How to Get an Elevator Mechanic License
 

NOTE: Certification as an Elevator Mechanic is NOT a license to perform work for which a contractor’s license is required by L&I or any other agency.


These requirements apply to the following types of elevator mechanic licenses:

    • (Category 1) General License.

      This license authorizes an elevator mechanic to perform any kind of work on any type of equipment.

    • (Category 2) Commercial and Residential Wheelchair Lifts; Dumbwaiters; and Incline Chairlifts.
    • (Category 3) Electric and Hand-powered manlifts; Special Purpose Elevators; and Belt Manlifts in Industrial Sits and Grain Terminals.
    • (Category 4) Temporary Personnel Hoists; Temporary Material Hoists; Special Purpose Elevators.
    • (Category 8) Employees of Public Agencies Performing Maintenance Only on their Employer’s Conveyances.

Acrobat PDF file Policy to clarify the minimum qualifications an applicant needs in order to test for an elevator mechanic lincense (35 KB PDF)

There are three routes you can take to get these licenses

Depending on your background and level of appropriate experience, you be able to obtain a license without taking a state elevator competency exam.

    • National Certification (No test required)
      You may be qualified for licensing as an elevator mechanic without having to take the state elevator exam if you have earned a certificate of completion and successfully passed the mechanic examination of a nationally recognized training program for the elevator industry such as the National Elevator Industry Educational Program or the Certified Elevator Technician Program sponsored by the National Association of Elevator Contractors.
    • Apprenticeship (No test required)
      You may be qualified for licensing as an elevator mechanic without having to take the state elevator exam if you have earned a certificate of completion of an elevator mechanic apprenticeship program that meets certain standards and is registered with the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council.
    • Test Required
      A license to perform conveyance work on the above types of conveyances may be granted to you if:
      • You provide acceptable proof to L&I that shows the necessary combination of documented experience and education credits in the applicable license category of not less than three years' work experience in the elevator industry performing conveyance work as verified by current and previous employers licensed to do business in this state or as an employee of a public agency;
      • You satisfactorily complete a written examination administered by L&I.

What you have to do

  1. Make sure that you don't have any outstanding, unpaid infractions with L&I or unpaid state-ordered child support payments.
  2. Print the license application and fill it out.
    Download and print the application now.
  3. Gather the supporting documentation to verify your experience and education.
    You will need to attach this information when you submit your application. Detailed information about how to do this is included with the application form.

Acrobat PDF file Policy to clarify the minimum qualifications an applicant needs in order to test for an elevator mechanic lincense (35 KB PDF)

  1. Pay the $164.10 application fee. $109.40 of this fee is refundable to you if you do not currently qualify for a license. (See Licensing Fees page.)
  2. If you must take an exam, pay the additional $164.10 exam fee.
  3. Submit your fees, application and documentation.

There are three ways to do this:

    Pay online via L&I’s Get or Renew a License (QuickCards) system.
    Then mail your completed application and experience/education documentation to L&I's elevator program at the address indicated on the application form.
    — OR —

    Mail the following to L&I's elevator program at the address indicated on the application form:

    • Application fee.
    • Exam fee (if needed).
    • Application.
    • Experience/education documentation.

    Payment can be made using a check or money order.

    — OR —

    Go to one of L&I's 20 service locations where you can pay your application fee (and exam fee if needed) using a check, money order or credit card, and submit your application and experience/education documentation.

What L&I will do

Once your application is received, L&I staff will contact you by mail to request additional documentation of your qualifying experience or education, if needed.

Once L&I has your completed application and supporting documentation, the agency will do one of the following:


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