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Apply for Commercial Hood Cleaning and Inspection Licenses

Information on how to apply for a company or individual license to clean or inspect commercial kitchen exhaust systems (hood cleaning)

Contacts

FSD Licensing

Phone

Fire Safety Division Licensing (Fire suppression, commercial hood cleaning, cannon/mortar, fireworks, special effects, blasting, blasting R&D) Call FSD Licensing, Fire Safety Division Licensing (Fire suppression, commercial hood cleaning, cannon/mortar, fireworks, special effects, blasting, blasting R&D) at (978) 567-3700
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Program Licensing Call FSD Licensing, Boiler and Pressure Vessel Program Licensing at (978) 567-3783

Online

Fire Safety Division Licensing Email FSD Licensing at DFS.FSDLicensing@mass.gov

The Details

What you need

Commercial Kitchen

Anyone who cleans and inspects commercial cooking exhaust systems (hood cleaning), must hold a license (certificate of competency) from the State Fire Marshal.

There are two types of certificates of competency:

  • Restricted certificates of competency (Type 2) are for owners that want to clean their own commercial cooking exhaust systems.
  • Unrestricted certificates of competency (Type 1) are for those who work cleaning and inspecting commercial cooking exhaust systems. This certificate requires you to have inspected and/or cleaned commercial cooking systems for a minimum of 500 hours.

Both certificates require you to pass a written exam. The license is good for 3 years.

As of January 1, 2018, hood cleaning companies must also have a license (certificate of registration) from the Department of Fire Services. There a fee of $25 per application. This license is good for 2 years.

How to apply

Submit the completed application with the required attachments to:

DFS Licensing
Department of Fire Services
P.O, Box 1025
Stow, MA 01775

Next steps

  1. Apply for a hood cleaning license (individuals)

    Completed applications must include:

    • One (1) passport style color photograph measuring 2" by 2";
    • MA residents do not have to send photographs if they permit DFS use of their driver's license photograph from the Registry of Motor Vehicles on the application;
    • Legible copies of Boston BEC, Phil Ackland and or IKECA certificates, if applicable.

    Applications for Type 1 licenses must also include an endorsement from the owner of a commercial cooking exhaust cleaning company attesting that you have worked the required 500 hours in the field.

    There is a fee of $25 per application.
     

    Open PDF file, 858.47 KB,  FP-026 Application for Certificate of Competency for Cleaning/Inspecting Commercial Cooking Operations (English, PDF 858.47 KB)

  2. Renew hood cleaning licenses (individuals)

    Completed applications must include:

    • One (1) passport style color photograph measuring 2" by 2";
    • MA residents to not have to send photographs if they permit DFS use of their driver's license photograph from the Registry of Motor Vehicles on the application;
    • Legible copies of other state and/or city hood cleaning licenses that you are currently using;
    Open PDF file, 686.13 KB,  FP-026R Renewal Application for Commercial Cooking Operations (English, PDF 686.13 KB)

  3. Apply for or renew a hood cleaning license (companies)

    Read the Hood Cleaning Certificate of Registration Memo. Companies with multiple locations are required to have a separate certificate of registration (license) for each location. There is a fee of $60 per application.  The certificate of registration is good for 2 years.

    Completed applications (Form FP-026A) must include:

    • Information about the company including Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) and corporation officers;
    • A list of licensed employees;
    • One original inspection/cleaning sticker;
    • One original orange non-compliance sticker.

    The same form is used for original applications and for renewals.

    Open PDF file, 216.46 KB,  FP-026A Application for Certificate of Registration for Cleaning and Inspection of Commercial Cooking and Exhaust Systems (English, PDF 216.46 KB)
    Open PDF file, 71.25 KB,  Hood Cleaning Certificate of Registration Memo (English, PDF 71.25 KB)

More info

  • You must be pre-registered for all license exams. 
  • Your complete current application must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the deadline date. If we get your application after the deadline, you cannot take the next exam, but will be registered for the following one. 
  •  All exams start promptly at 10:00 a.m. unless otherwise noted.
  • All exams are offered at both 1 State Road in Stow (park in the remote lot at the top of the hill) and at 100 Grochmal Avenue in Springfield.
  • Questions? Contact the Licensing Desk at 978-567-3700 or by email at DFS.FSDLicensing@mass.gov.

Contact

Phone
Fire Safety Division Licensing (Fire suppression, commercial hood cleaning, cannon/mortar, fireworks, special effects, blasting, blasting R&D) Call FSD Licensing, Fire Safety Division Licensing (Fire suppression, commercial hood cleaning, cannon/mortar, fireworks, special effects, blasting, blasting R&D) at (978) 567-3700
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Program Licensing Call FSD Licensing, Boiler and Pressure Vessel Program Licensing at (978) 567-3783
Online
Fire Safety Division Licensing Email FSD Licensing at DFS.FSDLicensing@mass.gov

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