1.1 About the NCCCO Rigger Level I Exam

1.1 About the NCCCO Rigger Level I Exam

Quick Answer: The CCO Certified Rigger Level I written exam is 60 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes. You must also pass a practical exam. Certification is valid for five years. Level I riggers perform simple, repetitive rigging when load weight, center of gravity (CG), rigging, and configuration are provided or already known.

The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) issues CCO credentials. The Rigger Level I program was built by industry experts so employers, owners, and job sites have a consistent way to verify that a person can inspect gear, select basic hitches, and execute routine lifts safely.

A certified rigger is trained and certified to handle and move loads. On many jobs that person also holds a trade title—ironworker, millwright, pipe fitter, electrician, carpenter, laborer, and others. NCCCO still treats that person as a rigger for certification purposes. Rigger certification covers synthetic slings, chain slings, wire rope slings, metal mesh slings, and rigging hardware.

What a Certified Rigger Level I Is Authorized to Do

Per NCCCO, a Certified Rigger Level I can perform simple, repetitive rigging tasks when the load weight, center of gravity, rigging, and rigging configuration are provided or known from experience or on-the-job training before the work starts. Level I candidates are expected to demonstrate knowledge of how to:

• Inspect rigging before use
• Identify, select, and attach rigging using basic hitch configurations, capacities, and basic knots
• Recognize associated hazards
• Use various types of rigging equipment and basic hitches correctly

Exam trap: Level I does not mean “any lift on the job.” If weight or CG must be calculated, if hitch selection depends on unknown loading, or if the lift is unsupervised complex work, that work is outside Level I scope (see Section 1.2).

Written Exam Format

Pace yourself: 60 questions in 60 minutes is about one minute per question. Flag hard items and return if time remains. Unofficial study materials sometimes list a 90-minute window—ignore that; use the official 60-minute limit when planning practice tests.

Written delivery options (OPT / TCT / EOT)

• OPT (Online Proctored Testing): Take the exam remotely with a live or automated proctor under NCCCO rules (camera, workspace, ID).
• TCT (Test Center Testing): Sit at an approved testing center with on-site proctors.
• EOT (Event Online Testing): Employer or training-provider events that deliver the same digital exam under event proctoring rules.

All three deliver the same written exam content. Choose the option that fits your schedule, equipment, and employer arrangements. Schedule through myCCO at https://my.ccocert.org/.

Practical Exam (Required)

Passing the written exam alone does not create a CCO Rigger Level I credential. You must also pass the Level I Practical Examination, which demonstrates basic rigging competency (pre-use inspection, hitches, connections, and basic knots—exact tasks follow the current practical outline). Treat practical practice as seriously as written study: hands-on skill is scored, not just theory.

Content Domains (Official Outline Weights)

The Level I written exam tests four domains. Approximate weights drive how you allocate study time:

Study priority: Roughly three out of four scored items come from Inspection + Execution (~72% combined). Technical Knowledge and Scope still matter—they set the rules and hazard framing—but do not let them crowd out sling removal criteria, hitch applications, and hardware use.

Domain snapshots (what “know” means on the outline)

Scope (~15%) includes identifying the load’s travel path; verifying weight and attachment points; recognizing special handling needs; spotting unsafe practices (pinch points, need for softeners, load stability, shock load, side load, body positioning, electrical hazards); and communicating hazards.

Technical Knowledge (~13%) expects you to apply the named ASME B30 standards and OSHA sections as non-inspection knowledge—what the rules require for safe use and configuration, not only “look for defects.”

Inspection (~30%) focuses on frequent inspection standards and regulations: when gear is removed from service, what damage looks like, and how tags and criteria apply before use.

Execution (~42%) is the largest domain: chain, wire rope, metal mesh, and synthetic (rope, web, round) slings; shackles, hooks, eyebolts, beam clamps, softeners, jacks, and other hardware; below-the-hook devices; tag lines and basic knots; and securing the load, disconnecting rigging, and stowing gear after the move.

Why Employers Value CCO Rigger Level I

OSHA crane standards expect qualified personnel for certain rigging tasks. CCO certification is a portable, third-party way to document knowledge and skill. Many contractors, industrial plants, and construction sites list CCO Rigger Level I (or higher) in job postings and subcontractor requirements. The credential does not replace employer training, site-specific procedures, or manufacturer instructions—it proves a baseline that those programs can build on.

Common Misconceptions

1. “Written only is enough.” No—initial certification requires both written and practical within the allowed time frame.
2. “Level I can figure out any unknown weight on the fly.” Level I assumes weight/CG/configuration are known or provided; estimation when calculation is required is Level II territory.
3. “60 questions means 90 minutes.” Official time is 60 minutes for 60 questions.
4. “Inspection is a small section.” Inspection is about 30%—second only to Execution.

How This Guide Maps to the Exam

Later chapters walk Scope (load path, weight/CG when known, hazards), Technical Knowledge (ASME and OSHA), Inspection (sling and hardware removal criteria), and Execution (hitches, angles, hardware, tag lines, knots). Use domain weights to schedule review: spend the most time on execution and inspection, then close gaps on scope and standards.

Certification Time Frame Snapshot

Candidates must pass both the written and practical exams. Either exam may be first. From the date you pass the first exam (written or practical) for that level, you have 12 months to pass the corresponding exam. Any tests passed inside that 12-month window count toward certification. Full Level I certification is then valid for five years.

Keep the timeline on your calendar: passing only the written in January and waiting until the following February for the practical can force a full restart of the failed or expired half of the pair. Details on fees, eligibility, and recertification appear in Section 1.3.

Bottom Line for Section 1.1

Treat the Level I path as a two-exam system (written + practical), a four-domain written outline heavy on inspection and execution, a 60/60 written format, and a five-year credential tied to a clearly limited job role: known loads, known configuration, basic hitches, pre-use inspection, and hazard recognition.