MEWP Train-the-Trainer Certification

MEWP Train-the-Trainer certifies an experienced operator to teach others, giving your organization its own in-house training capability instead of relying on an outside provider every time you need to certify someone new.

Over one day, participants work through hazard identification, legislative requirements, pre-operational inspections, and safe operating practices, all aligned with CSA B354.2-01 and B354.4-02 standards. Once certified, they walk away with Instructor Portal access and everything needed to start training their employees right away.

Yes. MEWP (Mobile Elevating Work Platform) is the standardized industry term now used by safety organizations like CSA to describe this equipment, and it includes what many still call an aerial lift or aerial work platform, along with scissor lifts and boom lifts.

You may also see it referred to as an elevated work platform, cherry picker, or manlift. Whatever term your organization uses, this Train-the-Trainer course applies.

Individual Aerial Lift certification qualifies one person to operate the equipment. Train-the-Trainer qualifies that person to teach and certify other employees at your organization. Certifying one or two operators usually calls for the individual course; building a repeatable in-house program calls for Train-the-Trainer.

Think of this course as the one for the person who’ll run your MEWP training program, not the person who just needs to be certified to operate the equipment.

It suits organizations that would rather train employees themselves, on their own timeline. This avoids having to schedule around an outside provider, especially where turnover or hiring volume makes repeat certification a regular need.

Eligibility for this course rests on four things:

• Completion of Tools and Techniques for Adult Learning
• At least 100 hours operating an Aerial Lift or mobile elevating work platform, or a certification proving it
• A valid Working at Heights certificate that’s CPO-approved if you train in construction
• An understanding of Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations

Once your trainer is certified, your organization stops depending on an outside schedule to keep people compliant. Training happens when and where you need it, can be tailored to your actual equipment and site conditions, and remains consistent throughout the full three-year certification window, which matters most for organizations with frequent hiring or high turnover.

Your MEWP Trainer certification stays valid for three years from the date you complete the course. That three-year cycle keeps your in-house program tied to OSG’s current standards, so recertifying periodically is part of staying compliant, not just a formality.

This certification is built around Ontario’s specific regulatory requirements, so it doesn’t automatically transfer if your organization operates in another province. Provinces set their own health and safety rules, and training completed under Ontario’s framework may not satisfy a different province’s requirements.

Public online sessions bring you together with participants from other organizations, a good fit if you’re only certifying one trainer. Private sessions, on-site or online, are just for your organization and are better suited to certifying several employees at once.

Plan for a full day: the public session runs from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Booking privately gives you room to set a different schedule if that timing doesn’t work.

You won’t need to install anything; a web browser is all it takes to join. What we do recommend:

• A laptop or desktop running Chrome (phones and tablets, including iPads, aren’t supported yet)
• A stable internet connection
• A way to hear the facilitator
• A webcam and mic for the interactive parts, nice to have but not required

Full technical specs are on our Distance Learning FAQ page.

Anyone you’ve registered gets an email at least a day before the course start date with everything they need to log into the virtual classroom. No email showing up? Our Client Success team can help. Reach them at 1-800-815-9980 or info@osg.ca, Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm EST.

There’s no cap. Once your trainer earns MEWP Trainer certification, they can train as many employees as your organization needs. The only thing to keep current is the Train-the-Trainer certification itself, which needs renewing every three years.

Certification is attached to the individual, not the role, so it doesn’t transfer if your trainer moves on. Continuing in-house training means enrolling someone new in the Aerial Lift Train-the-Trainer program.

One enrollment, one person. Training more than one employee means registering a seat for each of them.

These courses and their materials are for your organization’s own use and aren’t available for resale. Unopened items can typically be returned to OSG within 30 days of delivery. Contact us for the specifics on our Train-the-Trainer kit terms.

Two ways to get more: reach out to OSG directly (or your account manager) to place an order, or log into your Instructor Portal and print copies yourself on demand.