How to Become a Crane and Hoisting Equipment Operator in Nova Scotia
Do you need certification?
Certification required
Crane and hoisting equipment operator is a compulsory trade in Nova Scotia. You need a certificate, or registration as an apprentice, to work in the trade.
- Protected titles
- Crane Operator
Show the source
“You need a Certificate of Competency and Crane Operator Licence to operate a mobile crane, boom truck, overhead travelling crane or tower crane.”
From novascotia.ca/lae/equipmentsafety/craneoperator.asp, checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Certification required See the source
- Routes
-
- Trained in Canada: 4 steps, listed one-time fees $185.60
- Licensed in another province: 4 steps, listed one-time fees $72.90
- Trained outside Canada: 5 steps
- Annual fees
-
- Licence renewal: $72.90
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
0 of 4 done
- Listed one-time fees: $185.60
- 3 steps without a listed fee
- Annual fees: $72.90
- Listed time: 0.3 months (only 1 of 4 steps state a time)
-
You must first meet all the requirements for the certification process, including exams, practical experience and education.
Source
“As part of the certification process, you need to successfully complete: provincial exams, practical exam, required regulated hours under the Technical Safety Act and Crane Operators Regulations (practical experience), education requirements (Grade 10 Math, completion of a recognized crane operator training program (PDF) or prior learning assessment)”
novascotia.ca/lae/equipmentsafety/craneoperator.asp -
You send your completed application form to Technical Safety, including your preferred exam dates from the Exam Schedule.
- Certificate of Competency and Crane Operator Licence: $145.80
Source
“Certificate of Competency and Crane Operator Licence | $145.80”
novascotia.ca/lae/equipmentsafety/craneoperator.asp - Exam (per paper): $39.80
Source
“You need to send your completed application form to Technical Safety. Include your preferred exam dates on your form (you can find the exam dates in the Exam Schedule). The Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency provides the exam dates, but you still need to apply through Technical Safety.”
novascotia.ca/lae/equipmentsafety/craneoperator.asp - Certificate of Competency and Crane Operator Licence: $145.80
-
Technical Safety reviews your application, which should take about 10 days.
Time: 10 daysTime source
“It should take 10 days for Technical Safety to review your application.”
novascotia.ca/lae/equipmentsafety/craneoperator.aspSource
“It should take 10 days for Technical Safety to review your application.”
novascotia.ca/lae/equipmentsafety/craneoperator.asp -
If your application is approved, you receive your Certificate of Competency and Crane Operator Licence by mail.
Source
“If your application is approved, you receive Certificate of Competency and Crane Operator Licence by mail.”
novascotia.ca/lae/equipmentsafety/craneoperator.asp
Listed fees for this route
One-time total listed: $185.60
| Fee type | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Application | $145.80 | 79% |
| Exams | $39.80 | 21% |
| One-time total | $185.60 | 100% |
3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Annual fees Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.
- Licence renewal: $72.90
Licensed in another province
0 of 4 done
- Listed one-time fees: $72.90
- 3 steps without a listed fee
- Annual fees: $72.90
- Listed time: 1 month (only 1 of 4 steps state a time)
-
You apply to transfer your credentials from another Canadian jurisdiction if you hold an equivalent Certificate of Competency and Crane Operator Licence.
- Transfer: $72.90
Source
“You can apply to transfer your credentials from another Canadian jurisdiction if you have a Certificate of Competency and Crane Operator Licence that's equivalent to the classification level you want to transfer to. You may need to have your credentials recognized and provide documentation issued by the jurisdiction you're transferring from.”
novascotia.ca/lae/equipmentsafety/craneoperator.asp -
You may need to have your credentials recognized and provide documentation issued by the jurisdiction you are transferring from.
Source
“You may need to have your credentials recognized and provide documentation issued by the jurisdiction you're transferring from.”
novascotia.ca/lae/equipmentsafety/craneoperator.asp -
Transfer applications can take up to 30 days for Technical Safety to review.
Time: 30 daysTime source
“International and transfer applications can take up to 30 days to review.”
novascotia.ca/lae/equipmentsafety/craneoperator.aspSource
“International and transfer applications can take up to 30 days to review.”
novascotia.ca/lae/equipmentsafety/craneoperator.asp -
If your application is approved, you receive a Crane Operator Licence by mail.
Source
“International and transfer applicants receive a Crane Operator Licence by mail.”
novascotia.ca/lae/equipmentsafety/craneoperator.asp
Listed fees for this route
One-time total listed: $72.90
| Fee type | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Application | $72.90 | 100% |
| One-time total | $72.90 | 100% |
3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Annual fees Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.
- Licence renewal: $72.90
Trained outside Canada
0 of 5 done
- 5 steps without a listed fee
- Annual fees: $72.90
- Listed time: 1 month (only 1 of 5 steps state a time)
-
If you do not meet the education requirements, you may need to complete a prior learning assessment.
Source
“Applicants from outside Canada may need to complete a prior learning assessment if they don't meet the education requirements.”
novascotia.ca/lae/equipmentsafety/craneoperator.asp -
You may also need to have your credentials verified by an evaluation agency.
Source
“They may also need to have their credentials verified by an evaluation agency.”
novascotia.ca/lae/equipmentsafety/craneoperator.asp -
You apply for a Certificate of Competency and Crane Operator Licence for the class you want.
