Become fully qualified in 1-2 years.
Become fully qualified in 1-2 years.
EarnLearn backs you with training and wellbeing support so you can succeed on site and through assessments
Earn while you learn. You’re employed and paid during your training, so you can finish your cranes apprenticeship without taking on big student debt.
Crane skills are needed across construction, infrastructure, ports, and manufacturing. Progress through strands, grow responsibility, and increase your earning potential.
EarnLearn backs you with training and wellbeing support so you can succeed on site and through assessments
Earn while you learn. You’re employed and paid during your training, so you can finish your cranes apprenticeship without taking on big student debt.
Crane skills are needed across construction, infrastructure, ports, and manufacturing. Progress through strands, grow responsibility, and increase your earning potential.
EarnLearn backs you with training and wellbeing support so you can succeed on site and through assessments
Earn while you learn. You’re employed and paid during your training, so you can finish your cranes apprenticeship without taking on big student debt.
Crane skills are needed across construction, infrastructure, ports, and manufacturing. Progress through strands, grow responsibility, and increase your earning potential.
Earn a wage, learn from experienced operators and dogmen, and build safe lifting skills across real sites. Here’s what day-to-day looks like in a cranes apprenticeship.
From day one you’re earning while you train. You’ll join a crew, work on live lifts, and your pay steps up as your competencies do.
Practical learning with a paycheck with no big student loan, clear milestones, and support to keep you moving.
Hands-on with real tasks: pre-use checks, slinging & signalling, lifts under supervision, documentation, and equipment care. Your experience will match your plant and chosen strands (e.g., overhead—cab/pendant, truck loader, self-erecting tower, dogman).
Safety first—pre-starts, gear checks, and clear comms. You’ll complete theory and assessments alongside on-job evidence so you can progress from Level 3 into Level 4 specialisations.
Electrical work is always in demand. With a nationally recognised qualification, you’ll have job security, great earning potential, and a career that can take you as far as you want to go — from apprentice to business owner.
Earn a wage, learn from experienced operators and dogmen, and build safe lifting skills across real sites. Here’s what day-to-day looks like in a cranes apprenticeship
From day one you’re earning while you train. You’ll join a crew, work on live lifts, and your pay steps up as your competencies do.
Practical learning with a paycheck: no big student loan, clear milestones, and support to keep you moving.
Hands-on with real tasks: pre-use checks, slinging & signalling, lifts under supervision, documentation, and equipment care. Your experience will match your plant and chosen strands (e.g., overhead cab/pendant, truck loader, self-erecting tower, dogman).
Safety first: pre-starts, gear checks, and clear comms. You’ll complete theory and assessments alongside on-job evidence so you can progress from Level 3 into Level 4 specialisations.
Earn nationally recognised qualifications and move into advanced strands like Mobile, Crawler, or Tower. Grow from dogman or trainee operator to leading hand, supervisor, or specialist operator.
Strong demand across construction, infrastructure, ports, and manufacturing so that your crane skills travel well.
Fill out the form and our team will be in touch to guide you through the process, answer your questions, and help you take the next step in growing your workforce.
Practical and safety-first, a team player with good comms and basic maths for signalling/load control. OK with early starts and heights. Full licence helps.
Show lifting/construction interest. Include labouring/warehouse/ mechanical experience, radio comms or machinery. List Site Safe/ConstructSafe and any tickets.
Join a crane company often as dogman/rigger or yard hand. Learn gear, signals, slinging, pre-starts and docs, then step into the apprenticeship.
You, your employer and EarnLearn set the plan: on-job tasks, off-job theory, and a logbook to capture evidence.
Complete inductions and safety requirements. Build supervised lift experience and progress from Level 3 to Level 4 strands (mobile, crawler, tower, truck loader, overhead).
Practical and safety-first, a team player with good comms and basic maths for signalling/load control. OK with early starts and heights. Full licence helps.
Show lifting/construction interest. Include labouring/warehouse/ mechanical experience, radio comms or machinery. List Site Safe/ConstructSafe and any tickets.
Join a crane company often as dogman/rigger or yard hand. Learn gear, signals, slinging, pre-starts and docs, then step into the apprenticeship.
You, your employer and EarnLearn set the plan: on-job tasks, off-job theory, and a logbook to capture evidence.
Complete inductions and safety requirements. Build supervised lift experience and progress from Level 3 to Level 4 strands (mobile, crawler, tower, truck loader, overhead).
Practical and safety-first, a team player with good comms and basic maths for signalling/load control. OK with early starts and heights. Full licence helps.
