- How the OCCO Written Exam Is Built
- Scored-Item Allocation by Domain
- Domain 1: Pre-Job Inspections
- Domain 2: Crane Operations
- Domain 3: Crane Components
- Domain 4: General Safety & Operating Practices
- Where the Written Domains Meet the Practical Exam
- Sequencing Your Preparation Around the Domains
- Original Practice Questions by Domain
- Testing Logistics That Touch Every Domain
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The OCCO written exam covers four content areas: Pre-Job Inspections, Crane Operations, Crane Components, and General Safety & Operating Practices.
- Form 090201, effective March 1, 2026, has 80 questions: 65 scored and 15 unscored experimental items.
- Scored-item allocations are 17, 17, 19 and 12 across the four domains; Crane Components carries the most.
- You get 3 hours, a closed-book format, and a scaled passing point of 500, not a fixed raw percentage.
How the OCCO Written Exam Is Built
The Overhead Crane Certified Operator (OCCO) credential is issued by the Carpenters International Certification Council (CICC), which is associated with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. Earning it means passing two separate assessments: a knowledge-based written examination and a hands-on practical examination. This guide focuses on the written exam and the four content areas that structure it. If you are still orienting yourself to the credential itself, What Is OCCO Certification? covers the basics, and OCCO Requirements 2026 walks through eligibility and prerequisites.
The current written exam is Form 090201, effective March 1, 2026, and it replaces the earlier Form 090102. Older directory listings and mirror sites may still describe a 100-question test. That total is obsolete. The current form has 80 questions, of which 65 are scored and 15 are unscored experimental items. You will not know which items fall into the experimental group, so every question deserves your full effort.
| Written Exam Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Form | 090201, effective March 1, 2026 (replaces Form 090102) |
| Total questions | 80 |
| Scored questions | 65 |
| Unscored experimental questions | 15 |
| Time allowed | 3 hours |
| Passing point | Scaled score of 500 |
| Reference materials | Closed book |
| Delivery | Pearson VUE, coordinated through CPS HR Consulting |
Scored-Item Allocation by Domain
The official indexed summary lists how many scored items fall under each content area. Those counts are 17, 17, 19 and 12, and they sum to the 65 scored questions. Percentage weights are not published in the material this guide draws on, so none are stated here; the counts are the reliable figures.
| Domain | Scored Items | Relative Size |
|---|---|---|
| Domain 1: Pre-Job Inspections | 17 | Large |
| Domain 2: Crane Operations | 17 | Large |
| Domain 3: Crane Components | 19 | Largest |
| Domain 4: General Safety & Operating Practices | 12 | Smallest |
Two things stand out. First, Crane Components is the single biggest block, so shallow familiarity with hoists, trolleys, bridges and controls will cost you points. Second, even the smallest domain, General Safety & Operating Practices, accounts for 12 scored questions. That is far too many to ignore, especially since safety judgment shows up inside the other three domains too.
Domain 1: Pre-Job Inspections
With 17 scored items, Pre-Job Inspections tests whether you know what to check, in what order, and what to do when something is wrong before a single lift begins. Overhead crane work is unforgiving of skipped checks, and the exam reflects that attitude.
Pre-Job Inspections
Expect scenario-style questions where you must decide whether a crane is fit to operate, what a given finding means, and who needs to be told.
- Distinguishing a condition that requires tagging the crane out of service from one that is merely noted
- Knowing what to verify at the start of a shift versus what a periodic inspection covers
- Recognizing signs of wear or damage on the hook, wire rope or chain, and hoist limit devices
- Confirming that controls respond correctly and that stopping functions work before use
- Understanding your responsibility to report defects rather than work around them
A common trap in this domain is the "it's probably fine" answer choice. Exam writers tend to reward the option that treats a questionable condition conservatively. If a choice involves continuing the lift while a deficiency is unresolved, it is rarely correct.
Domain 2: Crane Operations
Crane Operations also carries 17 scored items and is the domain most closely tied to what you will physically do on the practical exam. It covers how a lift is actually executed: control technique, load handling, communication, and travel.
Crane Operations
This area tests operating judgment, not just vocabulary. Questions often describe a lifting situation and ask for the safest or most correct next action.
- Smooth control inputs and why abrupt starts and stops destabilize a load
- Positioning the hook over the load and managing swing
- Understanding signals and working with a signaler and rigger
- Moving a load along a planned path while keeping it clear of people and obstructions
- Setting a load down safely and securing the crane afterward
The indexed description of the practical exam mentions a one-point rollover hoist of the prop and moving the load through a diagonal course. Those are overview details, not a full scoring rubric, but they signal what the exam values: controlled, deliberate movement. If you want to understand what the practical component demands in more depth, OCCO Training discusses how preparation connects to hands-on skills.
Domain 3: Crane Components
Crane Components is the heaviest domain at 19 scored items. This is where candidates who rely only on on-the-job familiarity can stumble, because the exam expects you to name parts correctly and explain what they do and how they fail.
Crane Components
Think of this domain as the anatomy of an overhead crane. You should be able to describe each major assembly and its role in a lift.
- Bridge, runway, and trolley, and how they provide the crane's travel directions
- Hoist mechanisms, including the drum, rope or chain, and hook block
- Limit devices and other protective features, and what each one prevents
- Brakes and how they hold or stop loads and motion
- Controls and power arrangements, including how an operator commands each motion
Domain 4: General Safety & Operating Practices
The final domain has 12 scored items, the smallest block, but it is broad. It captures the safety habits and operating discipline that apply across every lift, regardless of crane type or job site.
