# Licence, credentials and factory authorisation

Lesson 1 of [Vet a home elevator installer](https://privateelevators.fyi/academy/vet-a-home-elevator-installer.md), 15 minutes.

Three different things can appear on an installer's website. A licence is a legal permission from an authority. A credential shows training. A factory authorisation comes from the lift maker. Do not mix them up. Ask for each one in writing.

## Check the licence where one applies

Rules differ by country, state and province.

- **Florida, US.** Florida law says all new installations must be done by a registered elevator company. That company applies for the permit.
- **Washington, US.** An elevator contractor who holds a state licence applies for the permit before installation.
- **New York, US.** The state licenses elevator contractors, elevator mechanics and accessibility lift technicians. A contractor licence needs at least $1 million of general liability insurance.
- **Ontario, Canada.** TSSA rules do not apply to an elevating device in a private dwelling used only by the occupants and their guests, unless the owner asks in writing. In Markham, Ontario, the building department still asks for a document from a TSSA-certified elevator installer that the lift meets the CSA standard.
- **British Columbia, Canada.** Technical Safety BC tells you to use a class H elevating contractor and to check the licence in its online search. It says private-residence lifts are not regulated by any provincial or municipal authority.
- **United Kingdom.** There is no installer licence for homelifts. Check trade body membership and references.
- **New South Wales, Australia.** A lift in a private residence is registered with SafeWork NSW. The form includes a declaration that a competent person inspected the lift.

For other markets, ask the dealer which rules apply. Then confirm with your local authority.

## Credentials and memberships

These show training. They do not replace a licence where a licence is required.

- NAEC runs the CET and CAT credentials. New York accepts them as one route to its mechanic and accessibility lift technician licences.
- QEI means Qualified Elevator Inspector. NAESA International issues it under ASME QEI-1. It is an inspector credential. It is not an installer credential.
- LEIA is the Lift and Escalator Industry Association in the UK. LEIA says its members cover 85 percent of the UK lift and escalator industry. Its Find a member tool filters by homelifts, stairlifts and lifting platforms.

Ask for the name and credential number of the technician who will do your job. A company credential does not tell you who comes to your house.

## Factory authorisation

Ask the dealer for written proof that the maker authorises them to sell, install and service the model you want. This can affect the warranty. Savaria states that its 36-month warranty against defective parts is included through your local dealer. It includes a requirement for regular maintenance. Stiltz recommends a yearly service by a trained Stiltz Authorized Dealer.

## Sources

- How to Choose a Home Elevator Installer, privateelevators.fyi guide, and the sources it cites, accessed 2026-10-29
- Chapter 399, Elevator Safety, The 2026 Florida Statutes, leg.state.fl.us, accessed 2026-10-29
- WAC 296-96-01045, Residential elevator inspections, Washington State Legislature
- Elevator Licensing Information, New York State Department of Labor, dol.ny.gov, accessed 2026-10-29
- Am I Regulated, TSSA, tssa.org, accessed 2026-10-29
- Builder Tip No. 96: Elevating Devices In Houses, City of Markham, 1 January 2025
- Home Elevating Devices, Technical Safety BC, technicalsafetybc.ca, accessed 2026-10-29
- NAEC credentials page, National Association of Elevator Contractors, naec.org, accessed 2026-10-29
- QEI, NAESA International, naesai.org, accessed 2026-10-29
- LEIA, leia.co.uk, accessed 2026-10-29
- Registration of an item of plant, private lift application (PIR-PL), SafeWork NSW, June 2022
- Eclipse Home Elevator, Savaria, savaria.com, accessed 2026-10-29
- Frequently Asked Questions, Stiltz, stiltzlifts.com, accessed 2026-10-29

Also on the [web page](https://privateelevators.fyi/academy/vet-a-home-elevator-installer/licence-credentials-and-authorisation).