License Information

Crane Operator Certification

The license information below is specific to the state of Minnesota.

This license applies to the following occupations:

Crane and Tower Operators

Description

Requirements

The following information is taken from a
letter to employers issued by the MN Dept. of
Labor and Industry (DOLI), Jeff Isakson, Director
Minnesota OSHA Compliance dated June 26th,
2006.

Effective July 1, 2007, an individual may
not operate a crane that has a lifting capacity of
five tons or more, on a construction site, unless
the individual has valid crane-operator
certification received from a nationally
recognized and accredited certification program.
The crane-operator certification must be renewed
every five years.

No employer, and no one who is under contract to
construct an improvement to land, may permit any
employee, agent or independent contractor to
perform work in violation of this law. Crane
operators shall provide proof of certification
upon request by an investigator. An employer or
general contractor in violation of this law will
receive a serious citation from the commissioner
of the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI).

For more information regarding crane-operator
certification requirements, visit the DLI web site
at www.doli.state.mn.us/mnosha.html.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Minnesota Statute Chapter 182.6525, Crane operation:
Subdivision 1. Certification required. An
individual may not operate a crane with a lifting
capacity of five tons or more on a construction
site unless the individual has a valid crane
operator certificate received from a nationally
recognized and accredited certification program.
No employer, and no person who is under a contract
to construct an improvement to land, may permit
any employee, agent, or independent contractor to
perform work in violation of this section. A
crane operator certification required under this
subdivision must be renewed by an accredited
certification program every five years.

Subd. 2. Exceptions. The requirements of
subdivision 1 do not apply to:
(1) a crane operator trainee or apprentice, if the
individual is under the direct supervision of a
crane operator who holds a valid crane operator
certificate as required in subdivision 1;
(2) a person directly employed by a class 1 or 2
railroad who is qualified by the employing
railroad as a crane operator or boom truck
operator while performing work on property owned,
leased, or controlled by the employing railroad;
(3) a person who is employed by or performing
work for a public utility, rural electric
cooperative, municipality, telephone company, or
industrial manufacturing plant;
(4) a person who is subject to inspection and
regulation under the Mine Safety and Health Act,
United States Code, title 30, sections 801 through
962;
(5) a person engaged in boating, fishing,
agriculture, or arboriculture;
(6) a person who is a member of and performing
work for a uniformed service or who is a member of
and performing work for the United States Merchant
Marine;
(7) a person who is operating a crane for personal
use on premises owned or leased by that person;
and
(8) a person who is operating a crane in an
emergency situation.

Subd. 3. Penalties. An employer or general
contractor may be cited by the commissioner for a
violation of the certification requirements in
this section. A citation is punishable as a
serious violation under section 182.666.

Licensing Authority

Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
443 Lafayette Road North
St. Paul, MN 55155
View map

Phone: (651) 284-5005
Toll Free: (800) 342-5354
TTY: (651) 297-4198
Email: dli.communications@state.mn.us

Data is collected by the Department of Employment and Economic Development.