If you install, service, or inspect elevators in Louisiana, the license you need comes from the Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM), not the state contractor board. This guide details the specific endorsements, experience pathways, and application steps for the OSFM's Conveyance Device program, including the critical rule that your firm must be licensed before you can hold a personal endorsement.
Do you need a license to do elevator work in Louisiana?
Yes, a license is required to perform elevator and conveyance device work in Louisiana. Per La. R.S. 40:1664.9, any individual performing such work must hold a technical endorsement issued by the Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM).
Which authority regulates elevator work in Louisiana?
The Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is the sole authority that regulates and licenses elevator, escalator, and other conveyance device work in Louisiana. This includes licensing for individual mechanics, inspectors, and the firms that employ them.
What about the LSLBC Mechanical classification?
The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) issues a general "Mechanical" classification for contractors, but this does not cover dedicated elevator or conveyance device installation and service. Elevator work falls exclusively under the jurisdiction of the OSFM. Applying to the LSLBC for this trade is incorrect and will not result in a valid license to perform elevator work.
Does the firm have to be licensed too?
Yes, the firm you work for must hold a Conveyance Device Mechanic Firm license from the OSFM. Individual mechanic endorsements are issued through a licensed firm, and you cannot apply for or hold an individual endorsement without being associated with a properly licensed company.
Louisiana Elevator License Types (Endorsement Tiers)
The OSFM issues four distinct licenses, called endorsements, for conveyance device work.
Conveyance Device Mechanic (Full)
This is the primary endorsement for technicians who install, construct, alter, service, repair, test, or maintain elevators, escalators, and other conveyance devices. It authorizes work on all types of devices covered by the state's adopted standards.
Limited Conveyance Device Mechanic
This specialty endorsement restricts the holder to working only on platform lifts, stairway chairlifts, and limited-use/limited-application (LULA) elevators in commercial or industrial structures. It does not permit work on full traction elevators or other general-use conveyance devices.
Conveyance Device Inspector
This endorsement is for individuals who inspect conveyance devices for safety and compliance with state codes. Applicants for this endorsement must meet separate qualification criteria established by the OSFM.
Conveyance Device Mechanic Firm
This is the business-level license required for any company that employs or contracts with conveyance device mechanics or inspectors. A firm must obtain this license before any of its employees can be issued an individual technical endorsement.
Louisiana Elevator License Requirements
To qualify for a Conveyance Device Mechanic endorsement, you must provide a notarized attestation of your field experience through a licensed firm.
Experience Requirement
Applicants must meet one of two distinct experience pathways, as defined in La. R.S. 40:1664.9(D)(3)(a):
- Path A: Experience Only: A notarized affidavit attesting that you have worked as a conveyance device mechanic for not less than four years and six thousand hours within the last five years, without immediate or direct supervision.
- Path B: Experience plus Certification: A notarized affidavit attesting that you have worked as a conveyance device mechanic for not less than two years and three thousand hours within the last three years, without immediate or direct supervision, plus proof of one of the following:
- A National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC) Associate Elevator Technician (AET) or Level 1 certification (or equivalent).
- Enrollment in the Certified Elevator Technician (CET) program.
Required Documentation
When applying through your licensed firm, you will generally need to provide:
- A completed application form provided by the OSFM.
- A notarized affidavit attesting to your work experience, following either Path A or Path B.
- Proof of your AET/Level 1 certification or CET program enrollment if using Path B.
- The required application fee.
Insurance and Bond Posture
No specific insurance or bond minimums for the Conveyance Device Mechanic, Inspector, or Firm licenses were identified in the official sources reviewed. The LSLBC's insurance requirements for its general contracting classifications do not apply to OSFM endorsements. You should verify your firm's liability coverage and bonding expectations with your employer and their insurance provider.
Is there an exam for an elevator license in Louisiana?
No, the Office of State Fire Marshal does not require a state-administered exam to obtain a Conveyance Device Mechanic endorsement.
What replaces the exam?
