The ABC Elevator Contractors Council (ECC), formerly known as the Merit Elevator Contractors Association of America (MECAA), is a group of ABC members dedicated to advancing and growing the merit shop elevator sector of the construction industry. From 2012-2013, ABC ECC worked with several chapters to track important legislation and regulations in 20 states related to key merit shop elevator issues. 

The ABC ECC’s goal is to use this information to influence state-level elevator contractor and mechanic licensing requirements to ensure equal opportunities for all qualified contractors and their workers, regardless of their affiliation with a labor organization. 

Specifically, ECC is focused on ensuring all states that require education as a basis for elevator contractor and mechanic licensing recognize similar tests as equivalent to the National Elevator Industry Education Program (NEIEP)—particularly the National Association of Elevator Contractors’ Certified Elevator Technician (CET) program. The CET program is federally recognized and the CET Certification Exam is accredited by the American National Standards Institute. 

In addition, ECC advocates for states to:

• Offer reciprocity to elevator contractors and mechanics that hold licenses in other states with relatively equivalent licensing requirements. 
• Take steps to ensure contractors are not required to hire workers from union hiring halls in order to obtain a license on an expedited basis. 
• Recognize the high-quality training members of the military receive while serving and provide these individuals with a competency-based, expedited pathway to licensure. 
• Recognize the differences in training requirements between commercial and accessibility elevator construction, installation and maintenance.

The group, which started as the ABC ECC and later became a standalone organization, rejoined ABC in 2012.
To learn more about the ABC ECC, visit their website.