(a) To be licensed, an individual must:

1. (1) Be employed by a certified firm;
2. (2) Submit the required fee and a fully completed licensing application using the Arkansas Fire Protection Licensing Board’s form; and
3. (3) Pass the required examinations.

(b) Examination.

1. (1) An applicant must submit his or her application prior to testing.

2. (2)

   1. (A) Examinations shall be given at least once per month at a place to be determined by the board.
   2. (B) Individuals should contact the board to schedule testing.

3. (3) An applicant must pass two (2) open-book examinations, which are:

   1. (A)

(i) An examination based on NFPA standards and described on the board’s website, to be a fitter or inspector.

1. (ii) An applicant for an RME license is not required to take this exam.

   1. (iii) An applicant must score at least eighty percent (80%) to pass the inspector exam and at least seventy percent (70%) to pass the fitter exam; and

   2. (B)

      1. (i) An examination covering this part and the board’s statutes.
      2. (ii) An applicant must score at least eighty percent (80%) to pass this exam.

2. (4) An applicant who fails an examination may retake the examination after payment of an exam retake fee.

   1. (c)
3. (1) After all requirements have been met, the board will issue a wall license and a pocket-sized license, or permit, as applicable, to each individual licensee.
4. (2) The certified firm that employs the licensed individual shall post the license conspicuously on the premises of the firm’s primary location.

5. (3) A licensee must keep his or her pocket license or permit on his or her person at all times while performing the work for which he or she is licensed.

   1. (d)
6. (1) An individual license may be transferred to a new certified firm by filing a transfer application with the required fees and documents.
7. (2) An authorized representative of the new employing firm must sign the transfer application.

(f) Responsible managing employee license. One (1) of the following documents must accompany an RME license application:

1. (1) A copy of the applicant’s current National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) Level III or Level IV certificate or wallet card for fire protection automatic sprinkler system layout;
2. (2) A copy of a diploma showing the completion of a bachelor of science degree in fire protection engineering or engineering technology from a recognized institution, along with a minimum of three (3) years subsequent experience in fire sprinkler layout; or
3. (3) Evidence of certification by a program approved by the board.

(h) Inspector or fitter license. One (1) of the following documents must accompany an inspector or fitter application:

1. (1) An inspector or fitter license affidavit, which must be signed by the firm’s RME testifying to the competency of the individual’s training and having six thousand (6,000) hours of experience with fire protection sprinkler systems;
2. (2) Proof of completion of an approved three-year apprenticeship program with the United States Department of Labor Fire Sprinkler Fitter Program in order to obtain a fitter license;
3. (3) A minimum of an NICET Level II Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Systems certificate or wallet card; or
4. (4) Evidence of certification by a program approved by the board.