Trade licensing overview · elevator constructor
How elevator constructor licensing works — Virginia
How this trade is regulated in Virginia. partial The framework below describes the national pathway most elevator constructors in Virginia follow.
Elevator constructor is a licensed trade in most U.S. states, with the dominant pathway a four- to five-year NEIEP apprenticeship sponsored jointly by the IUEC and the elevator industry under the ASME A17.1 safety code.
Elevator Constructor wages in Virginia · BLS OES A01 2024
Wages are state-level annual figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program (A01 2024). Specific elevator constructor earnings in Virginia vary by metro area, employer type, union membership, and years of experience. Verify the current state and metro figures on the BLS OES site (bls.gov/oes).
What this trade actually looks like in Virginia
Virginia elevator work concentrates in Northern Virginia (the DC suburbs), Richmond, and Hampton Roads. Federal-government and Pentagon-adjacent work, data-center construction in Loudoun and Prince William counties (the largest data-center concentration in the world), hospital expansion (Inova, VCU, Sentara), and shipyard work in Hampton Roads make up most of the pipeline. The state issues elevator mechanic licenses through DPOR.
Where they work
Northern Virginia (Arlington, Alexandria, Tysons, Reston, Loudoun County data-center alley, Prince William County) anchors federal-corridor and data-center volume. Richmond covers state-capitol, VCU medical, and downtown commercial scope. Hampton Roads (Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Newport News, Portsmouth) covers Navy, shipyard, and tourism scope. Charlottesville covers UVA and regional hospital.
Pay context
BLS OOH reports a national median annual wage of $106,580 for elevator and escalator installers and repairers (SOC 47-4021, May 2023). State-level OES medians are published at the same source. Virginia OES medians for SOC 47-4021 typically print well above the national median in Northern Virginia and modestly above elsewhere, reflecting federal-corridor wage pressure and the state-license requirement. Cost of living in Northern Virginia is among the highest in the country; Richmond and Hampton Roads are more moderate. IUEC Local 10 (DC area, with NoVA jurisdiction) and Local 51 (Richmond) publish NEIEP scales.
Training pathway
The NEIEP apprenticeship through IUEC Local 10 (DC, covering NoVA) and Local 51 (Richmond) covers the state. Virginia requires an elevator mechanic license through the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors. The license includes apprentice and mechanic classifications.
Considerations
If you want federal-corridor work with state-license rigor and the world's largest data-center construction pipeline, Virginia has substantial elevator employment per BLS OES SOC 47-4021, driven by the Loudoun County data-center pipeline. Northern Virginia cost of living is the major caveat. Federal-site security clearance requirements limit which mechanics can be assigned to certain agency jobs.
Virginia elevator constructor snapshot
| MSA | Employed | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 630 | $119,200 |
| Richmond, VA | 230 | $105,140 |
| Roanoke, VA | 70 | $111,840 |
STATE LICENSE STATUS
Per the National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII) 2025 resolutions, eleven states have not adopted statewide elevator-mechanic licensing: Alaska, Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming (NEII, 2025-resolutions). By implication roughly 39 states require some form of elevator-mechanic license; NEII and state labor departments should be reviewed for current status. The typical model is a state-issued Elevator Mechanic license gated by a registered apprenticeship plus a mechanic examination. New York, for example, requires an Elevator Mechanic License under legislation effective January 1, 2022, administered by the NY Department of Labor, with qualifying pathways that include completion of a registered apprenticeship in 'Elevator Servicer Repairer' or passing a nationally recognized training program's mechanic examination (dol.ny.gov/elevator-licensing-information). Pennsylvania and Texas currently lack statewide mechanic licensing per NEII; some Texas work is governed at the city level. Always verify the current state page before relying on this list.
NEIEP APPRENTICESHIP
The National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP) is the joint IUEC / industry apprenticeship. Per neiep.org, the program spans four to five years and requires 2,000 hours of supervised on-the-job work annually plus 100-200 hours of classroom instruction per year. After completing coursework and accumulating 8,000 working hours, apprentices become eligible to sit for the mechanic examination. First-year apprentices earn 50% of journey-level wages with scheduled annual raises. NEIEP operates under the International Union of Elevator Constructors, which reports over 27,000-30,000 members across the U.S. and Canada (iuec.org). Mechanic-in-Charge (MIC) and QEI inspector progressions are handled through separate post-journey credentialing; verify specifics with the local JATC.
QEI INSPECTOR (ASME QEI-1)
Elevator inspectors are certified separately from mechanics under ASME QEI-1, 'Standard for the Qualification of Elevator Inspectors' (asme.org). QEI-certified inspectors work for state or local jurisdictions, insurance carriers, or private firms conducting acceptance and periodic inspections. QEI certification is a credential on top of (not a substitute for) any state mechanic license, and most states that license inspectors require QEI certification from an ASME-accredited organization. Prerequisites, exam details, and accredited certifying organizations should be verified directly with ASME.
ASME A17.1 CODE
ASME A17.1 / CSA B44, 'Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators,' is the baseline consensus code covering design, construction, installation, operation, inspection, testing, maintenance, alteration, and repair of elevators, escalators, dumbwaiters, and moving walks (asme.org). It is adopted, in whole or with amendments, by most U.S. states and many municipalities as the enforceable standard. Jurisdictions often adopt a specific edition year and overlay state-level amendments, so the effective code is the one cited in the local elevator safety law, not always the latest ASME edition. Confirm edition and amendments with the state elevator bureau.
TYPICAL PATHWAY
The dominant U.S. pathway is: apply to a local IUEC / NEIEP apprenticeship, pass the aptitude screening, complete the four- to five-year apprenticeship (2,000 OJT hours/year plus classroom), pass the mechanic exam, and then apply for the state elevator-mechanic license where one is required (iuec.org, neiep.org). Union density in commercial elevator construction is high; the IUEC reports over 30,000 members and more than 600 affiliated companies (iuec.org). Non-union installation exists, particularly on residential and smaller jobs, and some non-NEIEP registered apprenticeships appear in the DOL apprenticeship system (apprenticeship.gov). Continuing education is generally required to maintain state licenses; hours and cycle vary by state.