Frequently Asked Questions
| Topic | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Elevator Training Course Provider Application Process | Does the Department approve initial elevator course training providers (elevator contractor, elevator inspection contractor, elevator mechanic, accessibility life technician, elevator inspector)? | No, the Department is only approving training providers who are interested in being certified as New York State-approved elevator continuing education (refresher). Individuals who are interested in pursuing initial elevator courses should consult the various national organizations and/or other avenues for training and certification requirements. |
| Elevator Training Course Provider Application Process | Is there a fee to become a Department-approved continuing education training provider? | Yes. The Department requires a non-refundable application fee of $500 to be submitted at the time the application is made. There is a $100 fee for revisions to the technical contents of a previously approved course. Checks must be made payable to the Commissioner of Labor. |
| Elevator Training Course Provider Application Process | What are criteria that the Department uses to qualify instructors? |
The Department is looking for instructors with elevator-related experience and/or education. To be considered for approval, instructors must satisfy either condition (A) or (B): A) At least five (5) years of experience in construction, alteration, modification, maintenance or repair of elevators/conveyances as defined in NYS Labor Law Article 33, Section 950(1) AND one of the following:
B) A professional engineer who is in good standing with a valid license having five (5) years’ experience in the elevator/conveyances industry as defined in NYS Labor Law Article 33, Section 950(1). In the resume, instructors should highlight these work, training, and academic experiences along with their elevator certificates or licenses to justify how they are best qualified to be instructors. |
| Elevator Training Course Provider Application Process | Is there a required media format for the application submission to the Department? | Yes. The Department requires that the initial application be submitted in hard copy. Depending on the level of revision required for the course work, the reviewer will advise the training provider if an exception can be made for electronic submissions for subsequent revisions. The finalized version of the approved application must be submitted in the PDF format. |
| Elevator Training Course Provider Application Process | How long does it take for the Department to review my application for approval? | The application approval process varies depending on the number of applications received and the amount of revision that is required for each application. Because of this, it is difficult to give a time frame for application review. |
| Elevator Training Course Provider Application Process | After the Department approves a training provider, what are the next steps? |
The Department will maintain a list of approved training providers and their respective websites on the Approved Elevator Continuing Education Training Course Providers. Interested members of the public who wish to enroll in a class can contact the elevator training provider directly for more information. Please note that the list of approved training providers is subject to change and will be updated periodically. |
| Elevator Training Provider Class and Course Instruction | What is the minimum time required to inform the Department before holding a class? | The training provider shall inform the Department ([email protected]) using the Department’s notification form at least one week before the class is scheduled to begin. |
| Elevator Training Provider Class and Course Instruction | What is the maximum number of students that a training provider can accept for a class? | The Department does not limit the number of students admitted for a class. However, the training provider must be mindful of the factors that could affect the student's comfort and ability to observe the class properly. The training provider must also be able to supervise the students and respond to questions efficiently. The occupancy limit for the chosen venue must not be exceeded. |
| Elevator Training Provider Class and Course Instruction | Is there a required student-instructor ratio? | No. The Department does not set limits for the student-instructor ratio. Classes should be organized so that each student can properly observe the class and hands-on demonstrations. The training provider should also set aside adequate amount of time for class discussions and questions. The Department recommends a ratio of 25 students for each instructor for course lectures. |
| Elevator Training Provider Class and Course Instruction | Can a training provider teach the class in a different language? |
Yes. Training providers that organize classes conducted in a language other than English shall submit a full translation of required application materials in English. This includes, but is not limited to, agendas, class notes, transparencies, and manuals. In the SH-115 application, training providers must check the box “Approval for Revisions to the Technical Contents of a Previously Approved Course” and pay an application fee of $100 for each non-English language offering. |
