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CPCS Tower Crane A04a & b

Cost: £3,410 no VAT charged
Funding: CITB grant payable of £710 per person to eligible companies
Duration: 10 days
Locations: Bircham (Norfolk)
Dates: 1 December 2025, 12 January 2026, 2 March 2026 and more
Entry requirements: See below

This 10-day course teaches beginners how to safely operate a tower crane.

It is for people with little to no experience of using tower cranes.

Passing the course grants you a CPCS Trained Operator Card (red card), which we will apply for on your behalf.

Book this course

Course content

The course includes:

  • Safely operate the tower crane and understand its capabilities
  • Secure, check and maintain counterweights
  • Understand safe-load indicators and overload warning devices
  • Assess whether loads are within lifting capacity, considering working radius and shock loading effects
  • Apply the principles of safe slinging, including choosing appropriate lifting gear and ensuring load balance
  • Signals for controlling crane operations
  • Routine maintenance, minor adjustments and out-of-service procedures
  • Lifting equipment regulations and the operator’s own legal responsibilities.

Teaching and assessment 

Nine days of classroom-based teaching and practical exercises

One day of CPCS technical tests

What you get

CPCS Trained Operator Card (red card)

CITB National Construction College E-Certificate available on request

Entry requirements

  1. CITB Health, Safety and Environment Test passed within last two years or CPCS Plant Operative Health, Safety and Environment Test pass.
  2. Comfortable working at heights. Contact us if you are unsure about this and we can arrange a test climb on one of our cranes.
  3. Good spoken and written English.
  4. Valid form of ID. See accepted forms of ID.

By booking a course, you agree to follow our Terms and Conditions.

Grants and funding

Grants are available for eligible employers. For further information please visit our grant pages.

Did we miss something?

For more information, email ncc.accountmanager@citb.co.uk or call 0344 994 4433 

Further training

You'll need to complete the Plant Operations NVQ/SVQ level 2 within two years to get the CPCS Competent Operator Card (blue card). Register your interest for this NVQ here.