Idaho does not issue a single "elevator contractor license." Getting legally qualified to work on elevators in the state requires holding the right electrical license for personnel from the Idaho Electrical Board and pulling the correct equipment permits from the Idaho Elevator Program, each with its own requirements and renewal clocks. This guide walks through both tracks to ensure you are fully compliant.
Do you need a license to install or service elevators in Idaho?
Yes, a license is required to perform electrical work on elevators in Idaho, and separate permits are required for the installation and operation of the elevator equipment itself. The state uses a two-track system: personnel are licensed through the Idaho Electrical Board, while the equipment is permitted and certified through the Idaho Elevator Program, part of the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL).
The Two-Track Licensing Model
Idaho’s regulatory framework separates the worker from the work.
- Personnel Licensing (Electrical): Any individual installing, maintaining, or repairing elevator electrical equipment, controls, or wiring beyond the disconnect switch must hold a Limited Electrical Installer license in the appropriate category from the Idaho Electrical Board. The business entity employing this individual must hold a Limited Electrical Contractor license.
- Equipment Permitting (Elevator): The physical elevator, escalator, dumbwaiter, or moving walk must have an installation permit before work begins and an annual Certificate to Operate. These are issued to the equipment owner by the Idaho Elevator Program.
Which Work Requires Which License
- Electrical Installation & Repair: To work on the electrical components, you need the Limited Electrical Installer license.
- Running an Elevator Business: To employ installers and bid on jobs, your company needs the Limited Electrical Contractor license.
- New Elevator Installation: Before any work starts, an installation permit must be obtained from the Idaho Elevator Program.
- Operating an Elevator: To be placed in service, the equipment must pass an acceptance inspection and receive a Certificate to Operate, which must be renewed annually.
Idaho Elevator License Tiers and Classifications
Idaho's licensing is divided between individual, business, and equipment-specific credentials.
Limited Electrical Installer — Elevator, Dumbwaiter, Escalator, or Moving-Walk Electrical category (Individual)
This is the license required for an individual performing the hands-on electrical work on conveyance systems. It is issued by the Idaho Electrical Board and requires documented work experience.
Limited Electrical Contractor (Business License)
This is the business-entity license required for any company that employs Limited Electrical Installers to perform elevator-related electrical work. This license, also from the Idaho Electrical Board, is the one that carries the state's liability insurance requirement.
Idaho Elevator Program Installation Permits and Certificates to Operate (Equipment)
These are not personnel licenses but are mandatory for the equipment itself. An installation permit is required before construction, and a Certificate to Operate is required for the elevator to be used by the public. These are regulated by the Idaho Elevator Program under the Elevator Safety Code Act.
Idaho Elevator License Requirements
The requirements differ for the personnel license (Installer), the business license (Contractor), and the equipment permits.
Experience Requirement for the Limited Electrical Installer Elevator Category
An applicant for the Limited Electrical Installer license in the elevator category must provide evidence of a minimum of four thousand (4,000) hours of work experience in the same limited category. This requirement is set by the Idaho Electrical Board under IDAPA 24.39.10.
Proof of Qualifying Experience
Applicants must submit documentation to the Idaho Electrical Board verifying their 4,000 hours of relevant work experience. The specific forms and acceptable documentation are detailed in the application materials; confirm the current requirements with the Board before applying.
Insurance and Bond Requirements for the Limited Electrical Contractor
Per Idaho Code § 54-1003A, a Limited Electrical Contractor business must provide the following before a license is issued:
- Liability Insurance: Proof of liability insurance in the amount of $300,000.
- Bond: No separate surety bond requirement is stated in Idaho Code § 54-1003A for the Limited Electrical Contractor license — only the liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage described here.
Workers' Compensation
A Limited Electrical Contractor must also provide proof of worker's compensation insurance, if applicable under Idaho state law.
How to Apply for an Idaho Elevator License (Step-by-Step)
The process involves getting the individual licensed with the Electrical Board and then permitting the specific installation with the Elevator Program.
- Step 1 — Confirm Your Scope and Tier: Determine if you are applying as an individual installer or a contracting business. The individual needs the Limited Electrical Installer license, while the business needs the Limited Electrical Contractor license.
- Step 2 — Compile Qualifying-Experience Documentation: As an individual applicant, gather and prepare verifiable proof of your 4,000 hours of work experience in the elevator electrical category.
- Step 3 — Submit Application to the Idaho Electrical Board: Complete and submit the appropriate application (Installer or Contractor) to the Idaho Electrical Board with the required documentation and fees.
