CCO-credentialed Practical Exam Proctors are CCO-certified personnel who have been trained and authorized by CCO to administer the practical examinations for CCO certification programs. CCO Practical Exam Proctors are recognized as professionals in their field and may offer their services for hire. Employers with CCO-credentialed Practical Exam Proctors on staff appreciate the convenience of being able to schedule in-house tests to accommodate changing schedules caused by weather, workloads, and other factors.
NOTE: CCO maintains an online directory of credentialed Practical Exam Proctors available for hire to assist employers seeking Practical Exam Proctors to administer CCO Practical Examinations. Practical Exam Proctors’ current credentials are tracked in the Verify CCO Online (VCO) system.
Credential Requirements
The Practical Examiner Proctor Program (PEPP) enables individuals to achieve accreditation to administer CCO practical exams. Once you have completed the process, you will be credentialed as a Practical Exam Proctor and will be authorized to administer CCO practical exams at approved CCO Practical Test Sites. In order to achieve credentials, you must attend a full workshop in the program(s) of your choosing and complete the audit process. Most programs require you to be certified in that program before attending a workshop.
Workshops are posted regularly on this website, with a link containing an application. Companies around the country generously offer the use of their facilities and equipment to host workshops in the various programs. For their efforts, host companies receive a free spot in the workshop. Mobile Crane Operator and Digger Derrick Operator workshops are scheduled for three days. All other operator programs, as well as both rigger programs, last two days each. Signalperson workshops last one day. Full workshops cost $900 per attendee and refresher workshops are $300 per attendee.
Workshop attendees are trained to prepare the test site, submit documentation and, most importantly, how to administer the exams. All workshops include role rotations during which attendees serve as examiner and mock candidate.
To be a CCO-credentialed Practical Exam Proctor, you must:
- Be certified by CCO in the program in which you are seeking accreditation
- Attend a CCO Practical Exam Proctor Program Workshop, during which your performance will be observed
- Pass the Practical Exam(s) in the presence of a CCO Auditor for the equipment type(s) you are seeking credentials (even if currently certified)
- Pass a Practical Exam Proctor Written Examination
- Pass a Practical Examination audit
- Have a direct email address to receive email notifications from CCO (this may not be a shared address)
Once credentialed, you will receive a five-year card listing the programs for which you are accredited.
If you fail a practical exam during the audit, within 30 days, you must pass a practical test in that category administered by a CCO Auditor even if you are no longer seeking credentials. If you fail the practical test again, your certification in that category will be revoked. To be certified in that category again, you must pass the appropriate written and practical tests. Prior to taking the practical test(s), you must submit notification so that CCO can arrange for an audit of the test site and PEP. Practical Exam Proctors receive regular updates on the CCO Practical Examination Program. These updates are also posted on CCO’s website. We encourage you to share your experiences as a Practical Exam Proctor with CCO so that others may benefit.
Credentialed CCO Practical Exam Proctors are not permitted to participate as practical exam proctors in any non-CCO load handling certification programs.
Practical Exam Proctor Area of CCO Website
Practical Exam Proctors who have been assigned a username and password for the login section of the CCO website can recover their password via a link on the login screen. If the email address entered to retrieve the password is not the same as the one in the database, the password recovery link will not work. Those who have not yet been assigned a password or provide the incorrect email should email the Test Personnel Credential Team at pe@nccco.org to receive or recover their password.
If, at any time, you have questions about any aspect of the CCO Practical Exam Proctor Program, contact the Test Personnel Credential Team at pe@nccco.org.
Provisional Credentials
At the completion of the PEPP workshop, you will receive a Certificate of Attendance. This verifies that you have attended and participated in an official CCO PEPP workshop. Within two weeks you will receive a notification letter from CCO informing you of your provisional examiner status.
After completing and receiving the results of the PEPP workshop, provisional Proctors must request and complete a clean audit, where they will demonstrate the ability to set up and administer a practical exam with a mock candidate.
Provisional Proctors are required to be audited prior to the first practical exam that they administer; in other words, following the workshop, they may not test until a CCO Auditor is present to audit their performance. If a clean audit is not obtained, a second audit is required and a fee of $1,000 charged.
