Whether you are a contractor looking to renew your Massachusetts hoisting license, or you are just starting to obtain the many licenses you will need to land more work, you will undoubtedly run into the following two questions:
- Who is required to have a MA hoisting license?
- How do you obtain a MA hoisting license?
Starting with the first question, let’s talk about who needs a hoisting license.
Who is Required to Have a MA Hoisting License?
There is plenty of confusion and false information circulating over when it's required to hold a Massachusetts Hoisting License. Here is some clarification.

-The Regulation-
"Hoisting Machinery" is defined within MA state regulations (seen in the image below). It states "higher than ten feet, and either the capability of lifting loads greater than 500 pounds or the capacity of the bucket exceeds 1/4 cubic yards". HOWEVER ... This statement is meant as a residual clause, a catch-all to cover any remaining equipment not specified in the sentence prior. The sentence prior specifically declares "excavators, backhoes, front end loaders, uniloaders, skid loader, skid steer loaders, compact loaders or similar devices, lattice cranes, derricks, cranes with or without wire rope; all fork lifts, powered industrial lift trucks, overhead hoists (underhung), overhead cranes, underhung cranes, monorail cranes, lifting devices, cableways, powered platforms". If you are operating any of the equipment stated in this sentence, you MUST hold a valid hoisting license.
-What's New-
Additionally, it does NOT matter what type of attachment you have on the machine; it still requires a license. Previously, the Hoisting FAQ section stated that certain attachments nullified the need for a hoisting license if the attachment was not capable of holding a load. These FAQs are now considered Null & Void by the DPL. So regardless of what you are doing, if the machine is specified or described in the Hoisting Machinery definition, you must have a license to be at the operator controls while the machine is running.
-520 CMR 6.01(2)-
-Myths About Who Needs to Hold a Massachusetts Hoisting License-
In some cases, you might falsely believe that the hoisting machinery you’re operating doesn’t require a license.
- Private Property: You might assume you do not need a license in your own yard. The reality is that you are required to hold a hoisting license—even to operate on private property.
- Supervised: Another misconception is that a hoisting license is not necessary if you are operating equipment in the presence of someone else who has a hoisting license. Massachusetts requirements are clear: No matter who else holds a license, the moment you operate hoisting machinery, you need one of your own. Each person operating needs to carry this license, and you need to renew it on time.
- Common Misunderstanding: People commonly believe that all three of the following criteria have to be true in order for the equipment you operate to require a MA Hoisting License:
- Capable of hoisting a load higher than 10 ft.
- Capable of hoisting more than 500 lbs.
- Bucket capacity exceeds ¼ cubic yards
However, the regulation actually reads:
- Capable of hoisting a load higher than 10 ft -AND-
- a. Capable of hoisting more than 500 lbs. -OR-
- b. Bucket capacity exceeds ¼ cubic yards
So, if #1 is true, then you only need either a. or b. to be true to require a license.
How Do I Obtain a Massachusetts Hoisting License?
For those who need to carry a hoisting license in Massachusetts, the next natural question is, how do I obtain one? The Massachusetts government has dictated the following in regards to obtaining licensure:
“To obtain a license, hoisting operators must be 18 years old, complete an application, and successfully pass an exam covering all working parts of the hoisting machinery, safe operating practices, hand signals, and inspection procedures.”
The MA hoisting license exam is difficult, so it’s a good idea to enroll in a course that adequately prepares you.
If you're wondering how you can get a hoisting license in Massachusetts, Mass Hoisting Training and our sister company, At Leisure Contractor Licensing, are here to help. We offer both classroom and online exam prep courses to meet your schedule and learning style. Our course curriculums cater specifically to the Massachusetts hoisting exam, and have been developed from decades of experience by industry experts.
M.G.L. c. 146 § 53 states that anyone who will operate derricks, cableways, machinery used for discharging cargoes, and temporary elevator cars used on excavation work or used for hoisting building material, when the motive power to operate such machinery is mechanical and other than steam, including but not limited to excavators, backhoes, front end loaders, uniloaders, skid loader, skid steer loaders, compact loaders or similar devices, lattice cranes, derricks, cranes with or without wire rope; all fork lifts, powered industrial lift trucks, overhead hoists (underhung), overhead cranes, underhung cranes, monorail cranes, lifting devices, cableways, and powered platforms, or any other equipment that has the minimum capability of hoisting the load higher than 10 feet, and either the capability of lifting loads greater than 500 pounds or the capacity of the bucket exceeds 1/4 cubic yards must hold a license from the Department. See 520 CMR 6.01.
You must be 18 years of age or older.
Yes. Provided that rental entity has an approved a short-term rental program, the hoisting machinery regulations allow individuals renting compact hoisting machinery to obtain a temporary permit from the short-term rental entity for a fourteen (14) consecutive day rental period upon completion of the entity’s training program. See 520 CMR 6.03.
No. M.G.L. c. 146, § 53 provides an exemption for hoisting machinery used exclusively for agricultural purposes.
Yes, we offer a group discount.
- Groups of 5 or more may receive $25 off per person.
- Groups of 10 or more may receive $50 off per person.
We also offer a $50 multi-class discount for individuals taking both our 1C/2A & 1B/3A classes.
Discounts will automatically apply in shopping cart if you are ordering all items at the same time.
Yes. A Massachusetts ID is accepted when applying for a hoisting license.