Education & Training

Expand Your Knowledge with NAEC's Education Programs

Providing tailored learning opportunities for industry professionals at every stage.

Stay Ahead with Industry Expertise

NAEC offers targeted education programs to keep elevator professionals ahead of industry changes. Our CET and CAT programs build essential skills for the Elevator and Vertical Transportation Industry.

Through year-round initiatives, including courses at the Spring Conference and Fall Convention, we provide the tools to help your team stay informed, prepared, and at the top of their field. Explore the programs below to find the right fit for your team’s growth.

CET Education Program Overview

Core Curriculum for Elevator Technicians

The Certified Elevator Technician Candidate Program is a 4-year education track designed to build essential technical skills and safety knowledge. It aligns with NAEC’s DOL-approved National Guidelines for Apprenticeship Standards (C2011-03).

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  • Qualification Requirements
    • Employment & Sponsorship: Must be a current employee sponsored by an employer with a CET Supervisor (CET-S) in place.
    • Age Requirement: Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application submission.
    • Education: Applicants must have a high school diploma from a regionally accredited high school, GED, or National Normed Standardized Achievement Test. If earned outside the U.S., a transcript analysis must be completed by World Education Services (www.wes.org) or Spantran (www.spantran.com). NAEC does not cover the fees for transcript analysis but may grant provisional status for six months to complete this process.
    • Work Authorization: Must be a U.S. citizen or legally authorized to work in the U.S. Individuals outside the U.S. not working in the country may still enroll.
    • Application & Fees: Candidates must complete the application with signatures from both the applicant and the sponsoring company representative. A non-refundable first-year administration fee of $240 for NAEC members or $740 for non-members must be submitted with the application. Payment options include checks, money orders, or credit cards (MasterCard, VISA, Discover, American Express).
  • Program Structure

    Level 1: Core Curriculum
    CET Level 1 is the first part of the program, consisting of 11 units. The program takes approximately 2 years to complete. Upon passing the Level 1 exam and completing all required training, the candidate earns the AET (Associate Elevator Technician) certificate.

    Level 2: Advanced Curriculum
    CET Level 2 is the second part of the program, consisting of 8 units. The program takes about 2 years to complete. Upon successfully finishing all coursework, on-the-job training, and exams, candidates are eligible to apply for CET Certification.

  • Costs & Fees

    NAEC Members: $240 per year | Non-Members: $740 per year (Course materials not included.)

    Payment options include checks, money orders, or credit cards (MasterCard, VISA, Discover, American Express).

  • Policies & Support

    Additional Resources

    Please contact Kathy Bell for information or questions regarding applying for the CET Education Program.

    ADA Policy Request

    Download and fill out the ADA Accommodation Request form. Once completed, please submit to Kathy Bell


CAT Education Program Overview

Training for Accessibility Technicians

The CAT Candidate Program is a 2-year education program. Each candidate must have access to a CAT-S to administer the program.

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  • Qualification Requirements
    • Employment & Sponsorship: Must be a current employee sponsored by an employer with a CAT Supervisor (CAT-S) in place.
    • Age Requirement: Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application submission.
    • Education: Applicants must have a high school diploma from a regionally accredited high school, GED, or National Normed Standardized Achievement Test. If earned outside the U.S., a transcript analysis must be completed by World Education Services (www.wes.org) or Spantran (www.spantran.com). NAEC does not cover the fees for transcript analysis but may grant provisional status for six months to complete this process.
    • Work Authorization: Must be a U.S. citizen or legally authorized to work in the U.S. Individuals outside the U.S. not working in the country may still enroll.
    • Application & Fees: Candidates must complete the application with signatures from both the applicant and the sponsoring company representative. A non-refundable first-year administration fee of $240 for NAEC members or $740 for non-members must be submitted with the application. Payment options include checks, money orders, or credit cards (MasterCard, VISA, Discover, American Express).
  • Program Structure

    The CAT Education Program includes 5 courses completed over 2 years. Each course consists of 3 basic parts:

    • Text-based workbook
    • On-the-job skills verification
    • Online unit exams

    Upon successful completion of all courses, unit exams, skills verifications, on-the-job training, and a Final Exam. candidates earn the CAT Certification as Certified Accessibility and Private Residence Lift Technicians.

  • Costs & Fees

    NAEC Members: $240 per year | Non-Members: $740 per year (Course materials not included.)

    Payment options include checks, money orders, or credit cards (MasterCard, VISA, Discover, American Express).

  • Policies & Support

    Additional Resources

    Please contact Kathy Bell for information or questions regarding applying for the CAT Education Program.


VTMP Overview

Preparing Industry Leaders

The Vertical Transportation Management Program (VTMP) prepares elevator professionals for supervisory, sales, or management roles with a mix of technical and business training, including nine courses and industry-specific study guides.

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  • Qualification Requirements

    Open to individuals entering the elevator industry, with related business experience, or those who have completed the CET, CAT, or NEIEP programs.

    Technical course exemptions may apply for those with CET, CAT, NEIEP, or equivalent international program credentials.

  • Program Structure

    Introduction to Business 100 Course
    This course, offered by Study.com, is available for a fee of $59 if completed in one month. Persons may waive this course if they have previously taken an equivalent course and have documentation of a minimum grade of “C.”
    Hours: Thirty-five (35) study hours are estimated for completion.

    Technical Courses
    The technical courses, developed by Elevator World, focus on: 1) technical basics, 2) technical tasks, 3) technical safety, and 4) codes and regulations. Individuals with a CET or NEIEP certificate may waive the technical courses.
    Hours: Fifty-five (55) study hours are estimated for completion.

    Skillsoft Business Courses
    The business courses, developed by Skillsoft, include: 1) project management, 2) sales and marketing, 3) finance, 4) personnel management and ethics, and 5) business communication. These courses relate to general business practices and are not specific to the elevator industry.
    Hours: 112 study hours are estimated for completion.

    Study Guides and Quizzes
    Study guides specific to the elevator industry developed by the Committee and technical experts for the five business courses. The guides provide industry specific material and examples and require the student to answer questions related to the material. The Committee worked with Challenge Training Corporation (CTC) to develop the guides and quizzes.
    Hours: Twelve (12) study hours are estimated for completion

  • Costs & Fees

    Additional information as well as course costs and fees are available in the Program Overview.