High School

Although there are no specific educational requirements for work as a mover, many employers prefer to hire high school graduates. Experience in driving a truck and loading and unloading heavy material is an advantage.

Household movers need good oral and written communications skills because they must be able to understand and fill out an inventory list and follow detailed instructions. Van drivers are required to keep records of the material they move and the miles they drive, so they must have legible handwriting and basic math skills. Auto mechanics, English, speech, and applied mathematics are high school courses that will provide you with a good background if you plan to work as a household mover. Courses in physical education will also help you prepare for the physical aspects of the job.

Postsecondary Training

An associates or bachelors degree is useful for management positions in the household moving industry. Classes in business, marketing, communications, math, and English can be helpful in this field.

Certification or Licensing

While it is not a requirement for employment, many individuals apply to become certified professional movers as a way of demonstrating their professional qualifications in packing and moving services. Certification is awarded to movers who have the qualifications established by the American Moving and Storage Association.

Other Requirements

An appropriate drivers license, usually a commercial driving permit, is required. In addition, independent operators may need to get operating permission from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation to transport furniture and other goods across state lines.

In most cases, movers must be at least 21 years old in order to work on interstate moves. In fact, individual moving firms may require their employees to be over 25 for insurance purposes.

Household movers need experience transporting heavy furniture that may include pianos, large desks, sofas, and chairs. They should be physically fit and must be able to deal effectively with homeowners and business owners who have employed them to move important items. Movers must know how to transport fragile items safely; they should be good drivers who have experience driving heavy trucks; they need to stay on schedule during a move; and they must have basic writing skills to keep records and fill out reports.