Heavy Equipment Operation

Shared first block for every VoTechWorks program. OSHA 10 (30 for construction management), first aid/CPR/AED, applied trade math and measurement, technical reading and writing, digital literacy, and career readiness. Completed before students enter the shop and live-work site unsupervised.

• Hold an OSHA 10 card and current CPR/AED certification
• Convert, measure and estimate with trade units, fractions, percentages and basic geometry
• Read a specification, code excerpt or manual and write a clear technical report
• Use email, spreadsheets, and the program's digital job-management tools
• Present a resume, portfolio and interview answers to an employer panel

Competency course in Excavator for the Heavy Equipment Operation program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the shop and live-work site, measured against the governing code and manufacturer specifications. Students build, install and inspect real work in Excavator and keep a shop log signed off by the instructor.

• Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern Excavator
• Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for Excavator
• Perform the core tasks of Excavator to the standard, within time, without rework
• Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in Excavator work and correct them
• Document Excavator work in the shop log to industry format

Competency course in loader for the Heavy Equipment Operation program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the shop and live-work site, measured against the governing code and manufacturer specifications. Students build, install and inspect real work in loader and keep a shop log signed off by the instructor.

• Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern loader
• Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for loader
• Perform the core tasks of loader to the standard, within time, without rework
• Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in loader work and correct them
• Document loader work in the shop log to industry format

Competency course in dozer for the Heavy Equipment Operation program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the shop and live-work site, measured against the governing code and manufacturer specifications. Students build, install and inspect real work in dozer and keep a shop log signed off by the instructor.

• Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern dozer
• Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for dozer
• Perform the core tasks of dozer to the standard, within time, without rework
• Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in dozer work and correct them
• Document dozer work in the shop log to industry format

Competency course in grader for the Heavy Equipment Operation program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the shop and live-work site, measured against the governing code and manufacturer specifications. Students build, install and inspect real work in grader and keep a shop log signed off by the instructor.

• Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern grader
• Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for grader
• Perform the core tasks of grader to the standard, within time, without rework
• Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in grader work and correct them
• Document grader work in the shop log to industry format

Competency course in skid steer for the Heavy Equipment Operation program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the shop and live-work site, measured against the governing code and manufacturer specifications. Students build, install and inspect real work in skid steer and keep a shop log signed off by the instructor.

• Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern skid steer
• Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for skid steer
• Perform the core tasks of skid steer to the standard, within time, without rework
• Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in skid steer work and correct them
• Document skid steer work in the shop log to industry format

Competency course in grade reading for the Heavy Equipment Operation program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the shop and live-work site, measured against the governing code and manufacturer specifications. Students build, install and inspect real work in grade reading and keep a shop log signed off by the instructor.

• Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern grade reading
• Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for grade reading
• Perform the core tasks of grade reading to the standard, within time, without rework
• Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in grade reading work and correct them
• Document grade reading work in the shop log to industry format

Competency course in maintenance for the Heavy Equipment Operation program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the shop and live-work site, measured against the governing code and manufacturer specifications. Students build, install and inspect real work in maintenance and keep a shop log signed off by the instructor.

• Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern maintenance
• Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for maintenance
• Perform the core tasks of maintenance to the standard, within time, without rework
• Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in maintenance work and correct them
• Document maintenance work in the shop log to industry format

Competency course in site prep for the Heavy Equipment Operation program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the shop and live-work site, measured against the governing code and manufacturer specifications. Students build, install and inspect real work in site prep and keep a shop log signed off by the instructor.

• Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern site prep
• Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for site prep
• Perform the core tasks of site prep to the standard, within time, without rework
• Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in site prep work and correct them
• Document site prep work in the shop log to industry format

An integrated, assessed piece of real work that draws on every trade course in Heavy Equipment Operation: planned, estimated, executed and documented by the student, reviewed by an employer advisor. Capstones are shown in the Student Yard or the Museum of VoTech where the work allows.

• Plan and estimate a complete job from a specification
• Execute the job to standard within the estimate
• Present the finished work and its documentation to an employer panel

Supervised placement with an employer partner in Heavy Equipment Operation work. Hours are logged against the certifying body's task list; the employer evaluates against the same rubric used in the shop.

• Perform the trade's tasks in a real workplace under supervision
• Meet employer expectations for attendance, safety and conduct
• Log hours and tasks in the format the certifying body accepts

Structured preparation for NCCCO Crane; NCCER Heavy Equipment L1-3; OSHA 10: content review mapped to the exam blueprint, timed practice exams, practical-exam rehearsal, and registration/eligibility paperwork with the registrar.

• Score ≥ 80% on two timed mock exams
• Complete the eligibility application and hours verification
• Rehearse the practical exam format to time

The program completion credential(s). Sat at the school's authorized testing center or the body's test site; results recorded in the student record and reported in the annual outcomes report. Pass standard: Credential issued by the body.