Michigan Fire Alarm Specialty Technician License: Requirements, NICET II, and the PSI Exam

Michigan Fire Alarm Specialty Technician License: Requirements and the Exam

Michigan licenses fire alarm technicians under the Skilled Trades Regulation Act (2016 PA 407), through the Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC) at the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). The license is the Fire Alarm Specialty Technician, and it sits in Article 7 of the act alongside the journeyman, master and sign licenses. The exam is scheduled and proctored by PSI but written by BCC staff. Here is what it takes.

Eligibility

Requirement	Fire Alarm Specialty Technician
Minimum age	20
Certification	NICET Associate Engineering Technician Level II in fire alarm systems, or an equivalent the board accepts
Accepted equivalent	LARA accepts ESA CFAT Level II or higher
Experience hours	None set in the statute
Exam	One written exam with PSI, 75% to pass

The NICET (or CFAT) Level II is the real gate. The statute sets no separate hour count for this license, because the certification already carries its own experience requirement. LARA's licensing guidance also tells candidates to register and maintain a Fire Alarm Specialty Technician apprentice registration while they work toward the license.

On a job site, a licensed technician may supervise no more than two registered fire alarm apprentices.

Applying

1. Complete form BCC-341, LARA's application for the journeyman, master, fire alarm specialty technician and sign specialist examinations, with proof of your NICET or CFAT certification.
2. Once LARA approves the application, PSI contacts you within about 10 business days to schedule.
3. Pay PSI the $100 exam fee. It is non-refundable and good for one year from payment.

Your application is valid for one year from LARA's first review. Pass the exam inside that year, or you will need to reapply.

The exam at a glance

Item	Detail
Vendor	PSI
Questions	36
Time	90 minutes
Passing score	75%
Fee	$100
Code	Questions are based on the 2023 NEC
Open book	Yes: the NEC, 2016 PA 407, 1972 PA 230 and the Michigan Electrical Code Rules (Part 8)
Retakes	Unlimited attempts for this exam, per the PSI bulletin

Notice what is not on the reference list: NFPA 72. The bulletin scopes the exam to the NEC and Michigan law "as relating to fire alarm systems". The state does not say why, but the likely reason is that your NICET Level II already covers fire alarm systems knowledge. This exam tests the electrical code and state law around it. What is on the exam has the full topic list.

Pass rates

Neither LARA nor PSI publishes pass rates for any Michigan electrical exam.

Renewal

• Individual licenses, including this one, renew every year and expire December 31. You may renew up to 60 days after expiration.
• The renewal fee is $50.
• Late fees: LARA's renewal page lists $50 for this license, while the administrative rule says $100. Check the current figure with LARA before you count on either.
• If your license has been expired for three years or more, you reapply and retest.

Continuing education

Michigan does not require hours every year. You must complete a board-approved course on any update or change in the state construction code within 12 months after the change. In LARA's words, this "does not happen every year". Neither the statute nor the current rules set an hour count. Courses are approved through CE Broker, and you submit proof only if you are audited.

A code change is on the way. LARA has a pending rule set to adopt the 2026 NEC in Part 8. It has not been filed yet, and it takes effect 120 days after filing. When it does, expect a code-update course to be due within the following year.

Reciprocity

Michigan does not hold reciprocity with any other state. If you are licensed elsewhere, LARA evaluates your license and the other state's requirements case by case.

Two narrower routes exist:

• Military licensure without examination for service members, veterans and dependents who have held a license in another state for at least one year.
• The City of Detroit issues its own electrical licenses. Detroit work runs through the city, not this state process.

Contractors

There is no exam for a Fire Alarm Contractor license. LARA dropped the contractor exams, although an old fee line is still in the statute and the PSI bulletin.

Getting ready

The exam is short: 36 questions in 90 minutes, all on the 2023 NEC and Michigan law. Try our free practice test to see the style, or go to the full Michigan Fire Alarm Specialty Technician exam prep. For the day itself, see Michigan Fire Alarm Specialty Technician exam day.