NEIEP Help Center

When is the IUEC hiring?

The IUEC holds recruitments around the country based on the Local’s needs. Each Local manages their own recruitments. Recruitments are held after all the applicants on a recruitment list have been hired, or when the list expires every two years. Check the Apprenticeship Opportunities list on the NEIEP website to see where you can apply.

What are the minimum requirements to apply?

1. High School diploma, or equivalent (GED) at the time of hire
2. Applicants must be at least 17 years of age to apply, 18 years of age to be registered by the Local Joint Apprenticeship Committee
3. Must be authorized to work in the United States

How do I apply?

Go to the Apprenticeship Opportunities page of the NEIEP website and select the recruitment you would like to apply for. Make sure you have a copy of your high school diploma or equivalent credential before you begin your application. Applications that are missing documentation will not be accepted.

What happens after I submit my application?

Upon submission of the application, there are two more steps before one can be considered for the apprenticeship: the Elevator Industry Aptitude Test (EIAT) and an interview. There is a $25.00 testing fee for each testing applicant.

When is the application deadline?

Application deadlines will be provided in the recruitment advertisement and vary per recruitment.

Where do I send in my application?

Application materials, including the completed Apprenticeship application and a copy of your high school diploma, GED certificate, or equivalent are submitted online as indicated in the recruitment advertisement.

How much does being an IUEC apprentice/mechanic pay?

Rates vary across the country, but the median rate of pay for an IUEC Mechanic in 2020 was $88,540 per year, or $42.57 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rates will vary based on where the apprentice or mechanic are located and the kind of work they are doing. Apprentices make a percentage of the mechanic rate based on how much of their apprenticeship they have completed.

What if I have no experience?

Apprentices in the IUEC are paired with experienced mechanics in the field and the NEIEP classroom. No specific background is required to apply.

How do I find out if/when NEIEP will be at a career fair in my area?

Depending on the area, you may find career fair notifications in the local paper and/or community advertisements.

Where do I go for info about recruitment and industry/trade info?

You can find a list of upcoming recruitments and information on how to apply on the Apprenticeship Opportunities page of the NEIEP website.

Is there any study material for the EIAT?

Yes. Please click this link to access the NEIEP approved study guide. The EIAT assesses applicants on basic arithmetic, reading comprehension, mechanical comprehension, and general tool knowledge.

How do I find out my EIAT results?

You will be notified whether you passed or failed the Elevator Industry Aptitude Test. If you have received a passing score you will also receive instructions for the next steps to take to continue the recruitment process.

What happens if I fail the EIAT?

Applicants who fail the EIAT will not be interviewed and will be removed from the pool of applicants; however, they may re-apply during the next or subsequent recruitment period.

What score do I need to pass the EIAT?

The Elevator Industry Aptitude Test EIAT is scored on a pass/fail basis, with 70% correct being the minimum passing grade.

How do I become eligible for an interview?

Applicants who receive a score of 70% or higher on the aptitude test will be scheduled for an interview. Correct responses on the tool assessment will count toward the final score on the interview.

What can I expect during the interview?

Interviews are conducted by two members of the Joint Apprenticeship Committee (JAC), one from the IUEC and one from the Employer side. All applicants will be asked the same series of questions. On average interviews run from 15 to 20 minutes.

What can I do to rank higher during my interview?

The interview process is standardized across the country. No matter what recruitment you apply for you will be asked the same questions and be ranked using the same rubric.

Make sure to give detailed answers and use examples from your work and experience. Even if you do not have a mechanical or construction background, being able to give detailed relevant answers about your work experience and knowledge will highlight you as a great candidate.

What happens after my interview?

A candidate’s interview score will be the average of the scores provided by the two interviewers. The interview is scored on a pass/fail basis, with a score of 70% being the minimum passing score to receive a rank on the Local’s hiring list. Your ranking on the current hiring list is based upon your interview score.

What can I do to make myself a better candidate?

Be sure to highlight any relevant training such as trade school experience, construction experience, or mechanical knowledge during your interview. Completing certifications such as OSHA 10 or 30 are helpful, but do not guarantee you a better ranking. The IUEC is a highly-skilled, highly-collaborative trade where a huge variety of abilities are needed. Highlight your capability to work well with others, follow direction, and your desire to learn new skills.

If you do not have access to outside training, try finding a project you can work on where you build or fix something. Being able to highlight your troubleshooting process, problem solving skills, or mechanical ability will help you to stand out.

Is this a union job/what does union mean?

A trade union represents the collective interests of workers, bargaining with employers to negotiate the best wages and working conditions for its members. Trade unions have local chapters, each of which obtains a charter from the national-level organization. For elevator constructors, that organization is the International Union of Elevator Constructors (the IUEC). The apprenticeship is administered by NEIEP as a trust fund established through collective bargaining between the union and signatory companies. Apprenticeship with the IUEC means that you are in training to become a union elevator constructor.

The National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP) is a joint labor-management educational trust fund serving the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) and the employers who employ its members. Apprentices will work with a mechanic to get on-the-job training and go to class one night per week for four hours. Students will attend classes, learning everything from safety to electrical, where they can take the information they learned in the classroom and apply it in the field. After successful completion of all classes and on the job learning hours, apprentices are eligible to take the mechanic exam.

