Checked 24 October 2026. Hours, the walk-in rules and the list of exams that need an appointment are as the FDNY pages stated them on 24 Oct 2026. The FDNY pages disagree with each other on the walk-in hours and appointments (both views are shown), and the FDNY says its Notices of Exam are being updated for online applications.
Every written FDNY Certificate of Fitness (COF) exam is taken in person, on a touch-screen computer, at FDNY Headquarters, 9 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn. The FDNY Certificates of Fitness page says most exams are walk-in and all applicants "must bring a government issued photo ID", but the details people actually need on the day are spread over the Certificates of Fitness page, an exam-scheduling page, the General Notice of Exam, a group appointment guide, a test accommodations form and the study booklets, and they do not all agree. This guide pulls them together: where to go and when, the two different walk-in windows, what to bring, what is checked at the door for particular exams, group appointments, accommodations, and what happens after you finish. The rules inside the exam room (time limit, 70% to pass, dictionary, phones) are set out in FDNY Certificate of Fitness: exam format, fee and how to apply. ProSyllabus is an independent study site, not part of the FDNY (Fire Department of the City of New York) or the City of New York. Every rule here is quoted or summarised from the FDNY pages and study booklets listed at the foot of the page.
FDNY Certificates of Fitness page, exam-scheduling page, quick reference guide for individuals (revised 03/15/24) and study booklets, read 24 Oct 2026.
- 50 original questions, 2 full exams
- Timed like the F-60 test, 70% to pass
- The reason behind every answer
- Your score by topic
Where to go and when
The study booklets give the site as "FDNY Headquarters, 9 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn, NY" and tell you to "Enter through the Flatbush Avenue entrance (between Myrtle Avenue and Tech Place)". The FDNY's S-60 and F-92 pages give the Public Certification Unit as 9 MetroTech Center, 1st Floor, phone (718) 999-1988, email pubcert@fdny.nyc.gov. The FDNY contact page gives (718) 999-2000 for FDNY Headquarters. The exam-scheduling page also lists (718) 999-1993.
| Source | What it says about when you can come |
|---|---|
| FDNY Certificates of Fitness page | Most COF exams are walk-in. Headquarters is open to the public Monday through Friday (except legal holidays) 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM. Five certificates (F80, F89, Q01, S56, S98) require an appointment. |
| FDNY exam-scheduling page | The online appointment scheduler is no longer available. The N-85, Z-89, Z-51, S-98, S-56 and F-80 exams can be taken without an appointment, walk-in Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. "Do not arrive before 11 a.m. or after 2 p.m." |
| General Notice of Exam (revised 07/2023) | Most exams are conducted Monday through Friday (except legal holidays) 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM. FLSD (N-85, N-89/T-89/Z-89), Z-51, S-56 and S-98 applicants must schedule the exam online with no walk-ins, and all other exams can be taken by appointment. |
| S-56 page | Appointments are required for the S-56 exam, booked through the Online Appointment Scheduler after you have completed and paid your application online. |
FDNY Certificates of Fitness page and exam-scheduling page, read 24 Oct 2026. The two pages describe different arrangements; the hours per day are our arithmetic.
The pages differ, so for any of N-85, Z-89, Z-51, F-80, S-56 or S-98, confirm the current arrangement with the Public Certification Unit before you travel. For other exams the FDNY page gives public hours of Monday to Friday, except legal holidays, 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM, and the General Notice says most exams are conducted in those hours. The S-60 page also says exam applicants must make an appointment, and the scheduling page says the Z-52 practical exam is not a walk-in exam. Headquarters is closed on the days on the FDNY holidays and closings page. The list it shows continues to the end of the year: Election Day (November 3), Veterans Day (November 11), Thanksgiving Day (November 26), Christmas Day (December 25) and New Year's Day 2027 (January 1).
