Last updated 2026-08-18
TL;DR
Colorado issues no rigger license. Federal OSHA under 29 CFR 1926.1430 requires anyone rigging loads on construction cranes to be a 'qualified rigger,' documented by the employer or a third-party assessor. Most Colorado contractors demand NCCCO Rigger Level I or II. Budget $393 to $748 out of pocket. Plan on two to six months, and the practical exam is your bottleneck.
Do you need a license for rigger work in Colorado?
No. Colorado has no state rigger license, no rigger credential, and no agency counter where you register before rigging loads. That surprises people. It does not mean the work is unregulated.
Federal OSHA's construction crane standard, 29 CFR 1926.1430, requires that anyone attaching or detaching loads on construction cranes be a 'qualified rigger.' OSHA defines a qualified rigger as a person 'who by reason of experience or training, is familiar with the work being done and who has demonstrated competency to attach loads.' [1] The employer owns that documentation. In practice, documentation almost always means third-party certification.
Most general contractors on Colorado commercial and industrial jobs treat NCCCO Rigger Level I as the minimum site-access credential. Some federal and Department of Energy projects around Denver and the front range require Level II. Entertainment rigging (staging, concerts, arena work) runs on a separate track through ETCP, which has nothing to do with the crane-rigging world.
Here is the short version. You do not pull a rigger license at a Colorado state counter. You do need documented qualification to work, and for most jobs that means passing the NCCCO exam.
What does the NCCCO qualified rigger certification actually require?
NCCCO offers two rigger credentials. Level I is the entry card. Level II adds load-chart reading, multi-leg sling geometry, and calculations that go past basic straight lifts.
You do not need to log a set number of work hours before you register. NCCCO has no hours prerequisite: you apply, pay, and schedule. The knowledge bar is real, though. The written exam covers ASME B30.9 sling standards, hardware inspection, load weight estimation, and rigging geometry. [2]
Both levels have two parts. The written is multiple choice. The practical is hands-on observation at an approved test site. NCCCO delivers written exams through Pearson VUE centers, and Colorado has locations in Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, and Fort Collins, among others. [3] The practical runs through NCCCO-approved assessors who come to a site or host a scheduled event.
Certification lasts five years. You re-certify with a written exam, no practical required under current NCCCO rules, though confirm that hasn't changed at nccco.org before you plan. [2]
Want a side-by-side with a neighbor? The rigger license in Arizona guide covers a similar no-state-license setup with a different contractor market.
How long does it take to get qualified as a rigger in Colorado?
Two to six months from a standing start. That's the honest window for most people. Here's the breakdown.
Study time for the Level I written runs four to eight weeks of steady work using ASME B30.9 and a prep resource. Field-experienced people pass faster. People with no rigging or sling-hardware background regularly underestimate the math sections and pay for it.
Booking the written is easy. Pearson VUE availability in Colorado is generally good, and you can usually grab a seat within one to three weeks of deciding you're ready. [3]
The practical is where the calendar bites. Practical events run far less often than written exams. NCCCO posts scheduled events on its site, and Colorado typically holds several a year along the front range. Miss a nearby event and you might wait two to three months for the next one, or drive to a neighboring state. Lock this date before you sit for the written.
Between a passed written and a completed practical, people who schedule well spend six to twelve weeks. Add study time and you land at two to six months.
No state processing time applies, because no state agency touches this. Once NCCCO posts your passing results, you're qualified. The physical card usually shows up within a few weeks of your results going live online.
How much does rigger certification cost in Colorado?
Plan on $393 to $748 for Level I, self-funded, no employer help. The table below breaks it down. NCCCO publishes its own exam fees; everything else varies by provider and location.
| Cost item | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NCCCO Rigger Level I written exam | $159 | Published NCCCO fee as of 2024; confirm current fee at nccco.org [2] |
| NCCCO Rigger Level I practical exam | $119 to $159 | Varies by event; some employers sponsor |
| Study materials (ASME B30.9 standard) | $40 to $80 | Available from ASME.org; required reading |
| Test prep kit or course | $75 to $200 | Optional but most candidates buy something |
| Travel to practical event | $0 to $150 | Depends on where Colorado events land that cycle |
| Total estimated range | $393 to $748 | For Level I, self-funded, no employer subsidy |
Many Colorado employers in construction, oil and gas, and industrial maintenance reimburse exam fees if you pass. Ask before you spend a dime.
Adding Level II on the same test day is cheaper than sitting for each level separately, because NCCCO offers combined exam pricing. Worth doing if you're confident and your projects require it.
No state application fee exists, because no state license exists. Every dollar goes to exam fees, study materials, and logistics. [2]
What does the OSHA 'qualified rigger' rule actually say?
