Operating Engineers
19 courses · Rio Hondo College · 2026-2027 Catalog
OENG 041 Introduction to Apprenticeship
- Units
- 2.5
- Hours
- 36 Lecture, 36 Lab
This course provides related and supplemental instruction for state-indentured apprentices employed full-time in the operating engineers trade. Students identify basic safety rules and procedures when operating and working around heavy construction equipment, and learn about proper safe attitudes and work ethics, personal financial planning responsibilities, the history of organized labor and its structure, and the importance of wages and benefits of being a member of a local union.
OENG 042 Grade Checking
- Units
- 2.5
- Hours
- 36 Lecture, 36 Lab
This course provides related and supplemental instruction for state-indentured apprentices employed full-time in the operating engineers field. The course reviews information found on typical grading and survey stakes, the use of colored ribbon on grade stakes, transferring elevations from one point to another, setting grading stakes for both cut and fill slopes, grading stakes for curb and streets, staking procedures for subdivisions, basic laser set-up, and basic GPS equipment setup.
OENG 043 Equipment Operator
- Units
- 2.5
- Hours
- 36 Lecture, 36 Lab
This course provides related and supplemental instruction for state-indentured apprentices employed full-time in the operating engineers field. The course covers preventive maintenance and operation of heavy construction equipment, best practices and personal safety, terminology, maintenance, and operation of the following pieces of equipment: scrapers, dozers, loaders, forklifts, compactors, rollers, and construction cranes.
OENG 044 Plan Reading
- Units
- 2.5
- Hours
- 36 Lecture, 36 Lab
This course provides related and supplemental instruction for state-indentured apprentices employed full-time in the operating engineers field. The course introduces the tasks of interpreting and reading plan sets consisting of grading, infrastructure, and structural plans for roadways, subdivisions, and service utilities.
OENG 045 Skills Specialization
- Units
- 2.5
- Hours
- 36 Lecture, 36 Lab
This course provides related and supplemental instruction to operating engineer apprentices. The course covers the topics of preventive maintenance and operation of heavy construction equipment, best practices and personal safety, terminology, maintenance, and operation of the following pieces of equipment: backhoes, excavators, motor graders, finish dozers, slope boards, hydraulic and conventional cranes.
OENG 052 Welding
- Units
- 2.5
- Hours
- 36 Lecture, 36 Lab
This course is designed to meet the needs of state indentured apprentices employed full-time in the operating engineer field. Topics include the safe use of oxyacetylene cutting equipment, the technique of brazing, and electric arc welding.
OENG 053 Introduction to Hydraulics
- Units
- 2.5
- Hours
- 36 Lecture, 36 Lab
This course is designed to meet the needs of state indentured apprentices employed full-time in the operating engineers field. Course topics include the principles of hydraulics, how a hydraulic system works, and the practical uses of hydraulics.
OENG 054 Advanced Hydraulics/Pneumatics
- Units
- 2.5
- Hours
- 36 Lecture, 36 Lab
This course is designed to meet the needs of state indentured apprentices employed full-time in the operating engineer field. Course topics include the diagnosis, service, and repair of hydraulic valves, motors, pumps, and cylinders; diagnosis and repair of variable speed hydraulic drives; and service and maintenance of pneumatic systems used on heavy equipment and heavy trucks.
OENG 055 Engines - Gasoline and Diesel
- Units
- 2.5
- Hours
- 36 Lecture, 36 Lab
This course provides related and supplemental instruction in basic safety practices and proper maintenance procedures required of operating engineer apprentices when working with gasoline and/or diesel engines. Specific topics include internal combustion engine theory for both diesel and gasoline engines, use of appropriate hand tools needed for engine repair, proper procedures for engine disassembly and assembly, and troubleshooting and diagnosing engine failures.
OENG 056 Component Disassembly and Assembly
- Units
- 2.5
- Hours
- 36 Lecture, 36 Lab
This course is designed to meet the needs of state-indentured apprentices employed full-time in the operating engineer field. Course topics include clutches, mechanical transmissions, differentials, final drives, crawler tractor undercarriage, and crawler tractor track assemblies.
OENG 062 Structural Masonry Inspection
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 54 Lecture, 54 Lab
This course is designed to meet the needs of state-indentured apprentices with the State of California who are interested in the field of operating engineer inspection. Topics include industry safety, industry terminology, masonry inspection testing, structural masonry plan reading, field interpretation, and successful completion of the industry standard certification examination.
OENG 063 Reinforced Concrete Inspection
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 54 Lecture, 54 Lab
This course provides related and supplemental instruction for operating engineer apprentices. The course covers codes and duties, reinforcing steel, blueprinting reading, structural gunite applications, report writing, and people skills. Apprentices gain the knowledge, research skills, and confidence needed to pass written and oral exams.
OENG 064 Structural Steel/Welding
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 54 Lecture, 54 Lab
This course is designed to meet the needs of state indentured apprentices with the State of California who are interested in the field of operating engineer inspection. Topics include industry safety, industry terminology, structural steel/welding inspection testing, analytical blueprint reading, field interpretation, and successful completion of the industry standard certification examination.
OENG 065 Prestressed Concrete Inspector
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 54 Lecture, 54 Lab
This course provides the related and supplemental instruction for operating engineer apprentices. The course takes up reinforcing steel, codes, blueprints, stressing sheets, plan changes, report writing, people skills, job etiquette and protocol. Apprentices gain the knowledge, research skills, and confidence needed to pass their written and oral exams.
OENG 066 Soil Testing and Inspection
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 54 Lecture, 54 Lab
This course is designed to meet the needs of state-indentured apprentices with the State of California who are interested in the field of operating engineer inspection. Topics include industry safety, industry terminology, inspection testing procedures, blueprint reading, field interpretation, and successful completion of a certification class sponsored by the American Concrete Institute and Nuclear Safety Course.
OENG 067 Structural Steel/Bolting
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 54 Lecture, 54 Lab
This course provides the related and supplemental instruction for operating engineer apprentices. The course covers codes and duties, structural bolting inspection, report writing, and personal skills. Apprentices gain the knowledge, research skills, and confidence needed to pass their written and oral exams.
OENG 068 Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 54 Lecture, 54 Lab
This course provides the related and supplemental instruction for operating engineer apprentices. The course covers ultrasonic, magnetic particle, and liquid penetrant testing codes and duties, welding procedures, report writing, people skills, and testing equipment orientation. Students gain the knowledge, research skills, and confidence needed to pass their written and oral exams as applicable to non-destructive testing requirements.
OENG 070 Fireproofing and Firestopping Inspection
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 54 Lecture, 54 Lab
This course provides the required related and supplemental instruction for operating engineer apprentices in fireproofing and firestopping inspection, testing codes and duties, application procedures, report writing, people skills, and testing equipment orientation. Members will gain the knowledge, research skills, and confidence needed to pass their written and oral exams as applicable to the Fireproofing and Firestopping Testing requirements.
OENG 290 Work Experience Education in Operating Engineers Union Apprenticeship
- Units
- 1-4
- Hours
- 3 Lecture, 54-216 Lab
This course provides students the opportunity to work in the Operating Engineers apprenticeship program for the purpose of developing specific skills to meet the goals and objectives of the Operating Engineers Joint Apprenticeship Council (J.A.C.). Students complete work experience hours at approved training sites. The course may be taken once and repeated for a maximum of 16 units. Contact the Work Experience Education Office regarding re-enrollment procedures.