CCO Mobile Crane Operator Certification — Core and Specialty written exams (LAT, TLL, TSS)
The written exams for CCO mobile crane certification — the 95-question Core plus the load-chart-heavy specialty for lattice boom, swing-cab or fixed-cab telescopic cranes.
About the exam
NCCCO's CCO Mobile Crane Operator certification is the most widely held crane credential in the U.S. and an accredited way to meet OSHA's operator certification rule (29 CFR 1926.1427). To certify you pass the Core written exam, at least one specialty written exam — Lattice Boom Cranes (LAT), Telescopic Boom–Swing Cab (TLL) or Telescopic Boom–Fixed Cab (TSS) — and the matching practical exam, all within 12 months of the first exam you pass.
The Core exam has 95 questions in 90 minutes, without a calculator: site assessment and ground support, operations and operator aids, technical knowledge of OSHA Subpart CC, ASME B30.5, wire rope and rigging, and load-chart basics. Each specialty exam has 28 questions in 60 minutes with an on-screen calculator, and about a third of it is load charts — radius, gross and net capacity, deductions, parts of line and range diagrams — using NCCCO's generic charts. Since January 2023 the old Lattice Boom Crawler (LBC) and Lattice Boom Truck (LBT) specialties are a single LAT exam.
The practical exams are hands-on tests in a real crane at an accredited test site, taken separately; we cover them only through scenarios. Our practice uses original questions with fictional load charts written out as tables, step-by-step solutions for every chart calculation, power-line clearances from OSHA Table A, and timed tests that run the Core and one specialty back to back.
How we track your progress
Every blueprint domain moves through five levels as you study:
- Not startedNo questions answered in this domain yet.
- Getting startedFirst questions answered — not enough yet to judge.
- DevelopingAt least 5 answered and 50% or better on your recent questions.
- ProficientAt least 15 answered and 70% or better on your recent questions.
- Exam readyAt least 25 answered, 80% or better recently, and holding up on hard questions.
The exam blueprint
CCO Mobile Crane Operator Candidate Handbook (MCO CH REV 06/24): Core and Specialty exam outlines; LAT replaced LBC and LBT in January 2023 — Core (95 items): site 22%, operations 28%, technical knowledge 23%, load charts 27%. Specialty (28 items): site/setup 23%, operations 23%, technical knowledge 19%, load charts 35%. Our 9 practice areas split these; weights are QuizMe estimates. Tap a domain to see its topics.
1 Site Evaluation and Ground Support about 10% (est.) of the exam
36 practice questions in this domain so far
2 Crane Setup, Assembly and Disassembly about 10% (est.) of the exam
36 practice questions in this domain so far
3 Power Line Safety about 7% (est.) of the exam
27 practice questions in this domain so far
4 Lift Operations, Signals and Load Dynamics about 18% (est.) of the exam
66 practice questions in this domain so far
5 Technical Knowledge: Components, Wire Rope and Rigging about 11% (est.) of the exam
42 practice questions in this domain so far
6 Inspections and Wire Rope Removal Criteria about 8% (est.) of the exam
30 practice questions in this domain so far
7 OSHA and ASME Regulations and Responsibilities about 7% (est.) of the exam
27 practice questions in this domain so far
8 Load Charts: Core Concepts and Calculations about 20% (est.) of the exam
75 practice questions in this domain so far
9 Load Charts: Specialty (LAT, TLL, TSS) about 8% (est.) of the exam
30 practice questions in this domain so far
What you get when you access this exam
Free with your QuizMe account.
Crane questions aligned to the outlines
Every question is original and tagged to a Core or specialty area and its topics — ground support, power lines, operator aids, wire rope, inspections and load charts.
Hints and worked chart solutions
Reveal the rule or the next step when you're stuck. Every load-chart question is solved step by step — radius, gross capacity, deductions, net capacity, percent of chart and parts of line.
Adaptive testing
Questions steer toward your weakest areas, weighted like the real exams, and get harder as you get stronger.
Timed practice exams
The Core and one specialty back to back — 123 questions in 2.5 hours — with fictional load charts written out as tables, a pacing indicator and a full review.
Flashcards, lift cases and guides
100 flashcards, 6 lift-planning cases where you set up, size and make the pick decision by decision, and interactive illustrated guides you explore hotspot by hotspot.
