- What the Nine Domains Actually Are
- How the QEI Exam Is Built Around These References
- Domains 1-3: The Core Elevator Codes
- Domains 4 and 6: Lifts, Chairlifts and Construction Hoists
- Domains 5 and 7: QEI-1 and the National Electrical Code
- Domains 8 and 9: Field Safety and Suspension Systems
- Domain Reference Table
- Sequencing the Nine References in Your Prep
- Registration, Fees and Exam-Day Logistics
- After You Pass: Annual Renewal
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The nine "domains" are NAESA-required reference titles used as preparation topics, not officially weighted exam sections.
- The NAESA QEI exam is online, proctored and open-book: 160 multiple-choice code questions in an 8-hour allowance.
- The ASME A17.1 codebook is required; its handbook is not a substitute.
- Exam-only costs $500, training plus exam costs $1,295, and an exam-only retake costs $400; codebooks are extra.
What the Nine Domains Actually Are
If you are preparing for the NAESA International Qualified Elevator Inspector (QEI) credential, you will see nine references listed for examinations administered after March 1, 2026. This guide treats them as nine preparation topics. That distinction matters. NAESA lists the required codebooks, but the retrieved public sources do not publish a percentage allocation, a highest-weight topic, or an exhaustive exam blueprint. Anyone telling you "Domain 1 is 30% of the exam" is inventing a number.
The credential here is specifically the NAESA Qualified Elevator Inspector. It is not the same as other certifications that happen to share the three-letter acronym, and it is not an elevator technician credential or an inspector-supervisor certification. If you need a refresher on the basics, see What Is QEI? or What Does QEI Stand For? before diving into the reference list below.
How the QEI Exam Is Built Around These References
The exam format shapes how you should study each domain. According to NAESA's published materials, the examination is:
- Online and proctored on a candidate-supplied, internet-connected laptop with the required testing software installed (other programs cannot run on that laptop).
- Open-book. Hardcopy references are recommended; PDF references may be used on a separate device.
- 160 multiple-choice code questions plus 6 demographic questions, with an 8-hour exam allowance and a required 30-minute break. The announcement does not resolve whether the break falls within the 8-hour allowance, so confirm with NAESA before exam day.
Because every question is a code question, the exam rewards candidates who know the structure of each document: where definitions live, how rules are organized by equipment type, and how one standard points to another. For a broader sense of how demanding that is, read How Hard Is the QEI Exam? and then use our practice test to check your lookup speed under time pressure.
Domains 1-3: The Core Elevator Codes
Domain 1: ASME A17.1-2022 / CSA B44-22 - Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators
This is the foundational new-installation code and the one NAESA explicitly requires in codebook form (the A17.1 handbook is not an acceptable substitute). Expect it to be your most-used reference.
- Learn the part and section layout so you can jump straight to the equipment type in a question stem.
- Tab definitions, hoistway and machine room requirements, and the sections on safeties, governors and buffers.
- Practice reading a scenario, identifying the equipment type, and locating the governing requirement before reading the answer choices.
Domain 2: ASME A17.2-2023 - Guide for Inspection of Elevators, Escalators and Moving Walks
This is the inspector's procedural companion. Where A17.1 states requirements, A17.2 describes how to verify them in the field.
- Focus on inspection and test procedures, and how they correspond to the A17.1 requirements being checked.
- Understand the logic of acceptance versus periodic inspection and testing.
- Expect questions that reward knowing what an inspector actually examines, not just what the code says.
Domain 3: ASME A17.3-2023 - Safety Code for Existing Elevators and Escalators
Existing-installation work behaves differently from new construction. A17.3 governs equipment already in service, so the question is often what an older unit must meet rather than what a new one must.
- Distinguish new-installation expectations (A17.1) from existing-equipment requirements (A17.3).
- Note how the document is organized so you can find the applicable requirement for older equipment quickly.
- Be alert to scenarios where the correct answer depends on which code governs.
Key Takeaway
Domains 1-3 form a loop: A17.1 says what is required, A17.2 says how to check it, and A17.3 says what applies to existing equipment. Cross-reference them as you study instead of treating them as three isolated books.
