Short answer: In Texas, fire alarm work is licensed by the State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) at the Texas Department of Insurance, not by TDLR. TDLR does not require an electrician license for fire alarm circuits, but that exemption does not authorize the work: you need an SFMO fire alarm license, and you must work for an SFMO-registered company.
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Tsai Electro is an independent learning site. Not affiliated with TDLR, PSI or the Texas Department of Insurance. This page summarizes TDLR’s and the State Fire Marshal’s Office public pages as we checked them in October 2026. Licensing details change; confirm with SFMO before you apply.
Two agencies, two questions
| Question | Agency | What the page says |
|---|---|---|
| Do I need an electrician license to work on fire alarm circuits? | TDLR | Fire alarm circuits are on TDLR’s list of work that does not require a state electrician license (TDLR exemptions page) |
| Do I need a fire alarm license? | State Fire Marshal’s Office, Texas Department of Insurance | SFMO licenses fire alarm individuals and registers fire alarm companies under Texas Insurance Code Chapter 6002 and Texas Administrative Code rules at 34.600 (SFMO fire alarm licensing page) |
TDLR’s exemption list covers class 1, 2 and 3 remote-control, signaling and power-limited circuits, fire alarm circuits, optical fiber cables and communications circuits, citing Occupations Code section 1305.003(a)(12). The exemption is about the electrician license only. In the NEC, fire alarm systems are covered by Article 760.
SFMO fire alarm licenses
Licenses are issued to individuals; registrations are issued to companies. These are the individual licenses SFMO lists, in its own words where possible (SFMO license and test information):
| License | What it allows | Main qualification route |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Alarm Technician (FAL) | Sell, install, certify, service and monitor all types of fire alarm or detection systems; no planning | Statutes and Rules test plus the Technician test, or a NICET Level II or ESA Level II certification in place of the technical test |
| Fire Alarm Planning Superintendent (APS) | Sell, plan, install, certify, service and monitor all types | Statutes and Rules test plus a qualifying credential such as NICET Level III or ESA Level III Fire Alarm Designer |
| Residential Fire Alarm Superintendent (RAS) | Sell, plan, install, certify, service and monitor fire alarm systems in one- and two-family dwellings, plus FAL functions | Fire Alarm Statutes and Rules test, Fire Alarm Residential test, and Fire Alarm Technical test unless the technical requirement is met through an accepted Level II certification |
| Residential Fire Alarm Superintendent, Single Station (RAS-SS) | Sell, plan, install, certify and service stand-alone smoke or heat detectors not connected to a system, in one- and two-family dwellings only | Fire Alarm Statutes and Rules test and Fire Alarm Residential test |
| Residential Fire Alarm Technician (RAL) | Install, service, inspect and certify residential one- or two-family systems | A residential fire alarm technician course from an SFMO-approved training school |
| Fire Alarm Monitoring Technician (AMT) | Monitor residential or commercial fire alarm or detection systems | Fire Alarm Statutes and Rules test and Fire Alarm Monitoring test |
The company comes first
SFMO’s page is direct about the order:
- An individual license cannot be issued until you are employed by a registered company.
- A company cannot be registered without a licensed employee. Its designated full-time employee must hold a Fire Alarm Technician, Planning Superintendent or Residential Superintendent license; a Residential Technician license alone is not enough.
- Companies submit a certificate of liability insurance for bodily injury and property damage.
- Individuals need a fingerprint background check on file with SFMO before a new license application.
Tests and renewal
SFMO’s tests are delivered through PSI. Each test has 50 true-or-false or multiple-choice questions, and you need 70% to pass. Technical questions are based on the adopted standards, and the Statutes and Rules test (TFM11) is based on Insurance Code Chapter 6002 and the 34.600 rules. You may schedule each test only once a week and no more than three times in 12 months. SFMO sends a renewal notice 90 days before your license expires; after the first renewal, notices come every two years.
Worked example: how many correct answers?
- Questions per test: 50.
- Pass mark: 70%.
- Correct answers needed: 50 × 0.70 = 35.
Check: 35 ÷ 50 = 0.70.
Where electricians fit
- Check the contract scope on each job. Raceways, boxes and the power circuit may be in the electrical scope, while devices, programming and certification belong to the registered fire alarm company.
- Fire alarm companies plan, install, certify and service fire alarm systems within what their employees’ SFMO licenses allow.
- People who want both hold both licenses. An electrician license does not replace an SFMO license, and an SFMO license does not replace an electrician license for power wiring.
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Electrical formulas and tables in your pocket
Ugly’s Electrical References, 2026 Edition. The publisher’s description lists mathematical formulas, ampacity and conduit fill information, conversion tables, and transformer and control circuit wiring diagrams. It is a field reference, not a substitute for the NEC.
FAQ
Who licenses fire alarm installers in Texas?
The State Fire Marshal’s Office at the Texas Department of Insurance, under Texas Insurance Code Chapter 6002. It licenses individuals and registers fire alarm companies.
Do you need an electrician license to install fire alarms in Texas?
TDLR lists fire alarm circuits among work that does not require a state electrician license. You still need the right State Fire Marshal’s Office fire alarm license and must work for a registered fire alarm company.
What is the difference between a fire alarm technician and a planning superintendent in Texas?
A Fire Alarm Technician may sell, install, certify, service and monitor systems but may not plan them. A Fire Alarm Planning Superintendent may also plan systems.
How do you pass the Texas fire alarm license test?
Each SFMO test has 50 true-or-false or multiple-choice questions, and you need 70%, or 35 correct. Required tests depend on the license type. SFMO lists the Fire Alarm Statutes and Rules test for the FAL, APS, RAS, RAS-SS and AMT licenses, plus additional tests or accepted credentials as the license requires. The Residential Fire Alarm Technician (RAL) route uses an SFMO-approved training course instead.
Sources checked October 2026
- TDLR exemptions page: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/exemptions.htm
- Texas Department of Insurance, State Fire Marshal’s Office, fire alarm licensing: https://www.tdi.texas.gov/fire/fmlialarm.html
- Texas Department of Insurance, fire alarm registration, license and test information: https://www.tdi.texas.gov/fire/information-fire-alarm-registration-license-test.html
- NFPA 70 (NEC), 2026 edition, Article 760, read in your own copy: https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/nfpa-70-standard-development/70
