Crane Operator
Crane operator is the rare trade where your certification genuinely works in all fifty states. Since November 10, 2018, federal law has required every construction crane operator in the country to hold certification from an accredited testing organization — NCCCO being the common one — with a retest every five years. Because the requirement is federal, there's nothing to transfer when you move. The catch is that roughly eleven states stack their own license or certification on top, and where a state or city rule is stricter than the federal one, that's the credential you need.
Where can I take my crane operator license?
Pick the state you're licensed in. You'll get the states that will consider that license — which is not the same as a free transfer.
FAQ
Do I need a new certification if I take a crane job in another state?
No — your NCCCO certification is federal-backed and works everywhere. That's real portability, not reciprocity, and it's rare. What you should check is whether the state or the city adds a layer. Houston does: you need a city license, and while it accepts your NCCCO card, it also wants a drug test and a background check. Pennsylvania issues its own state license and offers an unusual side door — 1,000 documented hours on a specialty crane plus a recent assessment gets you a scope-limited license without a testing-org certification. Two other things worth knowing: military crane qualification counts under the federal rule, and derricks, sideboom cranes, and anything rated 2,000 pounds or under fall outside the certification requirement entirely.
Crane Operator rules in every state
Researched 2026-07-21 to 2026-07-24One entry per state, in alphabetical order. Each one covers who licenses the trade there, what it takes to qualify, and whether that state accepts a license earned somewhere else.
- Reciprocity — accepts some out-of-state licenses
- No reciprocity — licensed here, but no out-of-state license is accepted
- Nothing to reciprocate — no state license exists here
- Not established — we could not verify this state's position — treat it as an open question, not a no
- secondarydrawn from consistent secondary sources, not confirmed on the agency's own page
Alabama
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Alabama - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Alabama adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Alabama because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Alabama adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Alabama'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Alabama is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Alaska
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Alaska - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Alaska adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Alaska because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Alaska adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Alaska'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Alaska is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Arizona
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Arizona - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Arizona adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Arizona because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Arizona adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Arizona'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Arizona is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Arkansas
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Arkansas - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Arkansas adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Arkansas because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Arkansas adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Arkansas'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Arkansas is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
California
State licenseCalifornia imposes requirements beyond the federal baseline. Operators must satisfy both the federal certification requirement and California's additional state provisions.
California has some of the strictest crane regulations in the country, layered on top of the federal certification requirement - so budget for more than just NCCCO. And note: California's CSLB contractor reciprocity doesn'T apply here at all. Crane operation is a Cal/OSHA workplace-safety matter, like elevator certification.
What's actually required: California is one of the roughly 11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA's rule. Per the general principle in this trade, where a state requirement is more stringent than the federal rule, the state credential is what governs. Important: California'S well-known CSLB contractor reciprocity has no application here - crane operation is regulated through Cal/OSHA as a workplace safety matter, exactly as elevator certification is.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: California's specific additional crane requirements were not itemized in this research pass - confirm current Cal/OSHA requirements directly.
- https://dependablecraneschool.com/requirements-for-crane-operators/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Colorado
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Colorado - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Colorado adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Colorado because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Colorado adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Colorado'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Colorado is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Connecticut
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Connecticut - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Connecticut adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Connecticut because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Connecticut adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Connecticut'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Connecticut is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Delaware
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Delaware - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Delaware adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Delaware because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Delaware adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Delaware'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Delaware is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Florida
State licenseConfirmed: Florida does not impose additional statewide crane certification requirements beyond the federal standard, though local jurisdictions may have specific requirements including hands-on instruction provisions.
Florida adds nothing to the federal requirement - your NCCCO certification satisfies Florida statewide, though some local jurisdictions add their own rules. Florida's DBPR contractor licensing and its reciprocity rules don'T apply here; crane operation runs on federal certification.
