Additional Information
Backhoe instructor Ted Casey recommends that people interested in excavating
and loading go and watch operations at a few construction sites. More than
once, people have quit his college course when they find out they are going
to get dirty.
Look in the phone book to find the names of construction companies operating
in your area and ask if they will allow you to observe their work.
Those in the industry say education will be increasingly important over
the next decade. Knowledge of computerized machinery is expected to be increasingly
important.
Most backhoe operators are trained on the job, but some colleges and unions
now offer courses on operating backhoes.
Make sure a state or national agency certifies the program. Check out your
school with the Better Business Bureau before paying for instruction.
Ensure the program provides an adequate amount of instruction. Casey's
college course lasts 30 hours, and this is considered the absolute minimum
amount of training time a person needs. He says that after 90 hours, a person
might be considered proficient in backhoe operation.
Prerequisites for training programs may vary. Typically, applicants must
be at least 19, hold a motor vehicle driver's license and have completed Grade
10.
Trade unions, such as the International Union of Operating Engineers and
the Associated General Contractors of America, offer information on apprenticeship
programs. Check your phone book for local phone numbers, or visit their website
for a union near you.
Apprenticeships for operating engineers last three or four years, says
the International Union of Operating Engineers.