How long does VA take?

VA response times vary and are not set by the school. Apply as early as you can, and ask our School Certifying Official what to expect once your application is submitted.

What documents are required?

You may need a VA Certificate of Eligibility, Statement of Benefits or decision letter, a written request to use your benefits, and for VR&E or Chapter 31, the electronic authorization or purchase order issued by your VR&E counselor or case manager. The School Certifying Official will confirm your specific requirements.

Who certifies my enrollment?

National Training's School Certifying Official reports the student's enrollment, approved program, clock hours, attendance period, and applicable tuition-and-fee information to VA as required by the student's benefit. For VR&E students, National Training also follows the separate authorization and invoicing process established by the student's counselor or case manager. VA then determines payment based on your eligibility and remaining entitlement.

Can I change my benefits?

Changing or transferring VA benefits is a VA decision, not a school decision. Contact VA or your assigned VA counselor about changing benefit chapters, and let our School Certifying Official know so your certification stays accurate.

What happens if my VA tuition payment is delayed?

Qualifying students using Chapter 31 or Chapter 33 benefits may be protected from late fees, denial of access to classes or school facilities, or being required to borrow additional money solely because an expected VA tuition payment is delayed. To receive applicable protections, students must provide the required eligibility or authorization documentation, submit a written request to use the benefit, and provide the information National Training needs to certify enrollment. Students remain responsible for charges that VA is not expected to pay.

Will VA pay all my training costs?

VA eligibility does not guarantee that VA will pay every school or personal expense. Before beginning class, review the estimated VA payment and acknowledge any tuition balance, fees, housing, transportation, meals, supplies, or personal expenses that are not expected to be paid by VA. Review National Training's current school catalog, program description, admissions requirements, published tuition and fees, cancellation and refund policy, attendance requirements, graduation requirements, credential disclosures, job-placement limitations, and enrollment agreement before signing.

Are you approved for the training of veterans?

Yes, most of National’s training programs are approved for the training of veterans, including all of the Heavy Equipment Operator Programs. If you are eligible to receive GI Bill® benefits, you can use them to pay for your course. For more details, visit our website page on this by clicking here.

How do I enroll in a HEOS course and apply for Veterans Benefits?

Individuals who want to use their VA or GI Bill® entitlement must enroll in an eligible course, provide a copy of their DD-214, and complete the VA 22-1990 (Application for Education Benefits). NTI will then submit your application for benefit payment.

Can WIOA help pay for heavy equipment training?

WIOA funding may help pay for approved heavy equipment training programs for eligible students. Funding approval, covered costs, and payment authorization are determined by the local CareerSource center or workforce agency.

Does National Training, Inc. approve WIOA funding?

No. National Training, Inc. does not determine WIOA eligibility or approve funding. Eligibility and funding approval are handled by the applicable CareerSource center or workforce agency.

Is WIOA funding guaranteed?

No. WIOA funding is not guaranteed. Approval depends on eligibility, available funding, local workforce board policy, program approval, and required documentation.

What heavy equipment training may be available?

National Training, Inc. offers entry-level heavy equipment operator training that may include bulldozers, excavators, tractor loader backhoes, and articulated loaders, depending on the program and schedule.

Is there a minimum age for attending the training?

Yes, you must be at least 18 years old.

How long is the Heavy NOW course?

National Training, Inc.’s Heavy Now program consists of 208 clock hours and is normally completed in four weeks of full-time training. Students must satisfy all attendance, academic-progress, assessment, skills, and program-completion requirements stated in the school catalog..

How much does the Heavy NOW Course cost?

Heavy Now tuition is $14,995, or $15,095 including the $100 administrative fee, plus any individually applicable outside costs. Each individual Bulldozer, Excavator, Tractor Loader Backhoe, or Articulated Loader course is $4,995 in tuition, or $5,095 including the administrative fee, plus any applicable outside costs. Applicants should review the current school catalog and enrollment agreement before enrolling.

Where do I go for financial assistance?

