29 CFR 1926.1427: Operator training, certification, and evaluation
The official text is on the eCFR. This page maps how the section is organized, quotes the paragraphs our CHST practice questions are built on, and gives free questions you can try. Text below is quoted from the eCFR, current as of 2026-10-14; the section was last amended 2019-02-07.
How 29 CFR 1926.1427 is organized
- (a) General requirements for operators7 paragraphs
- (b) Operator training20 paragraphs
- (c) Operator certification and licensing10 paragraphs
- (d)11 paragraphs
- (e) Audited employer program22 paragraphs
- (f) Evaluation9 paragraphs
- (g)1 paragraph
- (h) Language and literacy requirements4 paragraphs
- (i)1 paragraph
- (j) Certification criteria15 paragraphs
- (k) Effective dates2 paragraphs
Paragraphs our practice questions cite most
Counted across the 17 live PassCited questions built on this section. This reflects our question bank, not the real exam.
“(2) If no accredited testing agency offers certification examinations for a particular type of equipment, an operator will be deemed to have complied with the certification requirements of this section for that equipment if the operator has been certified for the type that is most similar to that equipment and for which a certification examination is available. The operator's certificate must state the type of equipment for which the operator is certified.”
“(3) The definition of “qualified” in § 1926.32 does not apply to paragraph (f)(1) of this section: Possession of a certificate or degree cannot, by itself, cause a person to be qualified for purposes of paragraph (f)(1).”
“(2) Tests under this section may be administered in any language the operator candidate understands, and the operator's certification documentation must note the language in which the test was given. The operator is only permitted to operate equipment that is furnished with materials required by this subpart, such as operations manuals and load charts, that are written in the language of the certification.”
“(1) Operation during training. An employee who has not been certified/licensed and evaluated to operate assigned equipment in accordance with this section may only operate the equipment as an operator-in-training under supervision in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (b) of this section.”
“(A) Not portable: Such a qualification meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section only where the operator is employed by (and operating the equipment for) the employer that issued the qualification.”
Free practice questions on 29 CFR 1926.1427
Question 1
A contractor hires a crane operator who holds a college degree in construction engineering and a certificate from a crane safety course. The site superintendent wants to put the operator on a lattice boom crawler crane right away, without any employer evaluation, because of these credentials. What does the standard say about this approach?
Show answer and source
Answer: D. It is not acceptable, because possession of a certificate or degree cannot, by itself, cause a person to be qualified for the employer's evaluation requirement
The standard states that the § 1926.32 definition of "qualified" does not apply and that a certificate or degree alone cannot qualify a person. The employer must still evaluate the operator. A recent certificate or a self-declaration does not change this.
Answer D rests on
29 CFR 1926.1427(f)(3)(opens ecfr.gov in a new tab)“The definition of “qualified” in § 1926.32 does not apply to paragraph (f)(1) of this section: Possession of a certificate or degree cannot, by itself, cause a person to be qualified for purposes of paragraph (f)(1).”
Question 2
A contractor sends a laborer to run a 40-ton mobile crane. The laborer has not been certified or licensed and has not been evaluated for this crane. The superintendent wants the laborer to gain experience on a routine lift in an area clear of power lines. Under what condition may the laborer operate the crane?
Show answer and source
Answer: D. Only as an operator-in-training under supervision that meets the training requirements of the operator training paragraph
The standard allows an employee who is not certified/licensed and evaluated to operate the assigned equipment only as an operator-in-training under supervision. A routine lift or a clear area does not remove that requirement, and neither does classroom-only instruction or a derated capacity.
Answer D rests on
29 CFR 1926.1427(a)(1)(opens ecfr.gov in a new tab)“An employee who has not been certified/licensed and evaluated to operate assigned equipment in accordance with this section may only operate the equipment as an operator-in-training under supervision in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (b) of this section.”
Question 3
A contractor takes delivery of a specialized crane type. No accredited testing agency offers a certification exam for that type. Several operators are available to run it. Which operator would be deemed to meet the operator certification requirement for this crane under the accredited-testing-agency option?
Show answer and source
Answer: D. An operator with a current certificate from an accredited testing agency for the crane type most similar to the new one, for which an exam is available, with the certificate stating the type of equipment covered
When no accredited agency offers an exam for a type of equipment, the standard deems the operator compliant if certified for the most similar type that has an exam available, and the certificate must state the equipment type. Certification on a dissimilar type, an informal verbal assessment, or a certificate that omits the type does not meet this condition.
Answer D rests on
29 CFR 1926.1427(d)(2)(opens ecfr.gov in a new tab)“If no accredited testing agency offers certification examinations for a particular type of equipment, an operator will be deemed to have complied with the certification requirements of this section for that equipment if the operator has been certified for the type that is most similar to that equipment and for which a certification examination is available. The operator's certificate must state the type of equipment for which the operator is certified.”
Where it shows up in exam prep
Find out which regulations you'd miss
Other Part 1926 sections
This is a study aid, not legal advice or an official interpretation. Always check the current eCFR text. Original practice questions, not real exam items. PassCited is not affiliated with or endorsed by BCSP.