Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO)

In the Heavy Equipment Operator program, you will gain the knowledge, skills and certifications needed to operate heavy equipment safely and confidently in real‑world work environments.

Equipment Training & Certification

You will earn Power Mobile Equipment (PME) certification on three pieces of heavy equipment through a blend of classroom instruction, simulator training and hands‑on experience on an active job site. Equipment options include:

• Mandatory certification on the rock truck
• Training on two additional pieces of equipment, selected from:
  • Grader
  • Dozer
  • Front‑end loader
  • Excavator

Great Plains College does its best to match students with their preferred equipment, specific assignments depend on availability.

Hands‑On Training

Hands‑on training is a key part of the Heavy Equipment Operator program. Students gain practical experience operating equipment on real job sites while contributing to community and industry projects. This applied learning helps build confidence, develop job‑ready skills and reflect real workplace expectations. Training projects have included road work, land clearing for a skate park and a community parks, construction of a retention pond for a soccer field, and work at a mine site.

Safety & Industry Certifications

In addition to earning PME certification on three pieces of equipment, you will also complete a number of industry‑recognized safety certifications, including:

• Safety Construction Orientation Training (SCOT)
• Ground Disturbance (Global)
• Fall Protection
• Fire Extinguishing
• First Aid / CPR / AED

This comprehensive combination of classroom learning, simulator use, hands‑on training and safety certification prepares graduates for employment across multiple sectors, including construction, energy and agriculture.