What's actually required: Florida defers entirely to the federal standard, so NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is sufficient statewide - check local jurisdictions for any added requirements. Note the contrast with Florida's construction trades documented elsewhere, where DBPR licensing and its narrow reciprocity apply; crane operation sits outside that system.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
- https://dependablecraneschool.com/requirements-for-crane-operators/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
Georgia
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Georgia - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Georgia adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Georgia because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Georgia adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Georgia'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Georgia is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Hawaii
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Hawaii - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Hawaii adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Hawaii because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Hawaii adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Hawaii'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Hawaii is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Idaho
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Idaho - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Idaho adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Idaho because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Idaho adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Idaho'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Idaho is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Illinois
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Illinois - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Illinois adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Illinois because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Illinois adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Illinois'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Illinois is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Indiana
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Indiana - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Indiana adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Indiana because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Indiana adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Indiana'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Indiana is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Iowa
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Iowa - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Iowa adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Iowa because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Iowa adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Iowa'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Iowa is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Kansas
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Kansas - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Kansas adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Kansas because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Kansas adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Kansas'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Kansas is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Kentucky
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Kentucky - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Kentucky adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Kentucky because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Kentucky adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Kentucky'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Kentucky is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Louisiana
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Louisiana - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Louisiana adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Louisiana because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Louisiana adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Louisiana'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Louisiana is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Maine
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Maine - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Maine adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Maine because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Maine adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Maine'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Maine is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Maryland
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Maryland - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Maryland adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Maryland because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Maryland adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Maryland'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Maryland is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Massachusetts
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Massachusetts - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Massachusetts adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Massachusetts because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Massachusetts adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Massachusetts'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Massachusetts is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Michigan
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Michigan - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Michigan adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Michigan because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Michigan adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Michigan'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Michigan is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Minnesota
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Minnesota - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Minnesota adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Minnesota because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Minnesota adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Minnesota'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Minnesota is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Mississippi
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Mississippi - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Mississippi adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Mississippi because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Mississippi adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Mississippi'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Mississippi is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Missouri
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Missouri - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Missouri adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Missouri because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Missouri adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Missouri'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Missouri is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Montana
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Montana - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Montana adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Montana because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Montana adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Montana'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Montana is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Nebraska
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Nebraska - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Nebraska adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Nebraska because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Nebraska adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Nebraska'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Nebraska is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Nevada
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Nevada - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Nevada adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Nevada because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Nevada adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Nevada'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Nevada is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
New Hampshire
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in New Hampshire - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether New Hampshire adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to New Hampshire because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether New Hampshire adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents New Hampshire'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether New Hampshire is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
New Jersey
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in New Jersey - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether New Jersey adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to New Jersey because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether New Jersey adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents New Jersey'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether New Jersey is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
New Mexico
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in New Mexico - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether New Mexico adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to New Mexico because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether New Mexico adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents New Mexico'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether New Mexico is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
New York
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in New York - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether New York adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to New York because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether New York adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents New York'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether New York is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
North Carolina
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in North Carolina - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether North Carolina adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to North Carolina because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether North Carolina adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents North Carolina'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether North Carolina is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
North Dakota
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in North Dakota - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether North Dakota adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to North Dakota because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether North Dakota adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents North Dakota'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether North Dakota is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Ohio
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Ohio - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Ohio adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Ohio because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Ohio adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Ohio'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Ohio is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Oklahoma
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Oklahoma - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Oklahoma adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Oklahoma because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Oklahoma adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Oklahoma'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Oklahoma is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Oregon
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Oregon - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Oregon adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Oregon because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Oregon adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Oregon'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Oregon is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Pennsylvania
State licenseConfirmed from Pennsylvania's own regulatory language: Pennsylvania offers an unusual 'License without certification' pathway based on documented experience. An applicant for a license without certification must submit documentation of the results of any assessment administered within the 2 YEARS prior to application by a program of operator qualification and certification satisfying 29 CFR Part 1926. In lieu of certification, the Board issues a DECLARATION specifying the specialty crane for which the licensee has qualified with at least 1,000 HOURS and for which acceptable documentation was submitted - and that declaration LIMITS the types of cranes the holder may operate. The license without certification is only valid in conjunction with that declaration.
Pennsylvania issues an actual state crane operator license on top of the federal requirement - and offers an unusual 'license without certification' pathway for experienced operators: document 1,000+ hours on a specialty crane plus an assessment within the last 2 years, and the Board issues a scope-limited license tied to a declaration naming exactly which cranes you may run.