FreeTests: Certificate, permits and authorization · Responsible person and pre-hot work check · Fire safety requirements and gas torch precautions
FDNY F-60 Practice Exam: free sample
Answer 3 questions against the clock, like the real exam. You then see the right answer, the reason and your time on each. About 5 minutes · free · no sign-in.
3 questions to answer▶ Start nowThis one is free · no sign-in neededYour result shows how long each question took you.What to bring
Bring everything on this list. For the six exams it covers, the exam-scheduling page names the photo ID, the confirmation email with your application ID, the originals of the documents you uploaded and any additional documents your exam requires. The General Notice says applicants who do not have proof of a completed application, payment and scheduled test are turned away (it words this for the FLSD, Z-51, S-56 and S-98 exams).
| Item | What the FDNY says |
|---|---|
| Government-issued photo ID | The FDNY page: a State-issued driver's license, non-driver's license or passport. The scheduling page adds an IDNYC card. The General Notice asks for at least one form of ID; the S-12/S-15 and S-60 booklets still ask for two forms, at least one with a photo. |
| The confirmation email from FDNY Business | After you pay online you receive two emails: one from FDNY Business with a record number that starts with the current year, and one from CityPay. The FDNY guide says exam applicants MUST bring this email to FDNY Headquarters. The application ID has the format 2xxx-COF-xxxxxxxx-APP. |
| Originals of the documents you uploaded | The scheduling page: bring the original copies of the documents uploaded with your application, and any additional documents the Notice of Examination and study materials for your exam require. |
| Letter of recommendation | From your employer, on letterhead, stating your full name, experience and the address where you will work (a notarized letter if self-employed). The General Notice says it is only valid for 6 months from the issue date. If you are not employed you may take the exam without it. |
| A paperback dictionary (optional) | It must be a clean copy with no writing or notations and is subject to inspection. Electronic dictionaries are not allowed. |
| Nothing electronic switched on | All electronic devices, including cell phones, must be turned off when you enter the exam room. Study material and booklets may not be used during the exam. |
| Payment | The FDNY page says the application and payment must be completed online before you come, and that cash is no longer accepted. Older documents differ: the General Notice says other certificates can apply in person (online is recommended), the S-60 and S-12/S-15 booklets list in-person payment including cash, and the F-92 page says to apply in person. Follow the FDNY page. |
The FDNY quick guide adds that applicants for an alternative issuance procedure, N-85, Z-89, F-80, S-56, Z-51 and S-98 must upload all the documents listed in the Notice of Exam or the AIP-specific information when they apply online.
What particular exams check
Some certificates have requirements that stop you taking the exam at all, so they are worth checking before you travel. These come from the FDNY pages and booklets for each certificate.
| Certificate | What is required |
|---|---|
| S-60 Watchperson at Construction Sites | A valid New York State security guard license. The S-60 booklet says that without showing it you will not be permitted to take the exam, and that the certificate is only valid while you keep a current NYS security license. The booklet also asks for two forms of ID, an employer letter and an A-20 form. |
| S-56 Construction Site Fire Safety Manager | The S-56 page lists proof you completed a Construction Site Fire Safety Manager course from an FDNY certified school; a completed Certificate of Fitness application form and a signed S-56 application form; a letter of three years full-time experience within the past 6 years, or a Site Safety Manager or Site Safety Coordinator certificate from the Department of Buildings; a diploma or transcript if required; two forms of ID. You must complete the application, upload the documents and pay online before the exam, and without the application ID you cannot take it. |
| S-95 Supervision of Fire Alarm Systems | The S-95 page says it can only be obtained by meeting special qualification requirements. See the S-95 guide for the exam and the alternative issuance procedure. |
| F-01, F-60 and F-02 | The F-01 and F-60 booklets list "None" under special requirements. The F-02 booklet says F-02 holders are not required to obtain an additional F-01, and that they can perform F-01 duties in shelters only. |
Group appointments
The FDNY's group appointment guide says the FDNY "highly recommends" that any group of ten or more applicants schedule a group appointment. The preferred time is 7:30 am on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; other times or weekdays (except Fridays) may be arranged. The F-92 page is stricter: it says groups of 10 or more must make an appointment.
