Quick answer
Scissor lift, aerial lift and MEWP certification all describe operator training for machines that raise people to work at height. MEWP, short for mobile elevating work platform, is the industry term in the ANSI A92 standards, and it covers both scissor lifts and boom lifts. Forklift Academy trains scissor and aerial lift operators online, in hands-on classes and onsite.
- The ANSI A92 standards use “mobile elevating work platform” as the term that replaces “aerial work platform,” according to IPAF guidance on the standards.
- ANSI sorts MEWPs into Group A, where the platform stays inside the tipping line, such as scissor lifts, and Group B, where it can reach beyond it, such as boom lifts.
- OSHA treats scissor lifts as mobile scaffolds rather than aerial lifts, according to a 2000 OSHA interpretation letter.
- Forklift Academy’s online scissor and aerial lift course costs $68.95 and takes about one to two hours.
- Forklift Academy’s hands-on scissor lift classes cost $275 in Los Angeles and $250 in Houston.
Three names, one question
Job postings, safety managers and rental counters use three different names for scissor and aerial lift training, and that confuses people trying to book the right class.
- Scissor lift certification is the everyday term on warehouse floors and job sites.
- Aerial lift certification is the broader term many employers and OSHA documents use for lifts that raise workers.
- MEWP certification comes from the ANSI A92 standards, the industry consensus standards for this equipment.
All three describe the same goal: an operator who has been trained and evaluated on the specific machine they will run. The words change depending on who wrote the job posting. What matters is which machine you operate.
What a MEWP is, and how ANSI classifies it
MEWP stands for mobile elevating work platform. IPAF’s guide to the ANSI standards states that MEWP is the new term for this equipment, replacing aerial work platform. The ANSI A92 suite splits into three standards:
- ANSI A92.20 covers design, calculations, safety requirements and test methods.
- ANSI A92.22 covers the safe use of MEWPs.
- ANSI A92.24 covers training requirements for operators.
Group A and Group B
ANSI groups each MEWP by where the platform can go relative to the machine’s tipping line.
- Group A. The platform always stays inside the tipping line. Scissor lifts and vertical mast lifts are Group A.
- Group B. The platform can be positioned beyond the tipping line. Boom lifts are Group B.
Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3
ANSI also types each MEWP by how it travels.
- Type 1. Travels only in the stowed position.
- Type 2. Can travel elevated, with travel controlled from the chassis.
- Type 3. Can travel elevated, with travel controlled from the platform.
A typical warehouse scissor lift that drives with the platform raised and the controls in the basket is a Group A, Type 3 MEWP. According to IPAF, ANSI A92.24 requires operator training for each classification an operator will use, which combines the group and the type.
How OSHA treats scissor lifts and aerial lifts
OSHA does not use the MEWP label in its own rules. It regulates scissor lifts and boom-type aerial lifts under different sections, and the split explains why fall protection differs between the two.
Scissor lifts are treated as scaffolds
In a 2000 interpretation letter, OSHA stated that scissor lifts are not covered by the aerial lift provisions in its construction standards, because they meet the definition of a scaffold. Because scissor lifts move, the mobile scaffold rules apply. The same letter states that workers on a scissor lift with properly maintained guardrails are not required to tie off.
Boom lifts are aerial lifts
OSHA’s aerial lift eTool describes an aerial lift as any vehicle-mounted device used to elevate personnel, including extendable boom platforms, articulating boom platforms, aerial ladders and vertical towers. OSHA says only trained and authorized persons may operate an aerial lift, and that workers in a boom should use a body harness or restraining belt with a lanyard attached to the boom or bucket.
The practical takeaway is that a scissor lift operator and a boom lift operator need different training. A class on one does not prepare someone to run the other, and an employer that moves a worker between them needs to train on both.
What scissor lift and aerial lift training covers
Good scissor and aerial lift training follows the same pattern as other equipment training: knowledge first, then hands-on practice, then an evaluation on the machine. Forklift Academy’s hands-on scissor lift classes cover:
- Scissor lift operation, safety and maintenance.
- Equipment controls and rated capacities.
- Stability, load handling, refueling and pedestrian safety.
- Rough terrain operation.
- Inspection and hazard awareness.
ANSI A92.24 also expects training for supervisors who directly oversee operators. According to IPAF, dealers and owners must offer familiarization on a specific machine when users request it. Familiarization teaches the controls and safety devices of one model. It does not replace operator training.
How to get scissor lift or aerial lift certified
Forklift Academy offers four routes. Experience level and group size decide which one fits.
1. Hands-on class at a training center
A hands-on class is the best route for a new operator, because it includes practice and an evaluation on a real machine.
- Standard scissor lift certification, Los Angeles: $275, about 3.5 hours, certification valid for three years.
- Hands-on standard scissor lift training, Houston: $250, about 3.5 hours, with a written test, an equipment evaluation and a picture ID card the same day.
Operators who also need forklift training can combine equipment in one visit. Forklift Academy’s Los Angeles forklift, scissor lift and electric pallet jack class costs $675, and the Houston forklift, order picker and scissor lift class costs $750.
2. Online scissor and aerial lift training
Forklift Academy’s online scissor and aerial lift certification costs $68.95 and is available in English or Spanish. According to Scissor Lift Academy, Forklift Academy’s scissor training hub, individuals can complete the knowledge training in about one to two hours, and the employer still completes the site-specific practical evaluation. The course requires operating experience.
