An official website of Washington State government
West Coast Training
Last updated: 01/2026
QUALITY HEAVY EQUIPMENT TRAINING SINCE 1959 Since 1959, West Coast Training has been working with students to help them realize their ambitions and increase their earning potential with heavy equipment certification programs. Our History Our owner, Jeff Woolever, spent 20 years flying combat patrol and reconnaissance missions in the U.S. Navy. When he left, he realized he didn’t want to be tied down to a desk or trapped in a cubicle, so he decided to pursue a second career, one where he could work outdoors—heavy equipment operation. Jeff went to West Coast Training to get his career started. One thing led to another, and he ended up buying the school himself. As a heavy equipment operator, Jeff quickly realized that many schools in the country weren’t adequately preparing students for a long and rewarding career. He felt obliged to create a different kind of school, one that focused on giving the student a thorough, rigorous, and focused education. From Jeff’s perspective, this kind of education was the best way to make the student’s career as rewarding as it could be. JEFF WOOLEVER’S APPROACH Jeff focused on using the best curriculum, hiring the best instructors, and maintaining a fleet of high-quality heavy equipment to run on a dedicated, all-weather training site. “I see the tremendous opportunity for well-trained men and women in the Heavy Construction field who want to play a part in helping motivated students achieve success,” says Woolever. “My team of trainers and I know and love the Heavy Construction Industry. It has been good to us, and we work hard to see that each student gets as much out of the West Coast experience as is possible. For us, the ultimate test of our effectiveness is their employment success.” OUR SCHOOL CREDENTIALS West Coast Training is licensed by the State of Washington and is an Accredited Training Unit of the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER). We also
West Coast Training at a glance
Private career school-cert/dipl
Academics at West Coast Training
Programs
|
Program name
|
Location
|
Length
|
ETPL
|
|---|---|---|---|
| NCCCO Cranes and Heavy Equipment Operator Certificate | 3 Months | Yes | |
| Heavy Equipment Operator Certificate | 8 Weeks | Yes | |
| NCCCO Mobile Crane Operator Certificate | 4 Weeks | Yes | |
| NCCCO Crane and Rigger Certificate | 8 Weeks | Yes | |
| NCCCO Crane/Rigger, Heavy Equipment Operator Certificate | 16 Weeks | Yes |
|
Program name: NCCCO Cranes and Heavy Equipment Operator Length: 3 Months ETPL: Yes |
|
Program name: Heavy Equipment Operator Length: 8 Weeks ETPL: Yes |
|
Program name: NCCCO Mobile Crane Operator Length: 4 Weeks ETPL: Yes |
|
Program name: NCCCO Crane and Rigger Length: 8 Weeks ETPL: Yes |
|
Program name: NCCCO Crane/Rigger, Heavy Equipment Operator Length: 16 Weeks ETPL: Yes |
Legal
Accreditation
Does not apply