Education · 1 of 4
The path
A 4-year union apprenticeship plus a provincial licence. The hard part is getting in.
- 1
High school diploma
Grade 12
Grade 12 with math and physics. Many successful applicants also have an electrical or mechanical college program or trade experience.
- 2
Apply to the union
Months to years
IUEC (International Union of Elevator Constructors) Local 50 serves the Greater Toronto Area; other locals cover the rest of Canada. Intakes open rarely, draw far more applicants than spots, and include an aptitude test and interview.
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Register as a mechanic in training
Days
In Ontario you take a safety workshop from an accredited trainer, then register with TSSA (Technical Standards and Safety Authority) as an EDM-T (elevating devices mechanic in training), and with Skilled Trades Ontario as an apprentice.
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Work and study
4 years
8,000 hours in Ontario: 7,280 on the job with an elevator company plus 720 hours of classroom training, delivered through the union's own course modules in the evenings or in blocks. Installation, hydraulics, motors, controls, wiring and safety codes.
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Licence
After your hours
Pass the TSSA (Technical Standards and Safety Authority) provincial knowledge exam to hold the EDM-A (elevating devices mechanic, class A) licence in Ontario. Skilled Trades Ontario has no certifying exam for this trade; the TSSA exam is the gate. Other provinces license through their own safety authorities.