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Training Directory

NYC DOB CRANES AND DERRICKS TRAINING

30-Hour Tower Crane Rigger

Required for every worker who erects, jumps, or dismantles a tower crane in New York City, and one of the requirements for the Tower Crane Rigger license.

  • In person · Live online · Hybrid
  • 30 hours
  • English

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Course at a glance

Format
Instructor-led, in person, live online, or hybrid. Not offered self-paced.
Length
30 hours of instruction, not counting breaks and meals (no session longer than 9.5 hours including breaks)
Assessment
Written multiple-choice assessment in class
Credential
Dated course certificate and the Climber/Tower Crane Rigger certification on your DOB Worker Wallet card, issued by your training provider
Official NYC DOB course outlinePDF · revision 06/26(opens in a new tab)

Tower crane rigger course in NYC: who needs it and why

This is an NYC DOB-approved 30-hour course for tower crane rigging. Under Building Code section 3319.10.1, every worker engaged in erecting, jumping, or dismantling a tower crane, including the licensed rigger and the rigger foreman, must complete a DOB-approved course of at least 30 hours.

The course is also one of the requirements for the NYC Tower Crane Rigger license. License applicants must finish an approved 30-hour course within 1 year before applying and show at least 5 years of tower crane rigging experience in New York City within the 7 years before applying. DOB also requires applicants to pass its written and practical license exams. This course prepares you for that path, but it is not the license.

For workers, your training provider issues the Climber/Tower Crane Rigger certification on your DOB Worker Wallet card. Since July 1, 2025, it is the only card accepted on NYC job sites for this certification. It does not replace your SST card. The code requires an 8-hour recertification course within 3 years of the initial course and every 3 years after that.

The course is instructor-led and taught in English. DOB allows it in person, live online over video, or as a hybrid of both. It has no hands-on component and may not be taken self-paced. Instruction is lecture and discussion with audio-visual material and demonstrations, and it ends with a written multiple-choice assessment in class.

Before you enroll

You need the following before you can take this course.

  1. Taught in English; license applicants must be able to read and write English

What you'll learn

Drawn from the training objectives in DOB's outline.

  • How tower cranes are assembled, jumped, and dismantled safely
  • How to plan a lift, figure weights and materials, and choose and use slings
  • How to signal and communicate clearly with the crane operator
  • What to check in crane and hoist inspections and what the rigging requirements are
  • Why crane and derrick incidents happen on NYC sites and how to prevent them, with case studies
  • The OSHA subparts, NYC Building Code Chapter 33, and DOB rules and procedures that apply to tower crane work

Course topics

Everything in DOB's outline for this course.

  1. Part 1 · Cranes, incidents, and the rules

    • Introduction to cranes and derricks: worker training and Tower Crane Rigger requirements
    • Jobsite crane and derrick incident statistics and prevention
    • OSHA 1926 Subparts E (PPE), H (material handling and storage), K (electrical), L (scaffolds), M (fall protection), and CC (cranes and derricks in construction)
    • NYC Code review: codes, rules, policy statements, notices, bulletins, 2022 Building Code Chapter 33, and 1 RCNY 3316-01 and 3319-01

  2. Part 2 · DOB procedures and safety protocols

    • DOB standard operating procedures, policy and procedure notices, permits, and department notifications
    • Forms, filing and site documents, plans, and inspection checklists and logs
    • Wind and weather advisories
    • Crane and derrick safety protocols and emergency procedures

  3. Part 3 · Tower crane rigging work

    • Crane assembly and disassembly
    • Pre-lift planning, weights, and materials
    • Use of slings and lifting and lowering loads
    • Signaling and proper communication with the operator
    • Crane and hoist inspections and rigging requirements

  4. Part 4 · Lessons learned and assessment

    • Recurring jobsite crane and derrick safety problems
    • Incident case studies with photos
    • Handouts on the 311 unsafe condition procedure and the DOI Buildings Integrity contact sheet
    • Review of all topics and a written multiple-choice assessment

Credit & certificate

Meets the 30-hour training requirement for workers who erect, jump, or dismantle tower cranes, issued as the Climber/Tower Crane Rigger certification on your DOB Worker Wallet card. It is also one requirement to apply for the NYC Tower Crane Rigger license; it is not the license.

Renewal: 8-Hour Tower Crane Rigger Renewal: within 3 years of this course and every 3 years after for workers, and within the 1 year before each renewal for license holders.

Who it's for

  • Workers who erect, jump, or dismantle tower cranes in NYC
  • Licensed riggers and rigger foremen on tower crane jobs
  • Riggers preparing to apply for the NYC Tower Crane Rigger license
  • Crews moving into tower crane erection and climbing work

Before you buy

Format and schedule
Taught by an instructor in scheduled classes, in person or live online. The dates, times and place of each class are listed under Upcoming classes; registered students in a live online class get the join link.
Certificate and credential
When you finish, Training Directory issues a course certificate.
Identity verification
No identity verification or proctoring is required for this course.

Questions

Who needs the 30-Hour Tower Crane Rigger course?

Every worker who erects, jumps, or dismantles a tower crane in New York City, including the licensed rigger and the rigger foreman. It is also required to apply for the NYC Tower Crane Rigger license.

Does finishing this course give me a Tower Crane Rigger license?

No. It is one requirement. License applicants must complete the course within 1 year before applying, have at least 5 years of NYC tower crane rigging experience within the past 7 years, and pass DOB's written and practical exams.

Can I take it in person or live online?

Either, or a mix of both. DOB allows in person, live online, and hybrid delivery for this course because it has no hands-on component. It cannot be taken self-paced.

What are the rules for live online classes?

For any live online session, DOB requires your training provider to confirm your identity before giving you access, and you must attest that you are the person taking the class and will complete it without help. Your participation is monitored the whole time, and your webcam must stay on for the entire class.

What do I get when I finish?

A dated course certificate, and the Climber/Tower Crane Rigger certification on your DOB Worker Wallet card, issued by your training provider. The Worker Wallet card is the only card accepted for this certification on NYC job sites and does not replace your SST card.

How do I keep my training current?

Take the 8-Hour Tower Crane Rigger Renewal. Workers take it within 3 years of the initial course and every 3 years after. License holders must complete it within the 1 year before each license renewal.

Are there prerequisites for the course?

DOB's outline does not list a course prerequisite. Classes are taught in English, and license applicants must be able to read and write English.

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