ESA Fire Certifications Grow in Popularity and AHJ Approvals

ESA’s fire certifications, preferred for streamlined access to training, testing and credentialing, are gaining traction across the US as alternatives to NICET. Most recently, ESA’s National Training School (NTS), racked up approvals in Hawaii and in Kansas’ Sedgwick County and City of Wichita.

Industry professionals performing installation, inspection, testing, maintenance and programming of fire alarm systems site process efficiencies as a key reason for choosing the fire certifications.

Through ESA, testing, verification of experience and issuance of an applicant’s fire alarm certification is processed within weeks — not months — allowing professionals to obtain and maintain licensing more easily.

The most recent approvals bring the association’s total of jurisdictions approving ESA’s fire certifications as outlets for professionals to meet local or state-level licensing requirements to 12 jurisdictions:

• Alabama– ESA Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) Level II is approved for Commercial Fire Alarm Technician
• Alaska– ESA Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) Level II is approved for IA and IB permits; Certified Fire Alarm Designer (CFAD) is approved for IC and IC-DO permits
• Georgia, Cobb County Fire Marshal – ESA Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) Level II is approved for at least one supervisor per job site
• Hawaii – ESA Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) Level II is approved for Fire Alarm Systems Level II Certificate of Fitness
• Illinois – ESA Certified Alarm Technician (CAT II) and ESA Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) are approved as credit for one year of the required experience for applicants wishing to obtain their Private Alarm Contractor license
• Iowa– ESA Certified Alarm Technician (CAT II) Level II or ESA Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) Level II is approved for Fire Alarm System Installer. ESA Certified Fire Alarm Designer (CFAD) is approved for Fire Alarm System contractor
• City of Wichita/Sedgwick County, Kansas – ESA Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) Level IIis approved for Level II Fire Alarm technician
• Louisiana– ESA Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) Level II is approved for Non-Required Fire Alarm-Qualifier; Certified Fire Alarm Designer (CFAD) is approved for Qualifier-Fire Alarm
• Michigan – ESA Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) Level II is approved to be eligible to sit for the Fire Alarm Specialty Technician (FAST) exam
• Montana – ESA Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) Level II is approved for Individual Endorsement to sell, install and service fire alarm systems
• Tennessee– ESA Certified Fire Alarm Designer (CFAD) is approved for Qualifier
• Texas– ESA Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) Level II is approved for Fire Alarm Technician (FAL); ESA Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) Level II and the ESA Certified Residential Fire Alarm Inspector are approved for Residential Fire Alarm Superintendent (RAS) licenses; ESA Certified Fire Alarm Designer (CFAD) is approved for Fire Alarm Planning Superintendent (APS) license
• Washington– ESA Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) Level II is approved for fire alarm installers; Certified Fire Alarm Designer (CFAD) is approved for fire alarm design review

Recognition is slated to grow with active proposals for approval of ESA’s fire alarm certifications as alternatives to NICET in several additional states.

ESA currently offers certifications in security, fire and sales.  Widely accepted ESA certifications signal the achievements and job-readiness of industry professionals. Seasoned security and fire pros have developed ESA’s National Training School course content and serve as instructors, who are passionate about helping students succeed.

NTS aims to prove that “Not all Training is Created Equal,” and for this reason, nothing looks better on a resume or provides peace of mind to employers like a hard-earned ESA certification.

Licensing Notes:

Hawaii approval of ESA’s Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) Level II for Fire Alarm Systems Level II Certificate of Fitness is pursuant to the Hawaii Administrative rules, Title 12, Chapter 44.1

The Wichita Fire Department and the Board of Electrical Appeals agreed that the ESA Certified Fire Alarm Technician Level II credential would be an acceptable equivalent to the NICET Level II qualification and certification as allowed in Sec 10.5.3.4 of NFPA 72 – 2016 Edition. Companies should submit their applications for technicians with proper certificates to MABCD for certification in Sedgwick County and the City of Wichita.

Texas also requires applicants to pass the state’s Statute and Rules TFM11 exam to obtain the FAL, RAS or APS license.