For qualified students concerned with tuition, National Training, Inc. offers a variety of financial resources for financial aid in addition to our low tuition costs, regardless of your credit status. Below we’ve highlighted the most popular types of financial aid used by our students. We strive to do all we can to make our financial aid programs as accessible as possible. Our Admissions Representatives will walk you through the qualifications and the types of tuition funding available to you, answering your questions along the way. Call us at (800) 488-7364 or contact us today to explore your options! Please note that although National Training, Inc. participates in many financial aid programs, we do not participate in any Federally sponsored student loan or financial aid programs, also known as Title IV loans).

Do you offer job placement assistance when I graduate?

Yes. National Training, Inc. provides job placement assistance to graduates. Our team helps students with employment leads, resume support, interview preparation, and guidance on applying for entry-level heavy equipment positions. Job placement assistance is designed to help students pursue employment opportunities after training, but employment is not guaranteed. Hiring decisions are made by employers and may depend on the student’s skills, attendance, work history, background, driving record if applicable, drug testing requirements, employer needs, local labor market conditions, and individual effort.

How much do Equipment Operators Earn?

Earnings for construction equipment operators vary. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median average salary for a construction heavy equipment operator in 2020 was $49,100.

Is there a National Training, Inc. Heavy Equipment Operator School near me?

Conducting this type of training is not a simple process. The permits needed, licenses, environmental impact, and the enormous amount of land required to conduct this type of training, make it difficult to teach this type of training everywhere. That is probably why heavy construction operator schools are not found in most communities. In fact the National Training Heavy Equipment Operator School has invested years of time and vast legal resources into obtaining the necessary environmental permits and approvals that are mandated by the Federal Government and the State of Florida. The resident training portion is conducted in sunny North Florida at our exclusive, 350-acre training grounds.

Why is the School located in Florida?

There are many advantages to completing heavy equipment operator training in Florida. The warm climate allows students to train outdoors most days of the year, without the snow delays common in other parts of the country. Rain showers are usually brief, which helps reduce weather-related downtime and keeps students focused on building hands-on equipment skills. At National Training, we believe students should have a positive training experience both on and off the equipment. Learning to operate heavy equipment takes hard work, focus, and practice, but Florida also offers students opportunities to enjoy their time outside of class. Our training grounds are located near many popular Florida destinations. During weekends or free time, students can visit St. Augustine, Daytona Beach, Cape Canaveral, Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, Silver Springs, World Golf Village, and other nearby attractions. Students who prefer a quieter way to relax can also enjoy fishing and outdoor recreation close to the school. Choosing heavy equipment operator training in Florida gives students the opportunity to gain entry-level equipment skills while training in a location known for year-round outdoor activity, recreation, and travel.

Is there lodging near the school?

Yes. National Training students receive preferred rates from several motels close to the school. Costs vary, depending on your choice of single room or doubling up with another student. We can say this, the rates you will find to be surprisingly affordable as they are structured for only our students. In addition to these motels, there are many more within a 15-mile radius of our training grounds.

What funding and payment options may be available?

Qualified students may be eligible for WIOA workforce funding, Vocational Rehabilitation, VA education benefits, employer or agency sponsorship, third-party financing, or approved payment arrangements. Eligibility, approval, funding amounts, covered expenses, and payment terms are determined by the applicable funding provider and are not guaranteed.

Is Heavy Equipment operator training free?

No. NTI charges tuition and fees. Qualified students may receive funding that covers some or all approved training costs, but eligibility and approval are determined by the funding provider.

Does NTI accept Pell Grants or Workforce Pell?

No. NTI does not participate in Title IV federal student-aid programs, including traditional Pell Grants or Workforce Pell Grants.

What funding options may be available?

Qualified students may be eligible for WIOA workforce funding, Vocational Rehabilitation, VA education benefits, employer or agency sponsorship, third-party financing, or approved payment arrangements. Eligibility, approval, funding amounts, covered expenses, and payment terms are determined by the applicable funding provider.

Does NTI offer financing?

Yes. Third-party financing or payment arrangements may be available to qualified applicants. Approval is not guaranteed and is subject to the financing provider’s requirements and the terms of the applicable agreement.

Does NTI guarantee employment?

NTI provides job-placement assistance, but employment, wages, benefits, work location, schedules, and employer hiring decisions are not guaranteed.

What credentials do Heavy Equipment graduates receive?

