The C0 crane ticket is the open class for slewing mobile cranes with a rated capacity over 100 tonnes. It sits at the top of the mobile slewing crane licence classes, so this usually isn’t someone’s first step into crane work.
You’ll need to meet the course entry requirements, handle the theory and calculations, and show that you can operate a large crane safely during assessment. Previous time in the seat also makes a big difference, even where a lower crane class isn’t listed as a formal prerequisite.
Here’s what to check before you book.
What does a C0 crane ticket cover?
The official unit is TLILIC0020 Licence to Operate a Slewing Mobile Crane (Over 100 Tonnes).
A slewing mobile crane has a boom or jib that can turn around a central point. The C0 class covers these cranes when their maximum rated capacity is over 100 tonnes. WorkSafe Victoria calls it the open class because there is no upper capacity limit attached to the licence.
The other slewing mobile crane classes are:
- C2: Up to 20 tonnes
- C6: Up to 60 tonnes
- C1: Up to 100 tonnes
- C0: Open class, over 100 tonnes
A higher class also covers work in the lower slewing mobile crane classes. But getting to C0 still takes more than booking a course and learning the controls for the first time.
What are the C0 course prerequisites?
There are two sets of requirements to think about: the rules attached to the licence and the entry conditions set by the training provider.
The national TLILIC0020 unit lists no prerequisite unit. It does not say that everyone must first complete C2, C6 or C1 as part of the training package.
Current C0 course entry requirements are:
- You must be at least 18 years old
- You must hold a Dogging (DG) licence
CTI may also check that the course suits your current skills and work background before accepting the booking. An over-100-tonne crane course moves quickly, and the assessment expects far more than basic familiarity with crane operation.
View CTI’s C0 Slewing Mobile Crane course for current dates and booking information.
You need to be at least 18
You must be 18 or older to apply for a High Risk Work licence in Victoria.
This means you can’t complete the training at 17 and simply wait for your birthday to apply. Check your eligibility with the RTO before paying or starting any pre-course work.
You need a dogging licence
Dogging covers choosing lifting gear, working out how to sling a load and directing a crane operator when the load is out of view.
Those skills sit underneath mobile crane work. Even when you’re in the cab, you need to understand how the load has been connected, what the dogger is telling you and how the load may behave once it leaves the ground.
CTI requires a current Dogging (DG) licence before you start the C0 course.
Do you need a C6 crane licence first?
A C6 crane licence is not listed as a prerequisite unit for TLILIC0020 on the national training register. The same applies to the C1 class.
That doesn’t mean going straight from dogging to C0 will suit every learner.
Many operators work their way up through smaller crane classes because it gives them time to build real operating experience. A common path may look like:
- Complete Dogging (DG)
- Get a C2 or C6 crane licence
- Spend time operating slewing mobile cranes
- Move to C1 or C0 when the work calls for it
Someone with a C6 crane licence may already be comfortable with crane set-up, load charts, communication, lift planning and controlled crane movements. The C0 course then builds on skills they have used on site instead of introducing everything at once.
So, while C6 may not be a national prerequisite for the C0 unit, it can still be a sensible part of the pathway.
How much crane experience should you have?
There is no single amount of experience that suits everyone.
One operator may spend every week working with a slewing mobile crane and build confidence quickly. Another may hold a licence for years but only operate now and then.
Before moving to C0, you should be comfortable with work such as:
- Carrying out pre-start and operational checks
- Reading and using load charts
- Setting up outriggers and crane supports
- Checking ground conditions
- Working within the crane’s rated capacity
- Following lift plans and workplace procedures
- Communicating with doggers and other workers
- Responding when weather or site conditions change
Be honest about where you’re at. Large crane work leaves very little room for shaky basics.
A course trainer can teach and test the unit requirements. They can’t replace the site time that helps an operator stay calm, read a situation and make safe decisions.
You’ll need solid reading and maths skills
The crane operator licence requirements include more theory than some learners expect.
You need to read safety information, follow manufacturer instructions, understand lift plans and work through crane calculations. That can include load weights, operating radius, boom length, deductions and rated capacity.
You don’t need advanced school maths. But you do need to:
- Read and understand written instructions
- Use tables, charts and diagrams
- Complete basic calculations accurately
- Explain hazards and control measures
- Record information clearly
Training providers may use a language, literacy and numeracy check before the course starts. This isn’t designed to catch you out. It helps the trainer see whether you may need support before the formal assessment.
Speak up early if reading or calculations are difficult for you. It is much easier to work on a weak area before assessment week.
What will the C0 assessment test?
The assessment for TLILIC0020 checks whether you can plan, prepare for, carry out and finish crane work safely.
You can expect the course and assessment to cover areas such as:
Planning the lift
You’ll need to read the work instructions, check the lift plan, find hazards and confirm that the crane suits the job.
This includes looking at the load, operating radius, ground conditions, nearby structures, powerlines, traffic and weather.
Preparing the crane and work area
You’ll check the crane, its logbook and the work area before starting.
You may need to confirm the crane’s set-up, choose the right configuration, establish communication methods and make sure exclusion zones or other controls are in place.
Operating the crane
The practical assessment checks whether you can control the crane and load safely.
That includes following signals, keeping within the load chart, watching for changes and operating in line with the lift plan and manufacturer instructions.
Shutting down and packing up
The job does not finish when the load lands.
You’ll also need to secure the crane, carry out post-operational checks, record faults and leave the machine and work area in a safe condition. The national assessment requirements cover both practical performance and the knowledge behind it.
Other mobile crane operator requirements to check
The course prerequisites are only part of the picture. Before booking, check the practical details too.
You may need:
- Current photo identification
- Your High Risk Work licence details
- Suitable work clothes and required personal protective equipment
- Time to complete pre-course learning
- Enough availability to attend every training and assessment day
CTI’s C0 course is a 4-day program, with learning material completed before or alongside the face-to-face training. Always check the current page or speak with CTI before booking, as delivery details may change.
You may also need the right heavy vehicle driver licence to drive the crane on public roads. A C0 High Risk Work licence covers operating the crane as plant. It does not replace a road licence.
How to get a crane licence after passing the course
Passing the course earns you an assessment result. You still need to apply to WorkSafe Victoria to add the C0 class to your High Risk Work licence.
The process is:
- Complete the training through an authorised RTO
- Pass the licence assessment
- Receive your assessment number or Notice of Assessment
- Apply through your myWorkSafe account
- Pay the WorkSafe application fee
You must lodge the application within 60 calendar days of passing the assessment. Miss that deadline and you may need to complete the assessment again at your own cost. WorkSafe also asks for identity documents when you apply.
That final application step is easy to overlook, so don’t leave the paperwork sitting in your bag.
Check that you’re ready before moving to C0
The C0 class opens the door to operating slewing mobile cranes over 100 tonnes, but the course is aimed at people who are ready for that level of work.
At a minimum, check that you meet CTI’s age and dogging requirements. Then look at your operating experience, load-chart skills and confidence with crane set-up and lift planning.
Holding a C6 or C1 licence may not be a formal requirement under the national unit. For many operators, though, working through the lower classes gives them a much stronger base for C0 training.
Ready to check your options? View the C0 Slewing Mobile Crane course or enquire with CTI and tell the team which crane classes you already hold.
