1.1 NCCER Rigger Certification Structure, Exam Format & Testing Policies

1.1 NCCER Rigger Certification Structure, Exam Format & Testing Policies

The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) establishes the premier national credentialing framework for industrial and commercial rigging craft professionals. Developed in collaboration with industrial owners, major crane and rigging contractors, and subject matter experts, the NCCER Rigging Program provides standardized, portable credentials tracked via the secure NCCER National Registry. For rigging practitioners, earning an NCCER credential validates compliance with OSHA qualification mandates and ASME consensus safety standards.

Rigging credentials are differentiated into distinct progressive tiers—primarily Basic Rigger and Advanced Rigger—supported by a modular curriculum designed to build technical competency from fundamental load attachment to complex multi-crane engineering operations.

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NCCER Rigging Modular Curriculum Architecture

The NCCER rigging curriculum is organized into standardized instructional modules. Mastery of these modules prepares candidates for both the written knowledge assessments and the hands-on practical evaluations.

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|                           NCCER RIGGING CURRICULUM PATHWAY                        |
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|  CORE PREREQUISITE: Basic Safety (00101), Construction Math, Hand & Power Tools   |
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|  BASIC RIGGER (140 hrs, includes Core):                                           |
|    * 38102 Rigging Practices (15 h)                                               |
|    * 21106 Crane Safety and Emergency Procedures (25 h)                           |
|    * 21102 Basic Principles of Cranes (15 h)                                      |
|    * 53101 Crane Communications (10 h)                                            |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|  INTERMEDIATE RIGGER (105 hrs):                                                   |
|    * 38201 Intermediate Rigging (17.5 h)                                          |
|    * 21206 Load Dynamics (17.5 h)                                                 |
|    * 21204 Wire Rope (25 h)                                                       |
|    * 21302 Telescopic Boom Attachment Setup and Assembly (20 h)                   |
|    * 21306 Lattice Boom Assembly and Disassembly (25 h)                           |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|  ADVANCED RIGGER (95 hrs):                                                        |
|    * 38301 Advanced Rigging (20 h)                                                |
|    * 21301 Load Charts (35 h)                                                     |
|    * 21304 Lift Planning (20 h)                                                   |
|    * 21305 Hoisting Personnel (20 h)                                              |
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Edition matters. The May 2025 Rigger and Advanced Rigger assessment specifications state that the written assessments are referenced to NCCER's 3rd edition (2018) of the Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Rigger curricula. Older study lists that cite 2nd-edition module numbers such as 38101 (Rigging Equipment), 38302 (Lift Planning), or 38303 (Personnel Lifts) are out of date — those topics now live in the renumbered modules below.

1. Prerequisite Foundation: NCCER Core

Before achieving full certification in any specialized craft, candidates complete the NCCER Core Curriculum, which establishes essential competencies in job-site safety (00101), basic construction mathematics, hand and power tool safety, blueprint reading, and introductory rigging (module 00106, Basic Rigging).

2. Basic Rigger Modules

• 38102 Rigging Practices (15 h): Basic rigging and safety practices, use and inspection of rigging equipment and hardware, applying common hitches, and jacks and hoisting equipment.
• 21106 Crane Safety and Emergency Procedures (25 h): Crane safety standards and best practices, including power lines, weather conditions, and specific crane functions.
• 21102 Basic Principles of Cranes (15 h): Mobile crane terminology and nomenclature plus the basic scientific principles behind mobile crane operation.
• 53101 Crane Communications (10 h): The signal person/operator communication process, electronic communications, and the standard hand signals in 29 CFR 1926.

3. Intermediate Rigger Modules

• 38201 Intermediate Rigging (17.5 h): Using slings in hitches, calculating sling stress, tools for lateral movement of loads without a crane, reeving block and tackle, inverting loads with hoists, and drifting a load between two hoists.
• 21206 Load Dynamics (17.5 h): Leverage, forward and backward stability, operational quadrants, submerged lifts, non-centered lifts, and other forces affecting stability.
• 21204 Wire Rope (25 h): Wire rope components; inspection of wire rope, load blocks, and sheaves; proper installation, maintenance guidelines, and end terminations.
• 21302 Telescopic Boom Attachment Setup and Assembly (20 h): Setup and stowing of swing-away extensions and jibs, intermediate boom section assembly, and manual and power luffing jibs.
• 21306 Lattice Boom Assembly and Disassembly (25 h): Lattice-boom components, pre- and post-assembly considerations, and step-by-step assembly/disassembly.

4. Advanced Rigger Modules

• 38301 Advanced Rigging (20 h): How load weight and center of gravity affect lifting and crane stability, multicrane load calculations, equalizer beams, movement of loads up an inclined plane and the line pull required, and rigging and handling rebar bundles.
• 21301 Load Charts (35 h): Load charts for different configurations — on-rubber, on-outrigger, jib, and deduction charts — plus range diagrams, operational notes, parts of line, and capacity calculations.
• 21304 Lift Planning (20 h): Lift plan implementation, reference information, calculations, single- and multiple-crane lifting, critical lifts, and engineering considerations.
• 21305 Hoisting Personnel (20 h): ASME B30.23 and 29 CFR 1926 personnel-hoisting requirements plus advanced techniques for hoisting personnel.

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Written Assessment Specifications & Blueprints

The Rigger, Advanced Rigger, and Signal Person program is delivered only through NCCER Rigger/Signal Person Endorsed Accredited Assessment Programs (AAPs), each of which sets its own schedule and pricing. Both written assessments are closed-book, allow a basic-function, non-printing calculator, and require a minimum passing score of 80.

