Licensing Topic Areas
The Department of Fire Services issues licenses, permits and certificates for:
- Aboveground Storage Tanks
- Blasting and explosives
- Boilers and pressure vessels (Oil burner technicians, BPV inspectors, steam firemen and engineers.)
- Cannons and mortars
- Commercial hood cleaning and inspections (hood cleaning)
- Crowd managers
- Fireworks and special effects
- Fire suppression (fire extinguishers)
- Marine fueling
- Self-service gas stations
Licensing Exam Guidelines
Review these licensing guidelines before you submit an application or take an exam. The guidelines answer questions about:
- License applications
- Fees
- Test preparation
- Cheating
- Re-taking exams
- Testing responsibilities
License Exam Schedule
Exam | Exam Date | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
Fire Suppression and | January 22, 2025 March 12, 2025 May 14, 2025 July 16, 2025 September 17, 2025 November 12, 2025 | December 27, 2024 February 14, 2025 April 18, 2025 June 20, 2025 August 22, 2025 October 17, 2025 |
Exam | Exam Date | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
Cannon/Mortar, Fireworks, | February 12, 2025 April 16, 2025 June 11, 2025 August 13, 2025 October 15, 2025 | January 17, 2025 March 21, 2025 May 16, 2025 July 18, 2025 September 19, 2025 |
Licensing Exam Study Materials
Download the following study materials for any exam you plan to take.
Additional Resources
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Open PDF file, 132.05 KB, Fire suppression study materials (English, PDF 132.05 KB)
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Open PDF file, 125.79 KB, Commercial hood cleaning study materials (English, PDF 125.79 KB)
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Open PDF file, 124.41 KB, Cannon and mortar study materials (English, PDF 124.41 KB)
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Open PDF file, 139.42 KB, Fireworks study materials (English, PDF 139.42 KB)
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Open PDF file, 139.28 KB, Special effects study materials (English, PDF 139.28 KB)
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Open PDF file, 127.97 KB, Blasting study materials (English, PDF 127.97 KB)
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Open PDF file, 127.55 KB, Blasting research and development license study materials (English, PDF 127.55 KB)
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Open PDF file, 191.98 KB, Canon/Mortero Certificado de Compentencia materiales de estudio (Spanish, PDF 191.98 KB)
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Open PDF file, 240.75 KB, Fuegos Artificiales Certificado de Competencia materiales de estudio (Spanish, PDF 240.75 KB)
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Open PDF file, 203.04 KB, Explosivos Certificado De Competencia materiales de estudio (Spanish, PDF 203.04 KB)
Licensing Exam Information
- You must be pre-registered for all license exams.
- We must receive your complete current application by 5:00 p.m. on the deadline date listed above. If we get your application after the deadline, you cannot take the exam.
- No photocopies of applications will be accepted.
- You can take exams at: 1 State Road in Stow (park in the remote lot at the top of the hill); and 100 Grochmal Avenue in Springfield. Directions are available at www.mass.gov/dfs.
- Questions? Contact the Licensing Desk at 978-567-3700 or by email at DFS.FSDLicensing@mass.gov.
- For questions on Boiler and Pressure Vessel licenses, contact: (978) 567-3780.
Penalties for Working After a License is Suspended or Revoked
Amendments to 527 CMR 1.00, effective May 15, 2020. On May 15, 2020, penalties took effect for performing work that requires a license after it has been suspended or revoked, and for unlicensed individuals who falsely represent themselves as licensed to perform work regulated by the State Fire Code. Additional changes hold companies responsible for knowingly allowing their employees to falsely represent themselves as valid license holders.