CET Elevator study guide
CET Elevator · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The CET (Certified Elevator Technician) designation appears on NAEC's certification roster alongside CAT and QEI, described as an industry-recognized credential that "validate[s] your skills and knowledge, ensuring compliance with industry standards and safety codes." NAEC, founded in 1948 and self-described as the premier association representing the elevator industry, positions certification as a way to demonstrate expertise and dedication and to gain a competitive edge in vertical transportation. The CET is aimed at working elevator technicians and candidates building a career through classroom instruction plus hands-on field training, such as NAEC's apprenticeship pathway. The CET Elevator study guide has 5 sections and about 2,102 words.
01General Industry Knowledge and Safety
General industry knowledge and safety covers the controls that must be in place before a wrench is turned: energy isolation, fall protection, hoistway and pit access, rigging, barricades, electrical safe work practices, and protection of the riding public. CET-style items reward the candidate who can name the specific control, not merely the hazard.
436 words, about 2 min02Elevator Systems and Components
This domain asks you to identify components and explain their function and interaction: traction and hydraulic drive systems, roping arrangements, counterweights, governors and safety gear, buffers, door operators and interlocks, and the safety chain that ties them together. Traction machines: geared or gearless, driving a sheave.
443 words, about 2 min03Installation and Maintenance Practices
This domain covers how equipment is installed, adjusted, inspected, lubricated, and recorded. Expect items on rigging and scaffolding, guide-rail alignment, rope installation and equalization, door adjustment, the written Maintenance Control Program (MCP), periodic tests, and rope retirement criteria.
418 words, about 2 min04Codes, Standards, and Compliance
This domain tests your command of the documents that govern elevator work and the compliance process around them: which standard applies to new versus existing equipment, what an inspection guide is and is not, electrical code requirements, acceptance testing, certificates of operation, and the role of the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). ASME A17.1/CSA B44: safety code for new elevators, escalators, dumbwaiters, and moving walks; also governs alterations and certain maintenance requirements.
413 words, about 2 min05Electrical and Mechanical Troubleshooting
This domain tests systematic diagnosis: gathering information, using wiring diagrams, isolating the safety chain, interpreting drive fault codes, and distinguishing electrical from mechanical causes. It also tests meter selection and safe measurement practice.
392 words, about 2 min