Boom Truck Certification: NCCCO, NCCER and OSHA Requirements

Boom truck certification is required on US construction sites: you must be trained, certified or licensed, and evaluated by your employer before you operate a crane with a maximum rated lifting capacity of more than 2,000 lb (OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1427). Most operators meet the certification part with an NCCCO Telescopic Boom Crane – Fixed Cab (TSS) card or an NCCER Boom Truck card.

NCCCO retired its separate Boom Truck – Fixed Cab (BTF) certification on 1 September 2021, so any guide that tells you to book a “BTF” exam is out of date. This page covers US federal rules for construction work. It was checked against OSHA, NCCCO and NCCER pages on 31 October 2026. Rules in other countries, in general industry and in some states differ.

Boom truck certification at a glance

What OSHA requires for boom truck operators

OSHA’s crane rule for construction (Subpart CC) has three parts that apply to every operator: training, certification or licensing, and an employer evaluation.

• Training. An employee who is not yet certified and evaluated may only operate as an operator-in-training, under continuous monitoring by a trainer (29 CFR 1926.1427(a)(1) and (b)).
• Certification or licensing. Where a state or city issues crane operator licenses that meet OSHA’s criteria, the operator must hold that license in that area. Otherwise the operator must be certified through an accredited testing organization or an audited employer program (1926.1427(c)).
• Evaluation. The employer must confirm the operator can run the specific equipment, including its safety devices, operational aids, size and configuration, and must document the name of the operator, the evaluator’s name and signature, the date, and the make, model and configuration used (1926.1427(f)).

The tests behind a valid certificate must include a written test and a practical test. The written test covers controls, load charts, power line contact, ground suitability and the rule itself. The practical test covers the shift inspection, operating skills, load chart use and safe shutdown (1926.1427(j)). A certificate must be based on equipment type, or on type and capacity (1926.1427(d)(1)).

A certificate from an audited employer program is not portable: it only counts while the operator works for the employer that issued it (1926.1427(e)(6)). A certificate from an accredited testing organization is portable between employers (1926.1427(d)(3)).

NCCCO: TSS replaced BTF

NCCCO’s current card-code list shows BTF (Boom Trucks – Fixed Cab) as “no longer available; may appear on older cards”. NCCCO announced the retirement in its August 2021 newsletter, with an effective date of 1 September 2021, saying the machines are so similar that a TSS certificate also covers fixed-cab boom trucks. NCCCO’s 2021 candidate handbook says the same. If you hold an older BTF card, ask NCCCO what you will need when it comes up for renewal.

Check the cab type before you pick an exam

NCCCO defines the mobile crane designations by the operator’s station, not by the word “boom truck”:

• TSS – Telescopic Boom Crane, Fixed Cab: cranes with a fixed (non-rotating) operator’s station.
• TLL – Telescopic Boom Crane, Swing Cab: cranes where the operator’s station rotates with the upper works. NCCCO says this includes walk-around, platform and cab-operated boom trucks.

So a boom truck can fall under either designation. Look at where the operator stands and ask your employer which crane you will run. NCCCO also runs separate programs for service truck cranes (STC, a TSS subcategory that a TSS certificate already covers) and for articulating boom cranes.

NCCCO TSS steps, numbers and fees

Test sites and practical examiners are allowed to charge their own fees on top of NCCCO’s exam fees, so ask the site for its total before you book. Check the NCCCO fee page for current amounts.

Recertifying with NCCCO

You must complete recertification during the 12 months before your certificate expires. There is no grace period after the expiry date. You pass the written exam again. If you can attest to at least 1,000 hours of crane-related experience during your certification period (operating, maintaining, inspecting or training on cranes), you do not have to take the practical exam again.

NCCER Boom Truck certification

NCCER offers a Boom Truck crane operator certification that it describes as accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board and aligned with OSHA Subpart CC and ASME B30. Its published assessment specification (updated October 2025) and requirements sheet say:

• The written assessment has 80 items and is a three-hour, closed-book exam. A basic non-printing calculator is allowed, and the minimum passing score is 80.
• You must also pass the practical examination for your crane type.
• You have 12 months from passing one part to pass the other, or both results expire.
• You must submit the operator affirmation (physical fitness and a negative substance abuse test) and upload a photo to your NCCER account.
• The certification is valid for five years.

