Texas licenses fire extinguisher work through the State Fire Marshal’s Office of the Texas Department of Insurance. An individual license requires employment by a registered company and passing closed-book tests administered through PSI: every FEL class takes TFM01, the Extinguisher Statutes and Rules test, and each class adds its technical tests — TFM02 for portable extinguishers, TFM03 for kitchen systems, TFM04 for fixed systems. TDI accepts ICC/NAFED certifications in place of the technical tests, never in place of TFM01. PassProfessor’s Texas Fire Extinguisher License program is in the works, built class by class to TDI’s test structure.
This program is part of the expanding PassProfessor catalog — join the notify list and we’ll email you when enrollment opens.
Under Texas Insurance Code Chapter 6001 and the State Fire Marshal’s rules, companies that sell, install, and service extinguishers and fixed systems hold registrations, individuals who do the work hold licenses, and the gateway to every individual license is a set of state tests — a statutes and rules test every licensee takes, plus technical tests matched to the work the license allows. Three FEL classes structure the trade: FEL-B for portable extinguishers, FEL-K for pre-engineered kitchen cooking systems, and FEL-A for fixed systems, with a planning license above them and an apprentice permit at the entry. PassProfessor’s Texas Fire Extinguisher License program is in the works as part of the expanding PassProfessor catalog, built on the test descriptions, references, and licensing structure the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) publishes through the State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO).
Which license is this?
This page covers the Texas fire extinguisher individual licenses administered by the State Fire Marshal’s Office, part of the Texas Department of Insurance: the Type B Portable Fire Extinguisher License (FEL-B), the Type K Kitchen Cooking Systems License (FEL-K), and the Type A Fixed System License (FEL-A), together with the Type PL Planning License (EPL) and the Apprentice Permit (EAP) that complete the structure. TDI publishes that specified ICC/NAFED certifications can replace the requirement to take and pass the FEL technical tests (TFM02, TFM03, TFM04), class by class as detailed below, while the Extinguisher Statutes and Rules test (TFM01) stands for every applicant regardless. A certification is therefore an alternative route through the technical tests, never a substitute for the Texas license itself, and never a substitute for TFM01.
What will the program cover?
Original practice questions, written test by test to TDI’s published descriptions. The program is being built from scratch against the structure TDI publishes for each test — TFM01 on Texas Insurance Code Chapter 6001 and Texas Administrative Code 34.500 as TDI cites them; TFM02 on NFPA 10 across the subject list TDI publishes for portable extinguishers; TFM03 on NFPA 10, NFPA 17A, and NFPA 96 across its published subjects for cooking-area systems; TFM04 on the eight NFPA standards TDI lists for fixed systems across its published subjects. Items test whether you can apply the standard or the statute to a described extinguisher, system, or licensing situation.
Class-by-class organization. A candidate for FEL-B sits two tests; a candidate for FEL-K sits three; a candidate for FEL-A sits four. The program is organized the way the candidacy is: a TFM01 core every class shares, then the technical layers in the order the classes stack them — TFM02 beneath everything, TFM03 added for kitchen work, TFM04 completing the fixed-system class.
Closed-book fluency, because these tests are closed book. TDI publishes that all its fire extinguisher tests are closed book at 50 questions per test. Fifty closed-book questions measure held knowledge: intervals, requirements, and statutory duties retrieved without a reference to open.
Results you can read by test. Practice is organized by test — TFM01, TFM02, TFM03, TFM04 so your results can be read at the grain the license is actually decided at: a thin subject inside the test you sit next shows while there is still time to repair it.
The statutes layer, treated as the license’s foundation. TFM01 is required of FEL-B, FEL-K, FEL-A, and the planning license alike, and no ICC/NAFED certification replaces it. The program treats Chapter 6001 and the cited administrative code provisions as first-class study material: who may do what work, under what registration and license, with what duties and prohibitions.
