Who Can Train You to Operate an Aerial Work Platform (mewp)?

Operating an aerial work platform (AWP) – also known as a MEWP (Mobile Elevated Work Platform) – requires more than just climbing in and pushing buttons. OSHA has strict rules about who can operate this equipment and who can train you to do it safely. If you’re asking, “Who’s actually qualified let alone Certified to train someone on or about a boom lift or scissor lift?”, you’re not alone—and you’re asking the right question.

Let’s break it down so you don’t get stuck with a fake Certificate or worse – unsafe training.

What Is an Aerial Work Platform (AWP) or (mewp)?

An aerial work platform is any lift device that allows workers to perform tasks at height – think boom lifts, scissor lifts, cherry pickers, and other elevated access tools. They’re essential on job sites but also come with serious safety risks if used improperly.

Who Is Responsible for Training AWP (mewp) Operators?

According to OSHA, it’s your employer’s responsibility to ensure you’re trained properly before you ever set foot in a lift. That training must be provided by someone qualified (hopefully Certified) meaning they have both the knowledge and experience to teach safe operation and/or maintenance practices for the specific type of lift you’ll be using.

What Does OSHA Say About Aerial Lift “USER” Training?

OSHA doesn’t mince words. If you operate an AWP (MEWP), you must be trained and evaluated. That means:

Understanding equipment limitations and hazards
Learning safe operation techniques
Performing hands-on evaluations
Receiving written documentation of completion

Anything less is non-compliant and unsafe.

Authorized Training Providers for AWP (mewp) Certification

Training can be delivered in-house by a qualified (hopefully Certified) trainer or through a third-party company.

The key? The trainer must meet OSHA’s definition of “qualified,” and the training must include both classroom and practical elements.

Some reputable certification sources include:

In-house employer Certified trainers (if qualified)
Certified Industry training centers
Authorized & Certified dealers
OSHA outreach programs

Types of AWP (mewp) Equipment is Covered in Training

Certification typically includes one or more of the following:

Scissor lifts
Boom lifts (articulating and telescopic)
Push-around vertical lifts
Truck-mounted aerial lifts

IMPORTANT: Make sure your training unit(s) matches the equipment you’ll be Trained to use. (ie: Genie to Genie, JLG to JLG, Skyjack to Skyjack and Snorkel to Snorkel). There is no such thing as a – “Master User Training Program” or thinking “One Training Class Fits ALL”! This does NOT exist..

How Long Is AWP (mewp) Certification Valid?

OSHA doesn’t set a strict expiration, but most employers require re-certification every 3–5 years, or sooner if:

The operator is involved in an incident
New equipment is introduced
Work conditions change significantly

Get Certified: What to Expect from the Training Process

A solid training course includes:

Classroom instruction (or virtual equivalent)
Hands-on evaluation
A final competency test
A printed certificate of completion (or digital badge) by a Factory and Certified Trainer

When in doubt, ask for proof that the trainer meets OSHA’s qualifications or Certifications. NOTE: there are only 4 – Levels of Training Competence – #1.Certified, #2.Qualified, #3 Competent and #4 Incompetent.

The Harsh Reality of AWP (mewp) Certification in the U.S.

Back in the day, there were 75 U.S.-based Aerial Work Platform (AWP) manufacturers. Today? We’re down to four major players: JLG, Genie, Skyjack, and Snorkel. These companies can, if they choose, certify individuals through factory training programs for their own equipment.

But here’s the problem –

What about the other 70 manufacturers and their countless models? For example, one now-defunct manufacturer, Marklift, had 37 different models—none of which are alike. Where is the training for those?

Trainers Currently Are Being Forced to “Make Do”

Today’s trainers are often stuck using “cobbled-together” in-house programs to cover machines they’ve:

Never seen before
Never operated before
Possess no ORIGINAL Factory documentation

Yes, most original AWP (mewp) manufacturers are long gone. Hence most trainers assume that NO ORIGINAL reliable information or documentation exists. (Heaven forbid anyone invest in the correct documentation… assuming it doesn’t exist). However, it does – Aerial Specialists possess most ALL ORIGINAL Sales Literature and printed manuals for most ALL Units built 1970 – 2000! Therefore, most ALL equipment specs (HEIGHT, WEIGHT, LOAD CAPACITIES, ETC) is obtainable for training purposes allowing trainers to provide a CORRECT and proper training to be provided..

So moving forward we Ask these Tough Questions:

Where are our industry-wide, certifiable AWP (mewp) training schools?
Who holds the True Knowledge to train today’s technicians?
When will this be addressed publicly?
Why has this issue been ignored while 95% of U.S. manufacturers have gone defunct?
Where is the technical training supposed to happen?
How do we fix it? (Answer: ASK!)
What should be taught? (Answer: EVERYTHING!)

Sadly, here’s the Brutal Truth:

NO one is actually “across the board” Certified. Don’t kid yourself.
NO one can be “Certified” if the Trainer is not “Certified”
There are NO “Across the Board” Certifiable training facilities
NO “Across the Board” Certifiable instructors
NO “Across the Board” Certifiable curriculum
The independent AWP (mewp) dealership network collapsed in YR-2000 – from 7,500 two decades ago to just approx. ~ 400 today

So ask yourself: Is this all a joke?

Because while the industry keeps pretending certification is standardized, the end-user is the one left holding the bag – and putting their life on the line.

It’s all a mirage. Think about it.

Written by: Craig Ihde – AWP industry veteran with over 40 years of real-world experience training, servicing, and working with aerial lift equipment. Craig brings unmatched insight into the realities of certification and safety in the lift equipment world and is the owner of Aerial Specialists, Inc. USA