Operating Engineer Apprentice

Want to learn to operate heavy equipment and work outdoors? This apprenticeship prepares you to operate cranes, dozers, scrapers, loaders, motor graders, tractor loader backhoes and more. As an operating engineer, you’ll work on construction projects such as commercial and residential developments, dams, roadways, etc. Or you could work in plants that produce rock, sand and gravel, or clean up hazardous waste sites. You’ll learn blueprint reading, how to maintain your equipment and safe work site procedures. This program requires you to first be employed before starting your on-the-job and classroom instruction.

COURSE LIST

Course list for reference only. Current students please refer to your individualized program plan or see your advisor.
**Outside effort hours are an estimate based on state standards, and may vary from person to person.

Occupational Specific (11.75 Credits)

Course Title
Course Number
Credits
Instructional Hours
Outside Effort Hours**
Early College Credit Options
Prior Learning Credit Eligibility
• Basic Maintenance

  50-447-536

  1.25Credit

  40

  0

  N/A

  N/A

  • Instructional Hours: 40
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447536
  • Credits: 1.25

  N/A

  Will introduce students to basic mobile equipment maintenance. Students will be instructed in maintaining engines, hydraulics, electrical systems, lubricants, and machine undercarriages with an emphasis on the use of the operator manual maintenance sections. Shop and field maintenance safety will be daily topics as well as proper use and identification of hand tools and shop tooling.

• Operating Engineers Intro to Basic Equipment

  50-447-543

  1Credit

  36

  0

  N/A

  N/A

  • Instructional Hours: 36
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447543
  • Credits: 1.00

  N/A

  Introduces student to heavy equipment used in the construction industry. Students will also be instructed on basic safety, maintenance, and communication methods that operating engineers may be exposed to.

• Operating Engineers Applied Basic Equipment

  50-447-544

  1.25Credit

  44

  0

  N/A

  N/A

  • Instructional Hours: 44
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447544
  • Credits: 1.25

  N/A

  Provides students with specialized instruction and valuable experience on basic heavy construction equipment. Emphasis will be geared toward practical exercises on safety, efficiency, and skill development.

• Basic Grade

  50-447-584

  1.25Credit

  40

  0

  N/A

  N/A

  • Instructional Hours: 40
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447584
  • Credits: 1.25

  N/A

  Covers instruction in working with the engineers ruler using tenths and hundredths, how to calculate basic quantities, working with elevations, figuring cut and fill to finish grade and sub-grade. Topics also include interpreting and working with grade stakes while learning the basic grade setting and staking process. In the field students will be trained how to use lasers, eye levels, standard rods and lenker rods. Also includes a basic introduction to plan reading.

• Construction Regulations

  50-447-592

  1.25Credit

  40

  0

  N/A

  N/A

  • Instructional Hours: 40
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447592
  • Credits: 1.25

  N/A

  Incorporates OSHA 10+, MSHA – New Miner and First Aid/CPR into one 40-hour class. Some of the topics covered: Blood-borne pathogens, confined space entry, demolition, electrical safety, excavations & trenching, fall protection, fire protection & hot-work, hazard communication, lockout/tag-out, material handling, hoists, cranes & rigging, motor vehicles & motorized equipment, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), power industrial trucks, Process Safety Management (PSM), scaffolds, lifts, ladders & stairways, signs, signals, & barricades.

• 40-Hour Hazmat

  50-447-593

  1.25Credit

  40

  0

  N/A

  N/A

  • Instructional Hours: 40
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447593
  • Credits: 1.25

  N/A

  Provides basic information needed to protect HAZWOPER site workers from health, physical, and biological hazards. This course meets the requirements of OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120 (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response) and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146 (Permit Required Confined Space). Instruction is a combination of both hands-on and classroom instruction.

Select a total of 4.5 credits from these options
• Op Eng Dozer

  50-447-520

  2.25Credit

  80

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 80
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447520
  • Credits: 2.25

  N/A

  Instructs students on the smaller finish dozers. They will learn how to work around obstacles like culverts, manholes, etc. They will be instructed how to work on slopes using the newest technology in automated grading systems. Students will work on the developing of skills to be a finish operator.
• Advanced Grade - Machine Control - Topcon

  50-447-594

  1.25Credit

  40

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 40
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447594
  • Credits: 1.25

  N/A

  Provides training exclusively dedicated to the corresponding GPS Topcon machine control. Instruction will include off setting grade horizontally and vertically from surfaces. You can also expect to create simple designs using the control box as well as recording data for office use.
• Asphalt Paving

  50-447-558

  2.25Credit

  80

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 80
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447558
  • Credits: 2.25

  N/A

  Prepares Operating Engineers to work in the asphalt paving industry by examining the various processes involved in producing a finished product. The class will also demonstrate the processes and introduce the automatic controls used in the industry.
• Op Eng-Lattice Crane

  50-447-532

  2.25Credit

  80

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 80
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447532
  • Credits: 2.25

