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Fire protection licensing in Rhode Island

Rhode Island licenses fire protection trades through the Department of Labor and Training. Fire alarm installers and contractors are licensed by the Board of Examiners of Electricians (Certificates BF and AF), and sprinkler fitters and Fire Protection Masters under the pipefitting and sprinklerfitting rules. Each license is earned by state exam after apprenticeship hours. Municipal fire inspectors serving as Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshals must meet the NFPA fire inspector standard (NFPA 1031), and the state academy program uses the NFPA Certified Fire Inspector I exam.

Licensed at the state levelChecked against official sources on November 13, 2026

What each trade needs in Rhode Island

Fire alarm

  • Fire Alarm Installer's License (Certificate BF)

    Issued by
    RI Department of Labor & Training, Division of Professional Regulation, Board of Examiners of Electricians
    Who needs it
    Individuals who install, maintain, test or work on fire alarm systems
    What it takes
    Work at least 4,000 hours over at least 2 years as a registered limited apprentice (260-RICR-30-15-7 § 7.7F), then pass the Division of Professional Regulation exam (R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-6-11(b)) with a 70% average.

    State exam: Written and/or practical exam from the Board of Examiners of Electricians

    Sources: R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-6-11; 260-RICR-30-15-7 Board of Examiners of Electricians (eff. 01/04/2022)

  • Fire Alarm Contractor's License (Certificate AF)

    Issued by
    RI Department of Labor & Training, Board of Examiners of Electricians
    Who needs it
    Fire alarm contracting businesses (the applicant must be at least 21). Only A, AC, AFC or AF license holders may buy the State Fire Marshal's fire alarm Uniform Test Report stickers.
    What it takes
    Pass the state exam (written and/or practical, 70% to pass).

    State exam: Board of Examiners of Electricians exam

    Sources: 260-RICR-30-15-7; RI State Fire Marshal: Contractor Responsibilities for Uniform Test Reports (rev 2/2026)

Fire sprinkler

  • Fire Protection Master (FPM) unlimited license / Contractor Master (CMFP)

    Issued by
    RI Department of Labor & Training (R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 28-27; 260-RICR-30-15-2)
    Who needs it
    Sprinkler contractors (may be self-employed). Only FPM or CMFP holders may buy sprinkler Uniform Test Report stickers.
    What it takes
    Hold a RI Sprinklerfitter Journeyperson Class I license for one year (or an out-of-state master license, or a notarized resume of six years' experience, one as a contractor), keep a regular place of business, and pass the master examination.

    State exam: DLT master exam

    Sources: 260-RICR-30-15-2 Pipefitters/Sprinklerfitters rules § 2.16; R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-27-10; R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-27-6.2

  • Fire Protection Journeyperson (Sprinklerfitter Journeyperson Class I)

    Issued by
    RI Department of Labor & Training
    Who needs it
    Sprinkler fitters (cannot be self-employed)
    What it takes
    Complete a RI-approved apprenticeship (minimum 10,000 hours on the job and 144 hours of schooling per year), or hold an out-of-state journeyperson license or show 5 years' experience, and pass the Fire Protection Journeyperson examination.

    State exam: DLT Fire Protection Journeyperson exam

    Source: 260-RICR-30-15-2 § 2.17

Extinguishers and kitchen suppression

  • Fire Suppression - LTD (Limited License Class II)

    Issued by
    RI Department of Labor & Training, with a certificate from the State Fire Marshal
    Who needs it
    Installers of dry or wet chemical fire suppression systems, such as kitchen hood systems
    What it takes
    Covers dry and wet chemical suppression systems only. You must hold a State Fire Marshal fire suppression certificate before testing systems. Municipal installation permits are issued to this license holder.

    Source: 260-RICR-30-15-2 § 2.22(A)

Fire inspectors

Practice for these credentials

None of the credentials above names a national certification we offer practice for. If you are working toward one for your career, see our NICET and CFPS and ICC practice exams.

Sources

Statutes, administrative codes and licensing agency pages, checked November 13, 2026. Rules change; the agency's current text governs.