Heavy Equipment Operator
The Heavy Equipment Operator Certificate of Applied Science will prepare the student to enter the equipment operations career field as an Apprentice operator. The program contains instruction and “handson” operation experience on dozer, backhoes, loaders, track excavators, wheel loaders, Skid steers, motor graders, rollers, tractors, dump trucks, water tankers and equipment transports. Students will also become proficient with grade reading, laser level operation, engineering stake interpretation, safety procedures, and equipment maintenance as they apply to Heavy Equipment Operation. Class “A” Commercial Driver License (CDL) training and testing are an integral part of this program. Upon completion of this program, the student will:
- Operate heavy equipment (dozer, grader, loader, excavator, backhoe, skid steer, motor grader, roller) and drive commercial trucks over 26,000 lbs to NCCER (National Center for Construction Education Research) standards in a job site environment;
- Maintain and service heavy equipment;
- Read and interpret grade and survey markings and stakes;
- Safely work in a construction setting; and
- Apply critical thinking skills to evaluate and solve problems.
