Although the favoured route for becoming a crane operator remains the diploma of vocational studies (diplôme d’études professionnelles, or DEP) in crane operation, it is possible for a person who does not hold a DEP to access this trade by following an on-the-job training plan (OTP), combined with an integration exam, by the following avenues:
- According to the state of the labour pools
- As a journeyman candidate from another trade
- As an employer
- As the child of an employer*
Aside from the general terms of obtaining an apprentice competency certificate and the requirements related to the profiles listed above, candidates who do not hold a diploma in the trade of crane operator must fulfil the specific following conditions:
- Obtain a letter of commitment (in French only) from an employer to follow the training plan within the employer's company company or a letter of commitment (in French only) to offer the OTP to the employee or designated representative.
- Flow the OTP
Consult the table on the changes with regards to the trade of crane operator.
On-the-job training plan (OTP)
All candidates without a diploma in the trade of crane operator who obtain a first apprentice competency certificate, valid for four months, must take the OTP, which concludes with an exam for integration to apprenticeship for the trade of crane operator.
Components of the OTP
- Successful completion of the 120-hour training course “ Travaux de levage sécuritaire avec une grue mobile.” This theoretical and practical course is given at a professional training centre. This training course is not covered by the Training Fund for Employees in the Construction Industry, and the cost of the course must be paid by the applicant or the company (approximatively $19,000 per applicant). Candidates may not begin the 150 hours of apprentice crane operator work before successfully completing this mandatory course ;
- Participating in the on-the-job practical section, under the supervision of a journeyman crane operator, lasting 150 hours over a period of at most three consecutive months. A Guide de l'apprenti (apprentice’s guide) and a Trousse du compagnon (journeyman’s toolkit) will support the apprentice in completion of the on-the-job practical section ;
- Registering for and passing an integration exam before the apprentice competency certificate expires.
- The passing grade is 80% and the exam cannot be taken again
- An information sheet is available
- The candidate must pay the $100 fee at time of registration
- Once the exam has been passed, a new apprentice competency certificate, valid for 12 months, will be issued, and, as in all other trades, the candidate will be subject to an annual training obligation of a minimum of 30 hours of training recognized by the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) until the completion of his or her on-site apprenticeship.
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IMPORTANT Investing in the OTP for the trade of crane operator is a serious step, for both the employer and the worker. |
* Children of employers cannot be exempted from holding an apprentice competency certificate for the trade of crane operator. They must fill out a Application for an apprentice crane operator competency certificate - employer's child and must pass the OTP. They do not have to wait for a favourable labour pool to integrate into the trade of crane operator, but such integration will be possible only with the first issuance of their apprentice crane operator competency certificate as the child of an employer.
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Regulatory modifications in the trade of crane operator
The main différences :
BEFORE the regulatory modifications AFTER the regulatory modifications* Obligatory training for a crane operator without a diploma - Course “Utilisation sécuritaire de grues” (USG)
- 45 hours of training
- Theoretical only
- On-the-job training plan (OTP) for the trade of crane operator
- 120 hours of training in a vocational training centre
- 150 hours of training
- Concentrated: three consecutive months
- Theoretical AND practical
Candidate eligible to become a crane operator - DEP diploma in crane operation
- Under condition of passing the USG course exam:
- Child of crane operator employer
- Designated representative and employer
- Journeyman operator of concrete pumps with distribution mast
- DEP diploma in crane operation
- Under condition of passing the OTP exam:
- Child of crane operator employer
- Designated representative and employer
- Journeyman in another trade
- Candidate without a diploma who accesses the trade according to the state of the labour pool
Exam to attest to passing the crane operator training - Obligatory exam following the USG course:
- Passing grade of 60%
- Possibility to take the exam twice. If candidate fails, must retake the course before retaking the exam.
- Obligatory exam following the OTP:
- Passing grade of 80 %
- Cannot be retaken. If candidate fails, must register for the DEP
Appropriately supervise operation of a boom truck - Crane operator only
- Crane operator
- Journeyman in another trade, but in this case:
- 90 hours of training
- Qualification exam (passing grade of 80%)
- Limited use:
- Boom truck for 30 tonnes or less, with fixed controls
- Only for materials linked to the journeyman’s trade
- For temporary movement and site demobilization
- Must maintain his or her qualification by performing 50 hours of work in this activity per year
*All training courses are validated by the CNESST.
- Course “Utilisation sécuritaire de grues” (USG)