HMOAB Online Certification

All operators, whether an independent contractor or a company hire, using equipment to lift amounts of one ton or more, and at least 21 years of age, are required by State law to be certified annually. State laws also require operators to possess the necessary training, experience, and qualifications to move loads safely at the worksite. For convenience, State certification can be done in two through five-year increments, as well. Currently, there are almost 400 active and certified crane operators in Hawai'i.

Application forms are available online at www.labor.hawaii.gov/hmoab, by writing HMOAB@hawaii.gov or by calling (808) 586-8146. The three-page form is quick and easy to fill out, but requires copies of documents as outlined in section "B" along with payment. If approved, the certification also requires a current digital photograph of the applicant's head and shoulders to the above e-mail address, and can usually processed within one business day.

Applicants must present separate copies of the following documents: a.) two current forms of identification from a list of seven approved sources such as a military or Hawai'i State ID, driver's license, passport or TWIC card, and/or notarized copies of one's Social Security card and/or birth certificate; b.) A physical examination certificate must be provided from the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO), the Department of Transportation (DOT) or the City/County of Honolulu; and finally, c.) a copy of one's current national certification card from NCCCO, CIC, NCCER or the Operating Engineers is required.

Generally, the State of Hawai'i is most concerned with safe worksites and practices. If your troubles are not connected to the construction trades or recent substance abuse, and if you answer truthfully on the application form, you should be fine for State certification.

Who pays for an individual certification is between the applicant and the other entities, however the fees are only one-hundred dollars ($100) per year (dependent on national certification dates), with up to five years certified at a time. There is also a one-time, non-refundable initial application fee of fifty dollars ($50) per applicant. Currently only money orders, personal and/or cashier's checks are accepted as payment to the "Department of Labor."

All applicants for certification undergo several steps initially, including a health screening and criminal background check. Applicants must also obtain national certification before State clearance is granted. The Hawai'i Occupational Safety and Health Division is the office responsible for compliance of certification requirements at the work site.

Currently, there are eight different certification classifications: a.) tower operator, b.) service truck crane, c.) overhead cranes, d.) boom truck fixed cab, e.) lattice boom trucks, f.) lattice boom crawler cranes, g.) small telescopic boom cranes, and h.) large telescopic boom cranes.

No problem! As a certified HMOAB member, replacement and renewal cards are provided without charge. Just call the office at (808) 586-8146 or write HMOAB@hawaii.gov for further assistance and provide your current NCCCO (or other) number.

No. Certification is a process to establish minimum standards for operators in our State. As a result, the process does not mean to imply or verify all operators as qualified. Federal law specifically designates employers as the party responsible for insuring all employees are qualified (as well as certified).

No. Each state that has a certification procedure has different requirements and laws. While national certification is universal in the United States, several states such as Hawai'i (and some cities) require separate certification and payment in their jurisdiction. If you want to work on the Islands, you must be certified here. Military operators in Hawai'i are usually subject to federal requirements only.

The Hawai'i Hoisting Machine Operators Advisory Board operates only from user-generated fees, thereby paying "its own way" in the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. The annual budget of the office is less than $50,000 per year and all additional revenue is held as an investment by the State for outreach, education, and training purposes.

You are welcomed to address and/or attend the monthly meetings of the Hoisting Machine Operators Advisory Board, as the meetings are always open to the public. The meetings are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month (except December) in the Department of Labor, 830 Punchbowl Street, room 321. Please check the State Government Calendar website (www.ehawaii.gov) for the agenda, minutes, or any changes in the meeting schedule and/or location.

Yes. Please fill out the Application for Certification (Revised July 2016) and mail in your completed form with check payable to "DEPARTMENT OF LABOR". A current JPEG picture of yourself (for your certification card) must also be sent to hmoab@hawaii.gov.