The rule is 29 CFR 1926.1430(f). Plain language: 'The employer must ensure that employees who rig loads are qualified riggers.' [1] The same subpart defines a qualified person as someone with a 'recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing,' or who 'by extensive knowledge, training and experience has successfully demonstrated the ability to solve or resolve problems relating to the subject matter, the work, or the project.' [9]
That language leaves employers room. A rigger with 20 years of field time technically qualifies under the extensive-knowledge track if the employer documents it. In the real market, most large contractors skip that route. They want third-party certification, because a certificate is a clean audit trail when OSHA shows up after an incident.
Colorado runs under federal OSHA jurisdiction for construction. The state has its own occupational safety division inside CDLE, but it has not adopted a state plan that supersedes federal OSHA on construction. [4] So the federal standard is the floor, and it covers every construction site in the state.
Non-construction rigging (manufacturing plants, warehouses, utilities) falls under 29 CFR 1910, which has no matching explicit 'qualified rigger' mandate in the same words. General duty clause exposure is still real if you send undertrained people under suspended loads.
Where can you take the NCCCO practical exam in Colorado?
There's no permanent practical center the way Pearson VUE keeps fixed written sites. Practical events are hosted by employers, unions, training centers, or NCCCO itself at rotating locations. NCCCO posts upcoming practical dates on its site under the Examinations section.
Along the front range, practical events have historically clustered in the Denver metro and shown up occasionally in Colorado Springs and Pueblo. Mountain and western slope events are rare. Candidates in Grand Junction or Durango usually drive or travel for one.
Ironworkers Local 24 in Denver and Operating Engineers Local 9 run apprenticeship programs with rigging training, and they sometimes help members reach practical events. If you're in a union apprenticeship, ask your coordinator early, because programs often batch candidates into upcoming events. [5]
For the written, any Pearson VUE center works. Colorado has more than a dozen. Search the full list at pearsonvue.com and filter by NCCCO. [3]
Does an apprenticeship help with rigger certification in Colorado?
Yes, a lot. Two paths dominate: union apprenticeship and employer-run on-the-job training.
Ironworkers Local 24 covers the Denver metro and Colorado Springs. Its curriculum includes rigging and structural steel, and the rigging content maps straight onto what NCCCO tests. [5] Operating Engineers Local 9, which covers Colorado and five other states, trains crane operators, and its apprentices usually pick up rigging exposure too.
Employer-based OJT is common in oil and gas (Weld County and the DJ Basin have active upstream construction) and in industrial facility maintenance. Some of these employers pay for the NCCCO exam and practical when they bring on a new rigger.
The DOL registers apprenticeship programs nationally. Search active Colorado programs at apprenticeship.gov under the ironworker or construction craft laborer categories. [6]
Comparing nearby states? The how to start rigger in Arizona article covers the Arizona apprenticeship picture, which shares some regional programs with Colorado.
Apprenticeship does not replace the NCCCO exam. It gets you ready for it, and your employer often covers the fee.
What study materials do Colorado rigger candidates actually use?
Read ASME B30.9. That standard covers slings and it's the spine of the NCCCO Rigger Level I written. Read it, don't skim it. The exam pulls specific inspection criteria, discard criteria, and application rules straight out of the document. ASME sells it at asme.org for roughly $50 to $75 depending on format. [7]
ASME B30.26 covers rigging hardware (shackles, hooks, rings, links) and shows up at Level II. Going straight to Level II? Buy both.
Beyond the standards, download the free NCCCO Candidate Handbook for your credential at nccco.org. It lists every topic area on the exam and the percentage weight of each category. That's your study outline. [2]
For prep, RiggerPath sells a $149 NCCCO Rigger + Lift-Plan Kit at riggerpath.com/start that covers the written content and lift-plan calculation practice. Use that or another resource, but do the same thing either way: grind real practice questions, don't passively reread.
The math sections surprise people. Load weight estimation from material density tables and sling angle tension calculations appear on both levels. If your math is rusty, fix that before you sit.
What jobs does rigger certification open up in Colorado?
The Colorado construction market is big and busy. Major general contractors in Denver, Fort Collins, Boulder, and along I-25 routinely require rigger credentials on commercial and multifamily jobs. The oil and gas sector in Weld County and the DJ Basin keeps steady demand for rigging on wellhead equipment and process facilities.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics files riggers under SOC code 49-9096. The 2023 national median annual wage for riggers was $61,690. [8] Colorado wages in the construction trades tend to run above the national median, especially along the front range where union scale applies on public and many commercial projects.
Beyond construction, demand shows up in:
- Power generation and transmission (wind and solar builds in eastern Colorado and the San Luis Valley use heavy rigging)
- Mining and aggregate operations
- Entertainment rigging in Denver's arena and convention complex
- Federal installations, including military and DOE sites
Each sector may stack extra credentials on top of NCCCO. Entertainment riggers need ETCP. Federal facilities often require site-specific badging and safety orientation. NCCCO is the foundation. It doesn't open every door on its own, but without it, most doors stay shut.
