State and Local Licensing for Installing Alarm and Fire Systems
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We’ve gathered information to help you get the professional license required in your state to perform low voltage alarm system or fire system installation work. The authorities listed below recognize our training as fulfilling their licensing requirements.
Alabama
LICENSE: Low Voltage
LICENSE TYPES: Installer/Technician; Salesperson; Central Station; Locksmith; Owner; Manager/Branch Manager
ESA training options for licensure:
SALESPERSON
BURGLAR ALARM
- Technician: Certified Alarm Technician (CAT) Level I
- Qualifying Agent: Certified Alarm Technician (CAT) Level I and Advanced Intrusion Systems
CCTV SYSTEMS
- Technician: Certified Alarm Technician (CAT) Level I or Video System Technologies
- Qualifying Agent: Video System Technologies
ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEMS
- Technician: Certified Alarm Technician (CAT) Level I OR Electronic Access Control
- Qualifying Agent: Electronic Access Control
Alabama – Fire
LICENSE: Fire Alarm license for Commercial Only
LICENSE TYPES: Fire Alarm Contractor; Fire Alarm Technician
ESA training options for licensure:
Commercial Fire Alarm Technician: ESA Certified Fire Alarm Technician Level II (this is a series of courses + 24 months experience) is an approved alternative to the NICET Level II certification.
Alaska – Fire
LICENSE: Fire Alarm Permits
LICENSE TYPES: Permit Types: IA; IB; IC; IB
ESA training options for licensure:
- IA and IB Permits: ESA Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) (this is a series of training plus proof of 24 months field experience) is approved as the equivalent of the NICET Level II certification.
- IC and IC-DO Permits: ESA Certified Fire Alarm Designer (CFAD) (this is a series of training plus proof of 60 months field experience) is approved as the equivalent of the NICET Level III certification.
Arkansas
LICENSE: Intrusion & Fire Systems
LICENSE TYPES: Manager; Alarm Technician/Alarm Agent
ESA training options for licensure:
- Class ”E” Unrestricted Alarm System Company Installer or Alarm Agent AND Class ”E” Restricted Alarm Systems Company Installer or Alarm Agent: ESA Certified Alarm Technician (CAT) Level I
- Class “E” Unrestricted Alarm System Company Designated Manager AND Class “E” Restricted Alarm Systems Company Designated Manager: ESA Certified Alarm Technician (CAT) Level I, Fire Alarm Installation Methods (FAIM), and Advanced Intrusion Systems (AIS)
Florida
LICENSE: Intrusion and Fire Systems
LICENSE TYPES: Owner-Contractor; Qualifying Manager; Installer; Sales
Florida ECLB Provider #0000856
ESA training options for licensure:
- Alarm System Agents and/or Fire Systems Agents: BASA/FASA Certified Alarm Technician (CAT) Level I OR BASA/FASA 14 Hour
(These courses are also available in Spanish)
Georgia
There are no training requirements to obtain the state contractor license.
Cobb County Fire Marshal
LICENSE: Fire
- Cobb County Code of Ordinances requires at least one individual on each fire alarm job hold a NICET or ESA Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) Level II certification — and must have proof of certification on their person. ESA’s Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) Level II is an approved alternative to the NICET certification.
Hawaii
LICENSE: Certificate of Fitness (COF)
ESA training options for licensure:
- ESA Certified Fire Alarm Technician Level II (this is a series of training + 24 months experience) is an approved alternative to NICET to meet the requirements for the issuance of the Fire Alarm Systems Level II Certificate of Fitness (COF).
Illinois
LICENSE: Intrusion and Fire Systems
LICENSE TYPES: Owner-Contractor; Qualifying Manager; Installer; Sales
ESA training options for licensure:
- ESA Certified Alarm Technician (CAT) Level I may be used to satisfy a private alarm contractor agency requirement to complete a minimum of 20 hours of training provided by a qualified instructor within 30 days of their employment. The substance of the training shall be related to the work performed by the registered employee.
- ESA Certified Alarm Technician (CAT) Level II and ESA Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) Level II are both approved as credit for 1 year of experience for someone applying for their contractors’ license. To obtain the license, an applicant must have a minimum of three years experience.
