NICET state requirements: which fire alarm licenses name a level

We checked 31 states and two cities on 21 Oct 2026. The table lists the 19 states and 2 cities whose own rule or agency page names a NICET level for fire alarm work. The other 12 states are listed below the table with what we found.

Verify with your AHJ before you rely on this

This table is a starting point, not a ruling. Rules change, several of the posted documents are years old, and a county or city can add its own requirements on top of the state's. Before you bid, hire or apply, confirm the current requirement with the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) for the job, usually the state fire marshal, the state licensing board or the local fire department. Ask which NICET program they accept, Fire Alarm Systems or Inspection and Testing of Fire Alarm Systems, because many rules name only a level.

NICET keeps its own Who Uses NICET? list, and says it does not guarantee that list is accurate. Many of its fire alarm links pointed to pages that had moved or no longer loaded when we checked, so every row below links to the page we actually read.

States and cities that name a NICET fire alarm level

Each source was retrieved 21 Oct 2026. "FAS" means NICET Fire Alarm Systems; "ITFAS" means Inspection and Testing of Fire Alarm Systems. Where a rule names only a level, the table says so.

Jurisdiction	Credential and who holds it	NICET level named	How the level is used	Source
Alabama	State Fire Marshal's permit for a certified fire alarm contractor; the contractor's certificate holder, and each person who programs, maintains, tests, inspects, certifies or modifies systems	✓ Level III or above for the certificate holder; ✓ Level II for individuals (fire alarm technician)	Required. Individuals may instead hold a certification the State Fire Marshal deems equivalent	Code of Ala. §34-33A-5, Alabama State Fire Marshal
Alaska	State Fire Marshal fire systems permits, by class	✓ FAS Level II for Classes IA and IB; ✓ FAS Level III for Classes IC and IC-DO (design)	Required with 2 years (IA, IB) or 5 years (IC, IC-DO) of experience, or an equivalent the State Fire Marshal approves	13 AAC 50.035, amended 28 Oct 2022, Alaska Department of Public Safety
Arkansas	Alarm systems company license, Class E; the company's manager	✓ Level III or IV for an Unrestricted Class E manager; ✓ Level II for a Restricted Class E manager. Program not named	One of several qualifying routes; other listed training organizations also qualify	17 CAR pt. 350, §350-901, current through 6 Feb 2026, Arkansas State Police
Delaware	Fire Alarm Signaling System certificate holder, whom a licensed fire alarm company must employ	✓ FAS Level II for most classes, including the inspection, testing and maintenance class	Required together with the state fire regulations exam	Examination requirements, Delaware State Fire Marshal
Florida	Alarm Contractor I license applicants	✓ Level III or higher. Program not named	Optional. A current certificate may be sent instead of job lists as proof of experience	Board FAQ, Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board
Iowa	Alarm system contractor's responsible managing employee (RME), and technicians, by endorsement	✓ RME: FAS Level III+ for fire alarm installation; FAS or ITFAS Level II+ for maintenance inspection. ✓ Technician: FAS Level II+ for fire alarm installation; FAS or ITFAS Level I+ for maintenance inspection	One of several routes for each endorsement; an Iowa PE or listed ESA certifications also qualify	481 IAC 267 and the alarm licensing page, Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing
Kentucky	Fire alarm inspector certification	✓ FAS Level II, III or IV	One of two routes; the other is an approved alarm inspector exam. Both need 18 months of experience in the past 5 years	815 KAR 10:060, Section 7, effective 26 Sep 2023
Louisiana	Fire alarm endorsement for a firm's qualifying person; fire alarm technician license	✓ FAS Level III minimum for the qualifier; ✓ FAS Level II or higher for technicians	Qualifier: NICET Level III or a professional engineer. Technician: one of three routes	LAC 55:V, Chapter 30, §3021 and Licensing Memo 3-2009, Louisiana State Fire Marshal
Montana	Individual endorsement to sell, service or install fire alarm systems	✓ Level II or higher, or candidate status, "specific to the endorsement". Program not named	One of several routes, alongside reciprocity, ESA certification, an engineer license or an apprenticeship	ARM 24.144.502, department copy as of 30 Jun 2021, Montana Department of Labor and Industry
Nebraska	Fire alarm inspector license (installers are not licensed)	✓ Level II or above in FAS or Testing of Fire Alarm Systems	One of three routes, with the state test and ESA CFAT Level II. NICET holders pay a prorated fee	Fire Alarm Inspector License, Nebraska State Fire Marshal
Nevada	Designer of fire alarm systems	✓ Level II. Program not named	Required, or an equivalent certification, or a Nevada PE license	NAC 477.300(12), Nevada Legislature
New Hampshire	Voluntary unlimited fire alarm technician certificate	✓ NICET fire alarm Level II or greater	One of five routes, on top of 4,000 hours of experience. The limited technician certificate does not name NICET	Saf-C 1204.02(h), effective 6 Nov 2010, New Hampshire rules
New Jersey	Division of Fire Safety fire alarm systems contractor certification	✓ FAS Level II	Required unless the person holds a state fire alarm business license or is a licensed electrical contractor	Certification requirements and N.J.A.C. 5:74-2.3, NJ Division of Fire Safety
New Mexico	Fire alarm system designer on plan submittals	✓ Level III or higher. Program not named	Required, or a New Mexico PE stamp. Plans show the holder's name, certificate number and valid-through date	Plan submittal package, Rev. 2, NM State Fire Marshal's Office
Ohio	Fire alarm system designer	✓ Level III or IV to design fire alarm systems	An alternative to the board's own designer certification, and a condition for applying for it	OAC 4101:7-1-02 and 4101:7-5-01, effective 1 Jul 2025, Board of Building Standards
Oklahoma	Fire alarm plan designer	✓ Level III minimum. Program not named	Required, or a fire protection PE. The NICET stamp goes on the plans	Fire alarm plan submittal checklist, 01/2026, Oklahoma State Fire Marshal
South Carolina	Alarm system business license applicant, fire alarms	✓ Level II, worded as a NICET "training course" with a certificate	One of two routes; the other is a National Training School Level I course	S.C. Code §40-79-230, South Carolina Legislature
South Dakota	Qualified fire alarm system technician, as the rule defines the term	✓ FAS Level III or IV	One of three qualifications, the third being 20 years of experience in fire alarm systems layout	ARSD 20:38:38:05, effective 16 Jan 2012, Board of Technical Professions
Utah	Inspection and testing certificates: Basic Fire Alarm Technician, Fire Alarm Technician and Master Fire Alarm Technician	✓ FAS Level I waives the Basic test; ✓ Level II equals Fire Alarm Technician; ✓ Level III or IV equals Master	Equivalency or test waiver. The state fee is still due	Fire Alarm Systems, Utah State Fire Marshal
New York City	FDNY S-87 certificate of fitness to certify fire alarm installations	✓ Level III or IV. Program not named	One of five qualifying routes, with an NYS engineer or architect and an NYC master or special electrician	S-87 Certificate of Fitness, FDNY
Seattle	Seattle Fire Department FA-1 (install, program, inspect, test and maintain) and FA-ITM (inspect, test and maintain) certificates	✓ FA-1: FAS Level II; ✓ FA-ITM: ITFAS Level II	Required alongside the city's own exam and certificate; an ESA/NTS equivalent is also accepted	Certification Information Packet, version July 2026, Seattle Fire Department

