Fire protection licensing in Delaware
The Delaware Office of the State Fire Marshal licenses fire alarm and fire suppression companies, and each company must employ a full-time certificate holder for every class of work it does (Regulation 703). Almost every certificate class requires both a state open-book exam on the Delaware State Fire Prevention Regulations (given at the Delaware State Fire School) and a NICET Level II certificate: Fire Alarm Systems for alarm classes, Water-Based Layout or Special Hazards for suppression classes. Anyone who inspects or tests water-based systems must hold NICET Inspection & Testing of Water-Based Systems Level II. Portable extinguisher technicians are licensed individually by a state exam on NFPA 10.
What each trade needs in Delaware
Fire alarm
Fire Alarm Signaling Systems Certificate Holder, Classes I, II(a-c), III, IV(a-c), VI
- Issued by
- Delaware Office of the State Fire Marshal (Delaware State Fire Prevention Commission, Reg. 703 Ch. 4)
- Who needs it
- The full-time individual in responsible charge for a licensed fire alarm company (Class I all systems; II proprietary/EVAC/standby power; III central station; IV local/auxiliary/remote; VI inspection, testing and maintenance)
- What it takes
- Pass the State Fire Prevention Regulations exam and hold NICET Fire Alarm Systems Level II, kept current at the level originally required (Reg. 703-4-4.1.5.1). Annual renewal. A Delaware PE may substitute for the exam documentation.
NICET: NICET Fire Alarm Systems Level II required
State exam: Delaware State Fire Prevention Regulations exam, open book, in person at the Delaware State Fire School
Sources: OSFM Delaware Fire Protection Licensing Applicant Guide (July 2026); 1 Del. Admin. Code 703-4-4.0 (Certification), via Cornell LII
Fire Alarm Certificate Class V (household fire warning, 1-2 family) and Class VII (installation only)
- Issued by
- Delaware Office of the State Fire Marshal
- Who needs it
- Class V: household fire warning systems in one- and two-family dwellings; Class VII: installers of systems designed by a Class I-V company
- What it takes
- Class V: the State Fire Prevention Regulations exam plus the Fire Alarm Signaling System Class V exam (references: Delaware regulations, NFPA 72, NFPA 101). Class VII: a current Delaware Master Electrician license.
State exam: Class V exam, open book, in person at the Delaware State Fire School
Sources: OSFM Applicant Guide (July 2026); 1 Del. Admin. Code 703-4-4.0
Fire sprinkler
Fire Suppression Certificate Holder Class I (all systems) and Class II (sprinkler and standpipe)
- Issued by
- Delaware Office of the State Fire Marshal (Reg. 703 Ch. 5)
- Who needs it
- The full-time individual in responsible charge for a licensed sprinkler or suppression company (design, technical documents, installation, maintenance)
- What it takes
- Pass the State Fire Prevention Regulations exam and hold NICET Water-Based Fire Protection Layout Level II (Class II). Class I adds NICET Special Suppression Layout Level II. NICET must be kept current. A Delaware PE is accepted.
NICET: NICET Water-Based Systems Layout Level II required (Class I also NICET Special Hazards Level II)
State exam: Delaware State Fire Prevention Regulations exam, open book, in person at the Delaware State Fire School
Sources: OSFM Applicant Guide (July 2026); 1 Del. Admin. Code 703-5-4.0 (Certification), via Cornell LII
Fire Suppression Certificate Class IV (one- and two-family dwelling sprinklers)
- Issued by
- Delaware Office of the State Fire Marshal
- Who needs it
- Certificate holders limited to residential (13D) sprinkler systems
- What it takes
- State Fire Prevention Regulations exam plus the Fire Suppression Class IV exam (reference: NFPA 13D)
State exam: Class IV exam, open book, in person at the Delaware State Fire School
Source: OSFM Applicant Guide (July 2026)
Inspection, testing and maintenance
Fire Suppression Certificate Class VI(a) (inspection and testing of water-based systems) and the individual NICET inspection and testing requirement
- Issued by
- Delaware Office of the State Fire Marshal
- Who needs it
- Certificate holders for water-based inspection and testing, and everyone who inspects or tests water-based fire protection systems
- What it takes
- Class VI(a) certificate holder: the State Fire Prevention Regulations exam plus NICET Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Systems Level II (no PE substitution). Everyone who inspects or tests water-based systems must keep current NICET Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Systems Level II, or a substantially similar course the State Fire Marshal accepts as equivalent (Reg. 703-5-5.1), with 16 contact hours of continuing education every two years.