Provisional Proctors must also pass the practical exam administered by an Auditor during the initial audit. If unsuccessful, the provisional Proctor has 30 days (after receiving results) to schedule and pass the practical exam administered by an Auditor. The provisional Proctor is responsible for the Auditor’s expenses for the second attempt. Even if the provisional Proctor decides against pursuing credentials, he/she must pass the exam administered by an Auditor to maintain certification. If the practical exam is not passed on the second attempt, certification in that designation is revoked and the candidate must take the initial written and practical exams again to certify.
As stated above, Practical Exam Proctor candidates must pass a PEPP written exam, which is administered at the end of the workshop. If necessary, a second attempt will be administered at the audit. If the candidate fails the second attempt, he/she will need to attend a full workshop and complete a successful audit to earn accreditation.
All of this must be completed within 12 months of attending operator program credential workshops and six months of attending Rigger and Signalperson credential workshops.
Within 12 months after attending a PEPP workshop and completing a clean audit, provisional Proctors must administer at least one live practical exam in that accreditation category; if they fail to do so, they must attend a Refresher Workshop before they are permitted to test. If they do not complete at least one exam in the 12 months after the Refresher Workshop, they must attend a full workshop.
Probationary Proctors
Once a candidate has completed a PEPP workshop and achieved a clean audit (which includes an audited practical exam), his/her status will be upgraded from provisional to probationary and the Proctor will be fully credentialed.
The purpose of this probation is to monitor new PEPs and ensure that they are following CCO’s policies and procedures. These procedures include proper notification of testing, proper cancellation notice, and cooperation in the audit process.
After 12 months the probationary Proctor’s history is reviewed to ensure that he/she has followed CCO’s policies and procedures. If the probationary Proctor has not been providing proper notification, the probationary period is extended at six-month intervals until such time that the policies and procedures have been properly followed.
Proctors are only required to complete one probationary period, but if a Proctor is required to re-attend a full workshop for any reason (going two years without conducting an exam, allowing accreditation to expire, failure to adhere to CCO policies), and he/she does not hold PEPP credentials in any other program, he/she will have to complete another 12-month probationary period upon the completion of the other credential requirements.
Online Notification of Intent to Test
Probationary Proctors are required to notify the CCO Utah Office of their intention to test. This notification must be sent via the CCO website (www.nccco.org/login) no less than full two business days (not including weekends or holidays) prior to testing. Once a site has provided test notification to CCO, this will be considered intent to test and the site may be audited even if no testing occurs. They must also notify CCO if testing plans change.
Other criteria for determining which Proctors must use the online notification system include:
- Practical Exam Proctors at new Practical Exam sites
- Exceptionally high or low pass rates
- Practical Exam Proctors chosen via a revolving random selection
- Practical Exam Proctors who CCO has reason to believe have intentionally sought to avoid a Practical Exam Audit
For the final three criteria listed, CCO will indicate that you meet one or more of the specified criteria and when you will be required to begin using the online notification system.
Re-credentialing
Prior to the end of your five-year accreditation period (three years for Telehandler), you will be notified of your need to re-credential. There are four types of programs, so there are four separate refresher workshops—Operator, Telehandler, Rigger, and Signalperson.
All refresher workshops are now conducted virtually, using video conferencing, on a quarterly basis. The dates/applications are posted on this website approximately six weeks in advance.
Proctors holding Operator Program accreditations (Mobile, Tower, Overhead, Articulating, Service Truck, Digger Derrick, Dedicated Pile Driver, and Drill Rig) may attend an Operator Programs Refresher Workshop.
Operator Refresher Workshop attendees are required to pass the Practical Exam Proctor Program (PEPP) Refresher written exam with a score of at least 70 percent. Attendees are given two attempts to pass during the Refresher Workshop. Failure to pass the second attempt will require attending a second Refresher Workshop, if the second Refresher is completed within the current re-credentialing policy guidelines.
Practical Exam Proctors credentialed in more than one operator program have only one credential period. Rather than attend a refresher workshop, you may attend any full operator workshop to earn credentials in an operator program in which you are not yet credentialed (must complete all aspects of the workshop, including passing the written exam and completing the audit within the required timeframe). For example, mobile crane operator practical exam proctors who subsequently add the tower crane operator credentials will have their credential period reset and will start a new five-year credential cycle.
Proctors holding Rigger or Signalperson Practical Exam Proctor Credentials may re-credential by virtually attending the appropriate refresher workshop.
