Basic Rigging (RB) exam-day guide
Basic Rigging (RB) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name used on your registration. A photocopy or a photo on your phone is normally not accepted. If your name differs slightly from the registration record, contact the provider before test day to correct it.
Admission or scheduling confirmation
Print or save the confirmation showing your test date, time, and test center address. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or a digital copy is acceptable.
Personal protective equipment
Bring your own hard hat, safety glasses, work gloves, and sturdy work boots with slip-resistant soles. Confirm with the provider exactly which PPE is required versus supplied at the site, since practice varies.
Clothing suitable for outdoor practical work
Wear long pants and layered clothing you can move and climb in. Avoid loose sleeves, dangling jewelry, and open-toed shoes. Weather conditions at outdoor test sites can change quickly.
Knowledge of the test center location and route
Do a route check the day before, including parking, site gate access, and walking time from the lot to the check-in point. Industrial training sites are often behind security gates with slow entry.
Arrival buffer
Plan to arrive well before your scheduled start so there is time for check-in, ID verification, and the safety briefing. Confirm with the provider how early you should arrive and what happens if you are late.
Review of hand signals and rigging terminology
Be able to demonstrate and read standard crane hand signals and to explain terms such as sling angle, load angle factor, center of gravity, and rated capacity. Use your own training materials for review.
Mental rehearsal of inspection routines
Practice the sequence you will use to inspect slings, shackles, hooks, and hardware: identify the item, check the tag, look for damage, and state the accept or reject decision with a reason.
Physical readiness
Get normal sleep, eat a real meal, and stay hydrated. Practical rigging tests involve lifting, climbing, and sustained attention, and fatigue shows up quickly in knot tying and signal recognition.
Medications and personal needs
Bring any prescription medication you may need and a water bottle. Confirm with the provider whether personal items can be kept at the test station or must stay in a locker or vehicle.
Knowledge of what is prohibited at the station
Leave phones, smart watches, and recording devices stowed unless the examiner says otherwise. Confirm with the provider what is allowed at the practical site and what must be left outside.
A plan for the retake policy
Before test day, confirm with the provider how scoring works, what the passing threshold is, and what the retake and waiting-period rules are, so you are not making decisions under pressure.
Plan the day
Reread your course materials on sling types, hitch types, rated capacities, inspection rejection criteria, and crane hand signals. Write a one-page summary in your own words and check it against your notes for gaps. Do not start new topics this late; consolidate what you already know.
Confirm logistics: test center address, arrival time, parking, what PPE is supplied, and what you must bring. Call or email the provider with any unanswered question now rather than on the morning of the test. Confirm with the provider whether the practical is held outdoors and how weather delays are handled.
Do a physical practice session if you have access to equipment and a qualified supervisor. Focus on the tasks you will actually perform, such as tying hitches, attaching and adjusting slings, checking hardware, and directing a lift with hand signals. Never practice rigging on live equipment without proper supervision.
Do a light review only: hand signals, inspection checklists, and your own summary sheet. Stop studying early enough to sleep well. Pack your bag with ID, confirmation, PPE, clothing, water, and medication so nothing is decided in the morning.
Check the weather forecast and traffic conditions for the route. Set two alarms. Confirm the gate or check-in procedure with the provider if the site is a secured industrial yard, since entry delays are a common cause of late arrival.
Eat a normal meal and hydrate. Dress in your PPE-ready clothing, arrive early, and use the waiting time for a calm mental walk-through of the inspection sequence rather than last-minute cramming. Keep your phone stowed once you enter the test area unless told otherwise.
Listen to the full instruction before touching any equipment. Ask the examiner to repeat a task if it is unclear; clarifying a instruction is not a failure. Narrate your inspection steps and decisions out loud where appropriate, because examiners score your reasoning as well as your hands.
Work at a steady, safe pace. Before each lift, identify the load weight and center of gravity, verify the rigging hardware and sling capacity, check the sling angles, and confirm the signal communication plan. If you make a mistake, stop, correct it deliberately, and continue rather than rushing to catch up.
Treat every safety rule as scored: stay out of the fall zone and under the load, wear PPE correctly, keep hands clear of pinch points, and use proper lifting posture. A single unsafe act can end the practical regardless of how well the rigging was executed.
Ask the examiner or provider about score reporting, the passing threshold, and retake options if you are unsure of the result. Confirm with the provider the timeline for receiving your results and any certification paperwork.
Rules to check
Bring original, unexpired government-issued photo ID matching your registration name. Candidates without acceptable ID are typically turned away, and the fee may not be refunded. Confirm with the provider which ID forms are accepted.
Arrive at the time stated in your confirmation and allow extra time for check-in and the safety briefing. Confirm with the provider the late-arrival cutoff and whether a missed appointment counts as a failed attempt.
Follow all site safety rules at all times, including PPE requirements, designated walkways, barricades, and exclusion zones. The examiner may stop the test for an unsafe act, and safety violations are usually scored as failures.
Do not bring unauthorized materials or devices into the test area. Phones, smart watches, notes, and recording devices are normally prohibited at the practical station. Confirm with the provider where personal items should be stored.
Ask the examiner before leaving the test area for water, restroom, or medication needs. Confirm with the provider whether scheduled breaks are built into the practical and how unscheduled breaks affect your time.
Understand how you are scored before you begin: practical tasks are usually judged against a checklist of critical safety and performance items, and some critical items may be pass or fail regardless of the overall score. Confirm the passing threshold and critical-item rules with the provider.
Do not coach or receive coaching from other candidates during the test. Keep conversation with other candidates away from the test stations, and do not discuss specific tasks while the test is in progress.
If you believe a testing condition was unfair, such as faulty equipment or an unclear instruction, raise it calmly with the examiner at the time and ask how to file an appeal. Confirm with the provider the formal appeal and retake process.