| Elevator Training Provider Class and Course Instruction | As a New York State certified training provider, am I required to provide a hard copy of the Certificate of Completion to my students? Are other media formats allowed as the Certificate of Completion? | Yes. The Department recommends that a paper copy of the certificate be provided to students who have provided a DMV ID number and successfully passed the course. To facilitate elevator licensing applications, the Department would allow electronic certificates to be sent to the students in an Adobe Acrobat format (.pdf files). Should a training provider choose to use both electronic and paper copies, the certificate should be identical in format and information. |
| Elevator Training Provider Class and Course Instruction | How long should a student’s record be kept by the training provider? | The Department requires that student's training records be kept for a minimum of three years. |
| Elevator Training Provider Class and Course Instruction | Are training providers required to verify the identities of the students in the elevator courses? | Yes. Training providers must verify the identities of the students using their Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) driver license or non-driver ID upon course registration and sign-in. If a student does not have either document, his/her identity should be verified using another form of photo identification. |
| Elevator Training Provider Class and Course Instruction | Is a DMV ID number required to obtain an elevator license? | Yes. A DMV ID number is required to renew a DOL elevator license. The DMV ID number is the link between the training record and the licensing application and issuance. It also protects against fraud and reduces errors on submitted certificates. |
| Elevator Training Provider Class and Course Instruction | Can Certificates of Completion be issued to students without a DMV ID number? | No. Certificates of Completion should not be issued to students until they provide their DMV ID number to the training provider. |
| Elevator Training Provider Class and Course Instruction | What must a training provider do if students provide their corrected DMV ID numbers after the certificates of completion have been issued? |
When students provide their corrected DMV ID numbers, the training provider must update the attendance record sheet and send it to the Department as soon as possible. Revised certificates of completion with the corrected DMV ID number must also be sent to the affected students. An incorrect DMV ID number in the certificate of completion for the affected student could potentially delay the licensing issuance for the student. The attendance record sheet also provides direct verification of students’ attendances in case there is a discrepancy. |
| Elevator Training Provider Class and Course Instruction | What should a training provider do if a class is canceled? | If a class is canceled, the training provider must notify the Department via email at [email protected] by the first day on which the class was to be held. The training provider should at minimum specify the company name and the canceled class date(s). |
| Elevator Training Provider Class and Course Instruction | Should training provider submit the class attendance record to the Department at the completion of each class? | Yes, training providers are required to submit the class attendance record to the Department at the completion of each class. |
| Elevator Training Provider Class and Course Instruction | When is the class attendance record due to the Department? | The class attendance record in PDF format is due to the Department via email at [email protected] within one week from the completion of the training course. It is important that the attendance records are emailed to the Department within that timeframe to avoid delays in the processing the student elevator license applications. |
| Elevator Training Provider Ethics | Can a training provider endorse a specific company to provide elevator-related services or product during training? | No. The training provider should present unbiased knowledge and technical information when discussing services and products. Advantages and disadvantages should be presented without specific reference to companies for each method or technique. |
| Elevator Training Provider Ethics | Can training providers be the owners of their own elevator services company? | Yes, if the training provider does not endorse his or her company or appear to be biased towards the services provided by the company. |
| Elevator Refresher Training | Are there different elevator refresher courses for each elevator license type? | The refresher course curriculum and required number of hours is the same for all elevator license types (elevator inspector, elevator mechanics and accessibility lift technicians). |
| Elevator Refresher Training | Where can I find the elevator refresher course curriculum? | The elevator refresher course curriculum may be found in the Elevator and Other Conveyances Continuing Education Course Curriculum Information (SH-118). |
| Elevator Refresher Training | Are training providers required to give an examination and/or hands-on exercises for the elevator refresher course? | No. An examination and hands-on exercises are not required; however, students are expected to participate and contribute to the group discussion forum. Topics for this forum includes, but is not limited to, dangers of construction, installation, inspection, testing, maintenance, alteration, service, or repair of elevator/conveyances. |
| Elevator Refresher Training | Can the elevator refresher courses be conducted online? | Yes. Training providers who wish to offer an online elevator refresher course must meet the requirements of a live online course. Additional requirements for an online refresher course can be found in the Online Elevator Refresher Course Requirements (SH116). |
