Fire protection licensing in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has no statewide license for fire alarm, sprinkler or extinguisher contractors. That licensing is local: Philadelphia and Pittsburgh run the main programs, and both rely on NICET. Statewide, code officials enforcing the Uniform Construction Code need a Department of Labor & Industry certification; the UCC Fire Inspector category is earned by passing ICC Fire Inspector I (66) or II (67) or an equivalent NCPCCI exam.
Some cities and counties in Pennsylvania add their own requirements on top of the state's. Confirm with your local fire marshal before you rely on this page.
What each trade needs in Pennsylvania
Fire alarm
Philadelphia Fire Alarm Systems Inspector License (local)
- Issued by
- City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses & Inspections
- Who needs it
- Anyone who inspects, tests or certifies fire alarm systems in Philadelphia (licensed electrical contractors are exempt; installation itself requires an electrical contractor license)
- What it takes
- One of: NICET Level II or higher in the fire alarm subfield; the principal or designee of a company UL-listed for Protective Signaling Services (UUFX or UUJS); or a PA-registered professional engineer with fire alarm qualifications.
NICET: NICET Fire Alarm Systems Level II or higher (one of three routes)
Fire sprinkler
Philadelphia Fire Suppression Systems Contractor License (local)
- Issued by
- City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses & Inspections
- Who needs it
- Companies doing fire suppression work in Philadelphia (all permitted work must be done by a licensed fire suppression contractor)
- What it takes
- At least one full-time employee with a Philadelphia Fire Suppression Systems Worker License, and at least one full-time employee who either holds NICET Level II or higher in the applicable category or is a PA-registered PE with fire suppression design experience; plus insurance and city tax compliance.
NICET: NICET Level II or higher in the applicable category meets the qualified-employee requirement
Sources: Philadelphia L&I Fire Suppression System Contractor License Application L-015-F (rev 7.2025); phila.gov: Get a fire suppression systems contractor license
Philadelphia Fire Suppression Systems Worker License (local)
- Issued by
- City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses & Inspections
- Who needs it
- Individual fitters and installers working for a licensed fire suppression contractor in Philadelphia
- What it takes
- Complete a registered fire suppression apprenticeship (at least 8,000 hours hands-on and 800 hours of classroom) and pass the Philadelphia fire suppression installer/worker exam, given by ICC. L&I may accept an equivalent authorization from another jurisdiction. For renewals from March 15, 2025, current NICET Level II or higher can replace the 24 hours of continuing education.
NICET: NICET Level II or higher accepted instead of renewal CE (not for the initial license)
State exam: Philadelphia fire suppression installer/worker exam, given by ICC
Source: phila.gov: Get a fire suppression systems worker license (Spanish page)
Pittsburgh Fire Suppression Trade License (local)
- Issued by
- City of Pittsburgh Department of Permits, Licenses & Inspections (PLI)
- Who needs it
- Anyone installing, altering, repairing or replacing fire suppression systems in Pittsburgh (cooking hood work excluded)
- What it takes
- Pass the ICC Fire Suppression Installation Contractor exam (2015 code year or later), or pass both NICET Level III Water-Based Systems Layout and NICET Level III Special Hazards Systems Layout.
NICET: NICET Water-Based Systems Layout Level III and Special Hazards Level III together, accepted instead of the ICC exam
ICC: ICC Fire Suppression Installation Contractor exam
Inspection, testing and maintenance
Philadelphia Fire Suppression Worker Specialty License (water-based ITM) (local)
- Issued by
- City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses & Inspections
- Who needs it
- Workers who inspect or test existing water-based fire protection systems in Philadelphia
- What it takes
- Hold a Fire Suppression Systems Worker License plus ASSE 15010 water-based fire protection certification.
Source: phila.gov: Get a fire suppression worker specialty license (Spanish page)
Fire inspectors
UCC Fire Inspector certification
- Issued by
- PA Department of Labor & Industry, Bureau of Occupational & Industrial Safety (UCC certification, 34 Pa. Code Ch. 401)
- Who needs it
- Code officials doing fire prevention inspections under the Uniform Construction Code
- What it takes
- Pass one of the exams the Department lists for the category: NCPCCI F1 Fire Prevention Inspection General, ICC 66 Fire Inspector I, or ICC 67 Fire Inspector II (the booklet also lists First Responder Inspector). Initial certification is based only on proof of passing the exam; an ICC wall certificate or website printout does not count as proof.
ICC: ICC Fire Inspector I (66) or Fire Inspector II (67) accepted for the UCC Fire Inspector category
Sources: 34 Pa. Code § 401.6 Certification categories and testing; 34 Pa. Code § 401.7 Certification category specifications (Fire inspector); PA L&I UCC Certification Booklet UCC-31 (rev 05-26), ICC exam table p.4
Plans review
UCC Building Plans Examiner certification
- Issued by
- PA Department of Labor & Industry (34 Pa. Code Ch. 401)
- Who needs it
- Code officials reviewing building plans (fire protection plan review is part of this category; there is no separate fire plans examiner category)
- What it takes
- NCPCCI 1B Building General, 1C Building Plan Review, 3B Fire Protection General and 3C Fire Protection Plan Review, or ICC B2 Commercial Building Inspector and B3 Building Plans Examiner.
ICC: ICC B2 and B3 (building exams, not fire exams)
Sources: PA L&I UCC Certification Booklet UCC-31; 34 Pa. Code § 401.6
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: Philadelphia Fire Alarm Systems Inspector License (local)
NICET Water-Based Systems Layout
Sprinkler & standpipe layout — design, hangers, hydraulics.
Named in: Philadelphia Fire Suppression Systems Contractor License (local); Pittsburgh Fire Suppression Trade License (local)
NICET Special Hazards Systems
CO₂, clean agent, water mist, foam & deluge suppression systems.
Named in: Philadelphia Fire Suppression Systems Contractor License (local); Pittsburgh Fire Suppression Trade License (local)
ICC Fire Inspector I
Inspect finished buildings for fire code compliance.
Named in: UCC Fire Inspector certification
ICC Fire Inspector II
Advanced fire code inspection; requires Fire Inspector I.
Named in: UCC Fire Inspector certification
Sources
Statutes, administrative codes and licensing agency pages, checked November 13, 2026. Rules change; the agency's current text governs.
- phila.gov: Get a fire alarm inspector's license
- Philadelphia L&I Fire Suppression System Contractor License Application L-015-F (rev 7.2025)
- phila.gov: Get a fire suppression systems contractor license
- phila.gov: Get a fire suppression systems worker license (Spanish page)
- Pittsburgh PLI Fire Suppression Trade License
- phila.gov: Get a fire suppression worker specialty license (Spanish page)
- 34 Pa. Code § 401.6 Certification categories and testing
- 34 Pa. Code § 401.7 Certification category specifications (Fire inspector)
- PA L&I UCC Certification Booklet UCC-31 (rev 05-26), ICC exam table p.4