High Risk Work Licence - Tower Crane (CT) exam-day guide
High Risk Work Licence - Tower Crane (CT) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID matching your enrolment
Bring the original government-issued photo ID you enrolled with (driver licence or passport). Name and spelling must match your booking. If you have changed your name or have only digital ID, confirm with the provider in advance what will be accepted, as some assessors require physical ID.
Assessment booking confirmation and paperwork
Carry a printed or downloaded copy of your booking confirmation, plus any enrolment forms, USI or licence-application paperwork the provider asked you to complete. Confirm with the provider whether anything else must be signed on the day.
Safety boots and compliant work clothing
The practical assessment is a construction site: bring steel-capped or safety-toe boots in good condition, long trousers, and a high-visibility shirt or vest where required. Do not arrive in sneakers, shorts, or thongs. Confirm the provider's exact dress standard beforehand.
Hard hat, gloves, and any PPE the provider requires
Ask whether the provider supplies helmets, gloves, and eye or hearing protection or whether you must bring your own. Bring your own if you already have compliant gear, and check it is undamaged before the day.
Sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, and water
Practical assessments run outdoors in sun, wind, or rain. Bring a refillable water bottle, sun protection, and wet-weather gear if rain is forecast. Confirm with the provider whether the assessment is postponed in extreme weather.
Lunch, snacks, and any medication
Days can be long with waiting time between candidates. Bring food and any personal medication you may need. Tell the assessor privately about any medical condition that could affect your safety, including heat sensitivity or a condition affecting balance or grip.
Know your crane terminology and signals
Revise load charts, rigging terms, hand and whistle signals, and pre-start inspection steps before the day. The assessor may ask you to explain what you are doing and why, so be ready to talk through each step aloud.
Practise the pre-start check sequence
Rehearse a systematic walk-around: logbook, structures, wire ropes, hooks, limiters, brakes, and communication equipment. Practise saying each check out loud in a logical order so it becomes automatic under observation.
Plan travel and arrive early
Confirm the site address, gate entry, parking, and check-in procedure with the provider. Aim to arrive well before your start time to allow for sign-in, induction, and delays. Late arrival may mean you cannot be assessed; confirm the provider's late-arrival policy.
Sleep and hydration in the days before
Crane assessment demands concentration and coordination. Avoid heavy drinking and late nights in the final two days, and keep hydrated. Fatigue is a legitimate safety concern and an assessor may stop an assessment if you appear unfit.
Confirm what the practical covers
Ask the provider for the assessment outline: which crane type, what lifts or precision tasks are included, and whether theory and practical are on the same day. Knowing the format reduces surprises. If the provider cannot confirm details, mark this for follow-up before the day.
Backup contact and site rules
Save the provider's phone number in case of transport problems. Confirm site rules on phones, smoking, and photography, since some sites restrict them. Ask whether you may take notes or record feedback after the assessment.
Plan the day
Re-read your training notes on pre-start inspections, load charts, and signal communication. Do a dry run of the walk-around check in your head or with a mentor. Gather and inspect your PPE: boots, gloves, helmet, and high-vis clothing. Check the weather forecast and plan clothing accordingly.
Call or email the provider to confirm start time, site address, entry gate, parking, what PPE is supplied, and whether theory and practical are combined. Ask about ID requirements and late-arrival rules if you have not already.
Pack your bag: ID, booking confirmation, PPE, water, food, sunscreen, and wet-weather gear. Charge your phone and save the provider's number. Confirm transport and set two alarms. Go to bed early and avoid alcohol.
Do a light final review of hand signals and whistle signals, and rehearse explaining a pre-start check aloud. Stop studying early enough to sleep well; cramming the night before tends to hurt performance on a physical task.
Eat a proper breakfast and drink water. Dress in your work clothing and boots before leaving. Arrive with time to spare, sign in, and complete any site induction. Tell the assessor about any injury, illness, or medication that could affect your safety.
Listen carefully to each instruction and ask for clarification if something is unclear; asking is not penalised, guessing is. Work methodically and narrate your checks and decisions. Keep to safe work practices at all times, including exclusion zones and communication protocols.
If you make a mistake, stay calm and continue safely rather than rushing to recover. Follow the assessor's directions immediately, especially any stop signal. At the end, ask for feedback on your performance and confirm what happens next with your results and licence application.
Rules to check
Bring original photo ID that matches your booking. If your ID is expired, digital-only, or in a different name, confirm with the provider before the day what will be accepted.
Follow all site safety rules and the assessor's directions at all times. A stop signal or instruction to halt must be obeyed immediately; unsafe behaviour can end the assessment.
Mobile phones, smoking, and photography are commonly restricted on site. Confirm the provider's rules at induction and keep your phone silenced and stored unless told otherwise.
Ask the assessor before the start about breaks, water access, and toilet locations, and tell them about any medical condition or medication that could affect your safety. Confirm with the provider how breaks are handled if the day runs long.
Scoring is competency-based: you must demonstrate each required element safely and consistently. Confirm with the provider how many attempts are allowed for any single task and what happens if an element is not demonstrated.
You may ask the assessor to repeat an instruction or clarify a task. Do not ask for hints on how to perform a task; the assessment must reflect your own competence.
Treat the crane and equipment with care and report any damage or defect you notice. Deliberately bypassing a limiter, alarm, or safety device is a fail and a serious safety breach.
Results and licence application processes vary by provider and regulator. Confirm with the provider how and when you will be told your result and what you must do next to apply for your licence.