Rather than attend a refresher workshop, a Rigger Level I Proctor may add Rigger Level II credentials before their Rigger Level I credential expires. Once the workshop, audit, and audited practical exam are successfully completed, a new five-year credential cycle begins.
Practical Exam Proctors whose credentials have expired must return all confidential exam materials in their possession to CCO’s Utah Office.
Maintaining Credentials
To maintain their credentials, Proctors are required to administer at least one exam in each program type during every 12-month period.
Program types are Operator, Telehander, Rigger, and Signalperson. Operator programs include Mobile Crane, Tower Crane, Overhead Crane, Articulating Crane, Digger Derricks, Dedicated Pile Driver, and Drill Rig, so one exam in any of those programs will serve as your “one-a-year.” Rigger program has Rigger Level I and Rigger Level II, so one exam in either will suffice. Signalperson is singular.
If you are unable to conduct an exam in any program type within a 12-month period, an extension of up to 90 days may be granted, provided you have an exam scheduled within that 90-day period. To request an extension, please contact the Testing Personnel Credentials Team at pe@nccco.org with the scheduled test date and location. You will be notified via email of the status of your request. If you are unable to schedule and administer an exam within the extension period, you must attend a Refresher Workshop to maintain your credential.
Only one Refresher Workshop per program type may be used to extend an accreditation category if no practical exam is administered during a 12-month period. After that, instead of attending a second consecutive Refresher Workshop, you must attend a full workshop. Following the successful completion of the full workshop, you will be subject to the terms and conditions of a newly accredited examiner, including probationary status and a practical exam demonstration and/or audit.
Similarly, if you do not administer at least one practical examination in a 24-month period, you must attend a full Practical Exam Proctor Program workshop. Examiners who must attend a full workshop will be considered probationary and are subject to the requirements of probationary Proctors.
CCO periodically emails Information Bulletins to all credentialed Practical Exam Proctors containing clarifications and updated policies. To remain in good standing, Practical Exam Proctors are sometimes required to confirm via a link at the bottom of the bulletins that they have received, read, and agree to abide by the information contained therein.
Holding Multiple Credentials
Practical Exam Proctors may hold credentials in several CCO programs. Given their similarities and differences in exam administration, Proctor credential programs are broken into three types:
- Operator (including Mobile Crane, Tower Crane, Overhead Crane, Articulating Crane, Digger Derrick, Dedicated Pile Driver, and Drill Rig)
- Telehandler (Rotating Telehandler and Fixed Telehandler)
- Rigger (including Level I and Level II)
- Signalperson
Each type has its own credential period (i.e., issue and expiration date). Within each type, adding a credential extends all credentials within that type a full five years (three years for Telehandler). Take, for example, a current Practical Exam Proctor who holds Mobile, Tower, and Signalperson credentials. If the Practical Exam Proctor earned Mobile credentials in January 2023 and added Tower accreditation in March 2023, both Mobile and Tower credentials would expire in March 2028. If the Practical Exam Proctor added Signalperson in June 2023, his/her Mobile and Tower credential expiration date would remain March 2028, and his/her new Signalperson expiration date would be June 2028. In summary, adding any credential within a specific type acts as a refresher for all existing credentials within that type.
Similarly, each type has its own requirement regarding giving at least one exam every 12 months. For example, take a Practical Exam Proctor who holds Mobile, Tower, and Signalperson credentials. Giving one Mobile exam in a 12-month period would allow the Proctor to maintain credentials in Mobile and Tower, but not in Signalperson.
Mobile Crane Proctors may add crane types (TSS, TLL, LB) by passing the practical exam for that crane type at a CCO Test Site with a CCO Auditor present. To arrange for a CCO Auditor, please contact the Audit Team at auditprogram@nccco.org.
To help Proctors track all credential expiration dates, all credentials are maintained on a single Practical Exam Proctor card, and different expiration dates are noted for each area. Every time a new credential is added, the Proctor receives an updated card.
Practical Exam Proctors under current suspension or investigation are not eligible to add another credential.
Maintaining Certified Operator Status
For your credential as a CCO Practical Exam Proctor to remain in good standing, you must also continue to meet all the requirements of a CCO certificant in that program.
