Crane Institute of America Certification (CIC), Sanford, Fla., formed in May 2007, last week received accreditation for its national crane operation testing and certification program from the NCCA. The National Commission for Certifying Agencies is one of two nationally recognized third-party accrediting agencies that sets guidelines for establishing certification competency. To receive NCCA accreditation a certifying organization must conduct job analyses and meet stringent documentation processes.
CIC offers operator certifications for mobile cranes in five categories: Telescoping Boom, 20 tons or less; Telescoping Boom, 21-75 tons; Telescoping Boom, Over 75 tons; Lattice Boom, Carrier Mounted; and Lattice Boom, Crawler Mounted.
CIC's parent company is the Crane Institute of America, a national crane and rigging training company, but CIC operates as a separate entity. “One of the compelling reasons for founding Crane Institute of America 21 years ago was to offer operators a certification process,” said Debbie Dickinson, executive director of CIC. Dickinson explains that at the time, the training company worked with colleges and universities to develop a standardized testing process, but it has only been in recent years that there has been increased interest from the industry for accredited certification.
It's common knowledge that OSHA's proposed new cranes and derrick standard, which is still undergoing due-diligence within the agency, will likely stipulate accredited crane operator certification. The Operating Engineers union in Los Angles, Calif., has an accredited program for its members, while The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) was the only other national organization offering accredited crane operator certification. “It is our hope that CIC's accreditation by NCCA might help OSHA justify such a regulation because operators now have more than one choice,” said Dickinson. “We anticipate getting an endorsement from OSHA.”
CIC offers both paper and online written exams. At press time, four practical exam sites had been established in Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Alabama, and additional sites were in process of being set up in Minnesota, California, and New York. According Dickinson, CIC is actively seeking additional practical examiners and exam locations with the goal of having one in every state.
“Our level of service, fast turnaround on test results, and efficient scheduling of practical exams set CIC apart,” said Dickinson. For more information, go to www.craneinstitutecertification.com.
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