  N/A

  Instructs students in the pre-op inspection, assembly, setup and use of cranes utilizing lattice boom design. Students also receive instruction in basic rigging, regulations, hoisting processes and multi-line operation.
• Welding Basics

  50-447-548

  1.25Credit

  40

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 40
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447548
  • Credits: 1.25

  N/A

  Focuses on welding safety, equipment set-up and operation, electrode selection, gas selection, and basic metallurgy when welding steel using both stick and wire feed methods. Repair welding with torch set-up and operation, air arc operation, and plasma cutting are also emphasized.
• Advanced Crane

  50-447-524

  2.25Credit

  80

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 80
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447524
  • Credits: 2.25

  N/A

  Instructs students in specializing driving and extraction of piling and sheeting. They will work on standing up hammer and leads, capping piling, battering piling, and students will have the opportunity to drive piling to bearings. They will also be driving and extracting sheeting walls and bearings. Students must have taken the Friction Crane course or have equivalent experience.
• Advanced Grade-Machine Control-Trimble

  50-447-568

  1.25Credit

  40

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 40
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447568
  • Credits: 1.25

  N/A

  Provides training exclusively dedicated to the corresponding GPS Trimble machine control. Instruction will include off-setting grade horizontally and vertically from surfaces. Students can also expect to create simple designs using the control box as well as recording data for office use.
• Adv Electrical/Hydraulic Troubleshooting

  50-447-573

  0.75Credit

  24

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 24
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447573
  • Credits: 0.75

  N/A

  Explores comprehensive techniques for troubleshooting modern control systems on later model equipment such as components, schematics, digital multi-meter use and applied theory. Prior experience & knowledge of basic and electrical hydraulic systems is preferred.
• Part 107 UAV Test Preparation - 32 hours

  50-447-517

  1Credit

  32

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 32
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447517
  • Credits: 1.00

  N/A

  Provides students with a comprehensive look at the use and versatility of Drones on today’s construction projects. After completing this course, you will be able to prepare for your Part 107 Commercial Drone Pilot’s License Test. The primary focus will be on instructing our Operating Engineers in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules and regulations for the safe and responsible use of a sUAS/UAV in the National Airspace System (NAS), according to the guidelines of the PART 107 Remote Pilot Certification Standard. We will discuss drones in construction, how this emerging and growing sector is influencing the jobsite and safety.

• Excavating-Advanced

  50-447-539

  1.25Credit

  40

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 40
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447539
  • Credits: 1.25

  N/A

  Will be offered to operators with previous experience in excavating. Students will study the concepts of efficient cycle times, truck loading, mass excavations, undercutting roadways, and foundation excavations.
• Basic/Telescopic Crane

  50-447-531

  2.25Credit

  80

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 80
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447531
  • Credits: 2.25

  N/A

  Instructs students at introductory level, to hoisting operations with mobile cranes. Key concepts are operator responsibility, principles of operation, terms/definitions and manufacturers' instructions.
• OSHA 30 - Operating Engineers

  50-447-577

  1Credit

  32

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 32
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447577
  • Credits: 1.00

  N/A

  Is a four-day in-depth OSHA safety course. This comprehensive training is designed for safety professionals and provides a variety of in-depth instruction on OSHA Construction Industry Standards for worker health and safety. Meets OSHA Standard CFR 1926.
• Motor Grader-Advanced

  50-447-547

  1.25Credit

  40

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 40
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447547
  • Credits: 1.25

  N/A

  Can be tailored for any level of experience or geared to provide evaluations for more experienced operators. Topics covered include safety aspects, preventive maintenance, operating techniques, and proper procedures for using motor graders in both classroom and hands-on simulations.
• Concrete Pumping

  50-447-591

  1.25Credit

  40

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 40
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447591
  • Credits: 1.25

  N/A

  Includes topics of general requirements, PPE, setting a pre-pour plan, selecting the right size and type of equipment required to make the pour, the concrete pumping system, and where to locate the pump in the safest position.
• Advanced Grade-Business Center

  50-447-571

  1.25Credit

  40

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 40
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447571
  • Credits: 1.25

  N/A

  Is designed for the foreman/lead operator with the computer experience necessary to progress to the next level, this course will focus on understanding work flow guides and the functions of Business Center—HCE.
• Op Eng-Basic Paving

  50-447-515

  2.25Credit

  80

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 80
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447515
  • Credits: 2.25

  N/A

  Instructs students on the basics of paving and patching roadways and parking lots. Focuses on the safe and productive operation of pavers, compactors, motor graders, and other related paving equipment.
• Load Charts & Regulations

  50-447-546

  1.25Credit

  40

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 40
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447546
  • Credits: 1.25

  N/A

  Is a one week course with the goal of informing the student in the OSHA/ASME hoisting and mobile crane regulations and the intricacies of the proper use of various crane manufacturers capacity charts. Students can expect to spend a great deal of time using various charts to calculate capacities.
• Dozer-Advanced

  50-447-538

  1.25Credit

  40

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 40
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447538
  • Credits: 1.25

  N/A

  Will be offered to operators with previous experience in Dozer. Operators will study advanced techniques of finish dozer work such as sloping, gravel spreading, curb grading, and ditching.
• Trimble-Business Center

  50-447-525

  1.25Credit

  40

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 40
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447525
  • Credits: 1.25

  N/A

  Provides the basics of creating a design model for use in G.P.S. guided machines and rovers, as well as how to construct a simple takeoff.  This skilled training will include how to import and export site and road projects into several GNSS systems.

