Level I

Applicants looking to obtain their Level I Fire Inspector License must satisfy ONE of the following education and experience requirements:

• A one year diploma in fire science from an accredited college or an equivalent apprenticeship or trade school program in fire science;
• A four-year degree from an accredited college or university
• At least six months of fire inspection experience with a probationary Level I fire inspection certificate on a minimum of two Level I buildings while working under the direct supervision of a standard certified fire inspector I, II, or III with a supporting letter from the applicant's supervisor;
• At least one year of fire protection design, construction, or inspection experience on a minimum of two Level I buildings while working under the direct supervision of a licensed engineer, registered architect, or licensed building, electrical, or fire sprinkler contractor with a supporting letter from the applicant's supervisor;
• A license as a fire sprinkler contractor;
• At least two years of construction or inspection experience in fire protection systems while working under a licensed building, electrical, or fire sprinkler contractor
• At least two years of experience with a probationary Level I fire inspection certificate conducting fire inspections on a minimum of two Level I building;
• At least four years of experience in fire suppression activities for a city, county, volunteer, or other governmental fire department; or
• Firefighter Level II certification under the North Carolina State Fire and Rescue Commission with at least one year of fire inspection experience in Level I buildings

Level II

Applicants looking to obtain their Level II Fire Inspector License must satisfy ONE of the following education and experience requirements:

• a license as a professional engineer or registered architect;
• a four year degree from an accredited college or university in architecture, civil or architectural engineering, building construction, or fire science;
• a four-year degree from an accredited college or university and at least two years of fire protection design, construction, or inspection experience on a minimum of two Level II buildings while working under the direct supervision of a certified fire inspector II or III, licensed engineer, registered architect, intermediate or unlimited licensed building contractor, or licensed fire sprinkler contractor;
• a two-year degree from an accredited college or university in architecture, civil or architectural engineering, building construction, or fire science and at least two years of fire protection design, construction, or inspection experience on a minimum of two Level II building fire protection systems while working under the direct supervision of a certified fire inspector II or III, licensed engineer, registered architect, intermediate or unlimited licensed building contractor, or licensed fire sprinkler contractor;
• a license as a fire sprinkler contractor with experience on a minimum of two Level II buildings;
• at least three years of fire inspection experience including one year of inspection experience with a probationary Level II fire inspection certificate on a minimum of two Level II buildings while working under the direct supervision of a certified fire inspector II or III with a supporting letter from the applicant's supervisor
• at least three years of fire protection system design, construction, or inspection experience on a minimum of two Level II buildings while working under the direct supervision of a licensed engineer, registerearchitect, licensed intermediate or unlimited building contractor, or licensed fire sprinkler contractor with a supporting letter from the applicant's supervisor
• at least two years of experience with a probationary Level II fire inspection certificate conducting fire inspections on a minimum of two Level II buildings; or
• completion of the basic, intermediate, and advanced classes of the North Carolina Fire Prevention School with at least three years of fire inspection experience in Level II buildings

Level III

Applicants looking to obtain their Level III Fire Inspector License must satisfy ONE of the following education and experience requirements:

• A license as a professional engineer or registered architect with design, construction, or inspection experience on Level III buildings and specialization in architecture, civil or architectural engineering, or fire protection engineering;
• A four-year degree from an accredited college or university in civil, architectural, or fire protection engineering and at least one year of fire inspection experience while working under a certified fire inspector III, licensed engineer, registered architect, or licensed fire sprinkler contractor on a minimum of two Level III buildings;
• A two-year degree from an accredited college or university in civil, architectural, or fire protection engineering and at least three years of fire protection design, installation, or inspection experience while working under the direct supervision of a certified fire inspector III, licensed engineer, registered architect, licensed unlimited building contractor, or licensed fire sprinkler contractor with at least one year in responsible charge of a minimum of two Level III buildings
• A license as a fire sprinkler contractor with experience on a minimum of two Level III building;
• At least four years of fire inspection experience in fire protection systems including one year of inspection experience with a probationary Level III fire inspection certificate on a minimum of two Level III buildings while working under the direct supervision of a certified fire inspector III with a supporting letter from the applicant's supervisor
• At least four years of fire protection system design, construction, or inspection experience while working under the direct supervision of a licensed engineer, registered architect, licensed intermediate or unlimited building contractor, or licensed fire sprinkler contractor, two years of which have been performed at the level of supervisor in responsible charge of a minimum of two Level III buildings with a supporting letter from the applicant's supervisor
• At least one year of experience with a probationary Level III fire inspection certificate conducting fire inspections on a minimum of two Level III buildings