Located in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, Chippewa Valley Technical College offers a heavy equipment operator apprenticeship program. Students in the program learn to operate bulldozers, tractors, dump trucks and cranes. The three-year program requires that students complete academic coursework and 6,000 hours of on-the-job training. The training teaches students to pour concrete, move earth, pave surfaces and reinforce steel. An emphasis is also placed on safety to ensure that students understand how to avoid rollovers, collisions and accidents.
Prince George's Community College is located in Largo, Maryland, and offers a certificate program for prospective heavy equipment operators. The program offers students an opportunity to learn how to operate a bulldozer, backhoe, excavator and front-end loader. Each program is 35 hours and combines academic coursework with practical training in the field. Classes and training are also available during the day and evening to accommodate students with personal and professional requirements. The curriculum is accredited through the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER).
Located in Sheldon, Iowa, Northwest Iowa Community College offers a diploma program in heavy equipment operations. The curriculum includes courses in hydraulics, equipment operation and maintenance, surveying, and stake and plan reading. The Associated General Contractors has certified the curriculum within the program. Students learn about operations, safety and preventative maintenance. Opportunities are available to drive tractors, loaders, compaction equipment and dump trucks. Graduates are eligible to obtain a commercial driver's license upon completion of the program.
The Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport offers an Associate of Applied Science in Heavy Construction Equipment with an operator emphasis. The program focuses on safety, surveying, site development and global positioning systems. While the college has over 30 trucks and machines, the program also receives heavy equipment rentals from local companies to ensure that students have training with all types of professional equipment. Graduates of an associate degree program also have an opportunity to pursue a bachelor's degree in a construction- or transportation-related area.