What's actually required: Pennsylvania is a state-license jurisdiction. Its 'license without certification' route is a genuine alternative pathway for experienced operators who lack a testing-organization certification - 1,000 documented hours on a specialty crane, plus an assessment within the prior 2 years, yields a scope-limited license. Standard NCCCO certification remains the simpler route and is portable nationwide.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/pennsylvania-crane-operators/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
Rhode Island
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Rhode Island - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Rhode Island adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Rhode Island because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Rhode Island adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Rhode Island'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Rhode Island is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
South Carolina
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in South Carolina - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether South Carolina adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to South Carolina because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether South Carolina adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents South Carolina'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether South Carolina is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
South Dakota
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in South Dakota - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether South Dakota adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to South Dakota because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether South Dakota adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents South Dakota'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether South Dakota is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Tennessee
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Tennessee - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Tennessee adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Tennessee because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Tennessee adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Tennessee'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Tennessee is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Texas
State licenseConfirmed: Texas has no statewide certification requirement, but operators must comply with OSHA's federal standard. HOUSTON specifically requires a city license, obtained by providing proof of NCCCO certification plus a licensing fee, and additionally requires drug testing and background checks as part of the licensing process. Context: in 2023 Texas ranked as having the highest employment level of crane operators in the nation, with a median wage over $67,000.
Texas has no statewide crane certification requirement beyond the federal OSHA rule - so NCCCO certification is what you need. Watch the cities though: Houston requires its own license, accepting NCCCO but adding drug testing and background checks. Texas has the highest crane operator employment in the country.
What's actually required: Texas adds no state layer, so your NCCCO certification is what governs statewide. The catch is municipal: Houston requires its own license on top, which accepts NCCCO certification as the qualifying credential but adds drug testing and background checks. Important: this dataset documents Texas' extensive TDLR trade reciprocity for electricians and HVAC - none of that applies here, since crane operation runs on federal certification rather than TDLR licensing.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/texas-crane-operators/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://dependablecraneschool.com/requirements-for-crane-operators/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Utah
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Utah - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Utah adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Utah because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Utah adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Utah'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Utah is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Vermont
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Vermont - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Vermont adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Vermont because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Vermont adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Vermont'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Vermont is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Virginia
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Virginia - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Virginia adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Virginia because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Virginia adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Virginia'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Virginia is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Washington
State licenseConfirmed: WAC 296-155-53300 requires crane operators to be certified by a nationally accredited certification organization such as NCCCO. Washington codifies the accreditation requirement in state rule rather than relying solely on the federal standard.
Washington requires crane operator certification from a nationally accredited organization such as NCCCO, written into state code (WAC 296-155-53300). Because the requirement is national accreditation rather than a state-specific exam, your NCCCO certification satisfies Washington directly.
What's actually required: Washington codifies the national-accreditation requirement in its own administrative code, meaning NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification satisfies both federal and state requirements. Note this dataset separately documents Washington's L&I trade licensing for electricians and plumbers, which has narrow named-state reciprocity - a different mechanism entirely from this trade'S national-certification model.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
- https://dependablecraneschool.com/requirements-for-crane-operators/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
West Virginia
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in West Virginia - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether West Virginia adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to West Virginia because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether West Virginia adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents West Virginia'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether West Virginia is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Wisconsin
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Wisconsin - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Wisconsin adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Wisconsin because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Wisconsin adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Wisconsin'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Wisconsin is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
Wyoming
State licenseFederal minimum applies: certification by an OSHA-accredited testing organization (NCCCO, CIC, or NCCER), scoped by equipment type or type and capacity, with re-testing every 5 years. Alternative federally-accepted paths include employer qualification programs and U.S. Military operator qualification. Municipal licensing may apply independently of state rules.
Your NCCCO certification works in Wyoming - the federal requirement applies nationwide, so this is one of the few genuinely portable credentials. What wasn't verified is whether Wyoming adds a state license or certification on top; about 11 states do. Also check the city, since municipal crane licensing is common and can be stricter than the state.
What's actually required: NCCCO or equivalent accredited certification is portable to Wyoming because the federal requirement applies nationwide - this is genuine portability, not reciprocity. What was not verified is whether Wyoming adds a state license or certification on top. Remember the operative rule: where a state or city requirement is more stringent than OSHA's, only that state or city credential is needed. Important: this dataset documents Wyoming'S construction-trade reciprocity separately - that governs contractor licensing, not crane operation, which runs on federal certification through a different regulatory channel entirely.
NCCCO (or other OSHA-accredited) certification is nationally recognized and portable - the federal requirement applies in every state, so your certification travels with you. What varies is whether a state or city adds its own credential on top.
Note: Whether Wyoming is among the ~11 states adding requirements beyond OSHA needs a dedicated verification pass - American Crane School maintains a state-by-state map categorizing states as issuing a license, issuing a certification, or requiring NCCCO without issuing a credential.
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 (official, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://americancraneschool.com/resources/crane-laws/state-laws-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://cranecheck.co/blog/crane-operator-certification-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)
- https://www.hescocrane.com/osha-crane-operator-certification-requirement (secondary, accessed 2026-07-24)