| Elevator Refresher Training | What is the application fee for a training provider who wishes to apply for both a classroom- based and an online elevator refresher course? | The total non-refundable application fee for the two elevator refresher courses would be $1,000, based on a $500 fee for the classroom-based course and another $500 fee for the online course. |
| Elevator Refresher Training | Can unlicensed individuals take an elevator refresher course? | Training providers have discretion over who is allowed to attend their elevator refresher training courses; however, they must inform the individuals of the requirements for elevator licensure and provide them with the Department's contact information prior to registration. |
| Elevator Refresher Training | Has the Department approved any third-party training materials and/or training aides which are specifically tailored for the elevator refresher course curriculum? | No. The Department has not approved or endorsed materials from any publishing companies. |
| Training Logistics for Elevator License Renewal | When is a New York State Department of Labor elevator continuing education courses not required for license renewal? |
For elevator mechanics: Active certifications from the National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC) as a Certified Technician (CET). For elevator inspectors: Active certifications from the National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities (NAESA) as a qualified elevator inspector (QEI), or if they have industry certifications issued by the Qualified Elevator Inspector Training Fund (QEITF). For accessibility lift technicians: Active certifications from the National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC) as a certified accessibility and private residence lift technician (CAT) or certified elevator technician (CET). |
| Training Logistics for Elevator License Renewal | What are the refresher training requirements for licensees who are currently in possession of a valid license? |
For licenses issued from December 1, 2021, to July 31, 2023, only the first renewal of the license does not require continuing education courses. For all licenses or renewals issued on or after August 1, 2023, the licensee must have taken two approved 8-hour refresher courses at least 12 months apart during the term of their licensure before the license can be renewed. For example, if an individual receives an elevator license renewal on August 31, 2023, and takes the first refresher course on September 15, 2023, the second refresher course must be taken after September 15, 2024. If the second refresher course is taken before September 15, 2024, it will not count towards the Department’s training requirements for license renewal. |
| Training Logistics for Elevator License Renewal | What happens if elevator licensees allow their licenses to lapse but have taken their annual 8- hour refresher courses at least 12 months apart since the start of their last licensure period? |
Their elevator licenses are no longer valid after the expiration date, and the individual or company cannot perform work on an elevator project until their licenses are renewed. If their licenses have lapsed for less than or exactly one year from the expiration date, their licenses can be reinstated by submitting the application package and non-refundable fee and the new expiration date will be advanced two years from the original expiration date (not from the date of receipt of the renewal application). For example, if a license expired on August 1, 2025, and the applicant submits the renewal application late on November 1, 2025, the new expiration date will be August 1, 2027 (not November 1, 2027). If their licenses have lapsed for more than one year from the expiration date, the applicant will be issued a license renewal with an expiration date two years from the date their application is approved. For example, if a license expired on August 1, 2025, and the applicant submits the renewal application late on November 1, 2026, and their application is approved on December 15, 2026, the new expiration date will be December 15, 2028. |
| Training Logistics for Elevator License Renewal | What happens if elevator licensees who are required to take continuing education courses did not take their annual 8-hour refresher courses at least 12 months apart since the start of their last licensure period when they apply for license renewal? | Applicants will still need to fulfill the Department’s refresher training requirements for two (2) eight-hour continuing education courses before submitting their license renewals. The Department will review their applications and notify them if additional requirements are needed. |
| Training Logistics for Elevator License Renewal | Are there different elevator refresher courses for each elevator license type? | The refresher course curriculum and required number of hours is the same for all elevator license types that require continuing education (elevator inspector, elevator mechanics and accessibility lift technicians). |
| Training Logistics for Elevator License Renewal | Does the Department accept elevator refresher training courses obtained from other States for New York State license renewals? | No, there is currently no reciprocity in refresher training courses obtained from other states for those licensees who are required to take continuing education courses for New York State. |