What the EIAT's 70% pass mark really means
Updated 11 September 2026 · 6 min read
The EIAT pass mark is 70%. That single number is widely quoted and widely misunderstood, because passing the test is not the same thing as getting an apprenticeship.
Apprentice Tests is an independent practice resource. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to NEIEP, the IUEC, any local union or any elevator company. Recruitment rules and test formats are set by NEIEP and the locals, and they change — always follow the guidance issued with your own recruitment.
Pass or fail, not a ranking
Some trade entrance tests rank you by score, so every extra mark improves your position. The EIAT does not work that way. NEIEP describes it as pass or fail at 70%, and what passing earns you is an interview.
The interview is conducted by two members of the local Joint Apprenticeship Committee, and NEIEP states that the questions are standardised across the country — everyone is asked the same things. Your interview score is what determines your position on the hiring list.
Why a near miss is so expensive
If scoring 71% and 95% lead to the same place, why prepare hard? Because of what sits underneath.
Locals do not recruit continuously. NEIEP says recruitments are held once everyone on the existing list has been hired, or when the list expires, which it does every two years. Miss the mark and you may be waiting a long time for another opportunity at that local.
The volume of applicants makes that worse. When IUEC Local 23 in Portland opened applications in 2025, it reached its cap of 750 in under two days, according to a report in the labour press. Of the applicants from its 2023 intake, around 224 made it through the process onto the list, and roughly 65 were actually put to work. Being on the list is not the same as being called.
What a strong score is actually worth
Three things, none of them extra ranking points:
- Margin. Aiming for 70% means a bad morning puts you under it. Aiming comfortably above gives you room.
- Time in the interview. Walking in knowing you did well is worth something in a conversation you are being scored on.
- Nothing wasted. The maths and measuring you practise for the test are used daily in the job and in the classroom portion of the apprenticeship.
What to do with that
Prepare enough to clear 70% with real margin, then put your remaining effort into the interview and the tool assessment, because between them those are what decide where you sit in the queue.
Start with a free timed section on the EIAT practice page to see where you stand.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pass mark for the EIAT?
70%. Scoring below that does not qualify you for an interview.
Does a higher EIAT score improve my ranking?
Not directly. NEIEP describes the test as pass or fail, and it is the interview score that determines your position on the hiring list.
Can you retake the EIAT?
Retaking generally means applying again in a future recruitment for that local, and locals typically recruit only when their list is exhausted or expires, which happens every two years. Check with the local you are applying to.
Does passing the EIAT mean I get an apprenticeship?
No. Passing qualifies you for an interview. Applicants are then ranked, and how many are actually put to work depends on how much work the local has.
Is Apprentice Tests affiliated with NEIEP or the IUEC?
No. Apprentice Tests provides independent practice materials and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with NEIEP, the IUEC, any local union or any elevator company.
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