Certification is valid for five years from the date it is issued. Recertifying is a shorter road than the first time around, but only if you start before it runs out.
Start in the final twelve months
The recertification window opens in the twelve months before your card expires. Start there, not after. The single most common and most expensive mistake is letting the date pass.
What recertification involves
Normally the written exams again, in a shorter recert form. The practical exam can often be waived if you have documented crane operating experience during the certification period — which is one more reason to keep your paperwork.
If you let it lapse
You may have to go through the full process again as a new candidate: the full written exams and the practical, with no credit for the five years you have just worked. The rules on how long a lapse is recoverable are set by the certifying organization, so check with them the moment you realise a card has expired.
Using this site as your refresher
The same courses work for recertification as for first-time certification — the exams are the same material. Study months ahead, at home, rather than booking time off for a refresher class. You can also track your expiry dates in the credential tracker so the date does not creep up on you.
Checked September 2026. Fees and requirements are set by the certifying organization and can change — confirm the current ones with them before you apply.