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Elevator Worker FAQ

Examinations, Certification and General Information

Q: What are the requirements for taking an exam in order to receive a Certificate of Competency?

A: The procedures for taking an exam are established by the authorized examination providers. You should contact the authorized providers to determine those procedures. The Bureau of Elevator Safety will issue a license to candidates who have successfully completed all licensure requirements. Please note that passing an exam is not a guarantee that a license will be issued.

Currently, the Bureau recognizes a minimum of four years of verified work experience in the construction, maintenance, service and repair of elevators and successfully passing one of the following examinations as a standard to qualify for an elevator Certificate of Competency (CC) as defined in Section 399.01(17), Florida Statutes:

• National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP) Elevator Mechanics Certification examination,
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Qualified Elevator Inspector (QEI) examination,
• National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC) Certified Elevator Technician examination, and
• Prometric offers the Certificate of Competency examination and the wheelchair lift examination.
  

If you have successfully passed an examination offered by an approved source and qualify for a Certificate of Competency, you should complete for DBPR HR-7014, Application for Certificate of Competency, and submit it to the Bureau. The application form is on the division’s website. The Bureau will verify applicant eligibility with the testing source.

 

Q: Who determines if I am qualified to take an examination?

A: Contact the Bureau of Elevator Safety concerning eligibility and authorization to take the exam and instructions for a registration packet.

 

Q: Which exam must I take in order to meet partial requirements for a Certificate of Competency?

A: Any of the examinations listed above.

 

Q: Which exam must I take in order to become a Certified Elevator Inspector?

A: The QEI exam offered by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

 

Q: Which exam must I take to become a Certified Wheelchair Lift Technician?

A: The wheelchair lift exam offered by Prometric.

 

Q: What evidence/materials must I produce to apply for a Certificate of Competency?

A: You must submit form DBPR HR-7014, Application for Certificate of Competency, proof of a minimum of four years verified work experience in the construction, maintenance, service, and repair of elevators, a document certifying you have successfully passed an approved examination, and a check or money order for $50.00 payable to the Bureau of Elevator Safety.

 

Q: Is there a required ratio of Certified Elevator Technicians to elevator helpers?

A: No. Florida Statutes are silent on this issue.

 

Q: Why do Certified Elevator Technicians have to buy liability insurance?

A: Chapter 399.01(17), Florida Statutes, states: " Each certified elevator technician must annually register with the division and maintain general liability insurance coverage in the minimum amounts set by the division." The Bureau interprets "maintain" to mean, "having insurance coverage, either individually or through a company…"

 

Q: When may aspiring technicians take the examination?

A: Whenever they meet the qualifications set forth by Florida Statute.

 

Q: If a person fails an exam can he or she retake the exam?

A: Yes. However, there may be additional fees imposed by the examination provider.

 

Q: Why do Certified Elevator Technicians have to buy liability insurance?

A: Chapter 399.01(17), Florida Statutes, states: "Each certified elevator technician must annually register with the division and be covered by general liability insurance coverage in the minimum amounts set by the division."

Q: Must a Certificate of Competency holder be physically present at the job site in order to supervise an elevator helper?

A: Elevator helpers, including mechanics, who do not possess a certificate of competency may continue to construct, maintain, service and repair any vertical conveyance under the direct supervision of a Certificate of Competency holder who may also be a Certified Elevator Technician or Certified Elevator Inspector.  “Direct supervision” means a certificate of competency holder supervising an elevator helper as set forth in section 399.01(16), Florida Statutes, is within physical proximity of the person being directly supervised such that timely observation and evaluation of the work being performed is facilitated to ensure the work is completed in accordance with applicable statutory and administrative code requirements.

 

Q: Must a custom elevator cab manufacturer, when working as a subcontractor, have a Certificate of Competency holder physically on the job site?

A: Florida statutes do not define a "custom cab manufacturer." A subcontractor working for a contractor who holds a certificate of competency would be considered to be under the direct supervision of a certificate of competency holder.

 

Q: Must a Certificate of Competency holder be present for the inspection process?

A: Section 399.03(5), Florida Statutes, states “Before any vertical conveyance is used, except those in a private residence, it must be inspected by a certified elevator inspector not employed, associated, or having a conflict of interest with the elevator construction permit holder or elevator owner and certified as meeting the safety provisions of the Florida Building Code, including the performance of all required safety tests. The certified elevator inspector shall provide the original copy of the inspection report to the department within 5 days after the inspection. A certificate of operation may not be issued until the permit holder provides an affidavit signed by the construction supervisor attesting that the supervisor directly supervised the construction or installation of the elevator.”

