Essential Information
The National Heavy Equipment Operators School offers hybrid training to prepare students to operate tractors, bulldozers, excavators and many other pieces of construction equipment. The two-phase programs include distance and on-campus portions. The distance learning portion of the program can be completed at students' leisure.
The on-campus portion takes a month to complete. The online portion includes 60 lessons that can be completed virtually whenever students want. The courses have an exam at the end, which can be completed immediately after finishing the course or at another time.
Courses
The online courses for the heavy equipment training programs familiarize students with principles of heavy equipment operating. This includes terminology and safety equipment for the different equipment. Students also learn basic procedures, which they expand upon in the month-long resident-training program. Online modules cover:
- Tires and wheels
- Fuel systems and fuels
- Inspection repair and maintenance
- Land clearing planning, methods and machinery
- Fires and firefighting
- Power trains
- Soils and soil testing
- Career success
Residency
The month-long residency portion of the program includes hands-on training operating the many different heavy equipment vehicles, on both new and old makes and models. Participants also study the environmental impact of using the equipment in order to fully understand the importance of using it properly. Students earn permits and licenses to drive the different vehicles as they're trained on them.
Students interested in heavy equipment vehicle operation are able to complete a hybrid program that combines online lessons with hands-on experience using heavy equipment vehicles.