What makes a lift engineer?

You will need to gain some qualifications and experience in Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering in order to understand everything you need to know to become a lift engineer.

There’s more than one way into a career in lift engineering. Here are some of the paths you could choose:

  • Mechanical / Electrical / Building Services Engineering qualification.

QCF (Qualification Credit Framework) courses can be done through a college or a 6th form. In some cases your employer will employ you as a trainee and pay for you to undertake this training and assessment as conditions of employment and part of your training.

  • BTEC or Diploma (Level 2 & 3)

  • City and Guilds engineering qualification

  • EAL Award

You can even study a level 3 NVQ Qualification in Engineering Maintenance – Lift Repair!

  • Apprenticeship

An apprenticeship is mainly workplace based and so you will do most of your learning “on-the-job” with your company. You will have to go to a college or other institution say one day a week and pass the necessary assessments to gain the qualifications during your apprenticeship in order to advance in your work.

The criteria for employers taking on apprentices varies so it’s a good idea to keep your options open, some employers will ask for relevant GCSE’s at grades A*- C  and some will value your potential to learn everything in the way of their business (you may be asked to complete a standard literacy and numeracy test instead.) You will have to undertake one or more of the qualifications mentioned above (or equivalent) as part of your apprenticeship with an organisation.

Once you have these skills under your belt you might choose to pursue one of the following:

Lift engineering/other relevant:

  • HND (Higher National Diploma)

  • Undergraduate Degree

This could give you an advantage to climb higher in your industry but that is by no means limited to these qualifications.

Problem solving skills, attention to detail and a keenness to learn are all great attributes for a lift engineering career.

If you would like more information the LEIA (Lift & Escalator Industry Association) and National Careers Service websites are great information hubs!