DHS: Elevators and Amusement Rides

Elevators and Amusement Rides

News

Error in Public Safety Portal

After submitting an application and payment using the Public Safety Portal, please be advised that your transaction will be successfully processed, despite some areas of the receipt being empty. Please do not make duplicate payments, as there is no need to start over and resubmit. A member of the IDHS staff will contact you directly if your application has other issues that need to be addressed.

Reminder: All Safety Tests Required to Be Reported

A change to Indiana Code 22-15-5-4(d)(2) was implemented in 2021, affecting Form 34599, which now requires that applicants submit results of all applicable safety tests, including failed safety tests, for regulated lifting devices. Previously, failed safety test results were not required, but they are now. Please submit them along with the other tests during the renewal process using the Public Safety Portal.

Elevators and Amusement Rides Staff
(select for contacts)

Elevators and Amusement Rides Staff (select for contacts)

About the Elevators and Amusement Rides Section

The Elevators and Amusement Rides Section regulates two of the safest modes of transportation that exist today: elevators and amusement rides. As with any mechanical device, accidents can occur. However, the safety requirements for these devices are robust and accidents infrequent. It has been estimated that 275 million people travel 95,000 miles every day by elevator.

There are approximately 20,000 regulated lift devices (such as elevators, escalators and amusement rides) in Indiana. Ensuring the safety of these mechanical devices are nationally certified inspectors. These inspectors perform inspections annually in office buildings, factories, hospitals, schools, nursing homes and in other not-so-common places such as TV towers, smokestacks, steel mills and grain storage buildings.

These same inspectors will be found at fairgrounds, theme parks and indoor amusement parks inspecting amusement rides throughout the spring, summer, and fall and at ski lodges in the winter.

All IDHS amusement ride inspectors are certified by the National Association of Amusement Ride Safety Officials (NAARSO) or AIMS International.

Access the Public Safety Portal

Use the Public Safety Portal for permits, licenses and inspections for elevators and amusement rides.

Public Safety Portal
Note: Visit the Application for Amusement and Entertainment Permit page to apply for amusement and entertainment permits.

Elevator Mechanic Written Competency Exam

The next Indiana Elevator Mechanic Written Competency Examination is scheduled for May 14, 2025, at Ivy Tech Public Safety Technology Training Center (9530 E. 59th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46216). If you are interested in taking this exam, you must notify IDHS by completing the form below and submitting it to elevamuse@dhs.in.gov by May 7, 2025:

Notice of Intent to Sit for Exam
Important: The form's Submit button will not work if you try to complete the form inside an Internet browser. Download the form to your computer and open it in a non-browser PDF reader instead.

2025 Exam Dates (Deadlines)

Feb. 12 (Feb. 5)
May 14 (May 7)
Aug. 13 (Aug. 6)
Nov. 12 (Nov. 5)

Use of Code Books

In October 2023, the Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission approved the use of the 2007 ASME A17.1 code book by test-takers during elevator mechanic exams. Test-takers now may use a clean paper copy of this specific edition during the exam. However, there must be no markings, notes, highlighting, tabbing or additional papers or notes of any kind in the book. The exam proctor will be checking for these and will disallow use of the book if any are found. Copies of the book will not be provided, so test-takers will need to bring their own (clean) copy to use, if desired.

Eligibility Requirements

Passing the examination, alone, does not qualify you for a mechanic license; you must also meet the training or work experience requirements in Indiana Code 22-15-5-12(b)(2)(A), submit an application and pay the $100 licensing fee. Please be aware, IDHS does not confirm whether you meet the training or work experience requirements prior to sitting for the test or applying for a license. Therefore, it is strongly suggested that you personally confirm your ability to: (1) meet one the below listed eligibility requirements; and (2) provide the required information, prior to sitting for the examination, as failure to meet these requirements will result in denial of your application for a license.

Option 1 (3 years experience)
Option 2 (18 months + 3 years related experience)
Option 3 (apprenticeship)

Have at least 3 years of documented work experience in the elevator industry in construction, maintenance, and service or repair.

Required Information

Period of relevant work experience. (e.g., May 1, 2017 – July 1, 2020)
Specific overview of the duties you performed during this period.
Any relevant documentation proving work experience, including:
- A signed letter(s) by your employer(s), or the mechanic(s) overseeing your work, that details your work experience (job duties, period of employment); or
- Copies of tests, reports or job tickets identifying you as performing construction, maintenance, and service or repair during the requisite period.

Have at least 18 months experience in the elevator industry in construction, maintenance, and service or repair and have at least 3 years of experience in a related field that is certified by a licensed elevator contractor.

Required Information

Period of relevant work experience in: (1) the elevator industry; and (2) a related field (e.g., construction, maintenance, and service or repair of other regulated lifting devices).
Specific overview of the duties performed in: (1) the elevator industry; and (2) a related field.
Any relevant documentation proving work experience in the elevator industry including:
- A signed letter(s) by your employer(s), or the mechanic(s) overseeing your work, that details your work experience (job duties, period of employment); or
- Copies of tests, reports or job tickets identifying you as performing construction, maintenance, and service or repair during the requisite period.
Any relevant documentation proving work experience in a related field including:
- A signed letter(s) by a licensed elevator contractor(s) certifying 3 or more years of work experience in construction, maintenance, and service or repair of regulated lifting devices.

Completion of an apprenticeship program that is registered with the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training of the United States Department of Labor or a state apprenticeship program and that the commission determines is at least equivalent to 3 years work experience in the elevator industry in construction, maintenance, and service or repair.

Required Information

Certification of completion of the approved apprenticeship program.
Copy of the approval of the program by the Commission.

Amusement Rides Safety

Every ride should have a prominently displayed, current permit issued by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. If the ride has no such permit, call the amusement ride hotline at 1-888-203-5020.

Also, do not board a ride if you see broken parts, signs of improper maintenance or an inattentive operator. Report your observations to the ride operator, and call the amusement ride hotline.

Amusement ride safety tips

Resources

Note: Submit a public records request to obtain elevator and amusement ride database information. Please be specific in your request, such as entering a date range and the type of permit or report information you are looking for.