.
• Only perform lifts determined and trained for by the employer.
• Not to serve contractors and other off-site personnel.

General restrictions:

• Single employer worksites only.
• Critical lifts are not allowed.
• Non-employees cannot work with or around the crane while it is being operated.

How to Apply

• If this is your first time applying, apply at Fulford Certification.
• To change the worksite and/or employer listed on the designation, contact Fulford Certification.

The Letter of Permission (formerly known as a Level C) is intended for people who want to find out if they have the aptitudes and abilities to train as a crane operator.

The Letter of Permission is a good option for an employer who is unsure if an employee is a “good fit” for the crane operator role because it requires minimal investment. If the individual decides to proceed with training, they must move up to a provisional designation.

What You Need to Know

The individual named on the Letter of Permission must be under the direct supervision of a crane operator who holds full-scope certification for the specific crane type being operated. Direct supervision requires the supervisor to be close enough to observe and to provide verbal directions to the operator for the operation of the crane.

Critical lifts are not allowed – even under supervision.

A Letter of Permission does not indicate that the named individual is competent in any aspect of crane operation.

How to Apply

For a Letter of Permission, apply at Fulford Certification.