Qualified Elevator Inspector Training Fund Certification Program Highlights

Through the Qualified Elevator Inspector Training Fund (QEITF)’s Certified Elevator Inspector (CEI) program, experienced elevator mechanics from the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) and other eligible elevator technicians can become qualified as elevator inspectors or elevator inspector supervisors.

QEITF offers training and certification programs that are accredited under ISO/IEC 17024: 2012 by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)’s National Accreditation Board (ANAB) to certify elevator inspectors to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASME QEI-1 Standard for the Qualification of Elevator Inspectors. QEITF developed these programs to set a standard of knowledge and distinguish elevator inspectors and inspector supervisors who have shown they have the skill and competence to perform the requirements of the job.

To earn their certification, applicants must meet all of the eligibility requirements in effect at the time they apply, and then pass the examination. Eligibility requirements for certification as an elevator inspector include:

  • High school or GED diploma;
  • Five years of supervised experience in the elevator trade (including an 8,000-hour national apprenticeship program and one year of post-apprenticeship experience);
  • Passing score on the National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP) Mechanic Exam or an equivalent;
  • Completion of a training course on the use of current relevant elevator codes and standards;
  • Code of Conduct/Ethics attestation.

All applicants for the elevator inspector supervisor certification must:

  • Hold the Certified Elevator Inspector certification at the time of application.
  • Submit an Employer Verification Form completed by current and/or previous employer(s) to verify:
    1. The applicant’s aptitude for leadership, administration, and management.
    2. The applicant’s demonstrated ability to perform the administrative and technical job duties of an Inspector Supervisor.
    3. Five (5) years of experience as a certified elevator inspector. (Advanced education, such as technical school, college, or a degree in engineering, may reduce the number of required years by one to three years as determined by the program’s evaluation of the candidate’s academic accomplishments.
  • Code of Conduct/Ethics attestation

Candidates for certification are responsible for submitting documents or other evidence which demonstrate their compliance with these pre-requisite standards.

Once the registration process is complete, candidates for certification will receive a packet with information on how to prepare for the class and where and how they can purchase the codes and standards books they will need in advance of the course. This packet will also provide helpful guidelines to quickly access the most important sections of each code book, recommend specific sections for advance review, and provide practice questions to get them comfortable with the format of the exam before beginning the course.

Throughout the year, intensive training and examination sessions are held near QEITF headquarters in Columbia, Maryland, and elsewhere in the country. During the week-long in-person training and certification program, elevator constructors are removed from their normal day-to-day distractions – making it easier to focus their attention on learning how to navigate the code books quickly and accurately.

The training sessions are structured as follows: during the first four days, experienced instructors guide students through the course content. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions and to challenge a series of computer-based practice tests that will give their instructors instant feedback with regard to their progress. This process allows instructors to tailor one-on-one support to the areas that will help each student the most. The limited class size ensures that students will get all of the individual attention they need to succeed. Once the training is complete, the eight-hour certification exam is administered on the fifth day.

As soon as an elevator mechanic receives their certification as a qualified elevator inspector, they are fully prepared to perform inspections and report their findings to their respective authority having jurisdiction. And beyond the initial training and certification, the QEITF program provides ongoing support for code-related questions and assists certificate holders with the continuing education they will be required to complete to maintain and renew their certification.

Throughout the United States and Canada, CEI elevator inspectors and elevator inspector supervisors are recognized as respected code experts who are an asset to the companies they work for and the owners of the equipment they service, as well as the other tradespeople who work alongside them.

Are you an elevator mechanic who is considering earning your certification as a Certified Elevator Inspector? Courses, classes, examination dates, locations, and more information is available on the QEITF website at www.qeitf.org.

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