Fire sprinkler registration, license, and test information

Instructions

• Licenses are issued to individuals; registrations are issued to companies.
• Submit company and individual applications together when both the company and the individual are new.
• You must include a fingerprint receipt with your application unless you already have fingerprints on file with the State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO).
• We will send a renewal notice 90 days before your license expires. After your initial renewal, we will send the notice every two years.
  
  

  SFMO address

  Mailing address:	Delivery address:
  State Fire Marshal’s Office PO Box 12107 Austin, Texas 78711-2107	State Fire Marshal’s Office Texas Department of Insurance 1601 Congress Avenue, Ste. 6.900 Austin, Texas 78701

Company registrations

We can’t register a company without a licensed employee.

Sprinkler Certificate of Registration – General

If your company plans, sells, installs, maintains, certifies, or services fire protection sprinkler systems, your company must have a Sprinkler Certificate of Registration (SCR).

To get a SCR:

1. Submit a Fire Sprinkler Certificate of Registration Application (PDF).
2. Submit a Certificate of Liability Insurance for bodily injury and property damage.
3. Include one or both of these forms:
   • Application to Revise or Transfer All Types of Fire Sprinkler Licenses (PDF) for transferring an existing licensee with an SCR application; and/or
   • Individual Application for All Types of Fire Sprinkler Licenses (PDF) for a new individual licensee application with an RME application.
4. Submit the applications, forms, and fees at the same time.

Note: Please send only one payment to cover all fees. Combine fee payments for other applications.

Sprinkler Certificate of Registration – Underground

If your company sells, installs, maintains, services, or certifies underground water supply piping to all types of fire protection sprinkler systems, your company must have a Sprinkler Certificate of Registration-Underground (SCR-U).

To get a SCR-U:

1. Submit a Fire Sprinkler Certificate of Registration Application (PDF).
2. Submit a Certificate of Liability Insurance for bodily injury and property damage.
3. Include one or both of these forms:
   • Application to Revise or Transfer All Types of Fire Sprinkler Licenses (PDF) for transferring an existing licensee with an SCR application.
   • Individual Application for All Types of Fire Sprinkler Licenses (PDF) for a new individual licensee application with an RME application.
4. Submit the applications, forms, and fees at the same time.

Note: Please send one payment to cover all fees. Combine fee payments for other applications.

Sprinkler Certificate of Registration – Dwelling

If your company plans, sells, installs, maintains, services, and certifies one- or two- family dwelling fire protection sprinkler systems, your company must have a Sprinkler Certificate of Registration-Dwelling (SCR-D).

To get a SCR-D:

1. Submit a Fire Sprinkler Certificate of Registration Application (PDF).
2. Submit a Certificate of Liability Insurance for bodily injury and property damage.
3. Include one or both of these forms:
   • Application to Revise or Transfer All Types of Fire Sprinkler Licenses (PDF) for transferring an existing licensee with an SCR application; and/or
   • Individual Application for All Types of Fire Sprinkler Licenses (PDF) for a new individual licensee application with an RME application.
4. Submit the applications, forms, and fees at the same time.

Note: Please send one payment to cover all fees. Combine fee payments for other applications.

Individual licenses

We can’t issue an individual license until you’re employed by a registered company.

Responsible Managing Employee – General License

If you plan, install, maintain, service, and certify all types and parts of a fire sprinkler system, you must have a Responsible Managing Employee – General License (RME-G).

To get an RME-G:

1. Pass these tests:
   • The National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) Water-Based Systems Layout Level III tests. The technical exams may be waived if an individual holds a current Professional Engineer license.
     • Additional information on the two required NICET Level III exams.
   • The Fire Sprinkler Statutes and Rule test. The study material for the test is the Fire Sprinkler Statutes and Rules guide (PDF).
2. Get a fingerprint background check done if you don’t have one on file with SFMO.
3. Submit an Individual Application for All Types of Fire Sprinkler Licenses (PDF).
4. Submit the applications, forms, and fees at the same time.

Note: Please send one payment to cover all fees. Combine fee payments for other applications.

Responsible Managing Employee – Dwelling

If you plan, install, maintain, service, and certify parts of a one- or two-family dwelling fire sprinkler system, you must have a Responsible Managing Employee – Dwelling (RME-D) license.

