On September 4, 2003, the Licensing of Crane Operators Act, N.J.S.A. 45:26-1 et seq., was signed into law. The Licensing of Crane Operators Act requires that anyone who operates a crane in New Jersey as defined in the law must be licensed by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. This law took effect and has been enforced since April 1, 2004.

In accordance with the provisions of this law any person who has to be licensed to operate a crane must:

1. Apply to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and be issued a Crane Operators License by the Office of Safety Compliance (see application). A crane operator must be certified in one of the following four specialties:
   
   

   a) Lattice Boom Truck Crane
   b) Lattice Boom Crawler Crane
   c) Small Telescopic Boom Crane (less than 17.5 tons)
   d) Large Telescopic Boom Crane (more than 17.5 tons)

   
   The Act does not apply to cranes with manufacturers' rated lifting capacity of less than 10 tons. Also not covered are Forklifts, Digger Derrick Trucks, Aircraft Bucket Trucks, Knuckle Booms, Trolley Booms or any vehicles or machines not having a power operated winch or load line.
   
   
2. Submit a certified check or money order for the appropriate fee made payable to the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development for a Crane Operators License, which will be valid for up to a five-year period.
   
   
3. Be certified by the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators, or any other crane operator certification program found by the Crane Operators Advisory Board to offer an equivalent testing and certification program which meets the requirements of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers B30.5 and the accreditation requirements of the National Commission of Certifying Agencies.
   
   
4. Have a current medical certificate that meets the requirements of American Society of Mechanical Engineers B30.5-3.1.2 (a).

Note: All three of these documents must be carried by the licensed crane operator whenever performing crane operation and be made available for review by a State Safety Inspector upon request. Anyone who is found not to be in possession of the proper credentials as described above will not be allowed to operate a crane.

The State Crane Operator's License will be valid for a five-year period with the exception that anyone currently holding a Long Boom Crane Operators License will not be required to apply for a Crane Operators License until their Long Boom Crane Operators License expires.

Also, in order to stagger the expiration dates of the Crane Operators Licenses so that the influx of permit applications does not occur all at once, the Commissioner, in consultation with the interested parties, has mandated all Crane Operator's Licenses that are issued or renewed after April 1, 2004 shall become void on the expiration date of the National Certification. (See item 3 above)

The fees for a Crane Operator License have been established as follows:
 

Annual Fee - $50.00
Five-Year Fee - $250.00

If a person currently has the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) certification, they must submit a payment of fifty dollars a year, on a year for year basis, for each year or portion of a year remaining on the NCCCO Certification card.

Please contact the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Office of Safety Compliance, for assistance in calculating the fee as well as for all other questions.

Department of Labor & Workforce Development
Office of Safety Compliance
1 John Fitch Plaza, P.O. Box 386
Trenton, NJ 08625-0386
Phone: (609) 292-5626
Fax: (609) 777-4589
E-Mail: osc@dol.nj.gov 

If you have any questions regarding the NCCCO certification program please write or call:

National Commissioner for the
Certification of Crane Operators
2750 Prosperity Avenue, Suite 505
Fairfax, VA 22031-4312
Phone: (703) 560-2391
Fax: (703) 560-2392
E-Mail: info@nccco.org