Because of collective bargaining, union apprenticeships offer amazing benefits.

• Higher Salary and Benefits – Union workers command higher wages on average compared to non-union workers. Unions also use their collective bargaining power to pave the way for better salaries, pensions, health insurance, sick pay, overtime, and more.
• Job Security – Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of joining a union is job security. Unlike non-union workers who are hired “at will,” union workers can only be fired after an employer proves they have “just cause” to do so.
• Safety – Union trade workers have better access to training and education, which makes them safer workers. Study after study has shown that workers in union workplaces are less likely to suffer a fatal on-the-job accident compared to non-union workers.

What does apprenticeship mean?

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Does the IUEC offer pre-apprenticeship?

The IUEC does not currently offer a pre-apprenticeship program.

When and where do I start school?

Once you are hired as an IUEC apprentice you will start your schooling with the National Elevator Industry Educational Program. During your first six months you will complete an online curriculum focused on safety and the history of the IUEC.

Each semester consists of 72 hours of training with a NEIEP instructor. The 72 hours are spread out over 18 weeks, with students attending class in person for four hours one night a week. Each semester includes lecture, discussion, lab work, unit exams, homework, and a final exam.

After passing all eight semesters, apprentices become eligible to take the Mechanic’s Exam, a capstone exam that assesses comprehension and proficiency from all eight semesters of the NEIEP program. Apprentices who pass this exam become full-fledged IUEC Mechanics.

If I have experience as an electrician or mechanic, can I test out of some of the NEIEP material for quicker educational advancement?

Previous experience may be considered and must be discussed during the interview process. All prior experience considerations must be arranged prior to signing an apprenticeship agreement.

What if I am a veteran?

Check out the Helmets to Hardhats website to learn more.

How much does school cost?

About the College Partnership Program

What does an apprentice do/what does a mechanic do?

IUEC apprentices and mechanics are responsible for assembling, installing, and replacing elevators, escalators, dumbwaiters, moving walkways and similar equipment in new and old buildings. Elevator constructors also maintain and repair this equipment and modernize older equipment.

Jobs in construction and modernization will mainly focus on assembling new equipment, installing machinery, and following a building plan.

Other roles, such as repair and service, will require troubleshooting and problem solving. Electrical and mechanical issues are common in elevator service.

The IUEC’s apprenticeship program prepares its members for all different kinds of work in the elevator industry.

What are the job requirements for an apprentice?

This description is intended to describe the general content, identify the essential functions, and set forth the requirements for performance of this job.  Other duties may be assigned, and this is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements.

1. Manually loads, unloads, and moves materials, equipment, and tools from vehicles to work areas.  Requires lifting parts weighing up to 100 lbs.
2. Manually cleans elevator car tops, machine rooms, pits, rails, and hoistways within non-controlled climate field setting.
3. Manually paints machine rooms and pit.
4. Uses periods of high concentration and knowledge of elevator systems to assist Mechanic in electrical and mechanical installation, repair or service operations.  Requires following written or verbal directions of mechanic and/or field superintendent.  Requires color perception to distinguish color-coded wiring components.
5. Maintains elevator lighting fixtures.
6. Visually and audibly monitors equipment operation to determine faulty functioning.  Requires ability to withstand heights and cramped working conditions.

 Knowledge:

1. The ability to understand general arithmetic.
2. The ability to speak and write in a clear and understandable manner for internal/external relations.
3. The ability to understand verbal or written instructions.
4. The ability to successfully complete all required NEIEP courses.
5. The ability to learn, practice, and adhere to safety standards.

Mental Effort:

1. The ability to maintain normal attention spans, with intermittent periods of high concentration, to assist the mechanic in electrical and mechanical installation, repair, or service operations.
2. The ability to perform administrative duties, such as data gathering and submitting written reports.

Physical/Environmental Requirements:

1. The ability to walk or stand for long periods of time on the job.
2. The ability to lift up to 100 lbs.
3. The ability to perform repetitive stooping, forward bending, and crouching.
4. The ability and willingness to travel extensively.
5. The ability to perform essential job functions in a field setting with exposure to non-climate-controlled conditions.
6. The ability and willingness to withstand heights and to work in cramped working conditions.

Manual Dexterity:

1. The ability to use hands, arms, and feet for repetitive lifting.
2. The ability to use hands and arms to operate various hand and power tools, and to record written information.
3. The ability to perceive color to distinguish color coded wiring components.

Why should I go into the elevator trade over other trades?

Here’s what Forbes Magazine had to say about Elevator Mechanics.

Is the job dangerous?

Working in construction or around moving machinery carries some inherent danger. In addition, elevator constructors are often required to work at heights that might make some uncomfortable. The dangers that come with this work are part of why the union exists. Union support, knowledge, and training are what keep apprentices and mechanics safe on the job every day. The NEIEP curriculum is designed to include safety training at every level, and in every subject. Union membership means apprentices are required to meet training standards far above what would be required by a non-union operation. The IUEC’s motto is Work Hard, Work Safe.