In Washington State, any company offering to contract to design, install, test, and/or maintain a fire sprinkler system must be licensed by the Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Any contractor licensed to design and install water-based fire protection sprinkler systems must also have a full-time [at least 20 hours per week] Certificate of Competency Holder [COC] in their employ, holding the same level of certification as the contractor’s licensing level.

Any employees performing inspection and testing work on water-based fire protection sprinkler systems – regardless of the licensing level of the company – must possess certification as an Inspection and Testing Technician, which is a separate certification level altogether.

In order to apply for a Washington State Fire Sprinkler Certificate of Competency for design, an interested individual will need to submit to this office a Certificate of Competency Application, Affidavit, and Verification of Employment form.

Interested parties may choose to contact the Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office at (360) 596-3914 and request that an application packet be sent electronically or to a mailing address.

As a new COC there is a one-time application fee of $ 50.00. There is also an annual certification fee of $50.00 which is prorated for the first year of certification based upon the month of certification, and a $ 20.00 annual stamp fee. Thereafter, the full annual certification fee of $ 50.00 and annual stamp fee of $ 20.00 will be necessary to renew each year. Specifics on the fees can be found on the Sprinkler Licensing Program Fee Schedule.

The application form asks for the name of the company the COC will be working for. A COC must be employed by a currently licensed sprinkler contractor of the same level unless they wish to be certified as FOR DESIGN ONLY. If you wish to be FOR DESIGN ONLY, indicate that on the application as your employer.

Certification through the National Institute for Certification of Engineering Technologies [N.I.C.E.T.] is required for state certification as a level II and III designer. A certification test can be administered by the Office of the State Fire Marshal to for a level I designer and a level U Certificate of Competency Holder. A full description and explanation of the levels of certification can be found at the Levels Of Licensing web page.

Once the completed application documents are submitted to this office, the application is reviewed by the Deputy State Fire Marshal in charge of the Sprinkler Licensing Program. When approved, the Certificate Of Competency Holder will receive their certificate and stamp by mail to the address on file.

This certificate and stamp are valid from the date of issue until December 31 of the same year. This is an annual certification program.

Relevant Web Page Links

Sprinkler Licensing Program:

• Sprinkler Licensing Program Main Page
• Sprinkler Contractor Licensing Program
• Inspection and Testing Technician Certification Program
• Temporary Certificate of Competency Program
• Levels of Licensing
• Forms and Reports Page

Sprinkler Contractor Licensing Laws and Rules:

• The Revised Code of Washington [R.C.W]. 18.160
• The Washington Administrative Code [W.A.C.] 212-80