Texas Fire Alarm License (FAL): TFM-11 + TFM-12 Requirements and How to Apply

The Texas Fire Alarm Technician License — universally called the FAL — is the credential required to install, service, plan, or certify fire alarm systems in Texas. It's issued by the Texas Department of Insurance State Fire Marshal's Office (TDI-SFMO) under Texas Insurance Code Chapter 6002 and Texas Administrative Code Title 28.

What makes the FAL unusual: you have to pass two separate exams to get it. TFM-11 (Statutes & Rules) and TFM-12 (Technical) are administered through PSI, and both are required. This guide walks through who needs the FAL, what each of the two TFM exams covers, the fees and timeline, and where Texas FAL practice tests fit into your prep.

Who needs a FAL?

You need a FAL — or a Fire Alarm Planning Superintendent license (APS) to plan and certify systems — if your job involves any of these in Texas:

Installing fire alarm system components, wiring, or control panels
Servicing, repairing, or modifying existing fire alarm systems
Performing acceptance testing on new fire alarm installations
Periodic inspection, testing, and maintenance (ITM) of commercial fire alarm systems
Reviewing and submitting plans on behalf of a Texas fire alarm contractor

Both TFM-11 and TFM-12 are required to qualify — passing one without the other doesn't earn you a license. Working unlicensed exposes you and your company to significant penalties under Texas Insurance Code Chapter 6002.

The two-exam structure

The TDI-SFMO splits FAL knowledge into two exams that test different things:

TFM-11 — Statutes & Rules

What it covers:

Texas Insurance Code Chapter 6002 (the law that authorizes fire alarm licensing)
Texas Administrative Code Title 28 (the implementing regulations the SFMO writes)
License classifications, scope of work, and what each license tier authorizes
Renewal, continuing education, and disciplinary procedures
Insurance and bonding requirements for licensed firms
Display requirements at job sites

This is the state-specific exam. It's the section most candidates underestimate because it's not NFPA content. But the rules are testable, and TFM-11 is one of two doors you have to walk through.

TFM-12 — Technical

What it covers:

NFPA 72 (Fire Alarm and Signaling Code) — the heart of the technical content
NEC (National Electrical Code), particularly Article 760 (Fire Alarm Circuits)
Initiating devices, notification appliances, power supplies, monitoring
ITM frequencies and procedures
Plans, specifications, and submittal requirements
Battery and circuit calculations

This is the technical exam. If you've taken NICET Fire Alarm Systems exams, you'll find a lot of familiar territory in TFM-12. But the Texas-specific exceptions and amendments still apply.

Each exam is 50 multiple-choice questions, 120 minutes, 70% to pass.

One exception: the State Fire Marshal's Office accepts a current NICET Level II in Fire Alarm Systems (or ESA Level II certification) in place of TFM-12. TFM-11 has no substitute; every applicant takes it.

Texas FAL practice tests built for both exams

Effective Texas FAL practice tests cover both TFM-11 and TFM-12 in proportion to how they're tested on the actual exams. A study tool that only drills NFPA 72 (TFM-12 content) leaves you unprepared for half the credentialing — TIC 6002 and TAC Title 28 questions on TFM-11 require their own practice and aren't covered by generic NFPA prep.

Look for Texas FAL practice tests that:

Separate TFM-11 (Statutes & Rules) and TFM-12 (Technical) drills so you can target weak areas
Include full-length practice exams for each TFM exam (50q / 120 min format)
Reference the actual TIC 6002 and TAC Title 28 sections in answer explanations
Are weighted to match the actual question mix used by PSI

Our Texas FAL practice tests program covers both exams in this format, with a separate question bank for each. Use our free Texas FAL sample test to baseline your starting point.

Application path

The general flow through the TDI-SFMO:

Determine your license classification — FAL is the technician-level credential. The Fire Alarm Planning Superintendent (APS), the license for planning and certifying systems, has its own qualification path; see our APS guide.
Submit your application packet — Personal info, employment info, education history, references. Forms live on the TDI Fire Marshal's Office website.
Background check — Texas requires fingerprint-based background checks for FAL applicants. The SFMO directs you to an approved fingerprint provider.
Pay application + exam fees — Application fee is set by SFMO; exam fees go to PSI ($65 each for TFM-11 and TFM-12).
Schedule both TFM exams — Once your application packet is approved, you'll be cleared to schedule with PSI. You can take them on the same day or separate days; passing TFM-11 doesn't expire while you study for TFM-12, and vice versa, within the application window.
Pass both exams — 70% on each, independently. A pass on TFM-11 plus a fail on TFM-12 means you still need to retake TFM-12 (and pay another $65).
License issuance — Once both exams are passed and all requirements are verified, the SFMO issues your FAL.

Fees breakdown

Item	Cost
TFM-11 exam (Statutes & Rules)	$65
TFM-12 exam (Technical)	$65
Initial FAL license fee (SFMO)	$120
Renewal (every 2 years)	$200

Plus background check and application processing fees. Confirm current totals on the TDI Fire Marshal's Office site before applying — fees can shift annually.

A failed TFM-11 or TFM-12 requires re-payment of the $65 exam fee plus any waiting period PSI imposes. That's why a modest investment in Texas FAL practice tests up front saves real money in the long run.

Renewal cycle

The FAL renews every 2 years. Renewal requires:

Continued employment with a licensed firm (or as the qualifying individual of one)
Any continuing education the SFMO requires for your renewal cycle (confirm against your renewal notice)
Renewal fee payment
No outstanding disciplinary actions

Plan ahead: the SFMO does not send aggressive reminders, and a lapsed FAL means losing your right to work the trade until it's reinstated. Many holders set a calendar reminder 90 days before the expiration date.

Reciprocity with other states

Texas has limited reciprocity with some neighboring states for specific fire protection credentials, but the FAL itself is not automatically waived by holding equivalent licenses elsewhere. Out-of-state applicants typically still need to pass both TFM-11 and TFM-12 to demonstrate familiarity with Texas-specific code (TIC 6002, TAC Title 28).

If you hold a NICET Fire Alarm Systems credential or a CA Blue Card / NV F-Card, your work experience may count toward Texas requirements — but you still test in Texas. Out-of-state candidates often benefit most from Texas FAL practice tests since the TFM-11 portion (state law) is entirely new material for them.

What to do next

Once you've confirmed you need a FAL and you've started the application process, your next move is exam prep. The combination of TFM-11 (state law) plus TFM-12 (technical) is broader than what most single-state exams require, and the two-exam format means twice the surface area to prepare for.

Our Texas FAL practice tests program covers both TFM-11 and TFM-12 in proportion — so you can drill the state-specific content as confidently as the NFPA technical content. Plans include unlimited Texas FAL practice tests across all topic areas covered above, with detailed citations to the actual TIC, TAC, NFPA 72, and NEC sources.

Not ready to commit? Our free 10-question Texas FAL sample test lets you see the format and baseline yourself first.

Working on sprinklers or extinguishers instead? Texas licenses those separately: see the fire sprinkler RME license guide and the fire extinguisher license guide.

Texas Fire Alarm License (FAL): TFM-11 + TFM-12 Requirements and How to Apply