How to become an elevator mechanic

To become an elevator mechanic (formally an elevator constructor) in a union shop, you apply to an IUEC apprenticeship when your local recruits, pass the Elevator Industry Aptitude Test (EIAT), score well in an interview, and are hired off a ranked list into a paid apprenticeship of about four years. No degree or prior experience is required, but places are limited and competition is strong.

Entry requirements

NEIEP, which runs the IUEC's apprenticeship education, lists these requirements:

• At least 17 years old to apply, and 18 to be registered by the local Joint Apprenticeship Committee (JAC).
• A high school diploma or equivalent (GED) at the time of hire. NEIEP says applications missing documentation will not be accepted, so have yours ready.
• Authorized to work in the United States.
• Pass the EIAT (NEIEP lists a $25 testing fee) and the interview.

No prior elevator experience or training is required. NEIEP says apprentices learn on the job and in the NEIEP classroom.

The steps

1. Find a recruitment

You cannot apply to an IUEC local at any time. NEIEP says recruitments are held after everyone on the current list has been hired, or when the list expires every two years. Each local runs its own. See how to apply for an IUEC apprenticeship.

2. Apply quickly

Some recruitments cap applications. The Northwest Labor Press reported that Local 23 in Portland hit its limit of 750 applications in less than 36 hours in July 2025.

3. Take the EIAT

100 multiple-choice questions on paper: 35 reading comprehension, 35 mechanical aptitude and 30 math. It is pass/fail, with 70% the minimum passing grade. See the EIAT explained.

4. Tool assessment

NEIEP says correct responses on the tool assessment count toward your final interview score. See the tool assessment guide.

5. Interview

Two JAC members, one from the IUEC and one from the employer side, interview you using standardized questions and a common rubric. NEIEP puts the average length at 15 to 20 minutes. Your interview score sets your rank on the hiring list. See the interview guide.

6. Get hired off the list

NEIEP says companies with open apprentice positions hire from the list in ranked order. Being on the list is not the same as being hired: in Local 23's 2023 cycle, 224 applicants made it through the process and about 65 were hired, according to the Northwest Labor Press.

The apprenticeship

BLS describes the career as typically beginning with a four-year apprenticeship; NEIEP describes its program as four to five years, combining full-time paid work under supervision with NEIEP classes. There is no out-of-pocket cost to attend school as an apprentice, according to NEIEP's FAQ.

What the job pays

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics gives a median annual wage of $109,910 (May 2025) for elevator and escalator installers and repairers. Apprentices start on a share of the mechanic rate: BLS says usually about 50%, and NEIEP's FAQ says typically 40 to 50% in the first year, rising each year. Details in elevator mechanic salary and apprentice pay.

How competitive is it?

It is a small trade. BLS counts about 24,700 jobs in 2025, and NEIEP describes the IUEC as supporting over 27,000 members. Apprentice places depend on how much work contractors have, not on how many good applicants apply. Treat the EIAT as something to clear with margin, and the interview as the part that decides your outcome.

Where to start

Find the local that covers your area and when it next recruits (NEIEP's recruitment page is the place to start). While you wait, prepare for the test: free timed samples of every section are on our EIAT practice page.