Ohio SFM Fire Alarm & Detection Equipment Certification
Practice for Ohio's closed-book NFPA 72 (2022) Fire Alarm exam — current edition, not the stale 2016 edition competitors are still selling. PSI-administered, 100 questions, 70% to pass. Practice now with hundreds of exam-grounded questions, each with a direct code reference.
About the Ohio SFM Individual Fire Protection Certification — Fire Alarm and Detection Equipment
Granted by Ohio Division of State Fire Marshal (Department of Commerce)
Required to install, service, test, repair, or inspect fire alarm and detection systems in Ohio. Per ORC 3737.65 and Ohio Fire Code §918.
Eligibility Requirements
Must be associated with an SFM-certified company (or self-certify as a sole-proprietor company under OFC 918.5).
What's Included
Every plan gets the same full-access study library.
What the Ohio Fire Alarm & Detection exam covers
Per OAC 1301:7-7-09 (Ohio Fire Code §918) — references and topics drawn directly from the PSI candidate bulletin.
- ✓Initiating devices (smoke, heat, manual stations)
- ✓Notification appliance circuits and synchronization
- ✓Supervisory signaling, off-premises signaling, mass notification
- ✓In-building emergency communications systems
- ✓System wiring, circuits, and grounding (NFPA 72 Ch. 23 + NEC Art. 760)
- ✓Inspection, testing, and maintenance (NFPA 72 Ch. 14)
- ✓Single-station / household alarm coverage (NFPA 72 Ch. 29)
- ✓Ohio Fire Code §918 administrative + reciprocity requirements
Scheduling & Fees
Where to take it
- Administered by
- PSI Services (exclusive vendor; 8 in-state test centers)
- Retake policy
- 90-day eligibility window with unlimited retests during that window.
Fees
- SFM application fee (per category)
- $35
- PSI exam fee (per category)
- $44
Keeping Your Certification Active
Renewal requirements
- Cycle
- Annual
Reciprocity
Reciprocity available via Form COM5020-R for substantially similar out-of-state licenses held >=1 year, per ORC 4796.05. NICET does NOT substitute for the SFM install/service exam (NICET satisfies only the separate OAC 4101:7-5-01 designer-stamp cert).
Sources: Ohio SFM Licensing & Certification · Fire Protection Individual Exam Application (Form COM5020) · PSI Ohio Fire Candidate Bulletin
What Our Students Say
Frequently Asked Questions
No — this is independent study material that prepares you for the official state certification exam. You still take the real exam through your state fire marshal.
Yes. Cancel from your account page at any time. You keep access through the end of your current billing period.
If you are not satisfied, email us within 7 days of your initial purchase and we will issue a full refund — no questions asked.
Questions are pulled randomly from a pool each time you start a test, so no two sessions are alike. Answers include direct code references.
We update our question pool whenever the underlying codes or state regulations change, so your practice stays current.
Related reading
Ohio Fire Alarm Exam Day: PSI Testing, What to Bring, and Common Pitfalls
What to expect on Ohio Fire Alarm exam day — PSI testing centers, ID requirements, the closed-book format, time limits, retake policy, and common pitfalls to avoid.
What's on the Ohio Fire Alarm Exam: Topic Breakdown and Study Plan
Inside the Ohio SFM Fire Alarm & Detection exam: 100 closed-book questions across NFPA 72 (2022), Ohio Fire Code §918, and OBC Ch. 9. Topic breakdown + study plan.
Ohio Fire Alarm & Detection Certification: Requirements and How to Apply
Complete guide to the Ohio SFM Fire Alarm & Detection Equipment cert — who needs it, prereqs, where to apply, fees, and reciprocity. Includes practice test next steps.
Ready to pass your exam?
Join thousands of fire professionals who've trusted Fire Cert Academy.
Start Studying Today →