50-State Crane Operator Licensing & Lift Laws
State-by-state Department of Labor licensing requirements, mandatory NCCCO / OSHA 1926 Subpart CC operator certifications, and PE critical lift plan thresholds.
| State | State Crane Licensing Agency | Mandatory Operator License Type | Critical Lift Plan Threshold | Outrigger Ground Pad Mandate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Federal OSHA 1926 / Alabama DOL | NCCCO / Accredited Operator Cert | ≥ 75% Load Chart Capacity | Required on unpaved soils |
| Alaska | Alaska Department of Labor (Mechanical Insp) | AK Certificate of Fitness (COF) | ≥ 75% Capacity or Tandem Lift | Mandatory hardwood/steel mats |
| Arizona | Federal OSHA / ADOSH | NCCCO / Accredited Mobile Crane Cert | ≥ 75% Load Chart Capacity | Engineered matting on caliche |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Department of Labor | NCCCO / OSHA 1926 Subpart CC | ≥ 75% Capacity | Required on all outriggers |
| California | Cal/OSHA (Title 8 CCR § 5006.1) | Cal/OSHA Certified Crane Operator | ≥ 75% Capacity (Mandatory PE Plan) | Mandatory engineered mat pads |
| Colorado | Federal OSHA / Local Municipalities | NCCCO Mobile Crane Operator | ≥ 75% Load Chart Capacity | Required on all soil types |
| Connecticut | CT Crane Operators Examining Board (DCP) | Connecticut Hoisting Equipment License | ≥ 75% Capacity or Multi-Crane | Mandatory certified matting |
| Delaware | Federal OSHA 1926.1427 | NCCCO Accredited Certification | ≥ 75% Load Chart Capacity | Required on construction sites |
| Florida | Federal OSHA / Local City Ordinances (Miami) | NCCCO Mobile Crane Certification | ≥ 75% Capacity / Hurricane Plan | Mandatory engineered mats |
| Georgia | Federal OSHA 1926 Subpart CC | NCCCO Certified Crane Operator | ≥ 75% Load Chart Capacity | Required on all soil setups |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Hoisting Machine Operators Advisory Board | HMOAB State Crane Operator Certificate | ≥ 75% Capacity or Tandem Lift | Mandatory engineered pad mats |
| Idaho | Federal OSHA 1926.1427 | NCCCO Certified Operator | ≥ 75% Load Chart Capacity | Required on rough terrain |
| Illinois | City of Chicago Crane License / Federal OSHA | Chicago Crane Operator License / NCCCO | ≥ 75% Capacity (Chicago Lift Permit) | Mandatory cribbing / mats |
| Indiana | Federal OSHA / IOSHA | NCCCO Accredited Certification | ≥ 75% Load Chart Capacity | Required on all ground setups |
| Iowa | Federal OSHA / Iowa Division of Labor | NCCCO Certified Mobile Operator | ≥ 75% Capacity | Required on construction lots |
| Kansas | Federal OSHA 1926.1427 | NCCCO Certified Crane Operator | ≥ 75% Load Chart Capacity | Required on unpaved soils |
| Kentucky | Kentucky OSH / Labor Cabinet | NCCCO Mobile Crane Certification | ≥ 75% Capacity | Required on all outriggers |
| Louisiana | Federal OSHA / Louisiana Workforce | NCCCO Accredited Certification | ≥ 75% Capacity or Plant Tandem | Mandatory marsh/swamp mats |
| Maine | Federal OSHA 1926 Subpart CC | NCCCO Certified Operator | ≥ 75% Load Chart Capacity | Required on all soil types |
| Maryland | Maryland MOSH / Licensing Board | MOSH Crane Operator Certification | ≥ 75% Capacity or Near Power | Mandatory engineered mat pads |
| Massachusetts | Mass Department of Fire Services (DPS 520 CMR) | Massachusetts Hoisting Machinery License (1B/1C) | ≥ 75% Capacity (PE Lift Plan) | Mandatory certified matting |
| Michigan | MIOSHA General Industry & Construction | MIOSHA / NCCCO Crane Certification | ≥ 75% Load Chart Capacity | Required on all soil setups |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry | Minnesota Power Hoisting License / NCCCO | ≥ 75% Capacity | Mandatory outrigger cribbing |
