Mobile and tower crane operators become compulsory trades in BC: who's affected and what to do before July 5, 2027

By Mark Dupuis · Last reviewed: October 21, 2026

Sourced from SkilledTradesBC, BC Gov News and B.C. Reg. 111/2026 · Independent site — not SkilledTradesBC

Certification compulsory from Jul 5, 2027. Mobile and tower crane operators must be a registered apprentice, trade qualifier or certified journeyperson by July 5, 2027 (BC Gov News).

On this page

1. 1. What was announced, and when
2. 2. Who it covers (and who it doesn't)
3. 3. Key dates
4. 4. Your route by situation
5. 5. Costs and supports
6. 6. What employers must do
7. Getting crane certified in BC
8. 7. FAQ
9. Disclaimer

1. What was announced, and when

SkilledTradesBC posted the announcement on July 6, 2026, the same day the Province issued its news release. The legal change is B.C. Reg. 111/2026, a ministerial order deposited July 6, 2026 under the Skilled Trades BC Act. It adds tower crane operator and mobile crane operator to the list of skilled trades certification trades, with the scope of work taking effect July 5, 2027.

The year in between is a transition period. The Province says crane operators can keep working while they get registered or certified, and that the change follows recommendations from its Crane Safety Table. The crane industry nominated the two trades through an application process SkilledTradesBC set up in 2023. They join the seven electrical and mechanical trades that are already compulsory: Construction Electrician, Industrial Electrician, Powerline Technician, Steamfitter/Pipefitter, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic, Gasfitter (Class A and B) and Sheet Metal Worker.

2. Who it covers (and who it doesn't)

The regulation defines the scope narrowly. Paraphrasing B.C. Reg. 111/2026:

Source: B.C. Reg. 111/2026 (BC Laws, Gazette Part II). Checked October 21, 2026.

Not affected, according to SkilledTradesBC's Skilled Trades Certification FAQ: the SkilledTradesBC trades Mobile Crane Operator – Hydraulic 80 Tonnes and Under, Boom Truck Operator – Stiff Boom Unlimited and Boom Truck Operator – Folding Boom Unlimited, plus the BC Crane Safety classifications for self-erect tower, hydraulic 20 tonnes and under, stiff boom 40 and 20 tonnes and under, and folding boom 22 and 10 tonnes and under.

Already compliant: registered apprentices in these trades, and anyone holding a BC Certificate of Qualification or Red Seal in Mobile Crane Operator or Tower Crane Operator. SkilledTradesBC says they don't need to do anything. The same FAQ says a Certificate of Qualification or Red Seal from another Canadian province or territory also meets the requirement. If you hold some other certification recognized by BC Crane Safety, SkilledTradesBC asks you to contact them to confirm where you stand.

This change doesn't replace BC Crane Safety. Both trade pages say BC Crane Safety registration is still required for all crane operators in BC under the WorkSafeBC Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.

3. Key dates

4. Your route by situation

You're new or have a few years in the seat

Register as an apprentice with an employer sponsor. SkilledTradesBC's Skilled Trades Certification page says that if you have under a year of experience you start at Level 1, and with 1 to 4 years you can apply as a Level Challenger to enter at the right level. The trade pages list the training: Mobile Crane Operator is 12 weeks of technical training over 3 years and 4,980 work-based hours (source); Tower Crane Operator is 9 weeks over 2 years and 2,685 hours (source). The Tower Crane Operator page adds that there's no cost to apply for a level challenge exam. Step-by-step registration: how to register an apprenticeship in BC.

You're experienced (5+ years) but not certified

Apply as a Trade Qualifier to challenge the certification exam. Per SkilledTradesBC's Experienced Workers in STC Trades page:

• Check the hours and task scope on the Employer or Statutory Declaration forms on your trade page, open a Portal account, upload a declaration for each work period and pay the $120 application fee.
• Typical processing is about six to eight weeks, longer with experience outside Canada, and you can keep working while you wait.
• Once approved, you have 24 months to schedule and pass. You get four attempts at a 70% pass mark.
• The crane trades also need a practical assessment; both trade pages say to book it through Fulford Certification.

The Uncertified Experienced Worker route (keep working until December 1, 2028, then retire) is not available to crane operators. Trade qualifiers don't need to register as apprentices. Our walkthrough of the paperwork: how to challenge the Red Seal in BC.

You already hold a BC Tower Crane CofQ without a Red Seal

The Tower Crane Operator page says your BC Certificate of Qualification stays valid and you don't need to do anything. If you want the Red Seal endorsement, you can write the interprovincial exam.

5. Costs and supports

On supports, the Province says provincial and federal money will help with some training costs, including tuition, travel and child care, and that SkilledTradesBC apprenticeship advisers will help crane operators register, find supports and prepare for the exam. For the programs themselves (EI during training, the Canada Apprentice Loan, tax credits), see our BC apprentice funding guide.

6. What employers must do

By July 5, 2027, according to the SkilledTradesBC announcement, employers of crane operators must:

• make sure every operator in scope is a registered apprentice, trade qualifier or certified journeyperson;
• keep a maximum of two apprentices for each journeyperson (2:1); and
• report their workforce through the Employer Workforce Submission on the SkilledTradesBC Portal.

If you're hiring an apprentice for the first time, our first-year apprentice employer sheet covers sponsorship basics.

Getting crane certified in BC

Boom truck, mobile crane and tower crane operators need a certificate acceptable to WorkSafeBC. BC Crane Safety administers it source.

1. Register with BC Crane Safety before you start work.
2. Pass the theory test.
3. Gain supervised experience.
4. Pass the practical test source.

• Time: smaller cranes 1 to 2 years; larger cranes 3 to 5 years through apprenticeship source.
• Pay: $43/h median (WorkBC median, NOC 72500) source.
• Prior BC certificates and Red Seal crane qualifications: no further testing, but you must register and verify source.
• Test fees: ask BC Crane Safety. BC Crane Safety does not endorse training providers.

7. FAQ

When exactly does this start?

The requirements apply from July 5, 2027. The transition period began July 6, 2026.

I run a boom truck. Am I affected?

Not by this change. SkilledTradesBC lists Boom Truck Operator (stiff and folding boom) as not affected.

I run a 60-tonne hydraulic. Am I affected?

No. The mobile crane scope starts above 80 tonnes, and SkilledTradesBC lists Hydraulic 80 Tonnes and Under as not affected.

Can I keep working while I challenge?

Yes. During the transition you can keep working. After July 5, 2027, a trade qualifier who isn't certified yet gets a 24-month Temporary Authorization.

Is the exam free?

The written certification exam fee is waived for MCO and TCO trade qualifiers until July 5, 2027. The $120 application fee isn't listed as waived on the pages we checked, and practical assessment fees still apply.

I have a crane ticket from Alberta. Do I need a BC one?

SkilledTradesBC says a Certificate of Qualification from another Canadian province or territory, or an interprovincial Red Seal, meets the requirement. You still need BC Crane Safety registration.

Disclaimer

This is an independent guide, not published by SkilledTradesBC, the Province or BC Crane Safety. It is not legal advice. Rules, fees and dates can change; check the linked official pages or a SkilledTradesBC Certification Advisor about your own situation.