NCCER Rigger Certification Levels: Rigger vs. Advanced Rigger

The bid documents say "NCCER-certified rigger required," and your best rigger has twenty years on the hook but no card. The first question is which level the general contractor means.

NCCER issues two rigger certifications today

NCCER currently certifies Rigger and Advanced Rigger. Rigger is the entry credential that used to be called Basic Rigger. NCCER describes Advanced Rigger as the credential for riggers with extensive experience applying core and advanced rigging practices around cranes.

The training behind them still follows NCCER's Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Rigger curricula. That is why a prep package can include three books for one certification.

Rigger level 1, 2, and 3 are employer terms, not NCCER levels

Many contractors grade riggers as level 1, 2, or 3 in their own programs. Those levels come from the company's qualification policy, not from NCCER. Check the bid documents for the credential they actually name.

Each certification needs a written assessment and a practical exam

No NCCER rigger certification is issued on a written test alone. The candidate passes a computer-based assessment and a hands-on practical examination given by a certified practical examiner, and both must be completed within 12 months of each other.

Advanced Rigger candidates must also pass the Rigger assessment and practical. NCCER will not issue Advanced Rigger to someone who skipped the first level.

What the practical exam covers

NCCER's procedure manual lists communication, rigging equipment, rigging practices, and safety in every rigger practical, with load lifting and lift planning where they apply. Expect to inspect hardware and slings, choose hitches, and work with a signal person on a real lift.

NCCER rigger certification is good for five years

Each certification is valid for five years from the issue date. Renewal repeats the assessment and practical, completed within 180 days before expiration.

Prep courses bundle the training and the testing

The Q Safety Academy NCCER rigger certification prep includes 12 months of online access, three digital NCCER books, a hands-on day, and the assessment at its Texas locations. On October 16, 2026, it listed Rigger at $1,500 and Advanced Rigger at $1,800.

Under OSHA 1926.1425(c) and 1926.1404(r), riggers for those tasks must be qualified, but OSHA does not require a specific card. The NCCER credential is the documentation many contractors write into site rules. Compare both levels on the NCCER rigger certification page.

NCCER Rigger Questions

How many levels of NCCER rigger certification are there?

Two: Rigger, formerly Basic Rigger, and Advanced Rigger. The curricula behind them run Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced.

How long is NCCER rigging certification good for?

Five years from the date issued, according to the NCCER candidate handbook.