Show lifting/construction interest. Include labouring/warehouse/ mechanical experience, radio comms or machinery. List Site Safe/ConstructSafe and any tickets.
Join a crane company often as dogman/rigger or yard hand. Learn gear, signals, slinging, pre-starts and docs, then step into the apprenticeship.
You, your employer and EarnLearn set the plan: on-job tasks, off-job theory, and a logbook to capture evidence.
Complete inductions and safety requirements. Build supervised lift experience and progress from Level 3 to Level 4 strands (mobile, crawler, tower, truck loader, overhead).
Work alongside experienced operators and dogmen. Build hands-on skills with pre-starts and pre-use checks, slinging & signalling, rigging gear selection, lift planning basics, and equipment care logging evidence as you go.
Complete block courses and online modules covering lifting principles, load estimation, basic load charts, communications and hand signals, hazard management, and legislation/standards for crane operations.
Keep your training record current with on-job evidence (e.g., lift plans, inspection checklists, photos/videos where permitted). You’ll complete practical observations and knowledge assessments toward unit standards.
EarnLearn Account Managers check in with you and your employer about every 8 weeks to review progress, line up assessments, and remove blockers so your training stays on track.
After Level 3, you’ll progress to Level 4 specialisations, such as Mobile, Crawler, Tower, Truck Loader, or Overhead. Final capstone assessments confirm safe, independent practice and readiness for higher-responsibility roles.
Work alongside experienced operators and dogmen. Build hands-on skills with pre-starts and pre-use checks, slinging & signalling, rigging gear selection, lift planning basics, and equipment care logging evidence as you go.
Complete block courses and online modules covering lifting principles, load estimation, basic load charts, communications and hand signals, hazard management, and legislation/standards for crane operations.
Keep your training record current with on-job evidence (e.g., lift plans, inspection checklists, photos/videos where permitted). You’ll complete practical observations and knowledge assessments toward unit standards.
EarnLearn Account Managers check in with you and your employer about every 8 weeks to review progress, line up assessments, and remove blockers so your training stays on track.
After Level 3, you’ll progress to Level 4 specialisations, such as Mobile, Crawler, Tower, Truck Loader, or Overhead. Final capstone assessments confirm safe, independent practice and readiness for higher-responsibility roles.
Work alongside experienced operators and dogmen. Build hands-on skills with pre-starts and pre-use checks, slinging & signalling, rigging gear selection, lift planning basics, and equipment care logging evidence as you go.
Complete block courses and online modules covering lifting principles, load estimation, basic load charts, communications and hand signals, hazard management, and legislation/standards for crane operations.
Keep your training record current with on-job evidence (e.g., lift plans, inspection checklists, photos/videos where permitted). You’ll complete practical observations and knowledge assessments toward unit standards.
EarnLearn Account Managers check in with you and your employer about every 8 weeks to review progress, line up assessments, and remove blockers so your training stays on track.
After Level 3, you’ll progress to Level 4 specialisations, such as Mobile, Crawler, Tower, Truck Loader, or Overhead. Final capstone assessments confirm safe, independent practice and readiness for higher-responsibility roles.
Key answers about starting, training, safety and progressing in a cranes apprenticeship.
Get a job with a crane company. Once employed, you and your employer sign a training agreement with EarnLearn so we can set up your programme and induction.
Not necessarily. Many start as a dogman/rigger or yard hand. Site Safe/ConstructSafe is helpful. Some plant (e.g., mobile cranes or truck loaders) may require endorsements later on.
You’ll learn on the job with pre-starts, slinging and signalling, rigging gear, inspections, and documentation. You’ll be supported by off-job theory through block courses or online modules. Your logbook and assessments take you from Level 3 to Level 4.
Yes. Crane apprenticeships are earn-while-you-learn roles, and pay typically increases as your skills and responsibilities grow.
Generally 2–4 years, depending on your work exposure, assessment progress, and the Level 4 strand you pursue.
EarnLearn provides free, specialised learning and wellbeing support services to all apprentices and employers during their training.
Our nationwide team of dedicated EarnLearn Account Managers (AM) are your ‘go-to’ for all things related to your apprentice’s training. They help coordinate off-job and on-job learning, and can provide support from enrolment through to completion.
We check in on our apprentices every 8 weeks throughout their training to ensure they are supported in all ways.
If you have any questions, give them a call.
0800 327 648 (0800 EARN IT)
Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 5pm
If you’re overseas, please phone
+64 09 9051748
supportel@waiouru.earnlearn.ac.nz
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