North Dakota Fire Sprinkler Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The North Dakota State Fire Marshal, within the Department of Insurance, licenses fire sprinkler contractors and fitters under N.D. Cent. Code §18-08-01 et seq. and N.D.A.C. 10-04. North Dakota also requires every contractor performing work over $4,000 to hold a Secretary of State Contractor License under N.D. Cent. Code §43-07. NFPA 13, 13R, and 13D are adopted through the North Dakota State Fire Code.

The Licensing Authority

Authority over this credential rests with North Dakota Secretary of State — Contractor Licensing Division (ND SOS), which issues and polices it under North Dakota Century Code Chapter 43-07 (Contractors). The North Dakota Secretary of State licenses general contractors statewide under NDCC 43-07. A contractor license is required for any project valued at $4,000 or more. The state issues four monetary classes (A, B, C, D) based on maximum project value. Electrical and plumbing trades are licensed separately by their respective state boards.

Official portal: https://sos.nd.gov/business/contractor-licensing
Address: 600 E Boulevard Avenue, Department 108, Bismarck, ND 58505-0500
Phone: (701) 328-2900

Baseline Eligibility

The threshold requirements are straightforward: age 18 or above, plus a valid Social Security Number. No North Dakota residency requirement.

Good moral character

The State Fire Marshal reviews each applicant for fitness.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application.

Experience and Education Requirements

The experience bar is four years of practical fire sprinkler installation experience, plus NICET Automatic Sprinkler System Layout Level III for the responsible managing employee, and it must be backed by verifiable records — typically payroll, tax, project, or supervisor documentation covering the claimed period.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Experience affidavits from each licensed fire sprinkler contractor employer
W-2 statements, pay stubs, or 1099 records covering the qualifying period
NICET Automatic Sprinkler System Layout certification card

Education substitution

NICET ASSL Level III is accepted by the State Fire Marshal as proof of technical competence.

The Licensing Examination

The exam, administered by NICET (Automatic Sprinkler System Layout series), breaks into the parts shown below — all must be passed before licensure:

NICET Automatic Sprinkler System Layout Level III — NFPA 13 design and installation — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: NICET fee approximately $375 per work element.

Retake policy: NICET retakes after a 30-day waiting period.

Financial Security and Insurance

A $7,500 surety bond, in the form prescribed by the ND SOS, must be posted as a condition of licensure.

General liability

N.D. Cent. Code §43-07 requires general liability of at least $250,000 per occurrence for the Secretary of State Contractor License.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory under N.D. Cent. Code §65 for any contractor with employees.

Additional financial requirements

No net worth requirement, but the $7,500 Secretary of State contractor bond is required.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$100
Examination	$375
Initial license	$100
Renewal (every year)	$100

License Renewal

The North Dakota Fire Sprinkler Contractor License (State Fire Marshal) must be renewed every year. The fee to renew is presently $100. Both licenses renew annually.

Continuing education: Continued NICET certification with CPDs every three years satisfies the technical CE requirement.

Downloadable Asset

2026 North Dakota Fire Sprinkler License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity Map

North Dakota grants no NASCLA reciprocity for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified.

North Dakota does not maintain bilateral fire sprinkler reciprocity. NICET certification is universally accepted.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Fire Sprinkler license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

The Licensing Roadmap

Document four years of fire sprinkler experience. Collect experience affidavits from each licensed contractor employer.
Pass NICET ASSL Level III. NICET Level III is the technical credential the State Fire Marshal requires.
Obtain a Secretary of State Contractor License. File the SOS contractor license application with the $7,500 bond and the $100 fee for projects over $4,000.
Submit the State Fire Marshal Fire Sprinkler Contractor application. File with experience affidavits, NICET card, and certificates of insurance.
File certificates of insurance. Provide $250,000 general liability and workers compensation coverage.
Receive the fire sprinkler contractor license. The State Fire Marshal issues the license within 30 days of receiving a complete application.
Submit installations for plan review. Every commercial sprinkler installation requires sealed plans and State Fire Marshal or AHJ acceptance testing.

Preparation Resources

The list below collects the board's cited references and the materials applicants typically study from. CLR is not paid to recommend any of them.

NFPA 13 — National Fire Protection Association. Primary technical reference.
N.D.A.C. 10-04 — ND State Fire Marshal. Sprinkler licensing rules.
NICET ASSL Reference Guide — NICET. Required for Level III credential.

Before Filing: A Checklist

Ahead of submission to ND SOS, confirm every item on this short list:

☐ Four years of documented fire sprinkler experience
☐ NICET ASSL Level III certification
☐ Secretary of State Contractor License with $7,500 bond
☐ State Fire Marshal application with $100 fee
☐ $250,000 general liability and workers compensation certificates
☐ Plan review submission to State Fire Marshal or AHJ

Common Application Pitfalls

These are the recurring mistakes that most often delay or reject a North Dakota Fire Sprinkler application, based on the official instructions cited here.

Skipping the Secretary of State contractor license

Required for any project over $4,000 in addition to the State Fire Marshal license.

Designating an RME without NICET Level III

The State Fire Marshal will not issue the license without NICET ASSL Level III.

Letting NICET CPDs lapse

A lapsed NICET status invalidates the State Fire Marshal license.

Skipping plan review

Every commercial sprinkler installation requires sealed plans and acceptance testing.

Designing to the wrong NFPA edition

ND adopts a specific edition of NFPA 13 through the State Fire Code.

Other North Dakota Trade Licenses

For a different North Dakota credential, see these companion guides published by CLR:

Answers to Common Questions

Who regulates fire sprinkler contractors in North Dakota?

The North Dakota State Fire Marshal under N.D. Cent. Code §18-08-01 et seq. and N.D.A.C. 10-04. The Secretary of State licenses general contractor businesses.

Is NICET certification required in North Dakota?

Yes. The State Fire Marshal requires NICET ASSL Level III for the responsible managing employee.

Do I also need a Secretary of State contractor license?

Yes, for any project over $4,000. The SOS Contractor License is required in addition to the State Fire Marshal license.

What NFPA standards apply in North Dakota?

North Dakota adopts NFPA 13, 13R, and 13D through the State Fire Code.

How often does the North Dakota fire sprinkler license renew?

Annually. Both the State Fire Marshal license and the Secretary of State contractor license renew annually.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-04-23 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-22