What the Course Entails and Exam Details

To qualify for the TSSA EDM-F exam, candidates must first complete a specific combination of theoretical training and documented practical experience. The required training is structured to provide a comprehensive understanding of the codes, standards, and inspection techniques specific to the elevating devices industry in Ontario.

A mandatory prerequisite is completing 118 hours of in-class/theoretical training from a TSSA-accredited training provider.

Additionally, applicants must accumulate at least one year (equivalent to 2000 hours) of practical experience, which must be detailed and verified in the official TSSA EDM-F Skills Passport.

The syllabus for the EDM-F, reflected in the Skills Passport, covers critical areas including:

• M1: Safety

• M2: Introduction to Elevating Devices

• M3: Mechanical Print Reading

• M6: Introduction to Applicable Codes and Director’s Orders

• M10: Elevator Hydraulic Systems

• M14: Motors, Generators, Controls, and AC Drives

• M18: Lifts for Persons with Physical Disabilities

• M20: ASME A17.1/CSA B44/CSA B355 Codes

• M24: Escalator Maintenance and Inspection

• M25: Modernization and Alterations

What to Expect in the Final Exam

The TSSA EDM-F final exam is designed to rigorously test your knowledge of the applicable regulatory framework and your ability to apply technical knowledge to inspection scenarios.

The exam consists entirely of multiple-choice questions.

To pass, you must achieve a minimum score of 70%.

You will typically have up to three and a half hours (3.5 hours) to complete the examination.

Most TSSA elevating devices exams are "open book," meaning you are permitted to bring specified reference materials into the exam room, such as the relevant CSA B44 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators, the Ontario Elevating Devices Regulation, and the TSSA Safety Handbook.

How to Study and Exam Centers

Effective preparation for the open-book EDM-F exam focuses less on memorization and more on understanding how to navigate and interpret the relevant codes and regulations quickly and accurately.

Use the TSSA EDM-F Skills Passport as your primary study guide. Review each module's performance objectives and ensure you can explain how every skill relates to code compliance and safety inspection.

Get to know your code books inside and out. Practice finding specific clauses, tables, and appendices related to the syllabus topics, such as hydraulic system requirements or escalator safety features. Mark important sections with sticky tabs, as this is typically permitted.

The TSSA does not provide practice exams, so create your own scenarios based on the syllabus. For example, "A client wants to modernize an escalator. What are the key code sections governing this alteration?"

Once you are eligible, you must book your exam through the official TSSA Client Portal. TSSA offers several exam centers across Ontario, including major cities like Toronto and Ottawa.

Job Opportunities from the Course

Earning the TSSA EDM-F license validates your expertise and authority to inspect and consult on elevating devices. This opens up prestigious and crucial roles focused on public safety and code compliance.

Career paths include:

• Elevating Device Inspector (TSSA, Municipal, or Third-Party)

• Elevating Devices Consultant

• Quality Assurance and Code Compliance Specialist

• Elevating System Safety Auditor

• Modernization Project Consultant

This license is your gateway to a leadership role where you help ensure that Ontario's elevating devices remain some of the safest in the world.