What Training Do You Need to Work on an Oil Rig?
A lot of people decide to go to work on a rig fast. Maybe a buddy called and said his crew is hiring, or maybe bills are piling up and the oilfield is the best-paying door that's open. Do you need a degree, a certificate or some special license you've never heard of? The good news is that the bar for oilfield training and getting started is lower than most people think. So what training do you need to work on an oil rig?
To start on most U.S. land rigs, you need a basic safety orientation such as SafeLand USA or IADC RigPass, H2S awareness training, and often first aid and CPR. Most entry-level jobs don't require a college degree or prior experience. You'll also need to pass a drug test, usually a physical, and sometimes a background check. Offshore jobs add survival training like helicopter underwater escape and water survival, plus a TWIC card in many cases. As you move up toward driller, you'll need well control certification, such as IADC WellSharp. Many companies provide or pay for some of this oilfield training after they hire you.
What Oilfield Training Do You Need Before Your First Hitch?
Here's a simple checklist of the oilfield training most new hands need. Requirements vary by company and job, so always confirm with the employer before paying for anything.
- Basic safety orientation: SafeLand USA or IADC RigPass
- H2S awareness training
- First aid and CPR
- A drug and alcohol test
- A pre-employment physical
- A valid driver's license and reliable way to get to the rig
- For offshore: water survival, helicopter escape training and often a TWIC card
Some jobs also ask for fall protection, forklift or rigging training. Those usually come later, as you take on new tasks.
What Is SafeLand Training?
SafeLand USA is a basic safety orientation used by many onshore oil and gas companies in the United States. It covers the hazards you'll see on location, like struck-by risks, falls, confined spaces, hazardous chemicals and how to use personal protective equipment. It's usually a single-day class.
The point of SafeLand is to give every new worker the same baseline. Operators know that anyone with the card has heard the same basic safety messages. It doesn't make you an expert, but it shows you know the ground rules.
What Is IADC RigPass?
IADC RigPass is a basic safety orientation accredited by the International Association of Drilling Contractors, aimed at new rig workers. It covers many of the same topics as SafeLand, with a focus on drilling rigs. Some drilling contractors prefer it, and many accept either one.
Don't take both unless you're asked to. Ask your future employer which one they want, or whether they'll put you through their own version after hiring. Many larger contractors run their own orientation for new hands.
Why Is H2S Training Required?
H2S training is required because hydrogen sulfide gas can kill quickly, and it shows up in many oil and gas fields. At low levels it smells like rotten eggs, but at higher levels it can deaden your sense of smell, so you can't rely on your nose.
H2S courses teach you how the gas behaves, how monitors and alarms work, how to escape upwind, and how to use breathing equipment. OSHA has a good overview of H2S hazards and monitoring if you want to read ahead.
Too many families in oil country have lost someone to this gas. Take this class seriously, and remember it every time your monitor beeps.
What Extra Training Do Offshore Jobs Require?
Offshore jobs require extra survival training because you'll travel by helicopter or boat and live on the rig. The exact courses depend on where you work, but common ones include:
- Helicopter underwater egress training (HUET), which teaches you how to escape a ditched helicopter
- Water survival and sea survival courses
- Basic offshore safety induction and emergency training, in many regions
- Firefighting basics
- A Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) for many U.S. offshore and port jobs
The helicopter escape training sounds scary, and it can be. You're strapped into a mock cabin that gets dunked and flipped underwater. But people come out of it far more confident, and it has saved lives.
When Do You Need Well Control Certification?
You need well control certification once you move into jobs responsible for recognizing and controlling kicks, mainly drillers, assistant drillers, toolpushers and wellsite supervisors. Floorhands usually don't need it to start, though some companies offer awareness training.
The most widely recognized program is IADC WellSharp, which offers different levels for different roles. Certifications have to be renewed on a schedule, so it's an ongoing commitment, not a one-time class.
How Do You Get a Job on an Oil Rig?
You get a job on an oil rig by getting your basic training, being ready to pass a drug test and physical, and applying directly with drilling contractors. Some people also get in through friends or family who already work in the patch.
Here are some practical steps:
- Look up drilling contractors that operate in your region and apply on their sites.
- Check with local oilfield staffing agencies.
- Ask people you know who work on rigs or in oilfield services.
- Be honest about your experience, and stress reliability and work ethic.
- Be ready to travel and to start on short notice.
Hiring rises and falls with oil prices. When the rig count is climbing, companies hire fast. When it's falling, getting in is much harder.
Do You Need a Degree to Work on an Oil Rig?
No, you don't need a degree for most rig crew jobs. Floorhands, motorhands, derrickhands and even drillers usually come up through experience, not college. A high school diploma or GED is often preferred, but not always required.
Engineering jobs are different. Drilling, completions and petroleum engineers need a bachelor's degree in engineering. Some service companies also hire degree holders as field engineers.
What Should You Expect Your First Week?
Expect to be watched closely, and expect to learn a lot. Most rigs pair new hands with an experienced worker, and some mark them with a different color hard hat so everyone knows to keep an eye out.
Real training happens on the floor. Classroom courses get you in the door, but the crew teaches you how to do the job safely. Listen more than you talk, ask questions and never be shy about stopping work if something seems wrong.
And forget most of what you've seen in oil rig movies. Real rig work is less explosions and heroics and more steady, careful teamwork.
What Training Do You Need to Work on an Oil Rig?
For most land rig jobs, the oilfield training you need is a basic safety orientation like SafeLand or RigPass, H2S awareness and first aid. Offshore adds survival training and usually a TWIC card. As you move up, well control certification becomes a must.
Before you spend money, call the companies you want to work for and ask what they require. Then get your courses done, keep your cards current and show up ready to learn. The rest of your education will come from the crew.