Original brochure
Work machine certification
Administration of Occupational Safety and Health, Educational and instructional publication no. 37
Work machine certification
No one can operate a work machine without a valid certification. The Administration of Occupational Safety and Health (AOSH) administers regular work machine exams and handles the issuing of licenses according to “Regulations on work machine certification no. 198/1983.” To acquire a work machine license, certain conditions must be met.
Age and driving license
In order to acquire a work machine license the applicant must be 17 years old and have a valid driving license. The minimum age for taking the written work machine course is 16. The student can start training on a machine under the supervision of an accredited instructor three months before his or her 17th birthday.
Written courses
The student starts by completing a written course on work machines and must pass a written exam. The AOSH and certain driving schools offer written work machine courses. The AOSH offers a primary course (29 class-hours) and a construction crane course (26 class-hours).
Driving schools offer a basic course (80 class-hours). The basic course can be completed by distance learning for the most part.
The primary course provides ready-for-training certification for the following registration classes: (D) basket lifts and concrete pumping lifts, (I) tractors and smaller earth-moving machines up to 4 tons in weight, (J) Lifters with lifting capacity up to 10 tons, (L) rollers, (M) asphalt pavers and millers, (P) smaller cranes between 8 and 18 ton-meter capacity.
The construction crane course provides ready-for-training certification for construction cranes and harbor cranes with more than 18 ton-meter capacity.
The basic course provides ready-for-training certification for all work machine registration classes. Further information on the basic course can be obtained at the driving schools offering the course.
Applied training
When a student has passed the written exam, he or she can start applied training on a machine.
All applied training takes place at work sites and is carried out by companies/employers who are responsible for the training.
Applied training must be conducted under the supervision of an instructor who has teaching certification for the machine in question. The training must be conducted in an area with little or no foot traffic where a danger of an accident is minimal. The AOSH recommends at least 16 hours of training for each class of machines the student intends to get certified for.
Teaching certification
To obtain teaching certification for a particular machine, the applicant must have a minimum of 1.000 work hours for the machine. The applicant’s employer must certify that the applicant has completed this minimum number of hours on the machine in question. The teaching certification can be applied for at the AOSH.
Applied test and the work machine license
When the student receives a certificate that he or she has completed the applied training (the recommended 16 hours minimum) from the employer, a representative from the AOSH can be requested to administer an applied exam. Upon passing the exam, the student will receive a confirmation from the AOSH representative and will then apply for a work machine license at the AOSH for the machine or machines in question.
Medical certificate
In order to obtain a certification for operating cranes in A, B, D and P classes, a medical certificate from a doctor must be provided. This certificate is similar to the one needed for a driving license.
Validity and expiration of work machine licenses
All work machine licenses are valid until the age of 70, except for crane licenses for classes A, B, D and P. Those are valid for 10 years at a time. For a continuation of the crane license, a medical certificate must be provided. Work machine licenses can be extended by 3 years at a time after the age of 70 by providing a medical certificate.
Registration classes of work machines requiring certification for operation
(A) Construction and harbor cranes > 18 tm
(B) Loading cranes, lifting capacity > 18 tm
(D) Basket lifts and mobile cranes, lifting capacity ≤ 18 tm
(E) Excavators > 4 tons
(F) Wheeled loaders
(G) Bulldozers, drilling rigs and drilling equipment
(I) Tractors and smaller types of earth-moving machines ≤ 4 t
(J) Lifters, lifting capacity ≤ 10 t
(K) Lifters, lifting capacity > 10 t
(L) Rollers
(M) Asphalt pavers and millers
(P) Loading cranes, lifting capacity > tm to ≤ tm
Bridge cranes in registration class C, lifting equipment in class S and scissor lift platforms in class V do not require certification to operate.
Work machine license
• No one can operate a work machine without a license.
• A driving license and a minimum age of 17 are required for a work machine license.
• The certification process starts with a written course and a written exam.
• All applied (practical) training takes place at a work site and is the responsibility of the employer.
• All applied training takes place under the supervision of a certified instructor.
• All work machine licenses are valid until the age of 70, except crane licenses.
• Crane licenses are valid for 10 years at a time. Extension requires a medical certificate.
• A work machine license can be extended by 3 years at a time after the age of 70 by providing a medical certificate.
Administration of Occupational Safety and Health, 2017.