8-Piece Heavy Equipment Training Program

More Machines. More Skills. More Opportunity.

Train on eight pieces of heavy equipment in our intensive 8-week, 320-hour heavy equipment operator training program, built to develop the practical skills contractors expect on the jobsite.

8 Machines
8 Weeks
320 Training Hours
$15,500 Course Investment
THE COMPLETE HEAVY EQUIPMENT PROGRAM

8 MACHINES. ONE COMPLETE PROGRAM.

Build experience across eight pieces of heavy equipment used for excavation, grading, loading, material handling and site work. In the 8-week program, you don't choose a single machine—you train across all eight.

01 Bulldozer used for heavy equipment training

Bulldozer

Grading Earthmoving Site Prep

02 Excavator used for excavation training

Excavator

Trenching Digging Excavation

03 Backhoe used for utility and excavation training

Backhoe

Utilities Excavation Loading

04 Front-end loader used for loading and material handling training

Front-End Loader

Loading Stockpiles Material Handling

05 Skid steer used for grading and attachment training

Skid Steer

Grading Attachments Material Handling

06 Telehandler used for lifting and material placement training

Telehandler

Load Charts Lifting Material Placement

07 Roller used for compaction training

Roller

Compaction Lift Thickness Density

08 Utility tractor used for site work training

Utility Tractor

Site Work Material Movement Attachments

YOU DON'T CHOOSE ONE.
YOU TRAIN ON ALL EIGHT.
Different machines require different controls, techniques and judgment. Training across the full equipment lineup gives you more ways to contribute when you reach the jobsite.
BUILT FOR THE JOBSITE

MORE THAN JUST SEAT TIME.

Learning to operate heavy equipment takes more than learning the controls. The 8-week heavy equipment operator training program combines jobsite knowledge, machine instruction and hands-on operating so you understand both how to do the work and why it's done that way.

OPERATOR TRAINING JOURNEY
01
LEARN IT

Build the Foundation

Learn the safety, terminology, construction math, grade concepts and jobsite fundamentals behind the work.

02
SEE IT

Understand the Task

See operating techniques, jobsite applications and common mistakes before putting those concepts to work on the equipment.

03
OPERATE IT

Put It Into Practice

Operate real heavy equipment and develop control, precision and confidence through repetition and hands-on operating.

04
PROVE IT

Demonstrate the Skill

Training is performance-based. Students must demonstrate the required operating skills—not simply complete the hours.

KNOWLEDGE BEHIND THE CONTROLS

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ALONG THE WAY

Classroom instruction supports hands-on heavy equipment training with the practical knowledge operators use on real jobsites.

01
JOBSITE SAFETY

Work Smart.
Work Safe.

Learn the safety practices and communication operators are expected to understand before work begins.

JSA Pre-Op Inspections OSHA 10 PPE Hand Signals Hydraulic Safety
02
GRADE & CONSTRUCTION MATH

Understand
the Numbers.

Build the math and grade knowledge used in excavation, earthmoving and site preparation.

Cut & Fill Grade Stakes Lasers & GPS Site Layout 3-4-5 Rule Excavation Math Cubic Yards Cycle Times
03
SOILS & SITE WORK

Read the
Jobsite.

Learn how soil, plans, grade and site conditions affect the work performed by the operator.

Soil Types Soil Testing Civil Drawings Trenching Slopes & Benching MUTCD
04
MACHINE APPLICATION

Know More Than
the Controls.

Learn how heavy equipment is used to complete real jobsite tasks safely and efficiently.

Grading Trenching Truck Loading Compaction Attachments Load Charts
HEO Academy heavy equipment student standing beside training equipment
SKILL BUILDS THROUGH REPETITION
CONTROL
ACCURACY
CONFIDENCE
320 HOURS OF TRAINING
BUILT THROUGH REPETITION

YOU LEARN BY
DOING THE WORK.

Operating skills are built through practice. Students spend time on real heavy equipment, repeating jobsite tasks and improving control, accuracy and confidence along the way.

