Tower Crane – CADUK Skills Academy LTD

How the assessment works

This Tower Crane NVQ is completely evidence-based. Instead of taking another test, you demonstrate how you operate the tower crane day to day by uploading photos and short videos of your pre-start checks, lift set-up, load handling, and shut-down procedures.

You’ll also include site paperwork such as lift plans, inspection sheets, RAMS, and maintenance or defect logs. A brief witness statement from a supervisor or lift supervisor who has seen you operating the crane is also helpful. You can add everything to our secure online e-Portfolio whenever it suits you.

Your assessor will review each upload, provide feedback, and let you know if anything else is needed. Once all the evidence has been accepted, you’ll book a one-to-one video call. During this discussion, the assessor will ask you to talk through what you’ve submitted and to explain the procedures and safety rules you follow. It feels more like a structured chat than a test and is usually completed in a single session.

After the call, your assessor will sign off the NVQ and submit it for certification. Around a week later, we’ll email you an electronic copy of your certificate so you can upgrade your CPCS or NPORS card.

No classroom time, no site visits, and no written tests—just clear, practical proof of the work you already do.

What sort of questions will I be asked?

Below are some examples of the kinds of questions an assessor may ask during the professional-discussion part of this Level 2 NVQ:

Assessor: How do you make sure the tower crane is stable and ready before beginning a lift?

Learner: I follow the lift plan and make sure the crane has been erected and commissioned properly. I check the weather conditions, inspect the crane for any defects, and confirm that the slew brake, hoist brake, and limiters are working. I also make sure communication with the slinger or signaller is clear before any lifting begins.

Assessor: Which personal protective equipment do you wear on this site and why?

Learner: I wear a hard hat to protect against falling objects, a high-vis vest so I’m visible to others, and safety boots for foot protection. If I’m climbing the crane, I use a harness where required. I also use gloves when handling equipment and ear defenders if I’m working near noisy plant.

Assessor: How does following a method statement help keep lifting operations productive?

Learner: The method statement outlines the lifting sequence, roles of each team member, communication methods, and load paths. By following it, we avoid confusion, minimise delays, and reduce the risk of mistakes or unsafe actions. It also helps keep the lift within the programme and allows other trades to work around us safely.

What kind of evidence will I need?

Think of evidence as anything that shows you operating the tower crane safely and following normal site rules.

Visual proof:

Clear phone photos and short videos of your pre-use checks, setting up the crane (including slew and hoist limits), lifting operations, slewing, load placement, and shut-down procedures. You could also include clips showing how you communicate with the lifting team or respond to radio instructions.

Site paperwork:

Routine documents that include your name or signature and show you're following company procedures—such as pre-start inspection sheets, crane logbooks, signed lift plans or method statements, RAMS, maintenance records, and lifting team briefings. Defect sheets and daily checks are also valuable.

Witness statement:

A short note from a lift supervisor or site manager confirming they have observed you operating the tower crane competently on a live site.

General safety and productivity:

Any evidence that shows you're contributing to a safe, well-organised site. Examples include hazard or near-miss reports you've submitted, toolbox-talk attendance records, briefings you’ve delivered to the lifting team, or communication logs (radio records, emails) showing how you’ve helped resolve lifting conflicts or managed site access during crane operations.

How long does it take?

The timing is largely up to you. Your assessor can only start reviewing your portfolio once you’ve uploaded your evidence, so the sooner everything is in the e-Portfolio, the sooner the process moves forward.

Some learners upload all their photos, videos and paperwork in a couple of days, schedule their discussion straight away and finish in less than one week. Others spread it out over several weeks because of shifts or site access.

In short, the pace is in your hands—submit your evidence promptly, respond to feedback quickly, and you can complete the NVQ just as fast.

What happens when I apply?

Click the “Book your NVQ” button and you’ll be taken to our short online profiling form. The form collects the details we need to register you and asks you to attach a clear photo of the front and back of your CPCS or NPORS card.

When the form arrives, one of our assessors phones you for a brief chat. The call confirms that the NVQ is a good fit—that you have the right skills, site access, machine availability, and can gather the required evidence.

If the assessor is happy, we email an invoice. The profiling call is free and there’s no obligation: if you decide not to go ahead, simply ignore the invoice. If you do want to proceed, pay the invoice and we will enrol you and pass your details to the assessor the same day, so you can start collecting evidence straight away.

Can I claim the CITB grant for this NVQ?

Yes, if you are a CITB-registered employer. This NVQ is eligible for the short-qualification grant of £600 (claimable on completion by the employer).

Only the company (not the individual learner) can make the claim, and the application must be submitted to CITB within 52 weeks of the achievement date.

If you are a sole trader or limited company already on the CITB register, you can still claim; private individuals who are not levy-registered cannot.

To confirm eligibility, call the CITB Levy & Grants team on 0344 994 4455 (Mon–Fri, 08:00–18:00) or email levy.grant@citb.co.uk to confirm your registration and grant status.

Is there a multi category discount?

Yes. If you take more than one Level 2 Plant Operations NVQ with us at the same time, we knock £100 off each additional category.

• £745 + VAT for the first NVQ
• £645 + VAT for every extra NVQ booked together