Trade license requirements · 51 jurisdictions
Fire Protection · narrow-license lane (#17/20 by licensing breadth)
Installs sprinkler systems, fire alarms, and suppression equipment Licensing breadth 63% (#17/20 by licensing breadth) places this trade in the narrow-license lane. Open-data from state boards, NCSL, and NASCLA; verify live status before you hire.
- 32
- States require license
- 63%
- Of all jurisdictions
- 0
- Surety bond mandates
- 19
- No state license
Fire Protection licensing-breadth posture
Fire Protection is in the narrow-license lane (#17/20 by licensing breadth): only 32 of 51 jurisdictions require a statewide license (63%), and 32 of those licensing states also mandate an exam.
- 32
- states require a license
- 32
- of those also mandate an exam
- 0
- also require a surety bond
- #17
- of 20 trades by breadth
Source: state licensing boards · NCSL · NASCLA · snapshot 2026-06-27. Specialty or local credentials may still apply where no statewide license is listed.
Fire Protection · narrow-license lane
According to state licensing boards, NCSL, and NASCLA, Fire Protection requires a state license in 32 of 51 jurisdictions (63%), rank #17 of 20 by licensing breadth; #17/20 by licensing breadth.
According to the same board-sourced directory (snapshot 2026-06-27), fire protection sits in the narrow-license lane. Of the 32 licensing states, 32 also mandate an exam and 0 list a surety-bond requirement. This is a requirements directory, not a live credential check - confirm status on the board roster before you hire.
Among 32 licensing states
NASCLA trade screen folio
Fire Protection board screens in this snapshot
Entity-varying counts from state licensing boards, NCSL, and NASCLA: how many jurisdictions stamp exam, bond, and insurance requirements on this trade.
- 32/51 jurisdictions require a license 63% coverage
- 32 licensing states mandate an exam 100% of licensed rows
- 0 licensing states list a surety bond 0% of licensed rows
- 32 licensing states set a liability floor 100% of licensed rows
- #17 of 20 trades by breadth
Exam-mandate neighbourhood
Among licensing states, how many also mandate an exam; nearest trades by exam count (snapshot 2026-06-27).
Peer placement
Licensing breadth across all 20 tracked trades
Highlighted bar is Fire Protection: share of jurisdictions requiring a state license in this snapshot (#17/20 by licensing breadth).
Same board as the distribution above (state licensing boards · NCSL · NASCLA · 2026-06-27).
States Requiring a Fire Protection License (32)
The Exam, Bond, Insur., and Fee columns below reflect an industry-typical baseline for fire protection licensing, per-state statutory research for this trade is still in progress, so these are not yet confirmed dollar figures for each individual state. Confirm the exact current requirement with the state licensing board (link on each state's page) before relying on a specific number.
| State | License Type | Exam | Bond | Insur. | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| Alaska | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| Arizona | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| Arkansas | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| California | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| Colorado | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| Connecticut | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| District of Columbia | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| Florida | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| Georgia | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| Hawaii | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| Illinois | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| Kentucky | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| Louisiana | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| Maryland | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| Massachusetts | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| Michigan | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| Minnesota | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| Mississippi | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| Nevada | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| New Jersey | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| New Mexico | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| New York | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| North Carolina | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| Oklahoma | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| Oregon | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| Rhode Island | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| South Carolina | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| Tennessee | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| Utah | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| Virginia | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
| Washington | Fire Protection System License | Yes | No | $500K | $100-$400 |
States Without State Fire Protection License (19)
In these states, fire protection contractors do not require a state license. Local permits and municipal registration may still apply.
Breadth peers
Trades whose statewide licensing share sits nearest to Fire Protection's 63% - not a fixed guide strip.
- Roofer 54.9% · Δ7.8
- Carpenter 70.6% · Δ7.9
- Demolition 70.6% · Δ7.9
- Elevator Mechanic 70.6% · Δ7.9
- Excavation 70.6% · Δ7.9
Disclaimer: Requirements shown are from state licensing boards, NCSL, and NASCLA data. Always verify current requirements directly with your state's licensing board.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Nationwide trades with similar licensing breadth
Peer sets for Fire Protection lead with jurisdiction licensing share (63% here), then exam-mandate count, distinct from the sidebar ABS(%) peers.
Similar licensing breadth
Nearest nationwide trades by share of jurisdictions requiring a license (63% here).
- Roofer · 54.9% licensed
- Carpenter · 70.6% licensed
- Demolition · 70.6% licensed
- Elevator Mechanic · 70.6% licensed
Similar exam-mandate stack
Nearest nationwide trades by count of licensing states that also mandate an exam (32 here).
- Elevator Mechanic · 36 exam states
- Pool Contractor · 25 exam states
- Solar Installer · 25 exam states
- HVAC Technician · 40 exam states
| Publisher | PlainHireCheck |
| Sources | Public state contractor licensing board records |