Earning your fire protection certification is a major milestone. Keeping it is the ongoing work — and for most credentials in this industry, that means staying current with continuing professional development (CPD).
Whether you hold a NICET certification, an NFPA credential, an ICC certification, or a state-issued endorsement, renewal requirements are real. Letting them lapse can put your standing at risk. Staying ahead of them can deepen your expertise, boost your credentials, and keep your career moving forward.
Here is a breakdown of the major fire protection certifications that require CPDs, how many hours or points each one demands, and which Fire Tech online courses apply toward each.
NICET Certifications — 90 CPD Points Every Three Years
The National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) offers the most widely recognized certification program in the fire protection industry. NICET-certified professionals must renew every three years by earning 90 CPD (Continuing Professional Development) points.
NICET awards CPD points across several categories. The most direct path for most professionals is Category 1 — Education and Training — where one hour of qualifying instruction from a recognized provider equals one CPD point. As a NICET Recognized Training Provider, Fire Tech online courses qualify for NICET CPD renewal.
NICET certifications span five primary subfields in fire protection. Here is what each requires and where Fire Tech’s online courses apply.
Fire Alarm Systems (FA) — NICET Levels I-IV
CPD Requirement: 90 points per three-year cycle. Certified professionals at any NICET level — from Level I through Level IV — must document 18 CPD points before their certification expires.
Fire Alarm Systems (FA) is one of the most active and code-driven disciplines in fire protection, anchored primarily by NFPA 72, the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. Staying current with code changes is not just good practice — it is a CPD opportunity.
Fire Tech Online Courses That Apply:
Inspection and Testing of Fire Alarm Systems (ITFA) — NICET Levels I-II
CPD Requirement: 18 points per three-year cycle.
Inspection and Testing of Fire Alarm Systems (ITFA) is a specialized NICET pathway for professionals who inspect, test, and document fire alarm systems in the field. NFPA 72, Chapter 14 governs the inspection and testing requirements that ITFA-certified professionals work to every day.
Fire Tech Online Courses That Apply:
Browse Inspection and Testing of Fire Alarm NICET Training
Water-Based Systems Layout (WBL) — NICET Levels I-IV
CPD Requirement: 18 points per three-year cycle.
Water-Based Systems Layout (WBL) is the NICET certification for sprinkler system designers. It is one of the most technically demanding pathways, built around NFPA 13 — the Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems — and the hydraulic calculations behind every system layout.
Fire Tech Online Courses That Apply:
Browse Water-Based Layout Courses
Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Systems (ITWB) — NICET Levels I-III
CPD Requirement: 18 points per three-year cycle.
Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Systems (ITWB) certifies professionals who perform field inspections, tests, and maintenance on sprinkler systems, standpipes, and fire pumps. NFPA 25 — the Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems — is the governing code for this discipline.
Fire Tech Online Courses That Apply:
Special Hazards Systems (SHS) — NICET Levels I-IV
CPD Requirement: 18 points per three-year cycle.
Special Hazards Systems (SHS) covers non-water suppression — clean agent, CO2, foam, and dry chemical systems used in environments where water-based suppression would damage equipment or fail to control the hazard. This certification is grounded in multiple NFPA standards, including NFPA 2001, NFPA 11, and NFPA 12.
Fire Tech Online Courses:
Browse Special Hazards Courses
NFPA Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) — 45 CEUs Every Three Years
The NFPA Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) credential recognizes broad competency across fire protection principles, codes, and systems. It is held by fire inspectors, code enforcement officials, loss prevention professionals, and engineers.
CPD Requirement: The CFPS requires 45 continuing education hours (CEUs) over each three-year renewal period. Approved hours include training courses, seminars, workshops, and professional conferences that directly relate to fire protection. Alternatively, CFPS holders can renew by retaking the exam.
Because the CFPS spans multiple fire protection disciplines, Fire Tech’s multi-subfield online courses are well-suited for earning CEUs. Courses covering NFPA 72, NFPA 13, and NFPA 25 all relate directly to CFPS competencies.
ICC Fire Certifications — 45 Continuing Education Hours Every Three Years
The International Code Council (ICC) offers a wide range of fire-related certifications, including Fire Inspector I and II, Fire Plans Examiner, Fire Marshal, and Fire Protection Specialist. As an ICC Preferred Education Provider, Fire Tech is a recognized source for ICC continuing education.
CPD Requirement: ICC certifications require 45 continuing education hours over each three-year renewal cycle. Hours must be from ICC-approved providers and must relate to the subject matter of the certification being renewed.
Certifications That Require CEUs Include:
- Fire Inspector I
- Fire Inspector II
- Fire Plans Examiner
- Fire Marshal
- Fire Protection Specialist
Most Fire tech courses have a corresponding approved ICC number.
