Education · 1 of 4

The path

Get in, and you are set. Getting in is the hard part, because lists open rarely and everybody wants a spot.

1. 1

   High school diploma

   Grade 12

   A diploma or equivalent is required at hire. Algebra, physics and shop all help. You must be 17 to apply and 18 to register as an apprentice.

2. 2

   Apply when a local list opens

   Months to years of waiting

   Applications go through a local of the International Union of Elevator Constructors, and some locals open the list only every year or two. There is an aptitude test and an interview.

3. 3

   Apprenticeship

   4 to 5 years

   Four to five years, with about 2,000 hours of supervised full-time work a year plus 100 to 200 classroom hours a year through the National Elevator Industry Educational Program.

4. 4

   Mechanic exam

   At the end of the apprenticeship

   After finishing the curriculum and accumulating 8,000 working hours, you become eligible to sit the mechanic exam.

5. 5

   State license

   After the exam

   Most states require a licensed elevator mechanic to do this work, and many accept the national mechanic exam toward it.