| Step | What the FDNY guide says |
|---|---|
| Before you ask | Every applicant completes the COF application and pays online, and uploads an employer recommendation letter and the other documents the Notice of Exam requires. |
| The request | Email pubcert@fdny.nyc.gov with the subject "COF group exam appointment". Include a list of each applicant's name, the COF application ID of each applicant, and the test date or dates you want. |
| Timing | The test day must be at least 5 business days after the email date. FDNY staff should confirm by email 2 days after you send the request; if you have heard nothing after 2 days, call 718-999-1988. |
| On the day | Each applicant brings a government photo ID, the confirmation email of the online application, and the other documents listed in the Notice of Exam. |
FreeTests: Certificate, permits and authorization · Responsible person and pre-hot work check · Fire safety requirements and gas torch precautions
FDNY F-60 Practice Exam: free sample
Answer 3 questions against the clock, like the real exam. You then see the right answer, the reason and your time on each. About 5 minutes · free · no sign-in.
3 questions to answer▶ Start nowThis one is free · no sign-in neededYour result shows how long each question took you.Test accommodations
The FDNY Certificate of Fitness Unit provides reasonable testing accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The FDNY's Test Accommodations Request Form sets out the process:
| Point | What the FDNY form says |
|---|---|
| How to ask | Complete the form and submit it electronically to pubcert@fdny.nyc.gov with the subject "Test Accommodation Request". |
| When | The form, with the additional required documents, must be completed, notarized and submitted at least 30 days before the date you want to take the test. |
| What it asks | The conditions listed are ADHD/ADD, reading disability, vision impairment or other. With an Individualized Educational Plan or 504 Plan you complete Sections 1, 2, 4 and 5; without one you complete Sections 1, 2, 3 and 5, and Section 3 must be completed by a certified professional diagnostician. |
| After approval | You are emailed the decision. After approval you are guided to make an appointment, fill out the application and submit payment online. |
The FDNY says the information in the form is kept strictly confidential.
In the exam room and afterwards
The full rules are in FDNY Certificate of Fitness: exam format, fee and how to apply. The points that matter on the day: the exam is time-limited and on a touch screen; ask the examiner about computer problems and not about the questions, because FDNY staff cannot assist applicants with their tests; and a passing score is at least 70%. If you pass and meet all the requirements the certificate is issued the same day. If you are not employed and pass, the FDNY issues a temporary letter with a picture for job seeking. If you fail you receive a failure report, and a retest needs a new application and payment (the booklets add that retesting on the same calendar day is not permitted). Online applicants can see their pass or fail result and the expiry date online within one or two business days.
Practice exams in the FDNY format
- FDNY F-60 practice exam: Fire Guard for Torch Operations. 2 full exams of 25 questions, 38 minutes each, three questions free.
- FDNY G-60 practice exam: Torch Use of Flammable Gas. 2 full exams of 35 questions, 53 minutes each, three questions free.
- FDNY S-12 practice exam: Citywide Sprinkler Systems. 1 full exam of 75 questions, 135 minutes, three questions free.
- FDNY F-03 practice exam: Indoor Place of Assembly Safety Personnel. 2 full exams of 25 questions, 38 minutes each, three questions free.
- FDNY F-04 practice exam: Temporary Place of Assembly Safety Personnel. 2 full exams of 20 questions, 30 minutes each, three questions free.
Independent practice by ProSyllabus: original questions written from each certificate's FDNY study booklet, four options each, timed like the real exam, with the reason behind every answer. Not FDNY questions.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the FDNY Certificate of Fitness exam?
At FDNY Headquarters, 9 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn. The booklets tell you to enter through the Flatbush Avenue entrance, between Myrtle Avenue and Tech Place.
What hours can I take the exam?