If your CCO operator certification expires before your Proctor credential period does, you must certify again in that program for your Proctor credential to remain valid. If you fail your recertification exams and/or your certification status lapses for any other reason, your Proctor credential status will be automatically suspended in those categories and you will not be allowed to administer any practical examinations in the respective category(s) until your certification has been reinstated.
Practical Exam Proctors Directory
CCO maintains an online directory of credentials Practical Exam Proctors to assist employers seeking Proctors to administer CCO practical examinations.
All fully credentialed Practical Exam Proctors are eligible for inclusion in this directory at no charge. Please note, however, that your listing is not automatic. You need to confirm that you wish to be included and that the contact information on file for you is current.
If you wish to be included in the Directory, please provide the information requested on the Request for Inclusion form on the PE Forms page and submit it to CCO.
Audit Program
CCO conducts audits of Practical Test Sites and Practical Exam Proctors in accordance with the accreditation requirements of the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB).
Practical Test Sites and Practical Exam Proctors are selected for audits for of a variety of criteria, including random selection, in response to issues reported by candidates, unusually high or low pass rates, new test sites, or probationary Proctors.
Once a site has been selected for audit, the Test Site Coordinator or company representative from the site may be notified by letter from CCO prior to the scheduled audit day. In addition, the Auditor will contact the Test Site Coordinator or company representative to verify the testing date and the site address. Unannounced audits may also be conducted.
It is a condition of Practical Exam Proctor credentialing and test site status that all test site personnel, including the Test Site Coordinator and Practical Exam Proctor(s), cooperate fully with the CCO Auditor during the audit process.
Proctors who have been audited and have been notified that an additional audit is required will be responsible for the expenses incurred by CCO for the additional audit. Any practical exams conducted by the Proctor will not be scored until CCO has been reimbursed for the incurred expenses.
When a second audit is required, a $1,000 fee will be charged for each second audit administered to a provisional Proctor.
If multiple provisional Proctor audits (initial and/or second audits) are requested concurrently, and one of those audits is a second audit, the following rules apply:
- Any “standalone” second audit will be charged $1,000.
- Any “piggy-backed” second audit will be charged $500 per Proctor.
- No additional Proctors or audits may be added to an audit day or otherwise bundled for pricing purposes once the audit has been scheduled.
Program Sanctions
Practical Exam Proctors are responsible for ensuring proper test administration policies have been met, including but not limited to CCO policies on unsafe acts, score sheet completion, professional conduct, and site report and/or crane/equipment report completion. Practical Exam Proctors are also responsible for ensuring the timely dispatch of properly completed score sheets and other required test administration paperwork to CCO.
CCO’s Program Integrity Team (PIT) is responsible for ensuring that matters involving program integrity and ethics/discipline are addressed and managed in a timely, efficient, and systematic fashion. In general, PIT procedures shall be applied so as to treat all parties fairly and equitably, and to ensure that all applicable matters are handled in a constructive, impartial, and timely manner.
Proctors are subject to being sanctioned (i.e., having their accreditation(s) suspended and/or revoked) if they commit three Major Infractions within a five-year period. A “Major Infraction” is defined as an item that (a) affects the validity of the score sheet, (b) affects the ability to score the score sheet, (c) constitutes a substantial security violation, or (d) constitutes a substantial safety violation. A “Minor Infraction” is defined as a material violation of CCO policies not contained within the definition of a Major Infraction noted above.
In the event that a Proctor is sanctioned, he/she will be responsible for any expenses incurred by CCO in the retesting of candidates whose scores have been invalidated as a consequence of irregularities or uncertainties caused by the sanctioned Proctor. Sanctioned Proctors must immediately return all confidential exam materials to CCO.
Any Proctor whose credentials have been revoked on the basis of a willful violation as outlined in the PIT procedures and who is required to submit a request for re-entry to the Practical Exam Audit Committee must make that application either in person or via telephone. Upon successful completion of the Practical Exam Proctor Program (PEPP) workshop, readmitted Practical Exam Proctors are responsible for the cost of subsequent provisional audits.
Change of Address
If you change your address, you must notify CCO as soon as possible. Failure to do so may cause you to miss important updates that could affect your accreditation.
Changes of address or other contact information should be made directly to your Profile in the Practical Exam Proctor area of the CCO website. To update your Profile, log in to nccco.org/login and then click on “Profile” in the upper right corner to view and edit your information.