Source
“You can apply for a Certificate of Competency and Crane Operator Licence (with or without endorsements) for the class of crane operator certificate of competency you want.”
novascotia.ca/lae/equipmentsafety/craneoperator.asp -
International applications can take up to 30 days for Technical Safety to review.
Time: 30 daysTime source
“International and transfer applications can take up to 30 days to review.”
novascotia.ca/lae/equipmentsafety/craneoperator.aspSource
“International and transfer applications can take up to 30 days to review.”
novascotia.ca/lae/equipmentsafety/craneoperator.asp -
If your application is approved, you receive a Crane Operator Licence by mail.
Source
“International and transfer applicants receive a Crane Operator Licence by mail.”
novascotia.ca/lae/equipmentsafety/craneoperator.asp
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Technical Safety Division, Nova Scotia Labour, Skills and Immigration
5 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Annual fees Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.
- Licence renewal: $72.90
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.
- Re-write exam (per paper): $39.80
- Copy of Certificate of Competency: $33.20
Source
“Copy of Certificate of Competency | $33.20”
novascotia.ca/lae/equipmentsafety/craneoperator.asp - Copy of Crane Operator Licence: $33.20
Requirements
Education
You must have Grade 10 Math, completion of a recognized crane operator training program, or a prior learning assessment.
Source
“education requirements (Grade 10 Math, completion of a recognized crane operator training program (PDF) or prior learning assessment)”
novascotia.ca/lae/equipmentsafety/craneoperator.asp
Experience
You must complete the required regulated hours of practical experience under the Technical Safety Act and Crane Operators Regulations.
Source
“required regulated hours under the Technical Safety Act and Crane Operators Regulations (practical experience)”
novascotia.ca/lae/equipmentsafety/craneoperator.aspApplicants for a crane operator 3 certificate of competency must have 2000 hours of practical experience on a class 3 crane under the direct supervision of a licensed crane operator.
Source
“must have 2000 hours of practical experience on a class 3 crane under the direct supervision of a crane operator who holds a crane operator 1 licence, a crane operator 2 licence or a crane operator 3 licence.”
novascotia.ca/just/regulations/regs/tscrane.htm
Other
You must provide written verification of your practical experience from a crane operator who supervised you.
Source
“An applicant must provide written verification of the practical experience required by [clause] (1)(d) or (g) from a crane operator who supervised them during their practical experience.”
novascotia.ca/just/regulations/regs/tscrane.htm
Already licensed in another province?
Extra steps
You can apply to transfer your credentials from another Canadian jurisdiction if you have an equivalent Certificate of Competency and Crane Operator Licence, but you may need to have your credentials recognized and provide documentation from the transferring jurisdiction. Source
“You can apply to transfer your credentials from another Canadian jurisdiction if you have a Certificate of Competency and Crane Operator Licence that's equivalent to the classification level you want to transfer to. You may need to have your credentials recognized and provide documentation issued by the jurisdiction you're transferring from.”
novascotia.ca/lae/equipmentsafety/craneoperator.asp
Apply to transfer credentials
Source
“You can apply to transfer your credentials from another Canadian jurisdiction if you have a Certificate of Competency and Crane Operator Licence that's equivalent to the classification level you want to transfer to.”
novascotia.ca/lae/equipmentsafety/craneoperator.aspProvide transfer documentation
Source
“You may need to have your credentials recognized and provide documentation issued by the jurisdiction you're transferring from.”
novascotia.ca/lae/equipmentsafety/craneoperator.asp
Processing time: 30 days
Credential assessment
Prior learning assessment
Meet education requirements
Source
“Applicants from outside Canada may need to complete a prior learning assessment if they don't meet the education requirements.”
novascotia.ca/lae/equipmentsafety/craneoperator.asp
Exams
-
Re-write exam
Language tests
Not stated by the regulator Check with Technical Safety Division, Nova Scotia Labour, Skills and Immigration
Canadian experience
Not stated by the regulator Check with Technical Safety Division, Nova Scotia Labour, Skills and Immigration
Supervised practice
Not stated by the regulator Check with Technical Safety Division, Nova Scotia Labour, Skills and Immigration
Demand and pay
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Scotia | $25.00 | $41.20 | $50.00 | Good (4 of 5) |
| Canada | $26.50 | $42.77 | $52.19 | — |
Cranes and hoisting equipment operators in other provinces and territories
- British Columbia Not confirmed yet
- Alberta Certification required
- Saskatchewan Voluntary certification
- Manitoba Certification required
- Ontario Not confirmed yet
- Quebec Certification required
- New Brunswick Not confirmed yet
- Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
- Newfoundland and Labrador Certification required
- Yukon Not confirmed yet
- Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
- Nunavut Not confirmed yet
Compare crane and hoisting equipment operator licensing across Canada
Sources checked
- Crane Operators: classifications and licence requirements | novascotia.caCrane Operators : Nova Scotia Labour, Skills and Immigration, Building and Equipment Safety novascotia.ca/lae/equipmentsafety/craneoperator.asp · fetched October 10, 2026
- Crane Operators Regulations - Technical Safety Act (Nova Scotia) novascotia.ca/just/regulations/regs/tscrane.htm · fetched October 10, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as a crane and hoisting equipment operator in Nova Scotia?
Yes. Certification, or registration as an apprentice, is required to work in the trade in Nova Scotia. Certification is managed by the Technical Safety Division, Nova Scotia Labour, Skills and Immigration.
Which exams are required?
Re-write exam.
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