Crane Operator (NSW)

Crane Operator (NSW/ACT)

Education and Training:

You can work as a crane operator without formal qualifications. You will probably get some informal training on the job.

You can also become a crane operator through a traineeship in Building and Construction (Specialist Trades) or Transport and Logistics (Mobile Crane Operations). Entry requirements may vary but employers usually require Year 10. Ask your career adviser about the possibility of starting some of this training in school.

Additional Information:

Industry standards require crane operators to hold a licence to Perform High Risk Work issued by WorkCover NSW or WorkSafe ACT. To gain a licence, you will need to register with an approved Registered Training Organisation and work under the supervision of a licensed operator, keeping an approved logbook to record competencies achieved during training. Assessment by an independent assessor will then be required. To obtain a licence, you will need to be at least 18 years of age.

Contact WorkCover NSW or WorkSafe ACT for details of Registered Training Organisations authorised to deliver training and assessment.

Licences to Perform High Risk Work are issued according to specific classes of crane operation. It is preferable to have a dogging licence before undertaking training to become a crane operator. See the entry for Dogger for details.

All those who work in the construction industry must undergo safety induction training and be issued with a Construction Induction Card (CIC). In NSW, training is conducted by Registered Training Organisations authorised by WorkCover NSW. In the ACT, training is provided by Registered Training Organisations approved by WorkSafe ACT.

Once you are employed, you may be able to develop, and have recognised, additional skills under the Construction, Plumbing and Services Training Package or the Transport and Logistics Training Package that will expand your career opportunities within this industry.

Related Courses:

While the following courses are related to this occupation, they may not necessarily lead directly to employment, nor provide the most direct pathway to the occupation. Courses which provide preliminary or informal training, as well as those which provide additional job skills following initial qualifications may also be listed.

*Course is offered by more than one institution. Click link for details.

Employment Opportunities:

Crane operators are employed by building, construction and steel companies, crane contractors, manufacturing and engineering firms, iron and steel foundries, timber yards and the minerals industry. They work on building sites, in factories and on wharves. A few crane operators set up their own businesses. Employment opportunities largely depend upon the level of activity within the construction industry, which in turn depends upon the conditions of growth in the economy, and the level of private and government investment in construction projects.