Official Written Assessment Blueprints

The two assessments do not share a blueprint. Memorize both item counts — the domain that shrinks most between them is Wire Ropes, and the domain that only exists on the Advanced exam is Lift Plan/Hoisting.

• Rigging Practices (modules 38102, 38201, 38301) covers rigging hardware, sling angles, common hitches, hoisting and jacking equipment, rigging equipment for moving loads, special rigging equipment (cribbing, spreader bars, equalizer beams, and — on the Advanced exam — gantry systems and cantilever bars), and ASME B30.9, B30.10, B30.23, and B30.26. The Advanced exam adds piping materials and rebar, taglines and knots for load control, load dynamics, and multi-crane lift planning.
• Crane Knowledge (modules 21102, 21106, 21206, 21301, 21302, 21304, 21305) covers mobile crane purpose and safety operating considerations, crane components, safety devices and reeving patterns, lifting capacity, telescopic-boom attachment setup and disassembly, the four standard mobile crane configurations, load charts and deductions (jib charts, range diagram, center of gravity), leverage and stability, and — on the Advanced exam — crane assembly and disassembly.
• Lift Plan/Hoisting (Advanced only) covers rigging used in lift planning and the rigger's role in personnel hoisting.
• Wire Ropes (module 21204) covers wire rope inspection, handling and maintenance, reeving wire rope onto load blocks and drums, and wire rope construction, configurations, and terminations.

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Practical Performance Evaluation

Passing the written assessment represents only half of the certification requirement. Candidates must also demonstrate hands-on physical competency through the NCCER Practical Performance Evaluation, scored by an NCCER-certified Performance Evaluator.

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|                         PRACTICAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION                          |
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|  BASIC RIGGER EVALUATION (Pass / Fail):                                           |
|    1. Conduct visual pre-use inspection of slings and rigging hardware.           |
|    2. Select appropriate rigging for a designated load weight and geometry.       |
|    3. Rig loads using vertical, choker, and basket hitches with edge protection.  |
|    4. Direct a crane operator using ASME B30.5 standard hand signals.             |
|    5. Maintain level load control during lifting, traveling, and setting.        |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|  ADVANCED RIGGER EVALUATION (Pass / Fail):                                        |
|    1. Calculate center of gravity and sling tension on a non-symmetrical load.    |
|    2. Rig, drift, and transfer a suspended load horizontally between two hoists.  |
|    3. Execute a controlled turning/inverting operation of an asymmetric load.     |
|    4. Establish proper cribbing and hydraulic jacking support under load.         |
|    5. Verify ground stability and participate in a formal lift plan briefing.    |
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Zero-Tolerance Safety Infractions: An immediate failure is issued during the practical evaluation if a candidate causes a two-block condition, walks under a suspended load, exceeds the Working Load Limit of any rigging component, shock-loads the rigging assembly, or violates power line clearance zones.

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Key Testing Policies & Credential Lifecycle

The 12-Month Rule

You have 12 months from the date you pass either the written assessment or the practical examination to complete the other one. The clock runs in both directions — passing the practical first starts the same 12-month window for the written. If both are not successfully completed inside that window, your results expire and you must retake both parts, not just the one you are missing.

One more sequencing rule catches Advanced candidates: Advanced Rigger candidates are required to take and pass the Rigger assessment and practical examination as well. NCCER will not issue an Advanced Rigger credential to a candidate who has not completed the Rigger examinations.

Retest Policy

If you fail the written assessment or the practical examination, NCCER's published retest rules are:

Both components are scored electronically and results are returned immediately after submission.

5-Year Credential Validity & Recertification

Each NCCER Rigger credential is tracked individually and is valid for 5 years from the date it is issued. Recertification is by full re-examination only — there is no continuing-education, CEU, or logged-experience substitute:

1. Re-test both components. You must complete the written assessment and the practical examination again for each certification you hold.
2. Use the 180-day window. You may only begin recertification within 180 days (about 6 months) before your current certification expires, and both exams must be completed inside that window.
3. Do not let it lapse. If the certification expires before recertification is complete, you are no longer certified and must go through the initial certification process from the start.

Separately, the medical/physical qualification and substance-abuse test attested to on the Affirmation for Certification must be updated at least every three (3) years, and any rigging- or signal-person-related accident or qualifying change in your medical, physical, or operational ability must be reported to NCCER on the Incident Report Form within 48 hours or all active certifications are revoked immediately.

Test Security & Calculator Policy

The assessment specifications and the candidate handbook set the rules the endorsed AAP must enforce:

• Closed book. Both written assessments are closed-book examinations. No extra papers, books, notes, or study materials are allowed in the testing area.
• Approved Calculators: Only a basic-function, non-printing calculator may be used. Programmable and graphing calculators, financial calculators with stored memory registers, and mobile-phone calculator applications are not basic-function, non-printing devices and are therefore not permitted.
• Account and identity: You must hold an NCCER account and accept the User Terms and Conditions before any testing can take place, and you must upload a professional photo for your certification card. Certified riggers receive a wallet card with a unique card number that employers and inspectors can verify online.
• Accommodations: Requests for testing accommodations require written documentation from a qualified professional emailed to NCCER for review and approval before test day.

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Real-World Exam Application Scenario

Scenario: A rigging technician at an industrial petrochemical facility completes the NCCER Basic Rigger written assessment on March 15, scoring 86% (56/65). Due to heavy plant turnaround scheduling, the technician does not schedule the practical performance evaluation until April 10 of the following year.

Analysis: Because the time elapsed between the written exam (March 15) and the proposed practical evaluation (April 10 of the following year) is approximately 13 months, the 12-month eligibility window has expired. Under NCCER policy the results expire, so the candidate must retake and pass both the written assessment and the practical examination — and must complete the second one within 12 months of passing the first.