Onboarding plan
Elevator Technician Onboarding Plan (30-60-90 Days)
A practical, printable plan to take a new elevator technician from first day to full productivity.
Elevator Technician onboarding at a glance
Week one covers orientation, safety and shadowing. Days 1–30 build vocabulary and supervised practice on core procedures; days 31–60 move to independent work with competency sign-offs; days 61–90 focus on full productivity, cross-training and a credential plan.
Before day one
- Confirm start date, schedule, pay and supervisor in writing
- Verify required credentials: State elevator mechanic license, Certified Elevator Technician (CET) (as applicable)
- Prepare equipment and access: multimeters and diagnostic tools; hand and power tools; rigging equipment and chain hoists; laser alignment tools
- Assign a buddy or preceptor
- Enroll the new hire in Elevator Technician training so foundations are covered before or during week one
Week one: orient and protect
- Workplace tour, emergency procedures and incident reporting
- Follow lockout/tagout before working on equipment
- Use fall protection in hoistways and on car tops
- Never work under a car without proper blocking
- Treat all circuits as energized until tested
- Shadow an experienced elevator technician through a full shift
- Training modules 1–3: role foundations, a day on the job and essential vocabulary (15 terms)
Days 1–30: learn
Goal: perform core tasks safely under supervision.
- Supervised practice: perform preventive maintenance on a traction elevator
- Supervised practice: respond to an elevator entrapment
- Supervised practice: troubleshoot a door that won’t close
- Training modules 4–7: duties, step-by-step tasks, tools and safety
- 30-day check-in: confidence, questions and early wins
Days 31–60: contribute
Goal: handle a regular workload independently.
- Install elevator rails, cars, machines and controls: independently
- Wire controllers and safety circuits: independently
- Perform preventive maintenance on routes: independently
- Troubleshoot electrical, mechanical and hydraulic faults: independently
- Competency sign-offs completed (see checklist below)
- Training final knowledge check and certificate of completion
- 60-day check-in
Days 61–90: own
Goal: full productivity and a growth plan.
- Meet productivity and quality targets for the role
- Begin cross-training on a secondary task
- Agree on a credential goal (for example, State elevator mechanic license)
- Discuss the career path: Elevator Apprentice → Elevator Mechanic → Adjuster or Modernization Specialist
- 90-day review
Competency checklist
| Skill or task | Trained | Observed | Signed off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perform Preventive Maintenance on a Traction Elevator | |||
| Respond to an Elevator Entrapment | |||
| Troubleshoot a Door That Won’t Close | |||
| Electrical troubleshooting | |||
| Reading wiring diagrams | |||
| Hydraulic systems | |||
| Rigging and hoisting |
How to measure onboarding success
- Weeks until the new hire works without close supervision
- Recordable incidents and near-misses in the first 90 days
- Rework caused by new-hire errors
- Apprentice retention through year one
How Elevator Technician training maps to this plan
- Introduction to the Elevator Technician Role
- A Day on the Job
- Essential Elevator Technician Vocabulary
- Core Duties and Responsibilities
- Common Tasks, Step by Step
- Tools, Equipment and Technology
- Safety, Compliance and Professional Standards
- Skills Employers Look For
- Launching Your Elevator Technician Career
- Final Knowledge Check