What are the verified facts of the real licensing tests?
| Fact of record | Detail |
|---|---|
| Licensing authority | Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) — licenses are issued to individuals; registrations are issued to companies |
| Employment rule | TDI cannot issue an individual license until the applicant is employed by a registered company; a fingerprint background check is required unless fingerprints are already on file with SFMO |
| License classes in this program | FEL-B (Type B Portables); FEL-K (Type K Cooking Systems); FEL-A (Type A Fixed Systems); Type PL Planning License (EPL); Apprentice Permit (EAP) |
| Tests | TFM01 Extinguisher Statutes and Rules; TFM02 Extinguisher Type B; TFM03 Extinguisher Type K; TFM04 Extinguisher Type A — administered through PSI |
| Test format | All tests are closed book; each test has 50 questions, true/false or multiple choice; questions may refer to a drawing, chart, or figure included with the test |
| Passing | A passing score of seventy percent or better on each required test, as TDI publishes it; PSI sends official scores to SFMO |
| Scheduling and restrictions | Schedule through PSI Exams Online (psiexams.com/txfire), by phone, or by email; each type of test may be scheduled only once a week and no more than three times in every 12 months |
| ICC/NAFED substitution | Specified ICC/NAFED certifications can replace the technical tests (TFM02–TFM04) as TDI lists them per class; TFM01 is never replaced |
| Individual license fees | FEL-B, FEL-K, FEL-A, and EPL: $70 initial fee and $100 renewal fee (two-year term), charged by TDI; Apprentice Permit: $30 initial fee — confirm current fees on TDI’s page |
How do the classes and tests fit together?
TDI’s published test matrix, stated in words — every individual license pairs the statutes test with the technical tests its scope requires:
| License | Work the license permits (as TDI states it) | Required tests | Standing requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| FEL-B — Type B Portables | Install, certify, or service portable fire extinguishers, and test DOT non-specification portable fire extinguishers (DOT specification testing belongs to a Type C registered company) | TFM02 + TFM01 | — |
| FEL-K — Type K Cooking Systems | Install, certify, or service any pre-engineered fixed fire extinguisher systems used to protect a cooking area, and portable extinguishers | TFM02 + TFM03 + TFM01 | Hold an FEL-B license or an Apprentice Permit for a minimum of 6 months; the FEL-B or permit is inactivated once FEL-K is issued |
| FEL-A — Type A Fixed Systems | Install, certify, or service all pre-engineered fixed fire extinguishing systems and portable extinguishers; fixed systems other than pre-engineered systems must be planned by an EPL or a professional engineer | TFM02 + TFM03 + TFM04 + TFM01 | Hold an FEL-B license or an Apprentice Permit for a minimum of 6 months; the prior FEL-B, FEL-K, or Apprentice credential is inactivated once FEL-A is issued |
| EPL — Type PL Planning | Plan, install, certify, or service fixed fire extinguisher systems; also sell, install, certify, or service portable fire extinguishers | NICET Level III Special Hazards Systems test + TFM01 | NICET certification route — see the planning note below |
| EAP — Apprentice Permit | Install or service fixed fire extinguishing systems and portable fire extinguishers, only under the direct visual supervision of a valid licensee who certifies the work by signing the tag | No testing required | Work only under direct visual supervision of a licensee |
What does TFM01 cover?
The Extinguisher Statutes and Rules test is built entirely on Texas Insurance Code Chapter 6001 and Texas Administrative Code 34.500, as TDI cites them. It examines the law of the trade: the registration and licensing structure, the work each license permits, the duties the statute imposes, and the conduct it prohibits.
What does TFM02 cover?
The Extinguisher Type B test is based on NFPA 10 in the edition adopted in the rules. TDI publishes its subject list: general requirements for portable fire extinguishers; selection of the proper extinguisher based on the type of hazard or fire classification; distribution, inspection, and maintenance requirements; and hydrostatic testing of extinguishers, hoses, and related equipment. Technical questions are based on the adopted standards; TDI states that no questions are based on a specific manufacturer’s equipment other than equipment generally referenced by an NFPA standard.