NICET: NICET Inspection & Testing of Water-Based Systems Level II required
State exam: Delaware State Fire Prevention Regulations exam (for the Class VI(a) certificate holder)
Sources: 1 Del. Admin. Code 703-5-5.0 (Persons Inspecting or Testing Water-Based Fire Protection Systems), via Cornell LII; OSFM Applicant Guide (July 2026)
Special hazards suppression
Fire Suppression Certificate Class III(a-e) engineered systems and Class V(a-f) pre-engineered systems (incl. wet chemical kitchen systems)
- Issued by
- Delaware Office of the State Fire Marshal
- Who needs it
- Certificate holders for engineered CO2, clean agent, foam, dry chemical, water mist systems (III) and pre-engineered CO2, clean agent, foam, dry chemical, wet chemical, water mist systems (V)
- What it takes
- Pass the State Fire Prevention Regulations exam and hold NICET Special Suppression Layout Level II.
NICET: NICET Special Hazards Systems Level II required
State exam: Delaware State Fire Prevention Regulations exam
Sources: OSFM Applicant Guide (July 2026); 1 Del. Admin. Code 703-5-4.0
Extinguishers and kitchen suppression
Fire Extinguisher License (individual)
- Issued by
- Delaware Office of the State Fire Marshal (Reg. 703 Ch. 2)
- Who needs it
- Individuals selling and servicing portable fire extinguishers
- What it takes
- Pass the Fire Extinguisher exam (reference: the currently adopted NFPA 10). $100 license fee.
State exam: Fire Extinguisher exam (NFPA 10), open book, in person at the Delaware State Fire School
Sources: OSFM Applicant Guide (July 2026); OSFM Fire Protection System Licensing Information and References (4/22/24)
Practice for these credentials
These national exams are named in the requirements above. Each has a free sample test.
NICET Fire Alarm Systems
Most-pursued fire-alarm credential — design, layout & installation.
Named in: Fire Alarm Signaling Systems Certificate Holder, Classes I, II(a-c), III, IV(a-c), VI
NICET Water-Based Systems Layout
Sprinkler & standpipe layout — design, hangers, hydraulics.
Named in: Fire Suppression Certificate Holder Class I (all systems) and Class II (sprinkler and standpipe)
NICET Special Hazards Systems
CO₂, clean agent, water mist, foam & deluge suppression systems.
Named in: Fire Suppression Certificate Holder Class I (all systems) and Class II (sprinkler and standpipe); Fire Suppression Certificate Class III(a-e) engineered systems and Class V(a-f) pre-engineered systems (incl. wet chemical kitchen systems)
NICET I&T of Water-Based Systems
Test and service sprinklers, standpipes & fire pumps in-field.
Named in: Fire Suppression Certificate Class VI(a) (inspection and testing of water-based systems) and the individual NICET inspection and testing requirement
Sources
Statutes, administrative codes and licensing agency pages, checked November 13, 2026. Rules change; the agency's current text governs.
- OSFM Delaware Fire Protection Licensing Applicant Guide (July 2026)
- 1 Del. Admin. Code 703-4-4.0 (Certification), via Cornell LII
- 1 Del. Admin. Code 703-5-4.0 (Certification), via Cornell LII
- 1 Del. Admin. Code 703-5-5.0 (Persons Inspecting or Testing Water-Based Fire Protection Systems), via Cornell LII
- OSFM Fire Protection System Licensing Information and References (4/22/24)