What driver’s license does an excavator need: Analysis of operating qualifications and hot topics
In recent years, with the rapid development of the infrastructure industry, excavator operation has become one of the popular professions. Many people have questions about the license and qualification requirements required to operate an excavator. This article will combine the hot content on the Internet in the past 10 days to analyze in detail the types of driver's licenses required for excavator operation, application conditions and industry trends, and present relevant information in structured data.
1. What driver’s license is required to operate an excavator?

According to relevant Chinese regulations, excavators are special equipment, and operators must hold a "Special Equipment Operator Certificate" or a "Construction Special Operations Operation Qualification Certificate." The following are specific categories:
| Device type | Required documents | issuing authority |
|---|---|---|
| Small excavator (≤1.5 tons) | Generally no special certificate is required, but training certificate is required | Training institution or enterprise |
| Medium/large excavator (>1.5 tons) | "Special Equipment Operator Certificate" (Category N1) | market supervision and administration department |
| Excavator for building construction | "Construction Special Operations Operation Qualification Certificate" | Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development |
2. Application conditions and procedures
The following are the application conditions and procedures for excavator operating certificates:
| project | Require |
|---|---|
| age | Over 18 years old, under 60 years old |
| Educational qualifications | Junior high school education or above |
| health status | No disease or physical defect that would hinder operation |
| Training duration | Usually 15-30 days |
| Exam content | Theoretical exam + practical assessment |
3. Recent industry hot topics
Combined with the popular content on the entire network in the past 10 days, the hot topics in the excavator industry are mainly concentrated in the following aspects:
1.“Which company has the best excavator technology” has once again become a hot meme on the Internet: The advertisement slogan of Lanxiang Technical School was once again revealed by netizens, triggering heated discussions on vocational education.
2.New energy excavators attract attention: As environmental protection policies increase, the market share of electric excavators gradually increases, and the stock prices of related companies rise.
3.Excavator operator salary levels: The monthly salary of skilled operators in some areas can reach more than 15,000 yuan, attracting a large number of young people to join the industry.
4.Popularization of intelligent operations: Driverless excavators are being trialled at some construction sites, triggering discussions about the career prospects of traditional operators.
4. How to choose a suitable training institution?
Here are the key points to note when choosing a training provider:
| Considerations | suggestion |
|---|---|
| Qualification certification | Choose an institution with official accreditation |
| Equipment conditions | Field inspection equipment quantity and model |
| Faculty | Understand the coach’s experience and teaching years |
| Employment recommendations | Ask about the employment rate of past students and cooperative companies |
5. Summary
To operate an excavator, you need to obtain the corresponding special operation certificate according to the type and purpose of the equipment. With the development of the industry, excavator operators have broad career prospects, but they also face the challenge of technological upgrading. It is recommended that those interested in entering the industry choose formal training institutions and continue to pay attention to industry trends to improve their competitiveness.
Currently, the excavator industry is in a period of transformation and upgrading, and trends such as new energy and intelligence have brought new opportunities to practitioners. Mastering solid operational skills and obtaining compliance certificates are critical first steps in entering this field.
check the details
check the details