What does TFM03 cover?
The Extinguisher Type K test draws on three standards adopted in the rules: NFPA 10, NFPA 17A (wet chemical extinguishing systems), and NFPA 96 (ventilation and fire protection of commercial cooking operations). Its published subjects are the specific requirements for wet chemical systems; the specific requirements for pre-engineered systems protecting cooking operations; requirements and frequency for system testing of systems protecting cooking operations; requirements and frequency for maintenance of those systems; and classification of fire types.
What does TFM04 cover?
The Extinguisher Type A test is the broadest of the four, drawing on eight NFPA standards adopted in the rules: NFPA 11 (foam), NFPA 12 (carbon dioxide), NFPA 12A (Halon 1301), NFPA 15 (water spray fixed systems), NFPA 16 (foam-water sprinkler and spray systems), NFPA 18 (wetting agents), NFPA 25 (inspection, testing, and maintenance of water-based systems), and NFPA 2001 (clean agent systems). Its published subjects: selection of the correct type of pipe and fittings permitted on various types of systems; requirements and frequency for system testing; requirements and frequency for maintenance; general knowledge of the various types of fire protection systems; identifying the correct applicable NFPA standard; and classification of fire types.
The ICC/NAFED substitution, stated exactly
For FEL-B, the Certified Portable Fire Extinguisher Technician certification replaces TFM02. For FEL-K, the Certified Portable Fire Extinguisher Technician and the Pre-engineered Kitchen Fire Extinguishing Systems Technician certifications together replace TFM02 and TFM03. For FEL-A, TDI lists four ICC/NAFED certifications — portable extinguisher, pre-engineered kitchen, pre-engineered industrial, and the separate engineered fire suppression systems certification — as able to replace the TFM02, TFM03, and TFM04 technical tests. In every class, TFM01 remains required: the substitution reaches the technical tests only.
Who can seek this license, and what does it require?
An individual license cannot issue until the applicant is employed by a registered company — Texas licenses individuals and registers companies, and the two applications move together when both are new. A fingerprint background check is required unless fingerprints are already on file with SFMO. The applicant passes the tests their class requires, at the published passing standard, subject to TDI’s scheduling restrictions: each type of test only once a week, and no more than three times in every 12 months. Progression between classes is gated by time in the trade: FEL-K and FEL-A each require the applicant to have held an FEL-B license or an Apprentice Permit for a minimum of six months, and when the higher license issues, the prior credential is inactivated. The planning license stands apart: the EPL requires the NICET Level III Special Hazards Systems test alongside TFM01, and fixed systems other than pre-engineered systems must be planned by an EPL or a professional engineer. TDI sends a renewal notice 90 days before a license expires; individual licenses run on a two-year renewal cycle at the fees TDI publishes — $100 renewal for the FEL and planning classes against $70 initial — and all TDI fees are nonrefundable except overpayments resulting from mistakes of law or fact, with late fees as statute and rules require.
What makes these tests demanding?
Three features. First, the closed book at 50 questions: there is no reference to open and no long paper to absorb a weak subject. Second, the layering: an FEL-A candidate’s outcome rests on four separate tests taken under a scheduling regime that allows each type only once a week and three times a year, so a single unprepared test does not merely fail — it consumes a scarce attempt and delays the class. Third, the breadth inside the top test: TFM04 ranges across eight NFPA standards and examines, among its published subjects, the identification of the correct standard itself — a meta-skill that punishes single-standard study habits precisely where the license’s scope is widest.
An honest note on format
PassProfessor practice works in the tests’ own spirit — a stem, options, one best answer, answered from held knowledge — because the TDI tests are closed-book examinations, and retrieval without a reference is the skill being trained. TDI and PSI do not release live test questions, and no provider can offer them. Practice results are a study gauge — a way to see which test, and which subject inside it, is thin while there is time to repair it — not a prediction of a test score, and this program confers nothing.
How should you use this page while the program is in the works?