 

Q: What is the time allowed before a follow-up inspection can be made when a violation is cited?

A: Section 399.061(4), Florida Statutes, provides that when the division determines that an elevator is in violation of this chapter, the division may issue an order to the elevator owner requiring corrections. Section 399.105, Florida Statutes, provides further that an elevator owner who fails to comply with that order within 30 days of its issuance is subject to administrative fine. The Division’s order requiring correction will contain a directive that the owner must comply within 30 days of the order date.

 

Q: Can a Certificate of Competency holder do routine inspections under the supervision of a Qualified Elevator Inspector (QEI) or does the inspector have to be a QEI?

A: Section 399.01(14), Florida Statutes, provides that only a Certified Elevator Inspector can perform inspections and that to be a CEI, the individual must have attained national QEI certification.

 

Q: How can I bring in help from out of state in times of special need and get them authorized to work in Florida?

A: Florida statutes define elevator workers in three ways: Elevator Helpers, Certified Elevator Technicians (certificate of competency holders) and Certified Elevator Inspectors (CC and QEI holders). Elevator mechanics who have not yet received a certificate of competency may construct, maintain, service, or repair any vertical conveyance under the direct supervision of a certificate of competency holder [pursuant to Section 399.01(16) Florida Statutes, definition of an elevator helper]. "Direct supervision" means a certificate of competency holder supervising an elevator helper as set forth in Section 399.01(16), Florida Statutes.

 

Q: Can the division authorize a licensed mechanical engineer to be a certified elevator inspector?

A: Yes. Section 399.01(17)(b), Florida Statutes, states: "A licensed mechanical engineer whose license is in good standing may be granted an elevator certificate of competency."

 

Q: Who performs initial inspections?

A: Certified Elevator Inspectors.

 

Q: Is the certificate of operation holder responsible for hiring inspectors?

A: The following provisions of Chapter 399, Florida Statutes, are pertinent to this question. With regard to existing elevators, Section 399.02(5)(b), Florida Statutes, provides that the elevator owner is responsible for the safe operation, proper maintenance, inspection, and correction of code deficiencies of the elevator after the department issues a certificate of operation. The responsibilities of the elevator owner may be assigned by lease.

"Operation and maintenance" would include responsibility for the annual inspections required by statute. Therefore, the owner may assign inspection responsibility as part of a service maintenance agreement, and the elevator company performing maintenance may contract for inspection as long as the inspector under contract is not employed by or otherwise associated with the elevator company arranging for inspection. With regard to new elevator installations or modifications, Section 399.03, Florida Statutes, provides that permits may be issued only to a person, firm, or corporation licensed under Ch. 399, Florida Statutes, and that the permit holder is responsible for certifying compliance with code in the presence of a licensed inspector not associated with the permit holder. There is no language that directs the elevator owner to personally arrange for inspection.

 

Q: May an elevator company arrange for an elevator inspection for an existing elevator?

A: Yes. However, the elevator owner must delegate the authority to contract for the inspection and there may be no conflict of interest created by employment or other association between the elevator company and inspector.

 

Q: Is a Certificate of Competency (CC) holder responsible for reporting a conveyance not in compliance with the code even if the CC is not working on the particular conveyance?

A: If a certificate of competency holder has knowledge of a circumstance where a conveyance is not in compliance with state law then that CC holder has a legal and professional obligation to report the unsafe condition to the department and the certificate of operation holder. Section 399.049(1), Florida Statutes, states: " The department may suspend or revoke an elevator inspector certification, an elevator company registration, an elevator certificate of competency, or an elevator certificate of operation issued under this chapter or impose an administrative penalty of up to $1,000 per violation upon any registered elevator company or certificate holder who commits any one or more of the following violations: (a) Any false statement as to a material matter in an application for registration, certification, or any permit or certificate issued under this chapter” and “(d)Violation of any provision of this chapter.”

 

Q: What is a "call back" inspection?

A: A "call back" inspection is any follow-up inspection to ascertain that cited violations have been corrected. Pursuant to Chapter 399, Florida Statutes, inspectors will provide copies of 399.061, Florida Statutes, inspections to the Bureau, and the Bureau will issue elevator owners orders to correct code violations and require proof of compliance. For minor violations, the Bureau may request a copy of an invoice within 30 days substantiating correction. For severe or numerous violations, the Bureau may require that the owner submit within 30 days a copy of a follow-up "call back" inspection documenting that the cited violations have been corrected. In some cases, the Bureau may perform its own "call back" inspection, e.g., where an owner has failed to correct within 30 days and administrative action is imminent.