Domains 4 and 6: Lifts, Chairlifts and Construction Hoists
Domain 4: ASME A18.1-2020 - Safety Standard for Platform Lifts and Stairway Chairlifts
This standard covers equipment that sits outside the conventional elevator world: platform lifts and stairway chairlifts. These are common in accessibility retrofits, so inspectors encounter them regularly.
- Learn what falls under A18.1 versus A17.1 so you can recognize the correct standard from a scenario.
- Review the construction and safety requirements specific to these smaller-scale devices.
Domain 6: ANSI/ASSE A10.4-2016 - Safety Requirements for Personnel Hoists and Employee Elevators on Construction and Demolition Sites
Construction-site hoists live under a different safety regime than permanent building elevators. This standard addresses personnel hoists and employee elevators used during construction and demolition.
- Understand how the construction-site context changes requirements compared with permanent installations.
- Pay attention to terminology: a personnel hoist is not the same thing as a building elevator.
Because these two standards cover narrower equipment categories, candidates sometimes under-study them. In an open-book exam that is a trap: if a question hinges on the right standard and you have never opened that book, you will lose time you cannot afford. Even a modest familiarity with the table of contents pays off.
Domains 5 and 7: QEI-1 and the National Electrical Code
Domain 5: ASME QEI-1-2024 - Standard for the Qualification of Elevator Inspectors
This is the standard that defines how elevator inspectors are qualified, and it is the standard NAESA measures documented education, training and experience against before approving an applicant. It is both an exam reference and part of your eligibility story. For the full eligibility picture, see QEI Requirements.
- Know the qualification and certification framework the standard describes.
- Understand how it relates to the inspector's responsibilities and conduct.
Domain 7: NFPA 70-2023 - National Electrical Code
Elevators are electrical machines, and the National Electrical Code is how their wiring, disconnects, grounding and power supply are governed. Inspectors need to read where A17.1 hands off to NFPA 70.
- Locate the elevator-specific article and the sections it references.
- Learn the terminology (feeders, branch circuits, grounding, disconnecting means) well enough to parse a scenario quickly.
- Practice following cross-references between A17.1 and the electrical code.
Domains 8 and 9: Field Safety and Suspension Systems
Domain 8: Elevator Industry Field Employees Safety Handbook - 2025
This handbook is oriented toward the people who work on elevator equipment: safe practices for field employees around hoistways, machine rooms and live equipment. For an inspector, it frames the safety culture and procedures that apply on the job.
- Review the safe work practices around lockout, hoistway access and working on or near moving equipment.
- Expect questions that test whether you can identify the safe or correct practice in a field scenario.
Domain 9: ASME A17.6-2022 - Standard for Elevator Suspension, Compensation, And Governor Systems
A17.6 zeroes in on the components that hold and balance the car: suspension means (ropes and related hardware), compensation and governor systems. These are safety-critical subsystems, and the standard gives them a dedicated treatment.
- Understand the requirements for suspension members and their termination.
- Study compensation and governor system requirements alongside the A17.1 sections they supplement.
Domain Reference Table
| Domain | Reference | Primary Role in Your Prep |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ASME A17.1-2022 / CSA B44-22 | Core safety code; required codebook; most-used lookup |
| 2 | ASME A17.2-2023 | Inspection procedures and verification logic |
| 3 | ASME A17.3-2023 | Requirements for existing equipment |
| 4 | ASME A18.1-2020 | Platform lifts and stairway chairlifts |
| 5 | ASME QEI-1-2024 | Inspector qualification framework |
| 6 | ANSI/ASSE A10.4-2016 | Construction and demolition site hoists |
| 7 | NFPA 70-2023 | Electrical requirements for elevator equipment |
| 8 | Elevator Industry Field Employees Safety Handbook - 2025 | Field safety practices |
| 9 | ASME A17.6-2022 | Suspension, compensation and governor systems |
Note that this table describes roles, not weights. NAESA has not published a percentage breakdown in the sources reviewed, so do not assume any domain is larger or smaller than another. If you want a compact reminder of the facts you should have memorized, the QEI cheat sheet is a useful companion.