Progress for every outline area
Each area moves from Not started to Getting started, Developing, Proficient and Exam ready — so you know exactly what to study next.
Test at home or at a center
Apply and schedule through your myCCO Portal or a training provider. All three written-exam options use the same on-screen platform with load charts on screen and a whiteboard instead of scratch paper.
Online — Online Proctored Testing (OPT)
- A live proctor watches through your webcam for the whole exam; sessions are available around the clock.
- Use a computer with a webcam, microphone and steady internet, and run the system check well before exam day.
- Test alone in a quiet room with a clear desk — no phone, notes or second screen.
- You may use a dry-erase whiteboard no larger than 8.5 × 11 in., or the on-screen whiteboard.
- Schedule at least two days ahead.
At a test center (TCT) or a training event (EOT)
- Test Center Testing: book a seat in the myCCO Portal at least two days ahead; changes are free up to 48 hours before.
- Event Online Testing: take the same online exam at an authorized site, often at the end of a training course.
- Bring current government-issued photo ID that matches your application.
- The Core exam allows no calculator; specialty exams give you an on-screen calculator.
Exam-day game plan
How to walk in ready — and how to pace 123 questions in 2.5 hours (Core 95 + one specialty 28).
Pacing checkpoints
Hit these and you finish with time to revisit your flagged questions. Our timed practice exams run at this same pace.
The week before
- Take one full timed practice run of the Core and your specialty 3–5 days out, then rest.
- Drill load charts until the workflow is automatic: configuration, radius, gross capacity, deductions, net capacity, parts of line.
- Memorize Table A clearances and the 20-ft rule, the shift/monthly/annual inspection split and the wire rope removal criteria.
- Practice Core-style arithmetic by hand — no calculator on the Core.
- Testing online? Run the system check and set up your room.
Exam morning
- Eat a real breakfast; go easy on caffeine.
- Test center or event: arrive early with your photo ID. Online: log in early and close every other program.
- Have a clean whiteboard and marker if you're testing online.
During the exam
- On every chart question, confirm the configuration first — outriggers, counterweight, quadrant, jib — before you read a number.
- Between chart values, use the next longer boom and next greater radius; don't interpolate.
- Deduct everything below the boom tip: hook block, rigging, and any jib or auxiliary head the notes list.
- Round parts of line up, never down.
- Answer every question — there's no penalty for guessing. Flag hard ones and come back.
Keep your head
- A few nerves sharpen focus. If you freeze, take three slow breaths and reread the question.
- You're measured against a fixed standard, not other candidates.
- Change an answer only when you find a real reason in the question or the chart notes.
Keeping your certification
- CCO certification lasts 5 years, and all your designations expire together.
- Recertify in the 12 months before expiration by passing the Core and specialty written exams again.
- The practical exam is waived if you attest to at least 1,000 hours of crane-related experience during your certification period.
- There's no grace period: anything you need, including a practical, must be done before your card expires.
- LBC and LBT holders keep their certifications and move to the LAT designation when they recertify.
- OSHA still requires your employer to evaluate you on the specific equipment you run (1926.1427).
Official sources and further reading
- NCCCO — Mobile Crane Operator certification ↗Program overview, designations and testing options.
- NCCCO — Mobile Crane Operator Candidate Handbook ↗Exam lengths, Core and specialty outlines, eligibility and recertification.
- NCCCO — Mobile crane load chart changes ↗Why the specialty exams use generic load charts.
- OSHA — 29 CFR 1926.1408 power line safety and Table A ↗The 20-ft rule, Table A clearances and encroachment prevention.
- OSHA — 29 CFR 1926.1427 operator qualification and certification ↗Certification options and the employer evaluation.
Ready to start?
369 questions and scenarios across the blueprint — and growing.
NCCCO and CCO are trademarks of the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators. QuizMe and thinQtank Learning are not affiliated with or endorsed by NCCCO. All questions are original. The load charts in our questions are fictional practice charts — never use them to run a crane; always use the actual manufacturer's load chart for your crane and configuration. Exam details are summarized from NCCCO's published handbooks and OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC; fees and rules change — always confirm at nccco.org. NCCCO doesn't publish a passing score; our Exam ready level asks for 80% or better.