NCCER does not train operators or decide whether someone is qualified. Assessments are given only through NCCER-accredited assessment programs, which can test on your own equipment on site.

NCCCO or NCCER?

Both organizations describe themselves as ANAB-accredited, and OSHA’s rule asks for accreditation by a nationally recognized accrediting agency (1926.1427(d)(1)(i)). Neither organization says one is better for boom trucks. In practice the choice often comes down to which credential your employer, client or insurer asks for, and which test sites are near you, so ask them before you book.

State and city operator licenses

Some places require a government license on top of, or instead of, a national certificate. NCCCO’s licensing page says 16 states and 7 cities license crane operators and that administrative procedures change from time to time, so contact the authority before you test.

NCCCO marks which of these require or recognize its certification. See the NCCCO state and city licensing page for the marked list and links to each authority.

How to find boom truck certification near you

There is no single national list of every course and test site, so use the official finders and your employer:

1. Ask your employer first. If your employer needs you certified, it must cover the cost. NCCER assessment programs can test on your own equipment on site, and NCCCO says you can hire a practical examiner to come to your facility.
2. NCCCO practical test sites. The open practical test sites list is organized by state and shows which crane types each site offers (look for TSS or TLL) and a contact for each site.
3. NCCCO written exams. These can be taken online with a proctor, at a test center or at an event, so you do not need a local written test site.
4. NCCER providers. Use NCCER’s crane operator certification providers list or find a center, or call NCCER support on 888-622-3720. Contact providers directly for dates, locations and costs.
5. Call before you book. Ask which crane the practical uses, what extra fees apply, and whether the practical can be done on a boom truck like yours.

Training and certification are different things. NCCER’s FAQ points out that training may not match certification requirements: to be certified you must pass the written and practical assessments.

Common mistakes

• Booking a BTF exam from an old guide. BTF is retired.
• Choosing TSS when your crane has a rotating operator’s station. Check the cab type against NCCCO’s TSS and TLL definitions.
• Treating a certificate as proof you are qualified. OSHA says a certificate cannot by itself make someone qualified for the employer evaluation (1926.1427(f)(3)).
• Letting the 12-month window run out between the written and practical exams. Both NCCCO and NCCER give you 12 months.
• Waiting until after expiry to recertify with NCCCO. There is no grace period.

Questions people ask

Is a BTF card still valid?

NCCCO says BTF may still appear on older cards, but the exam has been unavailable since 1 September 2021. Ask NCCCO what applies to your card’s expiry date and renewal.

Do I need certification for a boom truck rated at 2,000 lb or less?

OSHA’s operator certification section does not apply to equipment with a maximum manufacturer-rated lifting capacity of 2,000 lb or less. Section 1926.1441 sets separate requirements for that equipment, so check it and your state rules.

Who pays for certification?

Under 29 CFR 1926.1427(c)(3), the employer must provide required certification or licensing at no cost to the employee.

Can I take the exams online?

NCCCO’s written exams can be taken online with a proctor. The practical exam is hands-on at an approved test site or on equipment arranged by an examiner.

Related guides

• Crane safety: OSHA rules, hazards and site best practices
• Safe working distance from overhead power lines
• Crane accident causes: what official investigations found (includes a boom truck power line case)
• Rigging hand signals
• Download a mobile crane lifting plan

Sources and last checked

All facts on this page were checked on 31 October 2026. Rules, fees and test sites change, so confirm them with the organization concerned before you book.

• OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1427, Operator training, certification, and evaluation
• OSHA fact sheet, Construction: Operator Qualification
• NCCCO Mobile Crane Operator certification overview
• NCCCO Mobile Crane Operator candidate handbook (2025)
• NCCCO 2021 candidate handbook, boom truck section
• NCCCO August 2021 newsletter, Sunsetting BTF program
• NCCCO certification designation codes
• NCCCO exam fees and recertification FAQ
• NCCCO state and city licensing requirements
• NCCER crane operator certifications, Boom Truck assessment specifications (Oct 2025) and crane certification requirements (2025)

This page is general information, not legal advice. Your employer, state or local authority and the certifying body decide what applies to you.