Sequencing the Nine References in Your Prep
Study methodology is not the focus here, so this is the one place to talk about scheduling, and only in terms of which reference to tackle when. The logic is dependency: start with the book everything else points to, then add the books that cross-reference it. For a fuller approach, see the QEI study guide.
Build the A17.1 foundation
- Map the structure of A17.1 (Domain 1) and tab your hardcopy.
- Pair it with A17.2 (Domain 2) so each requirement connects to its inspection procedure.
Add existing equipment and suspension
- Work through A17.3 (Domain 3) against A17.1 to see where requirements diverge.
- Study A17.6 (Domain 9) for suspension, compensation and governors.
Cover the satellite standards
- Review A18.1 (Domain 4) and A10.4 (Domain 6) so the table of contents is familiar.
- Read QEI-1 (Domain 5) and the Field Employees Safety Handbook (Domain 8).
Electrical and full-length practice
- Work through the NEC (Domain 7) elevator-related sections.
- Take timed practice sets on our practice test to rehearse open-book lookups.
Key Takeaway
Tab your hardcopy codebooks as you go. In an open-book exam with an 8-hour allowance, your pace depends on how fast you can open the right book to the right page, not on how much you have memorized.
Registration, Fees and Exam-Day Logistics
Knowing the domains is only half the plan. The mechanics matter too, and they are where candidates most often get surprised.
Approval comes before scheduling
NAESA must approve your documented education/training and elevator experience against ASME QEI-1 and its application requirements before you can schedule. The optional four-day review course does not replace eligibility. The detailed eligibility routes sit in the Inspector Applicant Handbook (September 2024), which could not be retrieved during our public source review, so confirm specifics directly with NAESA rather than relying on older applications.
Fees
- Exam only: $500
- Four-day training plus examination: $1,295
- Exam-only retake: $400 (the certification page explicitly excludes membership from the retake)
- Codebooks: extra
One unresolved point: the certification page includes membership after passing the initial $500 examination, but the FAQ describes membership as additional. NAESA's own materials conflict, so ask before you pay. For a complete cost picture, see QEI Certification Cost.
Proctoring
Independently arranged sittings require two approved proctors; direct supervisors, friends and family are excluded. NAESA course events supply proctors. For scheduling details, see QEI Exam Dates. NAESA's course listing for Hanover, Maryland, November 9-13, 2026 is one example of an event that bundles training and the exam.
Scoring information
No official passing-score threshold or cohort pass rate was verified in the retrieved sources. That is why we do not quote either here. Read QEI Passing Score and QEI Pass Rate for what is and is not known.
Canadian candidates
Canadian candidates have separately listed alternatives: B355-2019 (R2024), CAN/CSA-Z185:23, and CSA C22.1-2024. If that applies to you, confirm the exact reference list with NAESA before purchasing books.
After You Pass: Annual Renewal
The credential is not one-and-done. Annual renewal requires:
- 10 approved educational hours (1.0 CEU)
- The online Maintenance of Qualifications survey
- $200 for members or $250 for nonmembers
Expiration falls on June 30 or December 31. Because renewal fees differ by membership status, the membership question above has long-term cost implications. If you are weighing the investment, see Is the QEI Certification Worth It?, and for career context, QEI Jobs and the QEI salary guide. For more on the training side, visit QEI Training.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The nine items are NAESA-required reference titles used as unweighted preparation topics. The public sources reviewed do not establish percentage allocations or a highest-weight topic, so treat all nine as potentially testable.
Yes. It is an online, proctored, open-book examination with 160 multiple-choice code questions plus 6 demographic questions. Hardcopy references are recommended, and PDFs may be used on a separate device from the exam laptop.
The ASME A17.1 codebook is required, not its handbook. Buy the code itself in the edition NAESA lists, and remember that codebooks are an extra cost beyond the exam fee.
The exam allowance is 8 hours with a required 30-minute break. The announcement does not resolve whether the break counts inside the 8 hours, so verify that with NAESA when you schedule.
No. NAESA has announced separate reference changes for March 2027, but this guide and the nine domains above reflect the 2026 scope only. Always confirm the current list with NAESA before buying codebooks.
For definitions and background, you can also review QEI Certification and What Is QEI Certification?, then put your reference-lookup skills to work on our QEI practice test.