Fire protection licensing in Louisiana
Louisiana licenses fire protection work statewide through the Office of State Fire Marshal's Life Safety and Property Protection (LSPP) program. Every firm needs a licensed qualifier: NICET Level III in Fire Alarm Systems, Water-Based (sprinkler) Layout, or Special Hazards for those endorsements, or a Louisiana PE. Employees who certify, inspect or service systems hold individual OSFM licenses, which require passing exams. The board's approved exam list for extinguisher and pre-engineered work uses the ICC-NAFED FE, FK and FN tests.
What each trade needs in Louisiana
Fire alarm
Fire Alarm Endorsement: Qualifying Person
- Issued by
- Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal (LAC 55:V.3021; R.S. 40:1664.1 et seq.)
- Who needs it
- Qualifier for a firm certified for fire alarm work
- What it takes
- Current NICET certificate, minimum Level III in Fire Alarm Systems, or a Louisiana-registered PE with an Electrical Engineer endorsement (a Louisiana-registered Fire Protection Engineer may substitute)
NICET: NICET Fire Alarm Systems Level III required
Source: LAC 55:V.3021 (Cornell LII)
LSPP Fire Alarm technician license (Fire Alarm / Fire Alarm non-required / Fire Alarm Owner)
- Issued by
- Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal (LAC 55:V.3029)
- Who needs it
- Fire alarm technicians employed by certified firms
- What it takes
- Pass an exam with at least 70% in each section (rules and statute, plus equipment). References: NFPA 70 (fire alarm wiring articles), 72, 90A, 90B, 101.
State exam: State exam on the rules and NFPA 72, 70, 90A, 90B and 101, given by an administrator the State Fire Marshal designates
Fire sprinkler
Fire Sprinkler System Endorsement: Qualifying Person
- Issued by
- Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal (LAC 55:V.3121)
- Who needs it
- Qualifier for a certified fire sprinkler firm (a W-2/K-1 employee living within 150 miles, qualifying one firm only)
- What it takes
- Current NICET certificate, minimum Level III in Automatic Sprinkler System Layout, or a Louisiana-registered PE with a mechanical endorsement
NICET: NICET Water-Based Systems Layout Level III required
Source: LAC 55:V.3121 (Cornell LII)
Inspection, testing and maintenance
Fire Sprinkler Inspector License
- Issued by
- Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal (LAC 55:V.3115, 3129)
- Who needs it
- Each employee of a certified sprinkler firm who certifies, inspects or hydrostatically tests sprinkler systems or fire hose
- What it takes
- Meet the initial certification requirements set by the LSPP Advisory Board.
Source: LAC 55:V.3129 (Cornell LII)
Special hazards suppression
Fixed Fire Suppression Endorsement: Qualifying Person
- Issued by
- Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal (LAC 55:V.3021)
- Who needs it
- Qualifier for a firm certified for fixed fire suppression systems
- What it takes
- Current NICET certificate, minimum Level III in Special Hazards Suppression Systems, or a Louisiana-registered PE with a Mechanical Engineer endorsement
NICET: NICET Special Hazards Level III required
Source: LAC 55:V.3021 (Cornell LII)
Extinguishers and kitchen suppression
LSPP employee/technician licenses: Portable Fire Extinguisher, Kitchen Fixed Fire Suppression, Pre-Engineered Fixed Fire Suppression, Fixed Fire Suppression
- Issued by
- Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal (LAC 55:V.3029)
- Who needs it
- Technicians who certify, inspect, install or service extinguishers and fixed suppression systems
- What it takes
- Pass an exam with at least 70% in each section: one on the rules and R.S. 40:1664.1, one on the equipment. Portable references: NFPA 10, 101, 1961, 1962. Kitchen references: NFPA 17, 17A, 96, 101. The LSPP Education Board's approved exam list includes the NAFED / ICC-NAFED Portable Fire Extinguisher (FE), Pre-Engineered Kitchen (FK), Pre-Engineered Industrial (FN) and Engineered Fire Suppression (ESS) exams.
ICC: ICC-NAFED FE, FK and FN exams are on the LSPP Education Board's approved exam list
State exam: State exam with a rules and law section and an equipment section, given by an administrator the State Fire Marshal designates
Sources: LAC 55:V.3029 Examinations (Cornell LII); LSPP Education Board agenda, Aug 29 2024
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 Endorsement: Qualifying Person
NICET Water-Based Systems Layout
Sprinkler & standpipe layout — design, hangers, hydraulics.
Named in: Fire Sprinkler System Endorsement: Qualifying Person
NICET Special Hazards Systems
CO₂, clean agent, water mist, foam & deluge suppression systems.
Named in: Fixed Fire Suppression Endorsement: Qualifying Person
ICC Portable Extinguisher Technician
Service, inspect & recharge portable fire extinguishers.
Named in: LSPP employee/technician licenses: Portable Fire Extinguisher, Kitchen Fixed Fire Suppression, Pre-Engineered Fixed Fire Suppression, Fixed Fire Suppression
ICC Kitchen Suppression Technician
Install & service wet chemical systems over commercial cooking.
Named in: LSPP employee/technician licenses: Portable Fire Extinguisher, Kitchen Fixed Fire Suppression, Pre-Engineered Fixed Fire Suppression, Fixed Fire Suppression
ICC Industrial Suppression Technician
Service pre-engineered systems on spray booths & dip tanks.
Named in: LSPP employee/technician licenses: Portable Fire Extinguisher, Kitchen Fixed Fire Suppression, Pre-Engineered Fixed Fire Suppression, Fixed Fire Suppression
Sources
Statutes, administrative codes and licensing agency pages, checked November 13, 2026. Rules change; the agency's current text governs.