REAL EQUIPMENT. REAL DIRT. REAL PRACTICE.
CREDENTIALS YOU CAN CARRY FORWARD

PROVE WHAT YOU CAN DO.

Heavy equipment operator training should leave you with more than seat time. Students who successfully complete the 8-week program earn credentials that reflect both equipment proficiency and jobsite safety training.

HEO Academy operator certification plate for eight pieces of heavy equipment
PERFORMANCE-BASED

HEO Academy
Operator Certification

Earned by demonstrating safe, capable operation on the equipment—not simply by completing the scheduled training hours.

Equipment proficiency Jobsite readiness Performance evaluated
JOBSITE SAFETY
INCLUDED

OSHA 10

Construction safety training covering essential jobsite hazards and safe work practices.

INDUSTRY SAFETY
INCLUDED

MSHA

Mine-safety training covering safety expectations around heavy-equipment operations.

EMERGENCY READINESS
INCLUDED

CPR

CPR training adds another layer of practical preparedness for students entering active jobsites.

ADDITIONAL CREDENTIALING
OPTIONAL

NCCER

After earning HEO Academy certification, students may pursue additional NCCER equipment testing.

TRAINING IS THE WORK.
THE CREDENTIAL PROVES IT.
HEO Academy certification is based on demonstrated operating ability. Students are expected to show the safety, control and judgment required to perform the work before certification is issued.
Excavator loading material into a dump truck on an active jobsite
REAL JOBSITE APPLICATION EXCAVATION LOADING MATERIAL MOVEMENT
BUILT FOR THE WORK AHEAD

MORE SKILLS.
MORE WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE.

Heavy equipment skills aren't limited to one machine or one kind of jobsite. Training across multiple pieces of equipment prepares you to contribute as the work changes—from excavation and grading to loading, material handling and site development.

Excavator performing excavation and site work
EXCAVATION

Digging, trenching and material movement.

Bulldozer pushing soil during grading and site preparation
GRADING & SITE WORK

Grading, pads and site preparation.

Front-end loader loading material into a haul truck
LOADING & MATERIAL HANDLING

Loading soil, aggregate and materials.

Backhoe performing excavation work on a development site
ROAD & UTILITY WORK

Roads, utilities and site development.

Heavy equipment working across infrastructure, energy, ports, mining and agriculture industries
SKILLS THAT TRAVEL

OPPORTUNITY ACROSS INDUSTRIES.

Heavy equipment operators work across far more than traditional construction. Equipment operation plays a role in infrastructure, mining, energy, agriculture, forestry, utilities and other industries that build, move, maintain and develop the world around us.

CONSTRUCTION
INFRASTRUCTURE
MINING & QUARRIES
ENERGY
OIL & GAS
AGRICULTURE
FORESTRY & TIMBER
PUBLIC WORKS & UTILITIES
Demolition &
Disaster Cleanup
LAND CLEARING
WASTE & LANDFILLS
PORTS & SHIPPING
BUILT FOR MORE THAN ONE KIND OF JOBSITE

8 MACHINES. ONE COMPLETE PROGRAM.

Learn more equipment so you can bring more capability to more kinds of jobsites.

TRAINING THAT STAYS PERSONAL

MORE ATTENTION.
MORE TIME TO LEARN.

Hands-on heavy equipment operator training works best when instructors can actually watch you operate, coach you through mistakes and help you build confidence on the equipment.

STUDENT-TO-INSTRUCTOR RATIO
10:1

SMALL CLASSES KEEP
THE TRAINING HANDS-ON.

With fewer students competing for attention, instructors can stay involved in the work happening on the equipment instead of managing a crowd from a distance.

START WHERE YOU ARE

NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

You do not need prior heavy equipment experience to enroll in the 8-Piece program.

TRAIN EARLIER

AGE 16+

Heavy equipment programs are available to students age 16 and older.

STAY CLOSE TO CAMPUS

STUDENT HOUSING AVAILABLE

Housing options are available near the academy for students who need a place to stay during training.

COME FROM ANYWHERE

OUT-OF-STATE STUDENTS WELCOME

Students travel to HEO Academy from outside Arkansas for training.