CET Programs

The CET™ Candidate Program is a 4-year education program which is included in NAEC’s DOL approved National Guidelines for Apprenticeship Standards (C2011-03).

CET Programs = Nationally Recognized

The Certified Elevator Technician (CET®) Education Program is sponsored and administered by the National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC). The purpose of the CET® Education Program is to provide the elevator industry technical, mechanical, construction, and maintenance workforces with a means of obtaining and verifying critical education and training requirements related to compliance with industry codes, elevator and escalator specific technical theory, components, and competencies.

It is a program which spans four years and 12 courses of study. The program consists of two levels, the core curriculum (Courses 1-4) and the advanced curriculum (Courses 5- 12). In addition to unit exams given during the coursework, an exam will be given at the completion of each level. Each course will include skills verifications related to the coursework. The skills must be completed in the presence of a CET or CET-S before going onto the next course.


The CET® Education Program is the nationally recognized training program included in NAEC’s National Guidelines for Apprenticeship Standards (C2011-03) approved by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship.

Once a candidate has met all requirements of the program and has passed the level 2 exam, he or she will be issued a certificate of completion.

Picture of Men Working In Elevator Shaft
Picture of a blue print
Picture of Workers Lined Up Smiling
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CET Applicant Handbook

Download the CET Applicant Handbook to view details about the application process

CET Program Timeframe

LEVEL 1

CET Year 1

Course 1 – Introduction to Elevators (Field Hrs. – 1,000) Class Hours
Unit 1: Elevator History and Basic Safety 35
Unit 2: Basic Print Reading 24
Unit 3: Handling Materials and Tools * Rigging and Hoisting 20
Course 2 – Basics of Installing Elevator Components (Field Hrs. – 1,000) Class Hours
Unit 4: Pit Equipment 25
Unit 5: Guide Rails 10
Unit 6: Machine Room Equipment 30
Unit 7: Hoistway Equipment 25

CET Year 2

Course 3 – Maintenance Practices and Testing (Field Hrs. – 1,000) Class Hours
Unit 8: General Maintenance Practices 22
Unit 9: Maintenance of Traction Elevators 30
Unit 10: Maintenance of Hydraulic Elevators 20
Unit 11: Maintenance of Escalators and Moving Walks 15
Course 4 – Electrical Safety and Electrical Theory (Field Hrs. – 1,000) Class Hours
Unit: Delmars Standard Textbook of Electricity (selected chapters), National Electrical Code 65

LEVEL 2 – ADVANCED CURRICULUM

The advanced level of Certification Education should take approximately two years and includes 290 classroom hours and 4,200 field hours.

CET Year 3

Course 5 – Elevator Doors and Equipment (Field Hrs. – 1,000) Class Hours
Unit 12: Elevator Doors and Equipment 30
Course 6 – Traction Elevators, Motor Control and Fault Finding (Field Hrs. – 1,400) Class Hours
Part 1: AC and DC Motors, Generators and Motor Control 65
Part 2: Elevator Related Circuits and Basic Circuit Analysis 40
Course 7 - Electrical Wiring and Equipment (Field Hrs. – 300) Class Hours
Unit 13: Construction, Wiring and Equipment 2
Course 8 – Hydraulic Theory and Installation (Field Hrs. – 400) Class Hours
Unit 14: Hydraulic Theory and Installation 35

CET Year 4

Course 9 – Basic Electronics and Fundamentals (Field Hrs. – 800) Class Hours
Unit 15: Study Questions and Skills for Electronics and Solid State 40
Course 10 – Machinery Troubleshooting and Rope Replacement (Field Hrs. – 400) Class Hours
Unit 16: Elevator Rope Replacement 6
Unit 17: Machinery Troubleshooting/Repair 24
Course 11 – Escalators and Moving Walks (Field Hrs. – 300) Class Hours
Unit 18: Escalators and Moving Walks 20
Course 12 – Accessibility (Field Hrs. – 300) Class Hours
Unit 19: Introduction to the Vertical Transportation Industry (CAT Unit 1) 20