| Mississippi | Federal OSHA 1926.1427 | NCCCO Accredited Certification | ≥ 75% Load Chart Capacity | Required on unpaved soils |
| Missouri | Federal OSHA / Local Municipalities | NCCCO Certified Crane Operator | ≥ 75% Capacity | Required on all ground setups |
| Montana | Montana DOL Crane Operator Program | Montana 1st Class Hoisting License | ≥ 75% Capacity | Required on mountain soils |
| Nebraska | Federal OSHA 1926 Subpart CC | NCCCO Certified Operator | ≥ 75% Load Chart Capacity | Required on unpaved soils |
| Nevada | Nevada SCATS / DIR Crane Regulations | NCCCO Certified Operator + Nevada SCATS | ≥ 75% Capacity (Casino Strip Plan) | Mandatory engineered mats |
| New Hampshire | Federal OSHA 1926.1427 | NCCCO Certified Crane Operator | ≥ 75% Load Chart Capacity | Required on all outriggers |
| New Jersey | NJ Department of Labor & Workforce (NJS 45:26) | New Jersey Crane Operator License | ≥ 75% Capacity or Tandem Lift | Mandatory engineered mat pads |
| New Mexico | New Mexico OSHA (NMAC 11.5.3) | New Mexico Crane Operator Certification | ≥ 75% Capacity | Required on all soil setups |
| New York | NYS DOL Crane License / NYC DOB Class A/B/C | NYC DOB Hoisting Machine Operator License | ≥ 75% Capacity (NYC Critical Pick Plan) | Mandatory PE stamped mat plan |
| North Carolina | NC Department of Labor (NCDOL / OSH) | NCCCO / NCDOL Certified Operator | ≥ 75% Load Chart Capacity | Required on construction lots |
| North Dakota | Federal OSHA 1926.1427 | NCCCO Certified Mobile Operator | ≥ 75% Capacity | Required on oilfield/prairie soils |
| Ohio | Federal OSHA 1926 Subpart CC | NCCCO Certified Crane Operator | ≥ 75% Load Chart Capacity | Required on all outriggers |
| Oklahoma | Federal OSHA / Oklahoma DOL | NCCCO Certified Operator | ≥ 75% Capacity | Required on unpaved soils |
| Oregon | Oregon OSHA (OAR 437-003-1427) | Oregon Certified Crane Operator | ≥ 75% Capacity (Written Lift Plan) | Mandatory engineered mat pads |
| Pennsylvania | PA Department of State / City of Philadelphia | Pennsylvania Crane Operator License | ≥ 75% Capacity | Required on all ground setups |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Department of Labor (Hoisting Eng) | RI Full Hoisting Engineers License | ≥ 75% Capacity | Mandatory certified matting |
| South Carolina | Federal OSHA / SC OSHA | NCCCO Accredited Certification | ≥ 75% Load Chart Capacity | Required on all soil types |
| South Dakota | Federal OSHA 1926.1427 | NCCCO Certified Operator | ≥ 75% Capacity | Required on construction sites |
| Tennessee | TOSHA / Tennessee Labor | NCCCO Mobile Crane Certification | ≥ 75% Load Chart Capacity | Required on unpaved soils |
| Texas | Federal OSHA / Local City Ordinances | NCCCO Certified Crane Operator | ≥ 75% Capacity (Refinery Tandem Plan) | Required on all ground setups |
| Utah | Utah OSHA (UOSH R614) | NCCCO Certified Operator | ≥ 75% Load Chart Capacity | Required on mountain soils |
| Vermont | Federal OSHA 1926 Subpart CC | NCCCO Certified Crane Operator | ≥ 75% Capacity | Required on all outriggers |
| Virginia | Virginia Department of Labor & Industry (VOSH) | NCCCO Certified Mobile Operator | ≥ 75% Capacity | Required on construction lots |
| Washington | Washington L&I (WAC 296-155-53300) | WA State Certified Crane Operator | ≥ 75% Capacity (Critical Lift Plan) | Mandatory engineered mat pads |
| West Virginia | WV Division of Labor Crane Operator Act | West Virginia Crane Operator License | ≥ 75% Capacity | Required on all outriggers |
| Wisconsin | Federal OSHA / Wisconsin DWD | NCCCO Accredited Certification | ≥ 75% Load Chart Capacity | Required on all soil setups |
| Wyoming | Wyoming OSHA 1926.1427 | NCCCO Certified Crane Operator | ≥ 75% Capacity | Required on oilfield setups |