Where the sources disagree or are dated

• Utah. The State Fire Marshal's page says NICET levels are "equivalent" to its three certificates. The copy of rule R710-11 posted on the same site (last substantive amendment 21 Sep 2010) lets NICET replace the written exam only, and still asks Basic candidates for a skills task book. Ask the State Fire Marshal which applies to you.
• Nevada. The rule allows NICET Level II "or an equivalent certification" for fire alarm designers. The State Fire Marshal's plans submittal checklist names only NICET Level II or a professional engineer.
• Delaware. The certificate application (updated 1 Jan 2026) also accepts a registered Delaware professional engineer. The examination requirements document does not mention that route.
• Louisiana. The rule history dates to August 2007 and the technician memo to July 2009. The State Fire Marshal's laws and rules page says its rules are under review and may not be current.
• Older posted documents. The New Jersey rule notice is from 2011, the New Hampshire rule from 2010, the South Dakota rule from 2012 and the South Carolina section was last amended in 2006. The Montana rule copy is the department's own compilation as of June 2021. They were the current posted versions on 21 Oct 2026, but check with the agency before relying on them.
• Program not named. Arkansas, Florida, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina and New York City name a level without saying which NICET program. Only Nebraska, Iowa and Seattle name Inspection and Testing of Fire Alarm Systems. Delaware asks for Fire Alarm Systems Level II even for its inspection, testing and maintenance class. If you hold only the ITFAS certification, ask the AHJ before assuming it meets a rule that says "Level II".

