Training &Most people asking this question are about to spend $1,000 and four days of their life, so it deserves a straight answer. The NCCER Advanced Rigger assessment is not a formality. It has a written portion and a hands-on practical, and you have to pass both. It is also not designed to trick you. The Advanced Rigger class exists to teach exactly what the test measures, and the test is given in the same building by the people who taught you.
What the written test covers
The written assessment is a proctored, multiple-choice test on the knowledge side of rigging. Expect questions drawn from the same topics the class covers:
- Advanced rigging principles and lift planning
- Load weight calculations and center of gravity
- Sling selection, hitch configurations and sling inspection
- Rigging hardware: shackles, hooks, spreader bars and below-the-hook devices
- Load control, tag lines and crane hand signals
The part that worries students most is the math: figuring load weight from dimensions and material, working out sling tension at different angles, and locating a center of gravity on an uneven load. None of it is beyond basic arithmetic, but you have to know the formulas and use them under time. That is why the class spends real time on it instead of skimming.
What the practical test covers
The performance verification is hands-on, in front of an NCCER practical examiner. You are asked to do the work: inspect slings and hardware and reject what should be rejected, select and rig a hitch for a given load, control the load, and give the correct hand signals. If you have rigged on a crew, most of this is familiar. If you are new, the class is where you get the reps. You will be handling real rigging hardware from the first day, not looking at pictures of it.
How the 4-day class is built
The Advanced Rigger course runs Monday through Thursday in two formats: the day class from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and the night class from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM for crews working days. The first three days move through lift planning, load math, slings, hardware, load control and signals, with classroom time and hands-on time each day. The written and practical test-out is on the last day. The 3-Day Weekend Express covers the same material Friday through Sunday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with the test on Sunday. Classes are capped at 8, so if you do not understand something, you ask, and the instructor goes over it again.
How to prepare
- Book early. Classes are capped at 8 and booking closes the day before, so reserve the date that fits your schedule while it is open.
- Brush up on the math. Volume, area, multiplication and a little trigonometry for sling angles. If you have not done arithmetic on paper in a while, practice before class.
- Bring what you need. A government-issued photo ID (NCCER will not let you test without it) and your own PPE: safety glasses, gloves, a hard hat and steel-toe boots. Pens, paper, notebooks, snacks and drinks are provided.
- Ask questions in class. The reviews say it over and over: the instructors do not move on until you get it. Take them up on that.
- Get sleep before test day. The last day is the long one.
What if you miss a section?
The written and practical portions are scored separately. If you pass one and miss the other, you do not start the whole course over. Ask us about retest options; the office will tell you what applies to your situation, and your instructor can point you to the areas to study before you sit again.
The bottom line
Is the Advanced Rigger test hard? It is a real credential with a real test, and it should be, because a rigging mistake can hurt someone. But it is a test of things you will be taught, by people who want you to pass, in the same room where you learned them. Show up, do the reading, ask your questions, and you will be in good shape. Pick a start date when you are ready.
