What's on the Nevada F-Card Exam? NAC 477 + NFPA Topic Breakdown

The Nevada F-Card exam is 60 questions, 120 minutes, 75% to pass — meaning you need to get at least 45 out of 60 correct. That higher pass mark (vs. 70% on most state exams) means you have less margin for error than you might think.

This post breaks down the exam topic-by-topic and tells you where the points actually live — useful both for planning study hours and for picking which sections to drill in Nevada F-Card practice tests.

Where to focus

Unlike PSI's California Blue Card exam (where they publish exact topic percentages), the Nevada F-Card exam mix isn't broken out as cleanly publicly. What we can tell you from question pools and candidate reports:

1. NAC 477 questions are state-specific and unique — and they're the section out-of-state candidates underestimate
2. NFPA 72 carries the most weight on the national-code side, with Chapter 3 (definitions) showing up disproportionately
3. NFPA 25 matters more than candidates expect — the ITM side is heavily tested
4. NFPA 13 is the lightest of the cited references but still gets a handful of questions

Below is the recommended study order.

Section 1: Nevada Administrative Code Chapter 477

NAC 477 is the section of Nevada law that establishes fire protection licensing. It defines:

• Who needs to be licensed (technician, foreman, engineering-level)
• What activities are restricted to licensees
• Renewal and continuing education requirements
• Disciplinary procedures and grounds for revocation
• Insurance and bonding requirements for licensed firms

What to study:

• The classifications of licenses and what each authorizes
• The administrative requirements (record retention, on-site display of license, supervising-licensee responsibilities)
• Penalties for unlicensed work — both for the worker and the firm

Common trap: NAC 477 has specific Nevada timelines and notice requirements that don't appear in NFPA. If a question mentions "notification of the State Fire Marshal" or "within X days of," it's almost certainly testing NAC, not NFPA.

NAC 477 is short — read it cover to cover at least twice. Most candidates underestimate it because the NFPA standards are so much thicker, but the NAC questions are easier wins if you actually study them. NAC-specific Nevada F-Card practice tests catch the patterns of how the State Fire Marshal Division phrases questions on this code.

Section 2: NFPA 72 — Fire Alarm and Signaling Code

The heavy lifter. Nevada emphasizes specific chapters:

• Chapter 3 — Definitions: Don't skip this. The exam asks rote definition questions that you'll either know cold or lose. Examples: "What is the definition of a 'supervisory signal'?" or "Define 'positive alarm sequence.'"
• Chapter 7 — Documentation: Record retention, as-built drawings, inspection reports.
• Chapter 10 — Fundamentals: Power supplies, supervision, monitoring integrity.
• Chapter 14 — Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance: Frequencies, what gets inspected vs. tested, who can perform the work.

What to study:

• Definitions from Chapter 3 — flashcard them
• Power supply secondary (battery) calculations: 24 hours standby + 5 minutes alarm
• ITM frequencies from Chapter 14 (annual, semiannual, quarterly, monthly, weekly, daily) — you'll be asked which interval applies to which device
• Document retention periods

Common trap: Candidates rely on field practice memory ("we test these every six months at work"). Don't. Always answer based on what NFPA 72 Ch. 14 actually requires. Nevada F-Card practice tests built around the code (rather than field habits) are how you catch this gap before exam day.

Section 3: NFPA 25 — Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Systems

For sprinkler ITM. Even if you don't usually work on water-based systems, NFPA 25 gets tested because the F-Card is a broad license.

What to study:

• ITM frequencies for the major components: sprinklers, valves, gauges, fire pumps, standpipes
• Hydraulic test requirements
• Five-year internal inspection of sprinkler piping
• The difference between "inspection," "test," and "maintenance" as NFPA 25 defines them

Common trap: NFPA 72 and NFPA 25 use similar vocabulary but different specifics. Inspection frequency for a smoke detector (NFPA 72) is not the same as for a sprinkler waterflow alarm (NFPA 25). Keep the references straight. Mixed-discipline Nevada F-Card practice tests are the fastest way to drill this distinction.

Section 4: NFPA 13 — Installation of Sprinkler Systems

The lightest of the cited references on the exam, but you'll see a few questions on:

• Sprinkler spacing rules (light, ordinary, extra hazard occupancies)
• Head temperature ratings and where to use them
• Obstruction rules
• Pipe schedule vs. hydraulically calculated systems

You don't need NFPA 13 mastery for the F-Card — you need familiarity. A handful of well-aimed questions will appear.

Section 5: Nevada-Specific Inspection Requirements

Where NAC 477 references specific inspection or reporting requirements that go beyond the national NFPA standards, those are testable.

What to study:

• Documentation submitted to the State Fire Marshal Division (formats, deadlines)
• Annual inspection report content requirements
• Deficiency reporting (when something fails, what's the obligation)

Section 6: Documentation and Reporting Standards

The administrative side of the trade. Annual reports, ITM record formats, signed certificates of completion, deficiency reports.

What to study:

• What goes on an inspection certificate
• Record retention periods (varies between NFPA 72, NFPA 25, and NAC 477 — pay attention to which applies)
• Who must sign off on what (the role of the supervising licensee)

Suggested study allocation

For 60-80 hours of total study, here's a reasonable split:

Topic	Hours
NAC 477	12
NFPA 72 (Ch. 3 + 7 + 10 + 14)	25
NFPA 25	15
NFPA 13	6
Nevada-specific inspection + documentation	8
Total	66

If you're already strong on NFPA 72 from prior NICET work, you can compress that section and put more time on NAC 477 + NFPA 25, which are the F-Card-specific weak points for most candidates. Mix in 2-3 full-length Nevada F-Card practice tests across the final two weeks so you arrive at exam day familiar with the timing pressure.

Practice tests built to match

Our Nevada F-Card practice tests draw from a question pool that matches this exam mix — 60-question full-length practice exams, sectional drills on NAC 477 vs. NFPA, and detailed explanations with codebook references for every question. Plans include unlimited Nevada F-Card practice tests across every topic area covered above.

Take our free 10-question sample test to baseline yourself before committing to a study plan.