Graduates who satisfy NTI’s program requirements receive an NTI Certificate of Completion and academic transcript. Where applicable, students may also earn NCCER Registry credentials after successfully completing required NCCER modules and assessments. NCCER credentials are not automatically awarded by completing the program.

From Military Service to Heavy Equipment Training

Many skills built in the military, including safety awareness, teamwork, equipment handling and disciplined operations, can support entry-level heavy equipment training. National Training, Inc. offers hands-on training that helps Veterans and transitioning service members build practical operator skills. Prior experience is not required, and training does not guarantee employment.

Start here: Veterans and VA benefits overview

Student operating an excavator during heavy equipment training at National Training in Green Cove Springs, Florida

Why Military Experience Transfers Well

If you served, you likely already practiced habits that matter on a jobsite. Discipline, safety-first thinking and working as part of a crew all carry over.

Heavy equipment work rewards people who respect procedures, inspect their gear, and stay aware of their surroundings. Those are things many service members do every day.

Prior equipment experience is helpful but not required. Our training is built for entry-level students, whether or not you operated machinery in the service.

Transferable Skills

Here are common military strengths and how they apply to heavy equipment training and work:

Military-developed habits such as safety awareness, reliability, teamwork, and following procedures may be relevant to civilian equipment-related employment. However, each employer establishes its own hiring and qualification requirements. Hiring decisions still depend on the employer, the role and current job market conditions.

Military experience	How it applies to heavy equipment
Safety and risk awareness	Pre-operation inspections, jobsite safety, hazard awareness
Equipment handling and maintenance	Machine familiarity, start-up and shutdown procedures
Teamwork and crew coordination	Working with spotters, ground crews and site teams
Following procedures and checklists	Structured operating steps and quality standards
Logistics and load planning	Material handling, grading and site preparation tasks
Discipline and reliability	Attendance, punctuality and consistent work habits

Employers value these traits, but hiring decisions still depend on the
employer, the role and current job market conditions.

What Civilian Employers Still Require

Military experience helps, but it does not replace hands-on training on civilian equipment. Depending on the position, employers may consider whether entry-level applicants can demonstrate or document:

Familiarity with common construction machines
Understanding of jobsite safety and inspection routines
Basic operating skill on the equipment they will use
A training record or credential that documents completed modules

Our program is designed to help you build and document these entry-level skills.

Military Experience vs. Civilian Qualifications

Military experience may support learning and career preparation. However, it does not automatically establish qualification to operate civilian equipment, satisfy an employer’s experience requirements, or replace employer-specific training and evaluation.

Our program is designed to help you build and document entry-level civilian equipment operation skills through hands-on training and structured assessments.

Training Equipment and Tasks

Our Heavy Now program provides entry-level heavy equipment operator training over 208 clock hours, normally completed in four weeks of full-time training. This includes 72 classroom hours and 136 hours of hands-on projects and exercises.

Depending on the program, class plan, equipment availability and safety conditions, students may train with bulldozers, excavators, tractor loader backhoes and articulated wheel loaders. Exercises may include grading, excavation support, material handling, land clearing and site preparation.

Individual courses are also available: bulldozer, excavator, tractor loader backhoe and articulated loader training. Training takes place at our private 350-acre training complex in Green Cove Springs, Florida.

Students who satisfy all applicable attendance, academic, practical-performance, conduct, financial, and graduation requirements may receive an NTI Certificate of Completion and academic transcript. Where applicable, students may also receive NCCER Registry credentials after successfully completing the required curriculum modules and assessments. These documents do not constitute a universal heavy-equipment operator license or certification.

National Training’s designation as an NCCER Accredited Training Sponsor does not constitute institutional accreditation of the school.

VA education benefits may be available to eligible students enrolled in National Training programs that are currently approved for the applicable benefit. VA determines individual eligibility and payment. Program approval may change, so students should confirm the exact program before enrolling.

Important School Documents

VA Education Benefits

VA education benefits may be available to eligible students enrolled in National Training programs that are currently approved for the applicable benefit. Approval is program-specific and may change. VA determines individual eligibility and payment. National Training’s School Certifying Official can confirm the current approval status of the exact program before enrollment.