States we checked that are not in the table

No NICET fire alarm level found on the agency source (7):

• Idaho, Minnesota and West Virginia: the rules we read name NICET for sprinkler work only (IDAPA 18.08.02, Minnesota fire protection licensing, West Virginia licensure for fire protection workers).
• Vermont: NICET appears for suppression and sprinkler design only. The fire alarm inspection and testing category asks for a Vermont electrician or fire alarm license (Division of Fire Safety).
• Kansas: the State Fire Marshal requires company registration, not a license. Its registration form (rev. 30 Mar 2026) asks for the highest NICET fire alarm level held and copies of certificates, but sets no minimum.
• Mississippi and Tennessee: we found no NICET wording for fire alarm work on the State Fire Marshal pages we could read.

Could not verify from the agency page on 21 Oct 2026 (5):

• Arizona, California, Michigan and Texas: the agency pages refused our request or did not load, so we left them out rather than rely on third-party copies. If you work in one of these states, go straight to the state fire marshal or licensing board.
• Wyoming: the pages that loaded do not mention NICET, but the department's fire alarm plan checklist and rules are hosted as files we could not open.

One related California source did load. The Division of the State Architect's IR A-21 (revised 14 Dec 2023), which covers its own school and state building projects, recommends NICET fire alarm Level III or IV and says that is not a minimum requirement. It is guidance for those projects, not a license.

What this means for your plan

1. Find your AHJ first. Use the table to see whether your state ties its credential to NICET, then confirm the current rule with that office.
2. Match the program and level. Note whether the rule says Fire Alarm Systems, Inspection and Testing, or only a level. Our comparison of the two NICET tracks shows how they differ.
3. Check the experience you can document. A state credential that relies on Level II or III still needs the NICET certificate, which needs qualifying experience. The level requirements guide lists what each level asks for, and the certification lookup guide shows how an AHJ or employer will check your status.
4. Plan your study. If your state needs Level II, the free 10-question check scores you by FAS Level II domain so you know where to start.

Sources

Show the list

All retrieved 21 Oct 2026.

• Who Uses NICET?, NICET: list of jurisdictions and its accuracy disclaimer.
• Fire Alarm Section 34-33A, Alabama State Fire Marshal.
• 13 AAC 50 to 13 AAC 55, Fire Prevention, Alaska Department of Public Safety.
• Code of Arkansas Rules, Part 350, Arkansas State Police.
• Examination Requirements for Fire Alarm Signaling System Certification and Fire Alarm Certificate Application, Delaware State Fire Marshal.
• Electrical Contractors FAQs, Florida Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board.
• 481 IAC Chapter 267, Iowa Legislature, and Alarm System Licensing, Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing.
• 815 KAR 10:060, Kentucky Legislative Research Commission.
• LAC 55:V Chapter 30, Licensing Memo 3-2009 and Laws and Rules, Louisiana State Fire Marshal.
• ARM Chapter 144, Fire Protection Licensing, Montana Department of Labor and Industry.
• Fire Alarm Inspector License, Nebraska State Fire Marshal.
• NAC Chapter 477, Nevada Legislature, and Plans Submittal Checklist, Nevada State Fire Marshal.
• Saf-C 1200, New Hampshire rules.
• Fire Protection Equipment Contractor Certification Requirements and N.J.A.C. 5:74-2.3, New Jersey Division of Fire Safety.
• Plan Submittal Information, New Mexico State Fire Marshal's Office.
• OAC 4101:7-1-02 and OAC 4101:7-5-01, Ohio Board of Building Standards.
• Fire Alarm Plan Submittal Checklist, Oklahoma State Fire Marshal.
• S.C. Code Title 40, Chapter 79, South Carolina Legislature.
• ARSD 20:38:38:05, South Dakota Legislature.
• Fire Alarm Systems and R710-11, Utah State Fire Marshal.
• S-87 Certificate of Fitness, FDNY.
• Certification Information Packet, Seattle Fire Department, version July 2026.
• IDAPA 18.08.02, Idaho; Fire protection licensing requirements, Minnesota; Licensure for Fire Protection Workers, West Virginia; Division of Fire Safety, Vermont; Fire Alarm / Sprinkler Company Registration, Kansas.
• IR A-21, California Division of the State Architect.