Texas Fire Sprinkler RME License: RME-G, RME-D, RME-U, RME-I
Texas RME licenses lean on NICET: Water-Based Layout Level III for RME-G, Level II for RME-D, ITM Level II for RME-I, plus a state rules test.
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Texas Fire Sprinkler RME License: RME-G, RME-D, RME-U, RME-I
Texas licenses fire sprinkler work through the Responsible Managing Employee (RME) system. A sprinkler company cannot register with the State Fire Marshal's Office (SFMO) without a licensed RME on staff, which makes the RME the credential a Texas sprinkler career is built around. The licenses are issued under Texas Insurance Code Chapter 6003 and 28 TAC Chapter 34, Subchapter G.
There are four RME licenses, and for three of them the technical qualification is a NICET certification, not a Texas exam. The state adds one short test of its own on Texas law.
The four RME licenses
| License | What it covers | Technical qualification | State test |
|---|---|---|---|
| RME-General (RME-G) | Plan, sell, install, maintain, service and certify all types and parts of a fire sprinkler system | NICET Water-Based Systems Layout, Level III (or a current Texas PE license) | Fire Sprinkler Statutes and Rules |
| RME-Dwelling (RME-D) | The same work on one- and two-family dwelling systems | NICET Water-Based Systems Layout, Level II | Fire Sprinkler Statutes and Rules |
| RME-Underground (RME-U) | Install, maintain, service and certify underground water supply piping for any sprinkler system | Texas Fire Sprinkler Underground test, based on NFPA 24 (or a current Texas PE license) | Fire Sprinkler Statutes and Rules |
| RME-General Inspector (RME-I) | Perform inspection, testing and maintenance service on fire sprinkler systems | NICET Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Systems, Level II | Fire Sprinkler Statutes and Rules |
One limit worth knowing on the RME-U: it does not cover planning. The SFMO guide states that planning must be done by another type of qualified company.
Fees and renewal
| License | Initial fee | Renewal (two years) |
|---|---|---|
| RME-G | $200 | $350 |
| RME-D | $150 | $200 |
| RME-U | $150 | $200 |
| RME-I | $50 | $100 |
Company registrations are separate: $950 initial and $1,800 renewal for a general sprinkler contractor registration (SCR-General), and $350 initial and $600 renewal for the underground and dwelling registrations. These are the SFMO's published figures at the time of writing, so confirm them on the SFMO fire sprinkler license and test guide before applying.
Every applicant also needs a fingerprint background check, and must be employed by a registered company before the license issues.
The NICET half
Because Texas points to NICET, the study question for most candidates is simply which NICET exam they need:
- RME-G: Water-Based Systems Layout, Level III. The design-responsibility level. Hydraulic calculations, water supply analysis, hanging and bracing, system types and plan preparation against NFPA 13.
- RME-D: Water-Based Systems Layout, Level II. The same program one level down.
- RME-I: Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Systems, Level II. A separate NICET program built around NFPA 25 inspection, testing and maintenance frequencies and procedures.
NICET exams are open book and timed tightly, so the skill being tested is finding the right table or section quickly. Our NICET Water-Based Systems Layout practice tests and NICET Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Systems practice tests are built around that: every question carries an explanation tied to the code section it comes from.
A Texas PE license can stand in for the technical exam on the RME-G and the RME-U. It does not replace the state rules test.
The Texas half: the statutes and rules test
Every RME applicant takes the Fire Sprinkler Statutes and Rules test, which the SFMO bases on Texas Insurance Code Chapter 6003 and the sprinkler rules at 28 TAC §34.700 and following. Like all SFMO tests it is:
- 50 questions, true/false or multiple choice
- Closed book
- 70% or better to pass
- Administered by PSI, schedulable once a week and no more than three times in 12 months
The RME-U adds the Fire Sprinkler Underground test on NFPA 24, the standard for private fire service mains.
We do not currently offer practice tests for the two Texas-written sprinkler tests. The statutes themselves are short and free to read, so budget a few focused evenings with Chapter 6003 and the Subchapter G rules rather than leaving it to exam week. The state test is closed book, which catches people who are used to NICET's open-book format.
Which NFPA editions Texas has adopted
Texas adopts specific editions by reference, effective September 1, 2023:
| Standard | Adopted edition |
|---|---|
| NFPA 13, Installation of Sprinkler Systems | 2019 |
| NFPA 13D, One- and Two-Family Dwellings | 2019 |
| NFPA 13R, Low-Rise Residential Occupancies | 2019 |
| NFPA 25, Inspection, Testing and Maintenance | 2020 |
NICET sets its own exam editions, and they may not match what Texas has adopted. Your NICET certification qualifies you for the license either way, but the work you certify in Texas is measured against the adopted editions.
Related Texas licenses
Texas uses the same structure across its fire protection licenses: a national certification for the technical half and a state rules test for the Texas half.
- Fire alarm: see the Texas FAL requirements guide and the Texas Fire Alarm Planning Superintendent guide.
- Extinguishers and fixed systems: see the Texas fire extinguisher license guide.
What to do next
- Match your work to a license. General contracting work needs the RME-G; inspection-only work needs the RME-I.
- Start the NICET exam that license names. It is the long pole in every case but the RME-U.
- Read Chapter 6003 and the Subchapter G rules for the closed-book state test.
- Apply through the SFMO with your employer's registration.
Not sure where you stand on the NICET side? Take a free 10-question sample test for Water-Based Systems Layout or Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Systems.
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