To get an RME-D:

1. Pass these tests:
   • The NICET Water-Based Systems Layout Level II test.
     • Additional information on the required NICET Level II test.
   • The Fire Sprinkler Statutes and Rules test. The study material for the test is the Fire Sprinkler Statutes and Rules guide (PDF).
2. Get a fingerprint background check done if you don’t have one on file with SFMO.
3. Submit an Individual Application for All Types of Fire Sprinkler Licenses (PDF).
4. Submit the applications, forms, and fees at the same time.

Note: Please send one payment to cover all fees. Combine fee payments for other applications.

Responsible Managing Employee – Underground

If you install, maintain, service, and certify underground water supply piping for sprinkler systems, you must have a Responsible Managing Employee – Underground (RME-U) license. Planning must be done by another type of qualified company.

To get and RME-U:

1. Pass these tests:
   • The Fire Sprinkler Underground test. The technical exam may be waived if an individual holds a current Professional Engineer license.
   • The Fire Sprinkler Statutes and Rules test. The study material for the test is the Fire Sprinkler Statutes and Rules guide (PDF).
2. Have a fingerprint background check done if you don’t have one on file with SFMO.
3. Submit an Individual Application for All Types of Fire Sprinkler Licenses (PDF).
4. Submit the applications, forms, and fees at the same time.

Note: Please send one payment to cover all fees. Combine fee payments for other applications.

Responsible Managing Employee – General Inspector

An individual with an Responsible Managing Employee – General Inspector (RME-I) license is permitted to perform the inspection, test, and maintenance service for a fire sprinkler system.

To get an RME-I:

1. Pass these tests:
   • The NICET Sprinkler Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Systems Level II test.
     • Additional information on the required NICET Level II test.
   • The Fire Sprinkler Statutes and Rules test The study material for the test is the Fire Sprinkler Statutes and Rules guide (PDF).
2. Have a fingerprint background check done if you don’t have one on file with SFMO.
3. Submit an Individual Application for All Types of Fire Sprinkler Licenses (PDF).
4. Submit the applications, forms, and fees at the same time.

Note: Please send one payment to cover all fees. Combine fee payments for other applications.

Tests

SCR = Sprinkler Certificate of Registration
RME = Responsible Managing Employee

Scheduling a test

Test are registered through PSI Exams Online. You may schedule your test either:

• Online at www.psiexams.com/txfire.
• By phone: 800-733-9267.
• By email: examschedule@psionline.com.

Test description

• All tests are closed book.
• Tests consists of 50 questions that are true/false or multiple choice.
• Questions may refer to a drawing, chart, or figure that is included with the test.
• Technical test questions are based on the adopted standards.
• No questions are based on specific manufacturer’s equipment other than those generally referenced by an National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard.

Test scores

• You must have a passing score of 70% or better.
• PSI will send a copy of your test scores to SFMO.

Test restrictions

You may schedule each type of test only once a week and no more than three times every 12 months.

Test references

All technical tests requirements (other than the Sprinkler Statutes and Rules test) are waived if the applicant is a Texas registered professional engineer. A civil engineer license is preferred for an RME-U applicant.

Fire Sprinkler Statutes and Rules TFM08 test

All questions on this test are based on the Fire Protection Sprinkler System Installation and Fire Sprinkler Rules guide (PDF).

Sprinkler Underground TFM10 test

All questions on this test are based on the information contained in Standard for the Installation of Private Fire Service Mains and Their Appurtenances – NFPA 24.

NICET Sprinkler Layout Level II Test

You must provide SFMO with a copy of NICET’s letter confirming your completion of the Sprinkler Layout Level II Test.

NICET Sprinkler Layout Level III Test

You must provide SFMO with a copy of NICET’s letter confirming your completion of the Sprinkler Layout Level III Test.

NICET Sprinkler Inspection and Test Level II Test

You must provide SFMO with a copy of NICET’s letter confirming your completion of the Sprinkler Inspection and Test Level II Test.

Fees

The certificate of registration initial fees include a $50 application fee.

• To get a copy of the registration or to revise your registration, send the Company Information Update Form (PDF) and a $35 fee to SFMO.
• Send one payment to cover all fees. Combine multiple fee payments into one.
• All fees are nonrefundable, except for overpayments resulting from mistakes of law or fact.
• We will charge a late fee, as required by statute and rules.

• To get a duplicate license, change or add an employer, or change your address, revise your license, send an Application to Revise or Transfer All Types of Fire Sprinkler Licenses (PDF) and a fee of $35 to SFMO.
• Send one payment to cover all fees. Combine multiple fee payments into one.
• All fees are nonrefundable, except for overpayments resulting from mistakes of law or fact.
• We will charge a late fee, as required by statute and rules.