How do you get an FDNY Certificate of Fitness?
Short answer
You get a Certificate of Fitness (COF) by passing an FDNY exam. Apply and pay online first (the fee for most exams is $25), then take the exam at FDNY Headquarters, 9 MetroTech Center in Brooklyn; most exams are walk-in. Most certificates must be renewed every 3 years, usually for $15.
Checked against the official sources on
Step by step
- Pick the right certificate. For construction and building work the common ones are F-60 (fire guard for torch operations), G-60 (torch use of flammable gas), F-01 (citywide fire guard for impairment) and S-12 / S-13 (sprinkler and standpipe system supervision).
- Study the FDNY Notice of Exam and study material for that certificate. FDNY publishes them free, and the Fire Code changes often, so use the latest version.
- Create an NYC.ID account, then complete the COF application and pay online before you go. Exam fees are paid by card, check or money order; cash is not accepted. Some certificates also need a letter from your employer: check the Notice of Exam.
- Go to FDNY Headquarters, 9 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn, Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM (except legal holidays), with a government-issued photo ID. Most exams are walk-in; a few need an appointment (FDNY lists them on its Certificates of Fitness page), and groups of 10 or more should schedule with the COF unit.
- Pass the exam. If you fail, you apply and pay again to retake it.
Renewal, late renewal and lost cards
- Most certificates are renewed every 3 years; the renewal fee for most is $15. FDNY sends a renewal notice about 90 days before expiration.
- Renewal is done online. The simplified renewal works without an NYC.ID for most certificates.
- Renewing more than 90 days after expiration adds a $25 penalty. More than 1 year after expiration you must apply again, and FDNY may require the exam.
- Lost card: request a replacement online.
What exam prep does, and what it does not do
An exam-prep course walks you through the FDNY study material, the code rules behind it and the kind of questions on the exam. It does not replace the exam: FDNY gives the exam and issues the certificate. Trade Progress Center’s FDNY courses are exam preparation only.
More questions
How long is a Certificate of Fitness valid?
Most are valid for 3 years. A few certificates have different terms and fees; the Notice of Exam for each one lists them.
Is a Certificate of Fitness the same as a DOB license or card?
No. Certificates of Fitness are issued by the Fire Department under the NYC Fire Code. DOB cards and registrations (SST, scaffold, Construction Superintendent) are separate.
Can I use my certificate at a different job?
It depends on the certificate. F-01 belongs to the person and can be used anywhere in NYC. For certificates tied to a work location, FDNY lets you add locations online without a new exam if you have the required documents.
Training for this
Our NYC DOB courses are taught by a Trade Progress Center instructor registered with the NYC DOB as a trainer, OSHA classes by an OSHA-authorized trainer, and FDNY courses are exam preparation. Classes in English, Russian or Spanish, in person or online.
Official sources
- FDNY: Certificates of Fitness
- FDNY: Renew a Certificate of Fitness
- NYC Business: F-01 Citywide Fire Guard for Impairment
This page explains the rules in plain words. The agencies’ own pages and rules decide, and they change: check the source links before you act.