Operating Engineer Apprenticeships

There are three different programs you can choose from in the Operating Engineer program Apprenticeship. If you are selected for any of these programs you will have to complete all in classroom, related technical instruction and on-the-job training to receive your registered apprenticeship certification of completion.

Construction Equipment Operator

The CEO apprentice operates a variety of heavy equipment such as dozers, loaders, backhoes, excavators, scrapers, and much more. You will also have a good understanding of grade checking and possibly do some service or rig oiling (act as an assistant or helper to the operator by fueling, greasing, and maintaining the equipment). By the end of the apprenticeship, as a graduate you will be a highly skilled professional who can problem solve and work in any number of challenging situations with the ability to operate several pieces of equipment in a very competent way.

It’s not all fun and games. It is very physical, emotional, and financially satisfying work, especially if you like to work as part of a team. Building things and being able to see actual progress as the result of the work you do each day.

Hoisting Engineer

The HE Program is for those who want their career path to lead them to mainly operating cranes. It is a very challenging and rewarding career path. It is a smaller program and very competitive to get into. It is often rigorous and sometimes involves extensive travel. Getting your CDL right away and having a good driving record is very important as the work often involves driving big cranes. It also requires a comfort with mathematics as figuring the weight of a load to be picked and the capacity of the crane to pick it are an integral part of this career path. By the time an apprentice graduates from the HE apprenticeship, they must have passed the NCCCO tests (both written and practical) on at least one type of crane.

Heavy Duty Repair / Mechanic

If running the equipment isn’t for you and you’d rather wrench on them instead, we have an apprenticeship program to teach you how to safely and effectively maintain and repair heavy equipment.

Applicants to the Heavy-Duty Repair/Mechanic program must complete a physical capacity evaluation. In addition to their related training, the apprentice will attend advanced classes – workshops provided by The Operating Engineers Regional Training Program.