The QEI exam is an open-book test based on the ASME QEI-1 standard, but speed and familiarity with code books are essential. Successful candidates often spend months studying the A17.1 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators alongside their QEI training materials. Try our Civil Service Exam Practice Test.

QEI Exam at a Glance

According to NAESA International (National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities), a certifying organization accredited to ASME, “You will have 8 hours to complete the exam. It is an online, open-book, multiple-choice exam consisting of 160 code questions and 6 demographic questions (for statistical purposes).”^[1]

Worked examples: how to reason through QEI questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: Which safety feature is assessed during a QEI inspection?

1. Elevator lighting color temperature
2. Door opening speed
3. Elevator floor material
4. Fire suppression system

Answer: D. Fire suppression system

Explanation:

D is correct. A QEI inspection checks an elevator's safety systems, and that includes how it works with the building's fire protection. Inspectors look at sprinklers in machine rooms and hoistways, the means of cutting elevator power before water is released, and firefighters' emergency operation. A is wrong: lighting color temperature is a design choice, not a safety item. B is wrong as written: inspectors do check doors, but the concern is closing force and protecting passengers, not how fast the doors open. C is wrong: floor material is an architectural choice. Rule to remember: options about appearance or comfort are rarely what a code inspection checks. Pick the option that protects people in an emergency.

Example 2

Question: During a Category 5 safety test on a traction elevator, the governor overspeed switch must be tested. According to ASME A17.1, what is the primary function of this switch when it operates?

1. To mechanically apply the car safeties directly to the guide rails.
2. To initiate a controlled shutdown of the building's main power.
3. To send a signal to the fire alarm control panel.
4. To remove power from the driving-machine motor and brake.

Answer: D. To remove power from the driving-machine motor and brake.

Explanation:

D is correct. The governor overspeed switch is an electrical device. When the car starts to overspeed, it opens before the governor trips the safeties. This cuts power to the driving-machine motor and brake, so the brake sets and the machine stops. A is wrong: that describes the governor's mechanical trip, which pulls the governor rope to set the car safeties on the rails. That is a separate, later stage. B is wrong: the switch acts on the elevator's own drive and brake circuits, not the building's main power. C is wrong: overspeed is not a fire alarm event. Signals to the fire alarm panel relate to firefighters' emergency operation. Rule to remember: the electrical switch acts first and stops the motor and brake. The mechanical safeties act second and grip the rails.

Example 3

Question: What is the primary purpose of QEI standards?

1. Ensuring elevator aesthetics
2. Guaranteeing elevator safety and compliance
3. Regulating elevator usage fees
4. Monitoring elevator speed

Answer: B. Guaranteeing elevator safety and compliance

Explanation:

B is correct. The ASME standard behind QEI sets the qualifications inspectors need. The aim is that elevators and related equipment are inspected for safety and compliance with the code. A is wrong: how an elevator looks is not something safety standards regulate. C is wrong: inspection standards do not cover what owners charge for using equipment. D is wrong: inspectors do verify speeds during tests, but that is one task, not the purpose of the standards. Rule to remember: when a question asks for the main purpose of a code or standard, choose the broad safety-and-compliance answer over a single task or an unrelated business concern.

Many readers pair this guide with the nmtc qei issuance report august pdf to check their readiness before exam day.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the NAESA Inspector Applicant Handbook. It tells you which references you may use in this open-book exam. Get your own copies and tab them early. On an open-book test, finding the right rule quickly matters as much as knowing it.

1. Take the Code and Regulation Compliance set without notes to see where you stand. Mark every question you guessed.
2. Work through the equipment sets one at a time: traction drives and wire rope, hydraulic systems, electrical systems, doors and entrances, hoistway and pit, escalators and LULA and special installations. For each miss, find the answer in your code book and tab that page.
3. Use the safety devices and testing protocols sets to make sure you can tell what each device does and in what order.
4. Retake your weakest sets with the books open. Practise looking answers up fast, not just recalling them.
5. Before test day, confirm your session or your proctors and location with NAESA. Plan how you will pace the 8 hours and use the 30-minute break.

Because the QEI exam is open book, your success depends on quickly navigating the code books. Tab your ASME A17.1 and NEC books for fast reference during the test. Try our Clerical Exams Practice Test.

Expect to invest between $2,500 and $3,500 total for your initial QEI certification, including the course, exam, and required code books.

Ready to Pass the QEI Exam?

Join thousands of inspectors who have used our QEI practice test questions to master the ASME codes and earn their certification.

To keep your QEI license valid, complete your continuing education credits (CEUs) well before your expiration date. Most agencies offer online renewal options.

Sources & last verified

1. dropbox.com — number of questions, time limit, passing score, retake policy (official source). “You will have 8 hours to complete the exam. It is an online, open-book, multiple-choice exam consisting of 160 code questions and 6 demographic questions…” Verified Oct 20, 2026.
2. NAESA International (National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities), a certifying organization accredited to ASME — exam fee, retake fee, delivery, eligibility (official source). “The fee for the Exam Only is $500 and includes membership with a passing grade” Verified Oct 21, 2026 · source checked Oct 21, 2026.
3. NAESA International (National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities), a certifying organization accredited to ASME — renewal (official source). “Pay your renewal fee ($200 for members, $250 for non-members).” Verified Oct 21, 2026 · source checked Oct 21, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.