Elevator & Escalator Vocational Schools

Apprenticeship programs are the primary way elevator and escalator technicians are trained.

Elevator and escalator are a combined training program and is done primarily through apprenticeship programs, either by the state or local union. A state apprenticeship program or local union partners with different schools to accomplish the classroom training required by the apprenticeship program. The National Elevator Industry Education Program (NEIEP) is a national program that has designed elevator and escalator courses for qualified electricians and mechanics. The NEIEP has 21 regions across the United States for this elevator and escalator training program.

Qualifications

Qualifications for an elevator and escalator technician apprenticeship program depends upon the state, but all have basic requirements. The student has to be a high school graduate or have a General Educational Diploma (GED). The international student can have the equivalent to a high school diploma to be accepted into the apprenticeship program. Most state apprenticeship programs require the student to pass the NEIEP aptitude test. The score on the aptitude test determines the ranking of the student. The higher the score on the test, the better the chances of being accepted into an apprenticeship program.

Elevator Mechanical Training

Elevator and escalator mechanical training is part of any apprenticeship program across the United States. All elevators and escalators utilize mechanical components to operate. The schools that train elevator technicians spend a lot of coursework on the types of mechanics used in escalators and elevators. The emergency stop break, pulleys and bearings maintenance and wire rope design and inspection are all part of the mechanical training of a elevator and escalator technicians. A lot of training is done on-the-job and accounts for most of the apprenticeship program. For example, Oregon's elevator and escalator apprenticeship program requires a minimum of 8,000 work hours in the occupation.

Elevator Electrical Training

All elevators and escalators utilize electrical components to operate and like the mechanical side of the apprenticeship program, a technician requires electrical training. The apprenticeship program has courses in electrical blueprints or wiring diagrams, electrical troubleshooting and other electrical training as it pertains to electrical components used on the elevator and escalator. An electrical certification is not always required by an employer, but it does provide the candidate with a better chance at getting the job. The apprenticeship program does provide the student or candidate a certificate as a elevator technician which includes mechanical and electrical training.

Elevator Technician Licensing

A lot of states do require elevator and escalator technicians to qualify for and pass a state licensing examination to become a qualified elevator technician. The best way to qualify for a state licensing examination is to attend and complete an apprenticeship program, but experience does qualify individuals for state licensing. For example, the State of California requires a candidate to have a minimum of three years experience working on elevators or escalators before qualifying for the state certification examination. Florida, on the other hand, requires four years of work experience before being eligible for the elevator certificate examination.

References

• Careers: Elevator Installers and Repairers
• State of Oregon: Elevator Mechanic Apprenticeship Program
• Schools in the USA: Elevator Constuctor and Mechanic
• The Building News: Union Apprenticeship Program
• International Union of Elevator Constructors: Apprenticeship Program
• State of California: Certification Examination

Resources

• National Elevator Industry Educational Program: Elevator Training Program
• Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation