Crane operator rules in New Mexico

This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. The source is the Crane Operators Safety Program of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department. The national background, including why OSHA's construction crane rule leaves tree work out, is on the parent page, cranes in tree work.

At a glance

Item	What the department says
Agency	New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Crane Operators Safety Program
Law named	Crane Operators Safety Act, NMSA 1978, sections 60-15-1 to 60-15-15 (2017)
Who needs a licence	Crane operators performing construction, demolition or excavation work
Classes	Class I, Class II, Class III
Term	2 years from the date of issue
Initial fee	US$75 for each class and type
Renewal fee	US$75

Who the program covers

The program overview says all crane operators performing construction, demolition or excavation work must have a valid and current New Mexico licence. It says the Act bars anyone from operating cranes unless licensed by the state or otherwise exempt under the Act, and that a person, employer or employer representative operating crane equipment without a proper licence faces administrative penalties, including fines, licence revocation and stop orders. The same page says operators who hold national accreditation from the Operating Engineers Certification Program, the National Center for Construction Education and Research or the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators must still obtain the New Mexico licence. The pages read describe cranes by type, conventional, hydraulic and tower. They do not mention tree work, and they do not say whether an articulating or knuckleboom crane on a tree truck falls under a class. That question is for the program office, whose address is at the foot of this page.

The three classes

Class I. Any size or weight of one or more of three crane types, conventional, hydraulic or tower, provided the testing and experience for each type are met.
Class II. A hydraulic crane of up to 100 tons lifting capacity with a maximum boom length of 150 feet, whatever its mounting or means of mobility.
Class III. Work as an apprentice, trainee, crane oiler or driver under the direct supervision of a Class I or Class II licence holder. The FAQ says Class III has no experience requirement and no practical examination.

Age limits are 21 for Class I and 18 for Class II and Class III.

Experience, exams and paperwork

The department's frequently asked questions page lists what an application packet holds:

Documentation of an approved in-house training course and a nationally approved certification.
A passed written general examination with a score of 75 percent or greater, and a passed Law and Safety examination on the New Mexico Crane Operators Safety Program Act.
Notarized statements from employers or supervisors verifying the experience, and a passed practical examination on each crane type applied for.
A physical examination within 12 months, done to U.S. Department of Transportation regulations, with a copy of the medical card, and a substance abuse test report from within 12 months.

For Class I and Class II the page asks for at least 36 months and 500 hours of experience within the last 3 years. Class I experience is measured on conventional cranes rated at 50 tons or more with a 100 foot boom, hydraulic cranes rated at 100 tons or more with a 100 foot boom, and tower cranes of any size. Class II experience is on hydraulic cranes over 10 tons and up to 100 tons. An incomplete application not corrected within 6 months of filing is deemed withdrawn. If the council finds an applicant ineligible for the class asked for, it may offer a lesser class, and the applicant has 30 days from the written offer to accept.

Course lists sit on two pages. In-house courses of 16 hours and refresher courses of 8 hours are on the approved training programs page, and the approved certification programs page names four certifying bodies: Crane Institute Certification, the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators, the Operating Engineers Certification Program and the National Center for Construction Education and Research.

Term and fees

All licences are valid for 2 years from issue and then renew. The fees page lists the amounts below in US dollars.

Fee	Amount
Initial licence, Class I conventional, hydraulic or tower, Class II, Class III	US$75 each
Renewal, Class I, Class II, Class III	US$75 each
Late renewal penalty	US$5 for each month or part of a month past due
Duplicate licence	US$10
Returned check	US$35
Reinstatement after 6 months, up to 12 months	US$100

The department's rules and laws page lists the Act and the program's rules and regulations. The program's contact address is 5500 San Antonio NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109.