Iowa
LICENSE: Intrusion and Fire Systems
LICENSE TYPES: Owner-Contractor; Qualifying Manager; Installer
ESA training options for licensure:
- Security Alarm Installer, Alarm System Maintenance Inspector Installer, Dwelling Unit Alarm Installer, Alarm System Component Installer: ESA Certified Alarm Technician (CAT) Level I
- Fire Alarm System Installer: ESA Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) Level II (this is a series of courses plus proof of 24 months field experience) OR ESA Certified Alarm Technician (CAT) Level II (this is a series of courses plus proof of 24 months field experience)
- Nurse Call System Contractor, Security Alarm System Contractor and Alarm System Maintenance Inspector Contractor: Certified Alarm Technician (CAT) Level II (series of courses plus proof of 24 months field experience)
- Fire Alarm System Contractor: ESA Certified Fire Alarm Designer (CFAD) (this is a series of courses plus proof of 60 months field experience)
Kansas
There are no statewide training requirements.
LICENSE: Alarm Installation
LICENSE TYPES: Alarm Agents
ESA training options for licensure:
- Alarm Installers: Certified Alarm Technician (CAT) Level I for alarm installers in City of Topeka and City of Wichita/Sedgwick County
Kansas – Fire
LICENSE: Fire Alarm
LICENSE TYPES: Fire Alarm technician
ESA training options for licensure:
- Fire Alarm Technician (one wishing to engage in the business of or perform the act of installing, repairing or replacing fire alarm shall authorize such individual to engage in such activities): ESA Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) Level II certification is approved as an alternative to the NICET II certification.
Kentucky
There are no statewide licensing requirements for alarm installers.
LICENSE: Alarm Installation
LICENSE TYPES: Alarm Technician
ESA training options for licensure:
- Technician: Requires an alarm business to list at least one technician at the time of application that holds an ESA Certified Alarm Technician (CAT) Level I Certification.
Louisiana
LICENSE: Alarm, Fire, CCTV, Access Control
LICENSE TYPES: Owner-Contractor; Qualifying Manager; Installer; Sales
ESA training options for licensure:
- Security Technician, Gate Systems Specialist, Qualifier – Household Fire, Qualifier – CCTV: ESA Certified Alarm Technician Level I
- Household Fire Specialist: ESA Certified Alarm Technician Level I OR Residential Fire Alarm
- CCTV Specialist: ESA Certified Alarm Technician Level I OR Video System Technologies
- Special Locking Specialist: ESA Certified Alarm Technician Level I OR Electronic Access Control
- Property Protection Sales Specialist: ESA Certified Alarm Technician Level I OR Understanding Electronic Security Systems
- Fire Alarm Technician, Fire Alarm Owner Specialist, Non-Required Fire Alarm Specialist, Fire Alarm Owner: Fire Alarm Installation Methods
- Qualifier – Property Protection Firms in Security: ESA Certified Alarm Technician (CAT) Level II AND Life Safety Code
- Qualifier – Non-Required Fire Alarm: Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) Level II
- Qualifier – Fire Alarm: Certified Fire Alarm Designer (CFAD) Level III
Michigan – Fire
LICENSE: Fire
LICENSE TYPES: Fire Alarm Specialty Technician
ESA training options for licensure:
- ESA Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) – a series of courses plus proof of 24 months field experience — to fulfill the requirement to be eligible to sit for the Fire Alarm Specialty Technician (FAST) exam.
Mississippi
LICENSE: Intrusion and Fire Systems
LICENSE TYPES: Owner-Contractor; Qualifying Manager; Installer; Sales
ESA training options for licensure:
- Class B License-System Technician: Certified Alarm Technician Level I, Advanced Intrusion Systems and Fire Alarm Installation Methods (all courses included in the CAT Level II Bundle)
- Class C license-System Installer: ESA Certified Alarm Technician (CAT I) Level I
- Class D license-System Salesperson: Understanding Electronic Security Systems
Missouri
There are no statewide licensing requirements for alarm installers.
