Elevator installer: 4-year apprenticeship, then a state license
Nearly all elevator installers learn through a 4-year apprenticeship after a high school diploma, and most states require them to be licensed.
For: Mechanically minded students who like electronics and physics and don't mind heights or tight spaces.
Registered Apprenticeship, then the state license Nearly all
Programs are sponsored by a union, an industry association or an employer. Workers with documented experience may qualify for a shorter apprenticeship.
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Start here
High school diploma or equivalent
Math, mechanical drawing and physics classes may help.
GED or HiSETBLS
Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
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Find a program
A Registered Apprenticeship
Validated by the U.S. Department of Labor or a State Apprenticeship Agency.
USDOL
What is a Registered Apprenticeship Program?U.S. Department of Labor (Apprenticeship.gov)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
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4 years
Elevator Constructor (RAPIDS 0173)
Time-based term: 8,000 hours (a newer version 6,800). Safety, blueprints, math, applied physics, electrical and digital theory, electronics.
USDOL
Approved occupations for Registered Apprenticeship (spreadsheet: RAPIDS code, type, minimum term)U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship (Apprenticeship.gov)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
Linked from apprenticeship.gov/apprenticeship-occupations. Term lengths are hours of on-the-job learning; time-based programs list one figure, hybrid programs a range.
View source -
Certificate
State license or certification
Most states require it (examples below).
BLS
Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
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Goal
Elevator mechanic
Later: mechanic-in-charge, adjuster or supervisor.
BLS
Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Apprentice pay
- Usually about 50 percent of what fully trained installers make, rising as they progress.
BLS
Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Keep learning
- Ongoing training is needed to keep up with technology.
BLS
Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
National certifications and federal rules
Federal rules apply in every state; voluntary certifications are ones employers may ask for. State rules are in the matrix below.
- Industry certification
Optional - Not required, but certification shows competence and proficiency.
BLS
Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
State licensing matrix
Most states license elevator mechanics, each in its own way. Three examples from the state's own pages:
| State or city | What you need |
|---|---|
| California Department of Industrial Relations, Cal/OSHA Elevator Unit |
Anyone employed by a C-11 licensed elevator company who works without direct supervision must be a Certified Competent Conveyance Mechanic (CCCM). Continuing education must come from a Division-approved provider within 12 months before renewal. Cal/OSHAFrequently Asked Questions about Certifications (Elevator Unit)California Department of Industrial Relations, Cal/OSHA
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| Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) |
General (Category 01) license: typically 3 years of verified conveyance work plus education, and either a registered apprenticeship, the NEIEP (or equivalent) exam, or the state exam (open book, 160 questions, 80% to pass, $296.50). WA L&IGet an Elevator Mechanic LicenseWashington State Department of Labor & Industries
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| Florida Division of Hotels and Restaurants (Fla. Stat. s. 399.01) |
Elevator certificate of competency: 4 years of work experience on conveyances plus a state-approved written exam, a registered elevator apprenticeship, or a substantially equal license from another state. $50, valid 1 year, 8 hours of continuing education to renew. Fla. Stat.Florida Statutes s. 399.01 (Elevator Safety Act: definitions, elevator certificate of competency)The Florida Legislature
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Where to go next
Every trade on one matrix: entry, license, BLS pay and outlook.
What the job is, BLS pay and job outlook, and the tools of the trade.