States / Texas
Texas fire protection licensing
| Trade | Status | Agency | NICET | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Sprinkler | State license required | Texas Dept. of Insurance – State Fire Marshal's Office | Water-Based Systems Layout Level III (RME-G); Level II (RME-Dwelling); none for RME-Underground | source |
| Fire Alarm | State license required | Texas Dept. of Insurance – State Fire Marshal's Office | Fire Alarm Level III (or ESA Level III Designer, or TX PE) for APS; Level II (or ESA Level II) can replace the technician exam | source |
| Inspection, Testing & Maintenance (ITM) | State license required | Texas Dept. of Insurance – State Fire Marshal's Office | Inspection & Testing of Water-Based Systems Level II | source |
| Special Hazards / Suppression | Not yet verified | — | — | — |
Adopted NFPA editions Coming soon · being verified
NFPA 13: 2019 · NFPA 72: 2019 · NFPA 25: 2020 (SFMO licensing rules (28 TAC 34.607/34.707), eff. 9/1/2023 · source)
Fire Sprinkler State license required
- Issuing agency
- Texas Dept. of Insurance – State Fire Marshal's Office
- License / certification types
- Company registration + RME-General, RME-Dwelling, RME-Underground licenses
- NICET level
- Water-Based Systems Layout Level III (RME-G); Level II (RME-Dwelling); none for RME-Underground
- State exam
- Fire Sprinkler Statutes & Rules test (TFM08); Underground test (TFM10) for RME-U
- 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
- Texas PE license can waive the technical (NICET) exams but not the statutes/rules test. Expired licensees with no other active license must re-submit fingerprints (effective 1/9/2026).
Source: official page · checked 2026-10-16
Fire Alarm State license required
- Issuing agency
- Texas Dept. of Insurance – State Fire Marshal's Office
- License / certification types
- APS (planning superintendent), FAL (fire alarm technician), RAS, RAS-SS, AMT, RAL
- NICET level
- Fire Alarm Level III (or ESA Level III Designer, or TX PE) for APS; Level II (or ESA Level II) can replace the technician exam
- State exam
- Fire Alarm Statutes & Rules test (TFM11); Technician test (TFM12); Residential (TFM13); Monitoring (TFM14)
- 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
- Texas Dept. of Insurance – State Fire Marshal's Office
- License / certification types
- RME-General Inspector (sprinkler ITM)
- NICET level
- Inspection & Testing of Water-Based Systems Level II
- State exam
- Fire Sprinkler Statutes & Rules test (TFM08)
- 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
Special Hazards / Suppression Not yet verified Coming soon · being verified
We have not yet confirmed Texas's rules for suppression systems from an official state source. Check with the Texas State Fire Marshal or contractor licensing board, and your local AHJ.
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