Licensing guide · Manitoba

How to Become a Mobile Crane Operator in Manitoba

Last checked 6 sources checkedNOC 72500

Do you need certification?

Certification required

Mobile crane operator is a compulsory trade in Manitoba. You need a certificate, or registration as an apprentice, to work in the trade.

Protected titles
Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“If a trade is designated as compulsory certification, it means you must be registered as an apprentice or be a certified journeyperson to work in that trade.”

From gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/experienced-tradespersons/trade-qualifier...., checked October 11, 2026.

At a glance

Licence status
Certification required See the source
Routes
Annual fees
Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba

Your roadmap

Every route is listed. Follow the one that matches where you trained.

Trained in Canada

  • 2 fees depend on your situation and are not in the total
  • 3 steps without a listed fee

  1. Apprenticeship Manitoba emails you the Apprenticeship Agreement, which you and your employer must sign.

    Source
    “Sign the Apprenticeship Agreement - Apprenticeship Manitoba sends an email to you with the Apprenticeship Agreement - you can print out the agreement and sign it, or electronically sign the agreement - your employer must also sign Part C of the agreement”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/apply-for-your-appr...

  2. Submit your education records, any related work or educational experience documentation, and the signed Apprenticeship Agreement to Apprenticeship Manitoba to register it.

    Source
    “Provide documentation and register your Apprenticeship Agreement with Apprenticeship Manitoba Follow instructions on your Apprenticeship Agreement to submit: - a copy of your education records (post-secondary transcript, or high school diploma, and/or Grade 12 transcripts, GED certificate/ Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC), or equivalent).”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/apply-for-your-appr...

  3. Complete the on-the-job hours, technical training hours and exams required for your trade under the Apprenticeship and Certification Act.

    Source
    “complete on-the-job hours, technical training hours and exams according to The Apprenticeship and Certification Act and for your specific trade regulation or by-law.”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/apply-for-your-appr...

  4. Pass the certification (final) exam with a minimum grade of 70 per cent to earn your Certificate of Qualification.

    Source
    “Once you’ve completed all levels and apprenticeship requirements for your program, you must pass the certification (final) exam. The minimum passing grade is 70 per cent.”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/discover-apprentice...

Listed fees for this route

2 fees depend on your situation and are not in the total.

3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Official page for this route

Licensed in another province

  • 1 step without a listed fee

  1. If you hold certification from another Canadian province or territory in this compulsory certification trade, your certification will be recognized in Manitoba.

    Source
    “If you have received certification elsewhere in Canada for a trade that requires compulsory certification in Manitoba, your certification will be recognized.”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/discover-apprentice...

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba

1 step without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Official page for this route

Trained outside Canada

  • 4 steps without a listed fee
  • Listed time: 1.4 months (only 1 of 4 steps state a time)

  1. Review the work experience form for your trade on the Apprenticeship Manitoba website to determine whether you have the required work experience, training, knowledge and skills to write the qualification exam.

    Source
    “Determine if you have the work experience, training, knowledge and skills required to be eligible to write the qualification exam by reviewing the work experience form for your trade on the Apprenticeship Manitoba website.”
    immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupations

  2. If you meet all requirements, submit your trades qualification application with the completed work experience form, employer letters and copies of previous trades certification to Apprenticeship Manitoba.

    Source
    “Submit to Apprenticeship Manitoba your trades qualification application (along with your completed work experience form, employer letter(s) and copies of previous trades certification) only if you meet all requirements to write the qualification exam in your trade.”
    immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupations

  3. Wait for a reply from Apprenticeship Manitoba; approval of your application means you are eligible to write the exam.

    Time: 6 weeks
    Time source
    “Wait for a reply from Apprenticeship Manitoba (application review typically takes about six weeks).”
    immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupations
    Source
    “Wait for a reply from Apprenticeship Manitoba (application review typically takes about six weeks). Approval of your application means you are eligible to write the exam.”
    immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupations

  4. Once approved, write the certification exam for your trade.

    Source
    “Approval of your application means you are eligible to write the exam.”
    immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupations

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba

4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Official page for this route

Other listed fees

The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.

Requirements

Conditions the regulator sets on top of the roadmap steps.

Education

  • When registering your Apprenticeship Agreement you must submit a copy of your education records, or state in your application if you do not have Grade 12 or equivalent education.

    Source
    “a copy of your education records (post-secondary transcript, or high school diploma, and/or Grade 12 transcripts, GED certificate/ Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC), or equivalent). NOTE: If you do not have Grade 12 or equivalent education, state this in your application.”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/apply-for-your-appr...

Experience

Residency

  • You must reside in Manitoba when you apply, whether as an apprentice or as a trade qualifier challenging the certification exam.

    Source
    “Whether you plan to be an apprentice, or plan to challenge the certification exam as a trade qualifier, you must reside in Manitoba when you apply.”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/newcomers.html

Other

  • If you are on a work permit, you must provide the approved Authorization Letter from the Government of Canada before you can register for technical training.

    Source
    “You are required to provide the approved Authorization Letter from the Government of Canada to Apprenticeship Manitoba before you will be able to register for technical training while on a work-permit.”
    gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/newcomers.html

Already licensed in another province?

Direct transfer

If you have received certification elsewhere in Canada for a trade that requires compulsory certification in Manitoba, your certification will be recognized.

Source
“If you have received certification elsewhere in Canada for a trade that requires compulsory certification in Manitoba, your certification will be recognized.”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/discover-apprentice...

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba

Exams

Language tests

Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba

Supervised practice

Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba

Demand and pay

Job Bank figures for NOC 72500, Crane operators. Wages for 2023-2024 in Canadian dollars an hour; outlook for 2025-2027.

Job Bank wages and outlook in Manitoba and Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
Manitoba — — — Limited (2 of 5)
Canada $26.50 $42.77 $52.19 —

Wages in every province and territory

Mobile crane operators in other provinces and territories

Regulated in 11 of the other 12 jurisdictions checked so far. The rules differ from one place to the next.

Compare mobile crane operator licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 11, 2026.

  1. Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/experienced-tradespersons/trade-qualifier.... · fetched October 10, 2026
  2. Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/apply-for-your-appr... · fetched October 10, 2026
  3. Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/discover-apprentice... · fetched October 10, 2026
  4. Regulated Occupations | Manitoba Immigration immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupations · fetched October 10, 2026
  5. Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/trade-profiles/crane-and-bo... · fetched October 10, 2026
  6. Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/newcomers.html · fetched October 10, 2026

Frequently asked questions

2

Do you need a licence to work as a mobile crane operator in Manitoba?

Yes. Certification, or registration as an apprentice, is required to work in the trade in Manitoba. Certification is managed by Apprenticeship Manitoba.

Which exams are required?

certification (final) exam, Level Placement Exam.

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