For a market with more licensing layers, the how to start rigger in California guide covers contractor rules that Colorado doesn't have.
How does Colorado compare to nearby states for rigger requirements?
Colorado sits in the middle of the pack. No state license, clear federal OSHA coverage, active union presence, and a large non-union market alongside it. Here's the quick comparison.
| State | State rigger license? | Key credential required | State plan (vs. federal OSHA)? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | No | NCCCO Rigger I/II | Federal OSHA governs construction |
| California | No (rigger), Yes (crane op) | NCCCO Rigger I/II | Cal/OSHA (state plan) |
| Arizona | No | NCCCO Rigger I/II | Federal OSHA governs construction |
| Utah | No | NCCCO Rigger I/II | Utah OSHA (state plan) |
| Wyoming | No | NCCCO Rigger I/II | Federal OSHA governs construction |
The Mountain West pattern holds steady: no state rigger license, federal OSHA as the floor, NCCCO as the working industry standard. The one real variable is whether a state runs its own OSHA plan, which can match or beat federal. Colorado does not, so 29 CFR 1926 applies directly. [4]
Want the remote-site angle? The how to start rigger in Alaska guide covers rigging norms on Alaska's remote sites.
Step-by-step checklist for starting rigger work in Colorado
This is the order that works. Skip steps and you waste money and weeks.
1. Download the NCCCO Rigger Level I Candidate Handbook from nccco.org. Read the whole thing before buying anything. It tells you exactly what's on the exam. [2]
2. Buy ASME B30.9. Study it with the content outline as your map. Mark the inspection tables, discard criteria, and hardware rating rules.
3. Work practice questions until you clear 80 percent consistently. NCCCO doesn't publish a fixed passing percentage; cut scores are set by statistical analysis. Assume you need the material cold.
4. Register for the written at Pearson VUE (pearsonvue.com, search NCCCO). Book a date that leaves study time but sets a deadline. A booked exam beats an open-ended plan every time.
5. Before that written date, find the next Colorado practical event (check nccco.org). Register, or at least note the deadline. Don't pass the written and then stall for months because you missed a practical cycle.
6. Pass the written exam.
7. Complete the practical at an approved event.
8. Receive your NCCCO card. That's your proof of qualification. Keep a digital copy.
9. Confirm your target employer accepts NCCCO for their specific projects. Some federal and DOE sites have extra steps. Ask before your first shift.
If your employer is paying, get the reimbursement agreement in writing before any money leaves your pocket. Most large contractors have a standard form for exactly this.
What keeps people from finishing the certification in Colorado?
The practical scheduling gap is the number-one stall. People pass the written, get busy, and then find the next Colorado practical event three months out. Plan the practical date first.
Underestimating the math is number two. Sling tension at various angles and load estimation from density tables trip up candidates who read the standards but never worked the numbers. Do the problems, don't just read.
A distant third: assuming the written is easy because no state license is involved. This is a real credentialing test. Roughly 30 to 40 percent of first-time candidates fail the Level II written on their first try, according to trade instructor estimates. NCCCO does not publish official pass rates, so treat that figure as approximate.
The fix is boring and it works. Study the right material, book a real exam date, and sort your practical timeline before you sit for the written. None of this is hard. It just needs planning.
For prep packaged into one kit, RiggerPath's $149 NCCCO Rigger + Lift-Plan Kit at riggerpath.com/start covers the written content areas and the lift calculations that trip most candidates.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license for rigger work in Colorado?
No state rigger license exists in Colorado. Federal OSHA under 29 CFR 1926.1430 requires that construction riggers be 'qualified,' which in practice means NCCCO Rigger Level I or II certification for most employer and contractor requirements. There is no Colorado agency that issues a rigger credential or that you register with before working.
How much does rigger certification cost in Colorado?
Expect $393 to $748 out of pocket for NCCCO Rigger Level I, including the written exam fee (around $159 published by NCCCO), the practical exam fee ($119 to $159), the ASME B30.9 standard ($40 to $80), and study materials. Travel to a practical exam event adds cost if no nearby event is scheduled. Many Colorado employers reimburse exam fees upon passing.
How long does it take to get qualified as a rigger in Colorado?
Two to six months is typical starting from zero. Study time for the NCCCO Level I written runs four to eight weeks for most people. Written exam scheduling through Pearson VUE usually takes one to three weeks. The practical exam is the variable: Colorado events run several times a year along the front range but require advance planning. Calendar the practical date before you sit for the written.
Which NCCCO level do I need for Colorado construction jobs?
