States / California
California fire protection licensing
| Trade | Status | Agency | NICET | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Sprinkler | State license required | CSLB (C-16 contractor license) + CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal (fitter certification) | Not required by these rules | source |
| Fire Alarm | State license required | California Contractors State License Board | — | source |
| Inspection, Testing & Maintenance (ITM) | State license required | CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal – Automatic Extinguishing Systems program | — | source |
| Special Hazards / Suppression | Not yet verified | — | — | — |
Adopted NFPA editions Coming soon · being verified
NFPA 13: not yet verified · NFPA 72: not yet verified · NFPA 25: not yet verified
Fire Sprinkler State license required
- Issuing agency
- CSLB (C-16 contractor license) + CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal (fitter certification)
- License / certification types
- C-16 Fire Protection Contractor; OSFM Fire Sprinkler Fitter Certification (Commercial / Multi-Family Residential); apprentice/trainee registration
- NICET level
- Not required by these rules
- State exam
- Written OSFM certification exam
- Experience / hours
- Commercial: 7,000 apprenticeship hours + 5 yrs experience; Multi-family: 3,500 hours + 2 yrs (19 CCR §945)
- Continuing education
- Not stated in source / not yet verified
- Renewal cycle
- Not stated in source / not yet verified
- Reciprocity
- Not stated in source / not yet verified
- Fees
- Not stated in source / not yet verified
- Notes
- Fitter certification applies to commercial and multi-family water-based work; not to one- and two-family homes. C-16 excludes electrical alarm systems.
Source: official page · checked 2026-10-16
Fire Alarm State license required
- Issuing agency
- California Contractors State License Board
- License / certification types
- C-10 Electrical Contractor (C-7 Low Voltage specifically excludes fire alarm; C-16 excludes electrical alarm systems)
- NICET level
- Not stated in source / not yet verified
- State exam
- Not stated in source / not yet verified
- Experience / hours
- Not stated in source / not yet verified
- Continuing education
- Not stated in source / not yet verified
- Renewal cycle
- Not stated in source / not yet verified
- Reciprocity
- Not stated in source / not yet verified
- Fees
- Not stated in source / not yet verified
- Notes
- Not stated in source / not yet verified
Source: official page · checked 2026-10-16
Inspection, Testing & Maintenance (ITM) State license required Coming soon · being verified
- Issuing agency
- CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal – Automatic Extinguishing Systems program
- License / certification types
- AES company license / limited license for testing & maintenance of automatic extinguishing systems (H&S Code §13195.5)
- NICET level
- Not stated in source / not yet verified
- State exam
- Not stated in source / not yet verified
- Experience / hours
- Not stated in source / not yet verified
- Continuing education
- OSFM-approved continuing education units (AES CEU program)
- Renewal cycle
- Not stated in source / not yet verified
- Reciprocity
- Not stated in source / not yet verified
- Fees
- Not stated in source / not yet verified
- Notes
- Not stated in source / not yet verified
Source: official page · checked 2026-10-16
Special Hazards / Suppression Not yet verified Coming soon · being verified
We have not yet confirmed California's rules for suppression systems from an official state source. Check with the California State Fire Marshal or contractor licensing board, and your local AHJ.
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