Browse Online Fire Tech Courses
State Fire Protection Licenses — CEU Requirements Vary by State
Many states require fire protection professionals to earn continuing education hours to renew state-issued licenses. This applies to sprinkler system contractors, fire alarm contractors, fire suppression contractors, and fire inspector licenses. Requirements vary significantly by state — from as few as six hours per renewal period to as many as 24 hours, depending on the jurisdiction and license type.
Many states have continuing education requirements, with different requirements for each state and/or jurisdiction. If you hold a state license, check your state fire marshal office or licensing board for the specific CEU hours and approved provider requirements that apply to your credential.
Fire Tech offers state exam prep and continuing education courses for multiple jurisdictions. If you need CEU courses for your state license, use the Fire Tech Course Finder or contact Fire Tech directly to confirm which courses apply to your state’s requirements.
How to Use Fire Tech Courses to Meet Your CPD Requirements
For most professionals, earning CPD points does not have to mean putting your career on hold. Fire Tech’s online courses are self-paced, accessible on any device, and built specifically around the codes and standards your certification follows.
Here is how to get started:
Step 1: Choose Your Training
Browse Fire Tech’s catalog by subfield, certification level, or NFPA standard. Filter by your specific credential to find the courses that apply to your renewal.
Step 2: Master the Codes
Work through your selected courses at your own pace. Each course is built around real-world application of fire protection standards — so what you learn goes beyond CPD compliance.
Step 3: Get Certified — and Stay Certified
Download your certificate of completion, document your hours, and submit your CPD renewal with confidence. Fire Tech’s records are built for this purpose.
Browse all Fire Tech Online Courses
Want more information about certifications? We’d be happy to help:
Your Next Steps
Maintaining your fire protection certification is not just a compliance task — it is how you stay sharp in a field where codes evolve, systems get more complex, and the stakes are always high.
Fire Tech Productions has helped fire protection professionals prepare for, earn, and maintain their certifications for nearly 40 years. As a NICET Recognized Training Provider and ICC Preferred Education Provider, we offer the online courses you need to stay certified, stay current, and keep your career moving forward.
Browse CPD-eligible courses at firetech.com and take your next step today.
Browse all Fire Tech Online Courses
FAQ SECTION
Q: How many CPD points does NICET require for certification renewal?
A: NICET requires 18 CPD points every three years to renew a certification. One hour of qualifying instruction from a recognized provider earns one CPD point in Category 1 (Education and Training). Fire Tech Productions is a NICET Recognized Training Provider, so Fire Tech online course hours qualify toward NICET CPD documentation.
Q: Does the NFPA CFPS certification require continuing education?
A: Yes. The NFPA Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) requires 45 continuing education hours over a three-year renewal period. Professionals can also choose to renew by retaking the CFPS exam. Qualifying hours come from approved training courses, seminars, workshops, and professional conferences related to fire protection.
Q: Do ICC fire certifications require continuing education?
A: Yes. ICC fire certifications — including Fire Inspector I, Fire Inspector II, Fire Plans Examiner, and Fire Marshal — require 45 continuing education hours over each three-year renewal cycle. As an ICC Preferred Education Provider, Fire Tech Productions offers courses that count toward ICC continuing education requirements.
Q: Do state fire protection licenses require continuing education?
A: Many states require continuing education for fire protection license renewal, but requirements vary by state and license type. The number of required hours typically ranges from 6 to 24 hours per renewal period. Contact your state fire marshal office or licensing board for the specific requirements that apply to your license.
Q: Do NICET online courses count toward CPD points?
A: Yes, online courses from NICET Recognized Training Providers count toward NICET CPD points under Category 1 (Education and Training). Fire Tech Productions is a NICET Recognized Training Provider, and Fire Tech online course hours qualify for NICET CPD documentation.
Q: What is the difference between CPD, CEU, and CEH in fire protection?
A: CPD (Continuing Professional Development), CEU (Continuing Education Units), and CEH (Continuing Education Hours) are all terms used by different credentialing bodies to describe the ongoing education required to renew a certification or license. NICET uses CPD points. NFPA uses CEUs. ICC uses CEUs. In most cases, one hour of approved instruction equals one point, unit, or hour of credit — but each body has its own category rules and approved provider requirements.
Q: How long does it take to earn 18 NICET CPD points?
A: Earning 18 NICET CPD points through online courses takes approximately 18 hours of qualifying instruction — spread across your three-year renewal window. That is equivalent to six hours of training per year. With self-paced online courses from Fire Tech, most professionals complete their CPD requirements well before their renewal deadline.