• Op Eng-Basic Excavating 40hr

  50-447-510

  1.25Credit

  40

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 40
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447510
  • Credits: 1.25

  N/A

  Instructs students on the basics of excavating dirt for building construction, underground utilities and sitework projects.  Focuses on the safe and productive operation of backhoes, front-end loader, and other related excavating equipment.

• Scraper-Advanced

  50-447-545

  1.25Credit

  40

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 40
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447545
  • Credits: 1.25

  N/A

  Involves advanced techniques in sloping, grading, and ditching, as well as time spent working on the skills needed to be a finish operator.
• Directional Drilling

  50-447-560

  2.25Credit

  80

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 80
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447560
  • Credits: 2.25

  N/A

  Explains that working this horizontal drilling (HDD) program as a new hire with little to no experience is the first step a worker can make to become successful in this field. This HDD program entails drilling safety, set up, operation of equipment, and also detailed knowledge of how each area works. There is extensive hands-on training during this course.
• Op Eng-Basic Excavating

  50-447-513

  2.25Credit

  80

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 80
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447513
  • Credits: 2.25

  N/A

  Instructs students on the basics of excavating dirt for building construction, underground utilities and sitework projects. Focuses on the safe and productive operation of backhoes, front-end loader, and other related excavating equipment.
• Demolition

  50-447-576

  1.25Credit

  40

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 40
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447576
  • Credits: 1.25

  N/A

  Trains operators to discover how to recognize hazardous material, locate utilities, and read work plans while covering site specific safety necessary to razing a structure. Students will prepare and dismantle structures of varying materials (concrete, steel, wood, etc.) to manageable sizes for disposal or redistribution.
• Advanced Grade - Rover

  50-447-570

  1.25Credit

  40

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 40
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447570
  • Credits: 1.25

  N/A

  Provides training exclusively on the corresponding Topcon or Trimble equipped rovers. Training will revolve around the data collector and the different ways to lay out projects and record data. The Topcon course will utilize Topcon 3-D Office. The Trimble course will utilize Trimble Office Synchronizer and SCS Report Utility.
• Scraper

  50-447-512

  2.25Credit

  80

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 80
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447512
  • Credits: 2.25

  N/A

  Instructs students on the basics of moving dirt on road building and sitework projects. Focuses on the safe and productive operation of bulldozers, motor scrapers, compactors and other related earthmoving equipment.
• Op Eng Motor Grader

  50-447-521

  2.25Credit

  80

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 80
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447521
  • Credits: 2.25

  N/A

  Instructs students on working with the newest automated control systems and working with finish graders.
• Scraper 40-Hours

  50-447-549

  1.25Credit

  40

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 40
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447549
  • Credits: 1.25

  N/A

  Introduces operators to basic scraper applications using single engine scrapers, push tractors and related support equipment. Instruction will include equipment controls, safe operation, jobsite navigation and key communication processes.
• Clearing and Grubbing

  50-447-518

  1.25Credit

  40

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 40
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447518
  • Credits: 1.25

  N/A

  Introduces students to the Department of Transportation’s 201 Clearing and Grubbing and 202 Roadside Clearing Standard Specifications. These Specifications include cutting, removal and disposal of trees, brush, roots and stumps within the clearing limits of a jobsite. Curriculum covered will include equipment maintenance, safety, mathematical concepts, conservational methods and operational techniques. Specific operational techniques may include tree felling, forestry mulching, chipping, grinding, transportation and stump removal.

• Intro to Hydrovacing

  50-447-508

  1.25Credit

  40

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 40
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447508
  • Credits: 1.25

  N/A

  Provides comprehensive training on truck components, safety protocols, and field operations. Participants gain in-depth knowledge of Hydrovac equipment, including its mechanical systems and proper maintenance practices. The course emphasizes workplace safety, covering hazard identification, protective measures, and regulatory compliance. Hands-on field training ensures attendees are prepared to operate Hydrovac trucks efficiently and safely in various excavation projects.

• Adv Elect/Hyd Troubleshooting - 40hr

  50-447-509

  1.25Credit

  40

  0

  N/A

  N/A
  • Instructional Hours: 40
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 50447509
  • Credits: 1.25

  N/A

  Covers comprehensive techniques for troubleshooting modern control systems on later model equipment such as components, schematics, digital multimeter use and applied theory.