Crane operator
Do you have good coordination and the ability to concentrate? If so, you could well become a proficient crane operator. A popular profession with a lot of responsibility.
What does a Crane operator do?
As a crane operator, you can do anything in the construction industry from lifting a box of bolts, assembling wind turbines, complex coordinated lifts where you work with two or more cranes at the same time, or sitting enjoying the view from the crane cabin 200 metres above the ground.
Crane operators work with equipment such as tower cranes and mobile cranes. In this profession, safety is of utmost importance. Heavy lift operations require attention, concentration and responsibility.
NOT A SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATION
It is currently not possible to become a crane operator via a secondary school education. It’s only possible via adult education (VUX) or as a company apprentice.
How can I become a Crane operator via adult education?
As an adult there are several ways to become a professional construction worker. You can choose to go either via the building and construction programme at VUX (secondary school for adults) or vacational advancement via the Employment Service. You can also choose to go thru an educational company. There are many opportunities as you can see!
The adult education programme
You study to become a crane operator through the adult education apprenticeship system.
The majority of your training in the adult education apprenticeship system, up to 70%, is in a company.
The basic training programme includes 16 practical exercises. The theoretical knowledge is based on the mobile crane operator textbook and is complemented with material in an online course.
The basic training programme varies in length but usually takes two to five weeks to complete depending on your prior knowledge, your ability to assimilate the theoretical knowledge and your practical skills.
Qualification time
The period following initial training is called the qualification period. You work as an apprentice in a company during this time. The qualification period for a Crane operator is 24 months, after which you can apply for a professional certificate. You will receive an agreed-upon apprenticeship wage during the qualification period. You must independently apply for an apprenticeship position in a company with a collective agreement or a labour contract.
How can I become a Crane operator as a company apprentice?
You must first find a company that wants to hire you as an apprentice.
Being a company apprentice means that you have a position as an apprentice but that you do lack some or all of an approved basic education and must now obtain this in the company. The programme has two parts, a theoretical and a practical part, which are studied in parallel.
The practical part is based on the qualifications for the respective profession and where you as an apprentice must achieve a certain degree of independence in each qualification. These must also be approved by your assigned supervisor.
You have 6 months to complete both the theoretical and practical parts of your basic training. Once this is completed and your supervisor has approved all parts, you can start your qualification period.
You must choose the sector in which you want to work to become a crane operator. The workplace you are in essentially determines the type of crane you will work with – and different crane types have different training programmes. If you want to work as a crane operator in the construction industry, the two most common types of cranes are stationary and mobile cranes.
The training is organised by the Swedish Mobile Crane Association.
The distance learning programme
Distance learning via the Mobile Crane Association requires that you be employed by a company with a trained and approved supervisor, access to cranes and the ability to provide apprenticeship experience.
You must first undergo one of the Mobile Crane Association’s basic training programmes. This is done remotely at your workplace with the support of your company’s supervisor. Following approval, you continue as an apprentice for the duration of your training period in the company. The study plan is drawn up between the company, trainer and student.
All distance learning programmes are conducted in Swedish.
Qualification time
The period following initial training is called the qualification period. You work as an apprentice in a company during this time. The qualification period for a Crane operator is 24 months, after which you can apply for a professional certificate. You will receive an agreed-upon apprenticeship wage during the qualification period. You must independently apply for an apprenticeship position in a company with a collective agreement or a labour contract.
