NCCER Mobile Crane study plan

List the five phases of a lift (site preparation, setup, inspection, operation, shutdown) and write, for each phase, the three tasks a crane operator owns

Identify every variable printed on a load chart (boom length, radius, boom angle, counterweight, outrigger configuration, parts of line) and define each in your own words

Convert between radius measured from the boom pivot and radius measured from the machine centerline, working five practice conversions

Sketch a plan view of a crane position showing swing radius, outrigger footprint, and the load path

Read a capacity table for a given boom length and interpolate between two listed radii to estimate an in-between capacity

Apply deductions for jib, stowed attachments, and lifting accessories to a gross capacity figure to reach net capacity

Explain why the chart's structural limit and tipping limit differ and identify which governs at long radius

Describe the effect of outrigger beam extension, flotation mats, and ground bearing pressure on chart selection

Write the pre-lift site inspection checklist you would actually use: ground conditions, underground utilities, slope, overhead power lines, and access roads

Calculate ground bearing pressure for a given outrigger load and mat size, and state whether a described soil condition is adequate

List the setup steps in order from arrival to ready-to-lift, including outrigger deployment, leveling, and load moment indicator checks

Identify the shutdown and securing steps after the last lift, including boom stowing and outrigger retraction

Determine the weight of a load three ways (shipping papers, calculation from material density and dimensions, and a scale ticket) and compare the results

Select sling type, capacity, and hitch configuration for four described loads, accounting for sling angle and tension increase

Calculate sling tension at 60, 45, and 30 degree horizontal angles and explain the multiplier effect

Verify rigging capacity against net crane capacity and identify which of the two limits the lift

State the standard hand signals for hoist, lower, stop, boom up, boom down, swing, and emergency stop, and describe each precisely enough that a partner can perform it from your description

Explain when hand signals, voice, radio, and a bell or horn are each appropriate, and what to do when signals conflict

Define the roles of signal person, rigger, operator, and lift director and where responsibility transfers during a blind lift

Describe radio protocol for a blind lift: channel discipline, confirmation of each command, and lost-communication procedure

Identify the top five crane hazards (power line contact, tipping, rigging failure, struck-by, crush during swing) and the control for each

State the power line approach distance rules you must follow and the steps to take if contact occurs, including what the operator must not do

Explain load moment indicator and rated capacity limiter function, their alarms, and the operator's required response to a warning

Describe the requirements for a lift plan, critical lift designation, and permit-to-work controls on a shared site

Walk through a full pre-shift inspection of a mobile crane and list the items that would take a machine out of service

Explain the effect of wind, side loading, and boom deflection on capacity and when to stop the lift

Describe the requirements for personnel lifting, travel with a load, and pick-and-carry operations

Outline incident reporting and post-incident inspection steps after a near miss

Work a timed set of mixed practice questions across all five domains and score your weakest two domains

Redo every missed item from weeks 1 through 7 and write the reason for each correction

Rehearse a complete lift scenario from site survey through shutdown, narrating every decision and the chart or rule behind it

Build a one-page personal formula and rule sheet for capacity, tension, and ground bearing pressure