Certification Overview
Welcome to the CCO Rigger certification program. This nationally recognized and internationally accredited rigger certification program is the culmination of three years’ hard work by experts from the varied industries and groups that use rigging, including construction, steel erection, iron workers, the operating engineers, utilities, petrochemicals, specialty rigging companies, and rigging hardware and sling manufactures. NCCCO task forces were made up of experts from all aspects of the rigging industry—riggers, training directors, managers, supervisors, manufacturers—who together represent many thousands of hours of rigging experience. These volunteers gave freely of their time and expertise with the goal of improving the safety of all whose work brings them into contact with rigging equipment.
HOW TO BECOME CCO-CERTIFIED
Visit How to Test for instructions for applying for and taking CCO Written and Practical Exams; visit How to Recertify for instructions on recertification. Complete instructions and exam applications are also contained in the Candidate Handbook for each program.
DEFINITION OF A RIGGER
A certified rigger is a person who has been trained and certified to handle and move loads. The level of certification depends upon the individual’s training, knowledge, skill base, and ability to perform functions related to the selection, inspection, and proper use of rigging equipment.
This person may be qualified in a craft or trade and carry an occupational title such as iron worker, electrician, carpenter, millwright, mechanic, laborer, mason, longshoreman, lineman, pipe fitter, boilermaker, and the like. (The persons described in the categories above will be referred to as rigger even though they carry another occupational title.)
Rigger certification covers the following types of rigging:
- Synthetic slings
- Chain slings
- Wire rope slings
- Metal mesh slings
- Rigging hardware
CERTIFIED RIGGER LEVEL I
NCCCO identified the following job duties for Rigger Level I certification. A Certified Rigger Level I can perform simple, repetitive rigging tasks when the load weight, center of gravity, the rigging, and rigging configuration are provided or known by the rigger through experience or on-the-job training prior to the rigging activities. Specifically, Level I Riggers should be able to demonstrate or have knowledge of how to:
- Inspect rigging before use
- Identify, select, and attach rigging with basic knowledge of hitch configurations, capacities, and basic knots
- Recognize associated hazards
- Use various types of rigging equipment and basic hitches and their applications
CERTIFIED RIGGER LEVEL II
In addition to knowing and demonstrating Rigger Level I knowledge and skills, a Certified Rigger Level II can select rigging components and procedures based on rigging capacity. A Level II Rigger can perform the following rigging tasks unsupervised:
- Estimate weight and center of gravity when calculations are required
- Identify lift points
- Determine and select rigging based on loading
- Perform pre-use inspection of rigging and lift points
- Identify, select, and attach rigging with knowledge of hitch configurations and load angle factors, rigging capacities, and load integrity
- Understand load dynamics and associated hazards
As applicable, Level II Riggers will also have a working knowledge of hoisting equipment, winches, jacks, industrial rollers, and similar equipment.
ADDING RIGGER LEVEL II TO EXISTING RIGGER LEVEL I CERTIFICATION
Rigger Level I certificants are encouraged to “step up” to Rigger Level II when they feel they are ready for the more challenging exams. Rigger Level II can be added at any time; however, if a Rigger Level I certificant is in the final year of certification, the certificant may take the Rigger Level II written exam in place of the Rigger Level I recertification exam. In order to achieve full Rigger Level II certification, the candidate must pass the practical exam within 12 months of passing the Rigger Level II written exam. Candidates stepping up to Rigger Level II are encouraged to take the Rigger Level II written and practical exams at the same time or to take the Rigger Level II practical exam first.
ELIGIBILITY
Requirements for certification include the following:
Candidates are permitted to schedule and take both the Level I and Level II written and practical exams at the same time; however, for Rigger Level II certification to be valid, Rigger Level I certification must also be current.
EXPERIENCE
NCCCO certification examinations are designed for persons who have been trained to handle and move loads.
CERTIFIED RIGGER LEVEL I EXAMS
Written Examination
The Certified Rigger Level I Written Examination consists of 60 multiple-choice questions. Candidates are allowed 60 minutes to complete the test. CCO has three options for taking written exams: Online Proctored Testing (OPT), Test Center Testing (TCT), and Event Online Testing (EOT). Decide which option is best for you.
Practical Examination
The successful completion of an NCCCO Certified Rigger Level I Practical Examination demonstrates a candidate’s basic rigging competency.
CERTIFIED RIGGER LEVEL II EXAMS
Written Examination
The Certified Rigger Level II Written Examination consists of 50 multiple-choice questions. Candidates are allowed 60 minutes to complete the test. CCO has three options for taking written exams: Online Proctored Testing (OPT), Test Center Testing (TCT), and Event Online Testing (EOT). Decide which option is best for you.
Practical Examination
The successful completion of an NCCCO Certified Rigger Level II Practical Examination demonstrates a candidate’s competency in rigging a load for a level lift and for rotating a load.
CERTIFICATION TIME FRAMES
Candidates must pass both Written and Practical Examinations to be certified for a five-year period. The Written and Practical Exams may be taken in either order. Candidates have 12 months from the time they pass their first Written or Practical Exam for each rigger level in which to pass the corresponding (Written or Practical) Exam.
Any tests passed within a 12-month period count towards certification. For example, a candidate who fails the Rigger Level I Written Exam in January 2015 but passes the Rigger Level I Practical Exam in June 2015 has until the end of June 2016 to retake (and pass) the Rigger Level I Written Exam.
If a certified rigger subsequently becomes certified in an additional rigger or signalperson designation by taking the appropriate written and practical exams, the certification period for the additional designation expires at the same time his/her original certification (i.e., all rigger and signalperson designations expire on the same date, regardless of when in the five-year certification period the candidate passed them). If the new designation is added within the final 24 months of his/her certification period, the certificant is exempt from recertifying for the new designation after five years; after that, however, certificants must recertify for all designations during the 12 months prior to their certifications’ expiration date. This ensures that all of the certificant’s rigger and signalperson designations maintain the same expiration date.
Candidates for certification or recertification may petition for an extension of NCCCO’s standard timeline(s). NCCCO staff shall have the discretion to make the initial determination of whether a requested extension should be granted. Petitions for an extension of time are generally denied absent a showing of extraordinary circumstances. Denials of such petitions may be appealed to the Appeals Committee.
CERTIFICATION POLICIES
The following policies apply to all CCO certification programs:
These policies are also covered in the Candidate Handbooks for each program.
CERTIFICATION CARDS
Certified riggers receive a laminated photo ID card at no cost when they certify for the first time and when they complete the requirements for recertification.
If a candidate has previously certified in another CCO program and subsequently becomes certified as a rigger or holds Rigger Level I certification and adds Level II certification, he/she may request an updated certification card.
Updated or replacement cards may be obtained from NCCCO at a cost of $25. Cards may be ordered online or by contacting Customer Service.
Certification cards remain the property of NCCCO, are not transferable, and must be returned to NCCCO upon demand.
RECERTIFICATION
CCO certification is valid for five years. Candidates must complete all of their recertification requirements during the 12 months prior to their certification’s expiration date. This includes:
There is no grace period after certification has expired. Candidates whose certification has lapsed must take the full written and practical examinations to be certified again.
Recertification candidates take the same exams as those for initial certification.
NOTE: Rigger Level II certificants must only take and pass the Rigger Level II written exam to maintain both Rigger Level I and Rigger Level II certifications.
There is no requirement for a practical examination for recertification.
Get complete instructions on How to Recertify.