How to get an elevator mechanic license

Under state law, L&I issues elevator mechanic licenses in nine different categories, ranging from a general license that certifies a mechanic for any kind of work on any type of conveyance, to limited licenses that allow the mechanic to work on specific types of equipment and/or limits the timeframe in which they can do the work.

Elevator Mechanic License Minimum Qualifications. (25 KB PDF)

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. Review the elevator mechanic license categories and their detailed descriptions below and decide which category(s) of license you wish to apply for.
3. Print the application for each category you wish to apply for. They are available on each of the following pages. Note: Each category you apply for requires a separate application form and fee.

• (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 Elevators, 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 5) Material Lifts.
• (Category 6) Residential Wheelchair Lifts, Residential Dumbwaiters and Residential Incline Chairlifts.
• (Category 7) Residential Inclined Elevators.
• (Category 8) Employees of public agencies performing maintenance only on their employer’s conveyances.
• (Category 9) Temporary Licensed Elevator Mechanic.
  This license is only for:
  • Employees of licensed elevator contractors.
  • Specific equipment and geographic areas.
  • 30 days in length.
• 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 each application form.
• Pay the application fee and submit your application and documentation.
  There are three ways you can do this:
• Pay online via L&I’s Get or Renew a License (QuickCards) system using these links.
• Categories 1-8 pay for your license here: Application and License fee of $164.00, with $109.40 (minus a $32.70 processing fee) refundable to you if you do not currently qualify for a license. An additional $164.10 fee is required if you must take an exam to receive your license.
• Category 9 pay for your license here: Application fee is $27.20.
• 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 your application fee (and exam fee if needed), your completed application and your experience/education documentation to L&I's elevator program at the address indicated on the application form. Payment can by made by 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) and submit your completed application and experience/education documentation. You can pay by check, money order, or credit card.

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:

• Send you a license if you are eligible.
  You will receive a certificate and a license card.
• Notify you that you need to take an examination, as well as when and where that exam will next be held.
• Let you know that you may not take the examination until you get additional training and/or experience.

Elevator Mechanic License Minimum Qualifications. (25 KB PDF)

Do you need to take the exam?

Depending on your background and level of appropriate experience, you may 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 and the National Association of Elevator Contractors (CET/CAT) Training Program.
• 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 conveyances in Categories 1-8 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.

About the exam

The examination will be an open-book examination and will consist of approximately 100 to 150 multiple-choice questions.

A score of at least 80 percent is required to pass. Examinations shall be held at locations and times when considered necessary by the department.

Please contact the Elevator Section directly to schedule a test.

Applicants should prepare for the exam by studying the following:

• ASME A17.1-2000, ASME A17.1A 2002, and ASME A17.1B 2003 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators.
• ASME A18.1-1999 and ASME A18.1a-2001 addenda, Safety Standard for Platform Lifts and Stairway Chairlifts.
• Revised Code of Washington Chapter 70.87 (68 KB PDF) - Elevators, lifting devices, and moving walks.
• Washington Administrative Code section 296-96 (636 KB PDF / 1.8 min) - Safety regulations and fees for all elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators and other conveyances.
• National Electrical Code 2002.
• Elevator Industry Field Employees’ Safety Handbook.
• Installation Manual, basic field practices for installation of elevators and escalators.
• Policy to clarify the minimum qualifications an applicant needs in order to test for an elevator mechanic license (25 KB PDF).

Please bring these materials with you to the examination. The department will not supply reference materials for the exam.

Continuing Education is required for renewal

For an elevator mechanic licensed in Categories 1-8 to renew their license, they must have attended an approved continuing education course and submitted a certificate of completion for the course by the time they submit their application for renewal.

The course must consist of not less than eight hours of instruction that must have been attended and completed within one year immediately preceding any license renewal.

Current list of Approved Providers for Elevator Continuing Education classes. (33 KB PDF)

Elevator Mechanic License Minimum Qualifications. (25 KB PDF)

How to renew your elevator mechanic's license

What you need to know

Elevator mechanic's license (in Categories 1-8)

If you are licensed as an elevator mechanic in Categories 1-8, your renewal date is two years from the date of your birthday.

The initial license may be for a shorter period as follows. If your birth year is:

• In an even-numbered year, your certificate will expire on your birth date in the next even-numbered year.
• In an odd-numbered year, your certificate will expire on your birth date in the next odd-numbered year.

As part of the renewal process you must:

• Download and complete the application.
• Have attended an approved continuing education course. You must submit a certificate of completion for the course with your application for license renewal. The course must consist of not less than eight hours of instruction that must have been attended and completed within one year immediately preceding any license renewal.
• Pay the fees as listed below and on the Licensing Fees page:
  • Timely -- The fee is $109.40 if the renewal application is received on or prior to the expiration date of the license.
  • Late -- The fee is $218.90 if the application for renewal is received no later than 90 days after the expiration of the licenses. If the application is not received within 90 days of license expiration, the licensee must reapply and pass the competency examination.

Temporary Elevator Mechanic's license (Category 9)

The renewal period for a Temporary Elevator Mechanic's license (Category 9) is 30 days.

If you want to renew your temporary license, before the end of the 30-day license period you must:

• Download and complete another application.
• Pay another $27.20 fee to the department.

What you need 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. Download and complete the application for the type of license you need to renew. (See above.)
3. Gather the supporting documentation to verify your continuing education.
   You will need to attach this information when you submit your application. Detailed information about how to do this is included with each application form.
4. Pay the renewal fee and submit your application and documentation.
   There are three ways you can do this:
   • Pay online via L&I’s Get or Renew a License (QuickCards) system using this link.
   • Then mail your completed application and education documentation to L&I's elevator program at the address indicated on the application form.
     — OR —
   • Mail your application fee, your completed application and your education documentation to L&I's elevator program at the address indicated on the application form. Payment can by made by check or money order.
     — OR —
   • Go to one of L&I's 20 service locations where you can pay your application fee and submit your completed application and education documentation. You can pay by check, money order or credit card.

What L&I will do

Once L&I has received your completed application for renewal and documentation of continuing education, the agency will do one of the following:

• Send you a new license if you are eligible.
  You will receive a certificate and a license card.
• Let you know why your application for renewal is being denied and what you need to do about it.

License Fees — New and Renewal

These fees apply to the process for elevator contractors and elevator mechanics getting licensed or getting their licenses renewed.

Effective July 1, 2007

* Reciprocity application is only allowed for applicants who are applying for licensing based upon possession of a valid icense that was obtained in state(s) with which the department has a reciprocity agreement.

** Renewals will be considered "timely" when the renewal application is received on or prior to the expiration date of the license.

*** Late renewal is for renewal applications received no later than ninety days after the expiration of the licenses. If the application is not received within ninety days from license expiration, the licensee must reapply and pass the competency examination.

**** The fee is paid directly to the continuing education training course provider approved by the department.