Most commercial and industrial construction jobs in Colorado require NCCCO Rigger Level I as a minimum. Some federal projects, Department of Energy facilities, and larger industrial contractors require Level II. Confirm with your target employer before registering. If you're unsure, sitting for both levels on the same day costs less than returning for Level II separately.
Is NCCCO rigger certification valid in other states?
Yes. NCCCO is a national credential and is recognized by employers and contractors across all 50 states. Because the underlying standard is federal OSHA, which applies in most states, your Colorado-issued NCCCO certification does not need to be converted or re-issued if you work in another state. Some state-plan states may have additional requirements, so check locally.
Where can I take the NCCCO practical exam in Colorado?
NCCCO practical events rotate rather than running from a fixed site. The Denver metro area has the most frequent events. Colorado Springs and Pueblo have hosted events historically. Check the current event calendar at nccco.org under 'Examinations.' Union apprenticeship programs through Ironworkers Local 24 or Operating Engineers Local 9 sometimes batch candidates into upcoming practical events.
Do Colorado riggers need to re-certify, and how often?
NCCCO Rigger Level I and II certifications are valid for five years. Re-certification requires a written exam but not a repeat of the practical exam under current NCCCO rules. Confirm the current re-certification requirements at nccco.org before your expiration date, as program rules can change. Most employers track expiration dates and expect you to stay current.
Does Colorado OSHA have additional rigger rules beyond federal OSHA?
Colorado does not operate a state OSHA plan for the construction industry. Federal OSHA governs construction directly in Colorado, meaning 29 CFR 1926.1430's qualified rigger requirement is the controlling standard. Colorado's Division of Labor Standards and Statistics handles workplace safety in non-construction contexts but has not added rigger-specific rules beyond the federal baseline.
Can I get a rigger job in Colorado without NCCCO certification?
Technically, an employer can document your qualification through the 'extensive knowledge and experience' pathway under 29 CFR 1926.1430 without a third-party certificate. In practice, most Colorado general contractors and site owners require NCCCO for site access. Non-certified candidates are effectively locked out of the larger commercial, industrial, and federal projects where most rigger work is concentrated.
What is the pay for riggers in Colorado?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a 2023 national median annual wage of $61,690 for riggers (SOC 49-9096). Colorado wages along the front range typically run above the national median, particularly on union-scale projects. Oil and gas rigging in Weld County and renewable energy installations in eastern Colorado and the San Luis Valley are active markets. Confirm current rates with local union locals or contractor HR departments.
Does an ironworker apprenticeship in Colorado cover rigger certification?
Ironworkers Local 24 in Denver includes rigging training as part of its apprenticeship curriculum. The content maps closely to NCCCO Rigger Level I exam material. The apprenticeship does not replace the NCCCO exam itself, but it prepares you for it and many programs facilitate access to practical exam events. Contact the local directly to confirm current program details.
Do entertainment riggers in Colorado need NCCCO certification?
Entertainment riggers working on concerts, staging, and arena events in Colorado typically pursue ETCP (Entertainment Technician Certification Program) credentials rather than NCCCO. The two programs serve different work contexts: NCCCO covers crane-assisted construction rigging, ETCP covers theatrical and live-event rigging. Some riggers hold both. Check your specific employer's requirements before deciding which path to pursue.
Sources
- OSHA, 29 CFR 1926.1430 Subpart CC - Training: Federal OSHA requires employers to ensure that employees who rig loads are qualified riggers, defined by experience or training and demonstrated competency
- NCCCO, Rigger Level I and Level II Candidate Handbook: NCCCO Rigger Level I written exam fee, five-year certification period, re-certification structure, and exam content areas
- OSHA, State Plan States list: Colorado does not operate an OSHA-approved state plan for private-sector construction, meaning federal OSHA standards apply directly
- Ironworkers Local 24, apprenticeship program: Ironworkers Local 24 in Denver runs an apprenticeship that includes rigging and structural steel training mapping to NCCCO exam content
- U.S. Department of Labor, Apprenticeship.gov program finder: DOL registers and lists active apprenticeship programs nationally, including ironworker and construction craft programs in Colorado
- ASME, B30.9 Slings standard: ASME B30.9 is the primary standard covering sling inspection, discard criteria, and application rules tested on the NCCCO Rigger Level I exam
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Riggers SOC 49-9096: 2023 national median annual wage for riggers (SOC 49-9096) was $61,690
- OSHA, 29 CFR 1926.1401 Definitions - Qualified Person: OSHA defines 'qualified person' as someone with a recognized degree or certificate, or who by extensive knowledge, training, and experience has demonstrated ability to resolve problems in the subject area
- Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Division of Labor Standards and Statistics: Colorado's labor division covers certain non-construction workplace safety matters but construction industry rigger work falls under federal OSHA jurisdiction