Massachusetts is one of the few states that require a hoisting license to operate heavy machinery. It’s also the most heavily enforced. It’s come to the point where most people won’t even allow you in their machine without a license, as you are both liable. If you didn’t know you can receive a fine for letting an unlicensed individual use your machine, now you do…
If you're ready to get your Massachusetts hoisting license, the first step is passing the Mass. Hoisting license test, which is an in-person exam held monthly at a few locations across the state.
About the Exam
The MA Hoisting License exam is a multiple-choice test comprised of roughly 40 questions. You must score a 70% or better.
The fact is, the MA hoisting exam is difficult. It’s a mixture of state law and equipment-specific questions. Since many of the questions ask detailed questions about state law, even the most experienced operators find it challenging.
Hearing this, most would agree it’s a good idea to study for the exam. If you fail the exam, you have to wait 60 days before you can retake the exam AND pay another $75 per exam.
MA Hoisting Study Materials
Using a search engine won’t yield any useful study materials. There are free flashcards online that someone created, but those won’t get you far; each exam is different and chances are you’ll be reading flashcards for the wrong exam. Not to mention, these flashcards only cover a portion of what's on the exam, and they are unreliable and outdated.
Therefore, taking a comprehensive exam prep course specific to your desired license(s) is certainly your best option. While most people assume the state approves curriculums offered by training companies, this is not the truth. That means you are left to the training companies' interpretation of the exam, and more importantly, their training style.
Here are a couple of areas covered on the exam …
State Law
As mentioned above, even some of the most experienced operators end up failing the exam, because while they are well-versed in how to use a machine, they get tripped up on the state law questions. This is a problem because state law questions account for 50% of the hoisting exam... and most of it reads like Old English.
Here is an example of a question you would see on an exam:
Q: What governs hoisting in the state of Massachusetts?
A: MGL, Chapter 146
Why would anyone know that? This is where our class shines bright, because we break this all down into layman’s terms, explain to you how the questions will be structured, and then explain the answer. You walk away from our class feeling educated and confident.
Equipment Specific
The other 50% of the exam covers the specific equipment you are looking to operate. These questions will range anywhere from the parts of the equipment, to safe operation of said equipment. While some of these questions may come off as more commonsensical, they will be worded strangely. When writing the exam, the state looks to maintain between a 68%-72% pass rate. Once that pass rate goes over 72%, they rewrite the exam, making the questions more difficult. We work closely with past students who have recently taken the exam to gain as much insight as possible as to how current exam questions are worded.
Exam Day
Sitting for the exam will be a little nerve-wracking. You may not think so, but most people report being nervous once they’ve arrived. So we spend some time telling you what to expect on that day. Small things like what to bring, such as your own pencils. Big things like what you can expect from the inspectors, such as taking an oath at the beginning of the exam. Convenient things like don’t bring your cell phone, or else it goes in a box with everyone else’s. After taking our class, from exam questions to the exam process, you will be prepared for all of it, and you'll feel more relaxed.
Scheduling your MA Hoisting Exam
To receive an exam, you must submit an application. A part of our service is helping you schedule your exam. We go beyond just providing you with the necessary education, so all the guess work is no longer a burden. Alongside this application, you must submit an ID and a DOT Medical Certificate. If you do not possess a DOT Medical Certificate, an added leg to our classroom offering is that we provide on-site DOT physicals at a discounted rate. Our goal is to make the entire process of getting licensed as simple as possible.
Registering for a Mass Hoisting Class
If you're ready to take the first step in obtaining your Massachusetts hoisting license, view our class schedule today. Prefer online learning? We also offer online MA hoisting exam prep courses through our sister company, At Leisure Contractor Licensing.