The FDNY Certificates of Fitness page says most COF exams are walk-in and that Headquarters is open to the public Monday to Friday, except legal holidays, 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM; the General Notice says most exams are conducted during those hours. The exam-scheduling page says the N-85, Z-89, Z-51, S-98, S-56 and F-80 exams are walk-in Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and not before or after. Confirm for your exam.
What do I need to bring to the exam?
A government-issued photo ID, the confirmation email from FDNY Business showing your application ID, the originals of the documents you uploaded and any documents your exam's Notice requires. Turn off all electronic devices; you may bring a clean paperback dictionary.
Can I pay at the door?
The FDNY page says the application and payment must be completed online before you come, and that cash is no longer accepted.
Do I need an appointment?
For most exams, no. The FDNY page lists F80, F89, Q01, S56 and S98 as needing one, but the exam-scheduling page says the online scheduler is no longer available and several of those exams are walk-in. Groups of ten or more are asked to book a group appointment.
How do I ask for a testing accommodation?
Complete the FDNY Test Accommodations Request Form, have it notarized with the required documents, and email it to pubcert@fdny.nyc.gov with the subject "Test Accommodation Request" at least 30 days before you want to test.
When do I get my result?
The General Notice says a certificate is issued the same day if you pass and meet all requirements, and online applicants can see their result and expiry date online within one or two business days.
More in this series
- FDNY Certificate of Fitness: how to get one
- FDNY Certificate of Fitness: full list of certificates
- Fire guard license in NYC: which FDNY certificate
- FDNY F-60 exam: Fire Guard for Torch Operations
- FDNY S-12 exam: Citywide Sprinkler Systems
- FDNY Certificate of Fitness renewal: steps, fees, late penalty
- FDNY S-95 exam: Supervision of Fire Alarm Systems
- Fire watch in NYC: who needs a certificate
Sources
- official — FDNY: Certificates of Fitness (walk-in exams, hours, ID, payment, online application, appointments, accommodations, renewals, list of certificates)
- official — FDNY: Certificate of Fitness Exam Scheduling (walk-in exams without an appointment, what to bring)
- official — FDNY: General Notice of Exam (NOE) for Certificate of Fitness Examinations, revised 07/2023
- official — FDNY: Quick reference guide for individuals, online Certificate of Fitness application (revised 03/15/24)
- official — FDNY: Group appointment requirements
- official — FDNY: Test accommodations request form
- official — FDNY: Holidays and closings
- official — FDNY: Certificate of Fitness S-56 Construction Site Fire Safety Manager page
- official — FDNY: Study material for the S-60 Watchperson at Construction Sites exam, revised March 2024 (Apply/Pay)
- official — FDNY: Certificate of Fitness S-60 Watchperson at Construction Sites page
- official — FDNY: Certificate of Fitness F-92 Supervise and Fire Guard Boatyards and Marinas page
- official — FDNY: Study material for the F-02 Fire Guard for Shelter exam, revised July 2026 (Questions/Test Timing)
- official — FDNY: Study material for the F-60 Fire Guard for Torch Operations exam, revised January 2026 (contact/payment info)
- official — FDNY: Study material for the F-01 Fire Guard for Impairment (Citywide) exam, revised January 2026 (contact/payment info)
- official — FDNY: Study material for the S-12 / S-15 / T-15 sprinkler system exams, revised March 2024 (apply/pay)
- official — FDNY: Certificate of Fitness S-95 Supervision of Fire Alarm Systems page
- official — FDNY: Contact (general phone numbers)
official = a document published by the conducting body. reported = a news or coaching site we could not check against an original. Where sources disagree this page says so rather than picking one.
FreeTests: Certificate, permits and authorization · Responsible person and pre-hot work check · Fire safety requirements and gas torch precautions
FDNY F-60 Practice Exam: free sample
Answer 3 questions against the clock, like the real exam. You then see the right answer, the reason and your time on each. About 5 minutes · free · no sign-in.
3 questions to answer▶ Start nowThis one is free · no sign-in neededYour result shows how long each question took you.
