NICET Fire Alarm Systems Certification

The Fire Alarm Systems (FAS) certification is awarded by the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) to engineering technicians who work on fire alarm systems: layout, equipment selection, installation, acceptance testing, troubleshooting, servicing and technical sales. The program has four levels, from Level I (trainee and entry-level technician) to Level IV. Each level requires passing that level's exam and the exams of the levels below it, documented work experience in fire alarm systems, verification of key role-specific tasks (performance measures) and, at Levels III and IV, a personal recommendation. The exams are computer-based at Pearson VUE test centers, and the Level I exam can also be taken online with a remote proctor. Candidates may bring the bound code books NICET lists for each level, such as NFPA 72 and NFPA 70, and some of the listed codes are also shown on screen during the exam. Certification is renewed every three years through continuing professional development.