Your eligibility is demonstrated through the notarized experience attestation, which serves as the primary qualification step. For applicants on the shorter experience path (Path B), an approved industry certification from the National Association of Elevator Contractors (or an equivalent program) is also required.
Where the ASME/ANSI A17.1 standard fits
While there is no exam, all conveyance device work in Louisiana must comply with the technical standards adopted by the state. Per La. Admin. Code tit. 55, § V-3049, Louisiana has adopted the ASME A17.1 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators as the governing standard for installations, maintenance, and inspections.
How to apply for an elevator license in Louisiana (step-by-step)
The application process is managed through your employer and submitted to the OSFM.
- Confirm Your Firm's License: Verify that your employer holds a current and active Conveyance Device Mechanic Firm license from the OSFM. Do not proceed until this is confirmed.
- Choose Your Qualifying Path: Determine whether you qualify under the four-year/6,000-hour path (Path A) or the two-year/3,000-hour plus certification path (Path B).
- Gather Documentation: Prepare your notarized affidavit attesting to your work history. If using Path B, obtain a copy of your AET/Level 1 certificate or proof of CET enrollment.
- Submit the Application: Work with your firm to submit the completed application package and supporting documents to the OSFM. The specific submission process is published by the OSFM; confirm current procedures with the agency.
- Pay the Application Fee: The initial application fee for a Conveyance Device Mechanic or Limited Conveyance Device Mechanic endorsement is $100.
- Await Endorsement: Once approved, the OSFM will issue your technical endorsement. Confirm that you are listed as an active mechanic under your firm's license.
Louisiana Elevator License Fees
All fees for conveyance device endorsements are set by the Office of State Fire Marshal per La. R.S. 40:1664.9(C).
- Initial License Fee:
- Conveyance Device Mechanic: $100
- Limited Conveyance Device Mechanic: $100
- Conveyance Device Inspector: $100
- Renewal Fee:
- Conveyance Device Mechanic: $50
- Limited Conveyance Device Mechanic: $50
- Conveyance Device Inspector: $50
- Other Fees:
- Conveyance Device Inspection Fee: $150
- License Transfer (between firms): $20
- Duplicate/Replacement License: $20
- Suspended License Reinstatement: Initial fee plus $20
- Late Renewal Penalties:
- 31-45 days past expiration: $25 penalty
- 46-60 days past expiration: $50 penalty
- A license not renewed within 60 days of expiration is automatically suspended.
Renewal and Continuing Education
OSFM Conveyance Device endorsements are valid for one year unless a multi-year license is created by the agency. You must renew within thirty days of the expiration date to keep your license in good standing.
Renewal Cycle
The renewal cycle for all conveyance device technical endorsements is one year. According to La. R.S. 40:1664.9(E), a license becomes past due if not renewed within 30 days of expiring. If not renewed within 60 days, the license is suspended.
Continuing Education Requirements
Yes, continuing education (CE) is required to renew a Conveyance Device technical endorsement, as mandated by R.S. 40:1664.9(C)(4). The specific number of hours and approved courses are determined by the Life Safety and Property Protection Education Board. The exact CE hour requirement was not confirmed in the sources reviewed; confirm the current requirements with the OSFM before your renewal date.
Reciprocity and Out-of-State Applicants
No reciprocity agreements for the OSFM Conveyance Device Mechanic endorsement were identified in the official sources reviewed.
What this means for out-of-state applicants
Out-of-state mechanics seeking a Louisiana license must apply through a licensed Louisiana firm and meet the state's standard requirements. Your work experience from another state can be used to satisfy the notarized attestation requirement, but your out-of-state license does not transfer directly.
Military Experience
La. R.S. 37:2158.1 provides a pathway for military experience to count toward licensure for classifications issued by the LSLBC. However, since the elevator endorsement is an OSFM program, this statute does not automatically apply. Applicants with military experience in conveyance devices should contact the OSFM directly to determine how their experience can be documented for the attestation.