General Safety & Operating Practices
These questions test judgment and professionalism. They are less about parts or procedures and more about doing the right thing consistently.
- Keeping loads and hooks away from people and never lifting over personnel
- Respecting rated capacity and never guessing at a load's weight
- Using appropriate personal protective equipment
- Maintaining clear communication and honoring a stop signal from anyone
- Staying alert and fit for duty while operating
Because the domain is smaller, candidates sometimes underestimate it. Resist that instinct. Twelve scored questions can easily decide a borderline result, and the principles tested here also color how correct answers are phrased in the other three domains.
Where the Written Domains Meet the Practical Exam
Passing the written exam alone does not earn certification. You must also pass a separate hands-on practical. The two are connected: Pre-Job Inspections knowledge shows up when you check the crane, Crane Operations knowledge when you handle the load, Crane Components knowledge when you understand why the crane behaves as it does, and General Safety habits throughout.
Be careful about relying on rumors regarding the practical. The details available here are limited to an overview, and no complete scoring rubric or practical-test time limit has been confirmed. Treat anything beyond the official description with caution, and confirm specifics with your Local Training Center. For a broader sense of how the credential compares in difficulty, see How Hard Is the OCCO Exam?
Sequencing Your Preparation Around the Domains
You do not need an elaborate method. A sensible order follows the logic of the crane itself, and it lets earlier topics reinforce later ones. The timeline below is one reasonable approach, not an official requirement. For a complete preparation plan, the OCCO Study Guide 2026 goes further.
Crane Components
- Start with the largest domain so its vocabulary supports everything else
- Build a component list and describe the function and failure mode of each part
Pre-Job Inspections
- Apply component knowledge to what you check before use
- Practice deciding when a finding means the crane should not be operated
Crane Operations
- Work through scenarios on control technique, signals, and load travel
- Connect each scenario to what you would do on a diagonal course
General Safety & Operating Practices, then full review
- Cover safety principles, then take timed mixed-domain practice sets
- Revisit your weakest domain, giving Crane Components extra attention
Key Takeaway
Spend your first and longest study block on Crane Components. It has the most scored items and underpins both inspection and operating questions. Use the 3-hour time limit in practice sessions so pacing across 80 questions feels natural.
Original Practice Questions by Domain
The questions below are original, written to illustrate the style of each domain. They are not drawn from the actual exam. For more realistic timed practice, use the OCCO practice tests.
Pre-Job Inspections
During a start-of-shift check, you notice that a hook latch is bent and no longer closes fully. What is the correct action?
- A. Operate carefully and avoid heavy loads
- B. Report the condition and do not use the crane until it is corrected
- C. Tape the latch closed and continue
- D. Wait until the end of the shift to mention it
Answer: B. A damaged safety device is a reason to stop and report, not to work around the problem.
Crane Operations
Why should an operator avoid abrupt starts and stops when moving a suspended load?
- A. They make the load swing and reduce control
- B. They are slower than smooth inputs
- C. They have no effect on the load
- D. They only matter for light loads
Answer: A. Sudden acceleration or braking induces swing and makes placement harder and less safe.
Crane Components
Which component is primarily responsible for traveling a load across the width of the work area, perpendicular to the runway?
- A. The trolley
- B. The hook block
- C. The load brake only
- D. The pendant cord
Answer: A. The trolley moves along the bridge, providing travel across the span.
General Safety & Operating Practices
You are unsure of a load's weight. What should you do before lifting?
- A. Estimate it and lift slowly
- B. Lift a few inches and see how the crane responds
- C. Determine the actual weight and confirm it is within rated capacity
- D. Ask a coworker to guess
Answer: C. Never lift a load of unknown weight; verify it against the crane's rated capacity first.
Testing Logistics That Touch Every Domain
Knowing the content is only half the job; the process around the exam has its own rules. Pearson VUE delivers the written examination, coordinated through CPS HR Consulting. Several practical points are worth understanding before you schedule:
- Submit a testing request first. Go through your Local Training Center before scheduling the exam.
- Match your name exactly. The name on your registration must match your test-day ID.
- Arrange accommodations early. Obtain CICC approval before registration if you need accommodations.
- Mind the 48-hour rule. Cancellations and reschedules must satisfy Pearson's 48-hour requirement.
- A no-show restarts the process. You would need a new testing request through the Local Training Center.
Eligibility is its own topic. The issuer-indexed material points to UBC membership, the Certified Rigger and Signaler (CRS) prerequisite, and current medical verification. Registration for UBC membership specifies age 18 or older and eligibility to work in the United States or Canada. This is not a complete eligibility checklist, so confirm current rules through the OCCO requirements guide and your Local Training Center. For timing questions, see OCCO Exam Dates 2026.
Certification is valid for four years from the last day of the month it is granted, and renewal is described as involving written reexamination. The full renewal policy was not available for review, so check the official recertification page before planning around it.
Frequently Asked Questions
The current form, Form 090201 effective March 1, 2026, has 80 questions: 65 scored and 15 unscored experimental items. Older sources citing 100 questions are outdated.
Crane Components has the largest allocation at 19 scored items. Pre-Job Inspections and Crane Operations each have 17, and General Safety & Operating Practices has 12.
The published passing point is a scaled score of 500. It is not a raw percentage or a fixed count of correct answers, and the exam is closed book with a 3-hour time allowance.
No. Certification requires passing both the knowledge-based written examination and a separate hands-on practical examination. Each must be passed independently.
The OCCO Exam Prep practice tests let you drill the four content areas under timed conditions, and the OCCO Cheat Sheet offers a quick review of must-know facts before test day.