The tower-climbing industry is an essential part of modern-day infrastructure. From the building and maintaining of cell tower equipment to the general replacement and repair of faulty components, these professionals ensure that we’re always connected to the outside world. But despite how straightforward this role might seem, working as a tower climber is more physically and mentally demanding than most other industrial occupations. So if you’re looking to become one yourself, you’ll need to acquire the proper experience and certifications. This is how to become a certified tower climber and get a jump on a new career.

Get in Shape and Gain a Tolerance for Heights

Tower climbing definitely isn’t the job for the faint of heart. In fact, being in poor physical health and being afraid of heights are both grounds for having your application immediately rejected. This is because as knowledgeable as these professionals need to about the cell tower mechanics, that information won’t do any good if they can’t reach the jobsite. Towers can reach up to 500 feet in the air and be rigorous to climb on even a good day. For these reasons, those new to the industry are required to be in peak physical condition and be comfortable with extreme altitudes.

Educate Yourself on the Industry Requirements

The next step to becoming certification ready is to brush up on all industry-related knowledge that you’ll need to perform the job well. This includes information on how cellular towers are constructed and wired along with experience identifying the different types of cell tower sites. You should also be familiar with how all the essential power tools work and have a basic understanding of workplace safety procedures. For working on specific types of towers, it’s recommended that you acquire at least a college degree in engineering. However, you can still become a tower climber with a high school diploma or GED.

Acquire the Necessary Training

Training is the most crucial step to becoming a certified tower climber, as this is where you begin to gain hands-on experience performing job duties. Fortunately, your employer often provides you with all the training opportunities you’ll need to become certified with their company. Some of these courses will involve thorough safety regulation training through OSHA, a crash course in tower-climbing procedure, and practice handling specific pieces of cell equipment. These training sessions are often followed by exams where you can become certified to work on designated towers managed by the company.

At Midwest Unlimited, tower-climbing professionals are some of our most valued customers. Putting their safety on the line each day for the sake of our modern infrastructure, we consider it necessary that we repay them with tools that can keep them protected. Our stock of tower-climbing gear offers everything from fall protection harnesses and lanyards to heavy-duty work gloves and rope grabs. This way, we can ensure that every tower climber will be able to find just what they need for the job.