NCCCO Rigger Level II study guide
NCCCO Rigger Level II · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
Rigger Level II is a certification offered within the Rigger program of the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (CCO), a nonprofit organization that describes itself as "Committed to Quality, Integrity, and Fairness in Testing since 1995." CCO lists Rigger alongside Signalperson, Lift Director, and its crane operator and inspector credentials, and administers written exams through several delivery routes: online proctored testing, test center testing, and event online testing. The credential is intended for rigging personnel who work with cranes and other load-handling equipment and who need to demonstrate job-related knowledge rather than only time on the tools. The NCCCO Rigger Level II study guide has 5 sections and about 1,647 words.
01Site and Lift Planning
Lift planning starts with numbers you can defend. Establish the load's weight from drawings, shipping papers, or a scale - not from a guess - then add slings, shackles, the spreader beam, and any below-the-hook device.
357 words, about 2 min02Rigging Selection and Configuration
Selection begins with tension, not with a catalog picture. For a symmetrical two-leg bridle, tension per leg equals load ÷ (2 × sin θ), where θ is the angle between the sling leg and horizontal.
333 words, about 2 min03Inspection of Rigging Equipment
Rigging inspection has three tiers: pre-use inspection by the user before each shift, periodic inspection by a designated person at employer-set intervals (commonly documented), and inspection after any shock load, overload, or event that could cause damage. Written records support the periodic check and prove the program exists.
314 words, about 2 min04Execution of Complex Lifts
Complex lifts are the ones where the standard chart-and-hook routine stops covering you: multiple cranes, tailing and upending, lifts over occupied space or hazardous materials, unusual rigging configurations, and lifts near the top of the capacity chart. Many employers define a critical lift at 75% or more of rated capacity at the actual radius, and require a written or engineered plan, a pre-lift meeting, and a dedicated supervisor.
309 words, about 2 min05Communication, Signaling, and Load Control
Signal communication fails more often from too many voices than from bad radios. A lift should have one designated signal person whose signals the operator follows; anyone may give a stop signal, and the operator must obey it.
334 words, about 2 min