St. Louis County
LICENSE: Alarm Agents
LICENSE TYPES: Alarm Agents
ESA training options for licensure:
- Installers: Certified Alarm Technician (CAT) Level I (in St. Louis County only)
Montana
LICENSE: Alarm Company
LICENSE TYPES: Security Alarm Installer, Alarm Response Runner
ESA training options for licensure:
- Montana 16 Hour Security Alarm Installer for prerequisite to licensure
Montana – Fire
LICENSE: Individual Endorsement
LICENSE TYPES: Fire Alarm
ESA training options for licensure:
- Individual Endorsement – Fire Alarm: ESA Certified Alarm Technician (CFAT) Level II
New York
LICENSE: Security/Fire Alarm Installer License
LICENSE TYPES: Owner/Contractor and Qualifying Manager for Burglar
ESA training options for licensure:
- Security or Fire Alarm Qualifier: New York 81 Hour Security/Fire Alarm Installer License Course
NOTE: Online training is not approved for training in New York; Virtual Instructor-Led Classroom Training has temporary emergency approval during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
North Carolina
LICENSE: Alarm Systems Business License
LICENSE TYPES: Owner-Contractor; Qualifying Manager; Installer; Sales
ESA training options for licensure:
- Burglar Alarm Experience: Applicant must establish to the Board’s satisfaction two years’ experience within the past five years in alarm systems installation, service or alarm systems business management. If the applicant cannot establish this experience, the applicant must provide verification of completion of the ESA Certified Alarm Technician Level I course.
Oklahoma
LICENSE: Burglar, Fire, Access Control, CCTV
LICENSE TYPES: Technician and Fire Alarm Sales
ESA training options for licensure:
ESA’s National Training School is approved as an alternative examination entity for the following licenses:
- OK Certified Alarm Technician Level I exam meets the requirements for the OK Burglar Technician and/or Residential Fire Technician/Salesperson exam
- Fire Alarm Installation Methods exam meets the requirements for the OK Commercial Fire Technician/Salesperson exam
- OK Electronic Access Control exam meets the requirements for the OK Electronic Access Control Technician exam
- OK Video Systems Technologies exam* meets the requirements for the OK Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Technician exam
South Carolina
South Carolina Dept. of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
EMAIL: Contact.CLB@llr.sc.gov
LICENSE: Burglar, Fire
LICENSE TYPES: Primary Qualifying Party
ESA training options for licensure:
- Burglar Alarm Contractors: ESA Certified Alarm Technician (CAT) Level I OR ESA Certified Alarm Technician (CAT) Level II
- Fire Alarm Contractors: ESA Certified Alarm Technician (CAT) Level I OR ESA Certified Alarm Technician (CAT) Level II
Tennessee
LICENSE: Burglar, Fire, CCTV
LICENSE TYPES: Owner-Contractor; Qualifying Manager; Installer; Sales
ESA training options for licensure:
- Technician: ESA Certified Alarm Technician Level I
- Salesperson: ESA Certified Alarm Technician Level I OR Security Sales Essentials
- Qualifier – Burglar Alarm: ESA Certified Alarm Technician Level I OR Advanced Intrusion Systems
- Qualifier – Fire Alarm: Fire Alarm Installation Methods OR ESA Certified Fire Alarm Designer (CFAD) Level III
- Qualifier – CCTV: Video System Technologies
Texas
LICENSE: Burglar, Access Control
LICENSE TYPES: Owner-Contractor; Installer
ESA training options for licensure:
- Burglar Alarm Installers: Texas 18 hour Alarm Level I or ESA Certified Alarm Technician Level I
- Electronic Access Control Device Installer: Obtain initial training or continuing education requirements for this special endorsement with ESA’s Electronic Access Control online course.
Texas – Fire
LICENSE: Fire Alarm Signaling
LICENSE TYPES: Fire Alarm Planning Superintendent; Residential Fire Alarm Superintendent; Fire Alarm Technician; Residential Fire Alarm Technician
ESA training options for licensure:
- Fire Alarm Technician (FAL) and Residential Fire Alarm Superintendent (RAS) Licenses: ESA Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) Level II (This is a series of courses plus proof of 24 months field experience)
- Fire Alarm Planning Superintendent (APS) License: ESA Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAD) (This is a series of courses plus proof of 60 months field experience.)
Utah
LICENSE: Burglar Alarm
LICENSE TYPES: Alarm Agents
ESA training options for licensure:
- Alarm Agents: ESA Certified Alarm Technician (CAT) Level I
Washington – Fire
LICENSE: Fire Alarm
LICENSE TYPES: NICET II Installer; NICET III Designer
ESA training options for licensure:
- Fire Alarm Testing/Maintenance: ESA Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) Level II (this is a series of courses plus 24 months of field experience) is an approved alternative to NICET Level II certificate
- Fire alarm Design Review: ESA Certified Fire Alarm Designer (CFAD) Level III (this is a series of courses plus proof of 60 months of field experience) is an approved alternative to NICET Level III certificate