In order to get heavy equipment operator certification, you must go to an accredited institution that offers training in the type, or the general family, of equipment with which you hope to work. Just as there are many different kinds of heavy equipment, there are also many different kinds of operator certification, so knowing what you want to work with is important. Alternatively, some students complete heavy equipment operator certification in order to increase the number of kinds of equipment that they are certified to operate. For example, a person who is certified to operate cranes might decide to go back to school in order to become certified to use backhoes, excavators, bulldozers, and other kinds of heavy equipment.
Some schools that offer heavy equipment operator certification also offer certification in the operation of large scale vehicles. People who are interested in becoming truck drivers for either long haul or short haul routes can go to a school that offers this training and take courses that will allow them to get Class-A commercial driver licenses, which are also sometimes simply called CDLs. This type of certification allows people to both operate cranes and drive trucks. In some cases, people with Class-A CDLs drive mobile cranes or haul equipment to work sites.
If you're planning to get operator certification, you should consider a number of factors when choosing between schools. First, it is crucial to make sure that the school is fully accredited and that the certification from the school will be accepted by employers in the industry. People who are already working in construction, demolition, transportation, and other fields that sometimes involve the use of heavy equipment might want to consult with their employers to find out what schools they recommend.
The second step is to find a school that is within a reasonable commuting distance of your home. Although there are often a number of programs to be found regionally, there are some areas where heavy equipment operator certification training is not as easily available. For people living in these areas, it might be necessary to temporarily relocate in order to complete a certification program.