- Step 4 — Pull the Idaho Elevator Program Installation Permit Before Work Begins: Once licensed to perform the work, the equipment owner or contractor must obtain an installation permit from the Idaho Elevator Program for the specific conveyance before starting the physical installation.
- Step 5 — Pass Acceptance Inspection and Receive the Certificate to Operate: After installation is complete, the equipment must pass an acceptance inspection by the Elevator Program. Upon passing, the Program will issue a Certificate to Operate, which must be displayed and renewed annually.
Idaho Elevator License Fees
Fees are paid to two separate state bodies: the Idaho Electrical Board for personnel licenses and the Idaho Elevator Program (DOPL) for equipment permits and certificates.
Idaho Elevator Program Fee Schedule (by Conveyance Type)
These fees are for the equipment permits and are regulated by the DOPL.
- One-Time Application Fee: $50 (for all new and existing conveyances)
- New Installation Certification Fee (includes one plan review, two acceptance inspections, and the first Certificate to Operate):
- Traction & Roped Hydraulic Elevator / Moving Walk / Escalator: $1,500
- Hydraulic Elevator: $1,000
- Platform Lift / Material Lift / Dumbwaiter: $750
- Annual Certificate to Operate Fee (for existing conveyances):
- Traction & Roped Hydraulic Elevator / Moving Walk / Escalator: $225
- Hydraulic Elevator: $125
- Platform Lift / Material Lift / Dumbwaiter: $100
Limited Electrical Installer and Contractor Application Fees
The application and renewal fees for the Limited Electrical Installer and Limited Electrical Contractor licenses are set by the Idaho Electrical Board; the specific dollar amounts were not published on the sources reviewed for this guide.
Reinspection Fees
The Idaho Elevator Program charges for reinspections after the first two included with the installation fee. However, two different fee structures are published.
- The Program's main fee schedule states reinspection fees are charged per unit, per visit at the same rate as the annual certificate renewal fee ($225, $125, or $100 depending on type).
- IDAPA 24.39.40 states the reinspection fee is $100 for the first hour and $100 for each subsequent hour.
Because these figures do not reconcile, you must confirm the current reinspection billing method directly with the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses.
Idaho Elevator License Renewal and Continuing Education
Personnel licenses and equipment certificates operate on different renewal schedules.
Personnel Renewal — Three-Year (Installer) vs. Two-Year (Contractor) Clocks
- Limited Electrical Installer: Licenses are issued for three (3) years and expire three years from the licensee's birthday, per Idaho Code § 54-1008(1).
- Limited Electrical Contractor: Licenses are issued for two (2) years under Idaho Code § 54-1008(2).
Equipment Renewal — Annual Certificate to Operate + Five-Year Periodic Inspection
The Certificate to Operate for each conveyance must be renewed annually with the Idaho Elevator Program. Additionally, Idaho Code § 39-8617 requires a more comprehensive periodic inspection on each five-year anniversary of the certificate's issuance.
Continuing Education
Idaho Code § 54-1013(1) mandates continuing education for the renewal of journeyman and master electrician licenses. However, the text of this statute does not explicitly name the Limited Electrical Installer category.
Idaho Elevator License Reciprocity
Idaho offers a path for reciprocity for electrical licenses from other states.
Electrical-Side Reciprocity under § 54-1007(6)
According to Idaho Code § 54-1007(6), the administrator of the Idaho Electrical Board may enter into reciprocal agreements with other states that have licensing qualifications "at least equal to" Idaho's. This allows electricians licensed in those states to obtain an Idaho license without a written examination, upon payment of the required fee and proof of qualifications.
Elevator Program Equipment Certificates
No separate reciprocity provision was identified in the cited sources for the equipment-specific permits and Certificates to Operate issued by the Idaho Elevator Program. These are tied to the physical installation within Idaho.
Common Mistakes and Compliance Pitfalls
Navigating Idaho's two-track system requires careful attention to detail to avoid common errors.
Assuming a Single Elevator License Covers Everything
The most common mistake is assuming a single "elevator license" exists. You must secure both the correct electrical license from the Electrical Board and the necessary equipment permits from the Elevator Program.
Missing the Limited Electrical Contractor Business License
An individual installer cannot legally operate as a contracting business without the company holding a Limited Electrical Contractor license. This is the license that carries the insurance requirements and allows the business to employ other installers.
Starting Installation Without the Elevator Program Permit
Work on a new conveyance cannot begin until the Idaho Elevator Program has issued an installation permit for that specific job. Starting work prematurely is a significant compliance violation.