- Join the notify list today. Enrollment is not open yet, and the notify list is how you hear the moment it is. While you wait, read the exam guide — it walks each class and test in full, with a study plan sequenced for the class stack.
- Fix your class first. Establish which license you are seeking — FEL-B, FEL-K, or FEL-A — and therefore exactly which tests stand in front of you, including the six-month standing requirement where it applies.
- Start TFM01 early, whatever your class. The statutes and rules test is common to every route, replaced by nothing.
- When the program opens, survey your whole stack first. Early practice should touch every test your class requires, so your first picture of yourself is honest before you start drilling the subjects that cost you most.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues the Texas fire extinguisher licenses? The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), through its State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO). TDI licenses individuals and registers companies. PassProfessor is an independent preparation provider and is not affiliated with TDI, SFMO, or PSI.
What are the FEL classes? FEL-B (Type B) covers portable fire extinguishers. FEL-K (Type K) covers pre-engineered fixed systems protecting cooking areas, plus portables. FEL-A (Type A) covers all pre-engineered fixed fire extinguishing systems, plus portables. The Type PL Planning License (EPL) and the Apprentice Permit (EAP) complete the structure.
Which tests does each class require? FEL-B: TFM02 and TFM01. FEL-K: TFM02, TFM03, and TFM01. FEL-A: TFM02, TFM03, TFM04, and TFM01. The planning license requires the NICET Level III Special Hazards Systems test and TFM01. The Apprentice Permit requires no testing.
What format are the TDI tests? All tests are closed book, with 50 questions in true/false or multiple-choice form; questions may refer to a drawing, chart, or figure included with the test, as TDI publishes the description.
What score passes a TDI test? A passing score of seventy percent or better on each required test, as TDI publishes it. PSI sends official test scores to SFMO.
How do I schedule a test, and how often may I take one? Through PSI Exams Online — psiexams.com/txfire — or by phone or email, per TDI’s page. Each type of test may be scheduled only once a week and no more than three times in every 12 months.
Can an ICC/NAFED certification replace a TDI test? The technical tests, yes, as TDI lists them: the portable extinguisher certification replaces TFM02 for FEL-B; the portable and kitchen certifications together replace TFM02 and TFM03 for FEL-K; and TDI lists four ICC/NAFED certifications for FEL-A’s technical tests. TFM01 — the statutes and rules test — is never replaced.
Do I need to work for a registered company? Yes. TDI cannot issue an individual license until you are employed by a registered company, and a fingerprint background check is required unless your fingerprints are already on file with SFMO.
Is there a standing requirement before FEL-K or FEL-A? Yes. Each requires that you have held an FEL-B license or an Apprentice Permit for a minimum of six months. When the higher license is issued, the prior FEL-B, FEL-K, or Apprentice credential is inactivated, as TDI states for each class.
What do the licenses cost? TDI’s published individual fees are $70 initial and $100 renewal (two-year term) for the FEL-B, FEL-K, FEL-A, and planning licenses, and $30 initial for the Apprentice Permit. Company registration fees are published separately on TDI’s page. All TDI fees are nonrefundable except overpayments resulting from mistakes of law or fact.
Are these the real test questions? No. Every question in the program is an original PassProfessor practice question written to TDI’s published test descriptions and subject lists. TDI and PSI do not release live test questions, and no provider can offer them.
When will enrollment open? The program is in the works. Join the notify list on this page and we will email you when enrollment opens.
Disclaimer
PassProfessor is an independent exam-preparation provider; this program is not endorsed by, affiliated with, or sponsored by the Texas Department of Insurance, the State Fire Marshal’s Office, PSI, the International Code Council, or the National Association of Fire Equipment Distributors. The Texas fire extinguisher licenses are issued by TDI alone. This program is examination preparation only and replaces no TDI test, certification, or requirement. The details on this page are drawn from the official source recorded in the companion guide and are current as of November 2026; TDI’s official publications govern if anything here differs from them.