Heavy equipment training exercise at National Training

Translating Your Military Experience for Employers

When you apply for civilian roles, it helps to describe your service in terms employers recognize. A few examples:

“Operated and maintained heavy tactical vehicles” can support familiarity with equipment inspection and operation.
“Led a team during field operations” can show crew coordination and reliability.
“Followed strict safety and maintenance protocols” can show jobsite safety readiness.
“Managed logistics and material movement” can relate to load planning and site tasks.

Our Career Services team can help eligible graduates present completed training and experience to employers.

Translating Your Military Experience for Employers

When you apply for civilian roles, it helps to describe your service in terms employers recognize. A few examples:

“Operated and maintained heavy tactical vehicles” can support familiarity with equipment inspection and operation.
“Led a team during field operations” can show crew coordination and reliability.
“Followed strict safety and maintenance protocols” can show jobsite safety readiness.
“Managed logistics and material movement” can relate to load planning and site tasks.

Our Career Services team can help eligible graduates present completed training and experience to employers.

Translating Your Military Experience for Employers

When you apply for civilian roles, it helps to describe your service in terms employers recognize. A few examples:

“Operated and maintained heavy tactical vehicles” can support familiarity with equipment inspection and operation.
“Led a team during field operations” can show crew coordination and reliability.
“Followed strict safety and maintenance protocols” can show jobsite safety readiness.
“Managed logistics and material movement” can relate to load planning and site tasks.

Our Career Services team can help eligible graduates present completed training and experience to employers.

Job-Placement Assistance

Eligible graduates may receive job-placement assistance, including résumé support, interview preparation, employer information, job leads and application guidance.

National Training, Inc. does not guarantee employment, wages, licensing, certification, or any specific job placement outcome. Hiring decisions are made by employers and may depend on your qualifications, background, location, work history and current job market conditions.

National Training does not issue a Florida occupational license for general heavy-equipment operation. Completing Heavy Now does not make a graduate a state-licensed heavy-equipment operator or qualify the graduate for every machine, employer, or jobsite.

Realistic Career Expectations

Training is a starting point, not a promise. Completing a program helps you build entry-level skills, but it does not make you a licensed or universally certified operator, and it does not guarantee a job.

Wages and opportunities vary by employer, location and experience. Being willing to travel, work different shifts, or consider a wider area may increase the opportunities available to you.

Verify Your Benefits

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available through the official U.S. government website.

FAQs

Do I need prior equipment experience?

No. Our training is designed for entry-level students. Prior equipment experience can be helpful, but it is not required to begin.

Does my MOS determine eligibility?

Your military occupational specialty does not by itself determine whether you can apply for admission to National Training. VA determines eligibility for VA education benefits under the applicable program. For VR&E, a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor also evaluates whether the proposed training is appropriate for the individual rehabilitation and employment plan. Contact our Military and Veterans Admissions Team to discuss your situation.

Will military experience replace training?

No. Military experience may support learning and career preparation. However, it does not automatically establish qualification to operate civilian equipment, satisfy an employer’s experience requirements, or replace employer-specific training and evaluation. Our program helps you build and document entry-level civilian equipment operation skills.

Does the school guarantee a job?

No. National Training, Inc. provides job-placement assistance to eligible graduates, but employment, wages and hiring decisions are determined by employers and are not guaranteed.

For general school questions, see our FAQs page.

Ready to Start Your Transition?

If you are moving from military service toward a heavy equipment career, start by verifying your benefits and speaking with our Military and Veterans Admissions Team.

VA education benefits may be available to eligible students enrolled in National Training programs that are currently approved for the applicable benefit. Approval is program-specific and may change. VA determines individual eligibility and payment. Confirm the exact program with National Training’s School Certifying Official before enrolling.

VA education benefits are available for those who qualify. Eligibility is determined by the VA.

Start Your Benefit Verification

See the Veterans Admissions Process

Questions? Contact us

Written by: Andrew McLoughlin
Reviewed by: Tal Miller, School Certifying Official, National Training, Inc.
Last reviewed: July 2026
Sources:
Construction Equipment Operators
Education and Training
GI Bill® Comparison Tool
Found an error? Contact us at inforequests@nationaltrainingschools.com
National Training, Inc. | 5660 County Road 209 South Green Cove Springs, FL 32043 | (904) 272-4000 Licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education, License No. 335.