3. Train the Trainer for your company
Employers with steady hiring often qualify one of their own staff to train operators. Forklift Academy’s scissor lift Train the Trainer online costs $198. The section on in-house programs below covers the options.
4. Onsite training at your facility
For a crew, Forklift Academy can train on your own lifts at your site. Onsite training puts the evaluation on the exact machines and floor conditions your operators work with every day.
Scissor lift vs boom lift at a glance
The two machines look different and carry different rules, so it helps to see them side by side.
- How the platform moves. A scissor lift raises its platform straight up on folding supports. A boom lift reaches up and out on an arm.
- ANSI group. A scissor lift is Group A, because the platform stays inside the tipping line. A boom lift is Group B, because the platform can reach beyond it.
- How OSHA treats it. OSHA treats a scissor lift as a mobile scaffold. A boom lift falls under OSHA’s aerial lift provisions.
- Fall protection. On a scissor lift with properly maintained guardrails, OSHA’s 2000 letter states that tying off is not required. In a boom, OSHA advises a body harness or restraining belt with a lanyard attached to the boom or bucket.
- Training. Each machine needs training on that machine. A scissor lift class does not qualify an operator for a boom lift.
What to look for when booking a class
A class name rarely tells you everything. Before you book scissor or aerial lift training, check these points:
- The machine. Confirm the class trains on the type of lift you will operate, by ANSI group and type where possible.
- The practical part. Online training covers knowledge. Look for practice and an evaluation on a real machine, either at a training center or onsite with your employer.
- The language. ANSI A92.24, as summarized by IPAF, expects training to be delivered in a way the trainee understands, including language. Forklift Academy sells its online scissor and aerial lift course in English and Spanish.
- The record. Ask what you leave with. Forklift Academy’s hands-on Houston class includes a picture ID card the same day, and its Los Angeles certification is valid for three years.
Building an in-house scissor lift program
Companies that hire operators every month often train them internally. Forklift Academy’s Scissor Lift Train the Trainer Combo costs $578 and includes the online trainer course with a three-year trainer certification plus 20 student seats that never expire. The trainer runs classes for employees on Forklift Academy’s platform, then completes the hands-on evaluation on the company’s own lifts. Digital wallet cards are issued for the trainer and each employee who passes, and training records stay in one company account. The program is available in English or Spanish.
For a trainer who wants hands-on instruction first, Forklift Academy runs scissor lift Train the Trainer sessions in Los Angeles and Houston, each for $900.
How long does scissor lift certification last?
Forklift Academy’s hands-on scissor lift certification in Los Angeles is valid for three years. Retraining can be needed sooner. Under ANSI A92.24, as summarized by IPAF, training applies to each classification an operator uses, so moving an operator to a different group or type of machine means new training on that machine. The same applies when a worker moves from a scissor lift to a boom lift, since the two sit in different ANSI groups.
Choosing the right training
Start with the machine, not the label on the job posting.
- Running a scissor lift in a warehouse or on a slab? A scissor lift class covers you.
- Running a boom lift? That is a Group B machine and an aerial lift under OSHA. Make sure the training you book covers boom lifts specifically.
- Running both a forklift and a scissor lift? A combined class trains on both in one session.
Forklift Academy has trained equipment operators for more than 20 years. Browse every scissor and aerial lift option on Scissor Lift Academy, or find a hands-on class on the training locations page.
Frequently asked questions
Is a scissor lift considered an aerial lift?
Not under OSHA’s construction rules. In a 2000 interpretation letter, OSHA stated that scissor lifts are not covered by its aerial lift provisions because they meet the definition of a scaffold. Under the ANSI A92 standards, scissor lifts and boom lifts are both mobile elevating work platforms, with scissor lifts in Group A.
What is the difference between MEWP certification and scissor lift certification?
MEWP certification is the term used by the ANSI A92 standards and covers both scissor lifts and boom lifts. Scissor lift certification refers to training on one Group A machine. An operator trained on a scissor lift needs further training before running a boom lift, because ANSI requires training for each machine classification.
How long does it take to get scissor lift certified?
Forklift Academy’s hands-on scissor lift classes in Los Angeles and Houston each list about 3.5 hours. Forklift Academy’s online scissor and aerial lift course takes about one to two hours for operators who already have experience, with the employer completing the practical evaluation on its own equipment.
How much does scissor lift certification cost?
Forklift Academy’s hands-on scissor lift class costs $275 in Los Angeles and $250 in Houston. The online scissor and aerial lift course costs $68.95 in English or Spanish. Employers that want to train their own operators can buy Forklift Academy’s scissor lift Train the Trainer online course for $198.
Do you need fall protection on a scissor lift?
OSHA’s 2000 interpretation letter states that workers on a scissor lift with properly maintained guardrails are not required to tie off. Boom-type aerial lifts are different. OSHA advises workers in a boom or bucket to use a body harness or restraining belt with a lanyard attached to the boom or bucket.
Can I get scissor lift certified online?
Forklift Academy’s online scissor and aerial lift course covers the knowledge training and written test. The employer still completes a site-specific practical evaluation on the actual lift. Operators with no experience should take a hands-on class in Los Angeles or Houston, where practice and evaluation happen on a real machine.