How To Become A Fire Alarm Technician: What It Is and Career Path

What is a fire alarm technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Fire alarm technicians view electrical layouts present on the blueprints to determine appropriate fire alarm systems. They provide cost estimates for system installation and ensure compliance with electrical and fire codes. They also examine and test systems to find any loose connections or circuit malfunctions. Fire alarm technicians earn a median sum of $18 per hour, which amounts to $38,000 per year.

Fire alarm technicians primarily install and update fire alarm systems in commercial and residential buildings. They perform inspections to ensure alarms are installed according to code and perform a detailed inspection to check for any issues. Then, they test and repair the alarm systems that are already in place. Their duties also include maintaining a clean and safe workspace and responding to emergency service calls.

Fire alarm technicians typically hold a high school diploma or GED certificate. However, a bachelor's or associate's degree from accredited universities may be preferred. They are expected to have a fire alarm systems certification, which is administered by the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET).

ScoreFire Alarm TechnicianUS Average

Salary

3.3

Avg. Salary $42,765

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

8.8

Growth Rate 6%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.39%

Asian 4.27%

Black or African American 9.20%

Hispanic or Latino 21.78%

Unknown 5.18%

White 59.18%

Gender

female 3.23%

male 96.77%

Age - 44

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44

Stress Level

8.8

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

7.2

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

4.8

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a fire alarm technician

Explore fire alarm technician education requirements

Most common fire alarm technician degrees

Associate

33.6 %

High School Diploma

31.6 %

Bachelor's

16.9 %

Start to develop specific fire alarm technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	14.75%
Fire Protection	13.19%
NFPA	8.05%
Ladders	7.00%
Hand Tools	6.70%

Complete relevant fire alarm technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 2-4 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New fire alarm technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a fire alarm technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real fire alarm technician resumes.

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming a licensed fire alarm technician usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed fire alarm technician in most of states. 19 states require fire alarm technicians to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.

State	Education	Exam	License Url
Alabama	-	-	Certified Burglar Alarm Qualifying Agent
Arkansas	Specific course required	State exam required	Alarm Systems Technician
California	Specific course required	State exam required	Alarm Company Agent
Florida	Specific course required	State exam required	Registered Alarm System Contractor I
Georgia	-	State exam required	Low Voltage-Alarm

Gain additional fire alarm technician certifications

Fire alarm technician certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific fire alarm technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for fire alarm technicians include Master Certified Electronics Technician (CETma) and Certified Electronic Systems Technician (EST).

More About Certifications

Research fire alarm technician duties and responsibilities

Install, manage, and troubleshoot CAT3, CAT5, CAT6, and fiber optic infrastructures throughout the greater Tulsa area.
Perform installation by climbing to heights and scaffolding while lifting all equipments.
Certify, recharge, and sell fire extinguishers to multiple locations around Florida
Repair, replace, recharge, fill, and tag all fire extinguishers.

Prepare your fire alarm technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your fire alarm technician resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a fire alarm technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Fire Alarm Technician Resume templates

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