Blog

As an alarm contractor, you can help clients feel safe in their home or place of business. However, you must first obtain a license from the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. What type of work can you do with this license, and how do you get one? 

The Work of an Alarm Contractor 

As a licensed alarm contractor in New Jersey, you are permitted to perform several categories of work. You may install, service, and maintain burglar alarms, fire alarms, and electronic security systems. However, you must file separate applications for burglar and fire alarms. 

Requirements to Obtain a License 

Before you can obtain an alarm contractor license, you must be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma or equivalency certificate. If you’ve been convicted of a crime in the last 10 years (1st, 2nd, or 3rd degree, or 4th degree engaging in unlicensed practice of electrical contracting), you are ineligible. 

There are also education and experience requirements, including the completion of: 

• 4 years of hands-on work experience (6,720 hours) plus 80 hours of technical courses OR 
• 3 years of hands-on work experience (5,040 hours) plus 1 year of technical school study in trade-related electronics OR 
• 1 year of hands-on work experience (1,680 hours) plus a bachelor’s degree in engineering 

In addition to any work experience, you must complete 10 hours of specific training, including 2-hour courses for each of the following: 

• Barrier Free Subcode, N.J.A.C. 5:23-7 
• NJ Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23 
• Americans with Disabilities Act Code, 36 C.F.R. 1191 
• Industrial safety 
• NJ law and rules governing the provision of burglar and fire alarms 

These 10 hours can be applied to the 80 hours of required technical courses listed above. You must also pass state exams. 

What to Expect From State Exams 

There are three required exams, whether you want to focus on fire or burglar alarms, and you must sit for all three on the same day. 

The Fire Alarm Systems Exam consists of 50 questions on topics like: 

• General Electrical Knowledge 
• Installation Requirements 
• Wiring Methods and Materials 
• Special Occupancies and Conditions 
• Application of Fire Alarm Systems 

You will have 130 minutes to complete the test. The Burglar Alarm Exam covers the same topics, except it replaces Application of Fire Alarm Systems with Application of Burglar Alarm Systems, and you have 165 minutes to complete the test. 

Next, you must take the Electronic Security System Exam for either fire or burglar alarms. You will have 165 minutes to complete this test, which features 50 questions covering the following topics: 

• General Electric Knowledge 
• CCTV Systems 
• Access Control Systems 
• Intercom Systems 

Finally, you must take the Business & Law Exam, a 50-question test covering topics like: 

• Business Organization 
• Licensing 
• Estimating and Building 
• Contract Management 
• Project Management 
• Risk Management 
• Safety 
• Labor Law 
• Financial Management 
• Tax Law 
• Lien Law 

You’ll have 130 minutes to complete this test. All tests are open-book, and you must answer at least 70% of questions correctly to pass. 

Are you ready to obtain your alarm contractor license in New Jersey? Contact RocketCert now to get started.