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 | November 21, 2025 January 14, 2026 March 18, 2026 May 20, 2026 July 15, 2026 September 16, 2026 November 18, 2026 | October 24, 2025 December 19, 2025 February 20, 2026 April 24, 2026 June 19, 2026 August 21, 2026 October 23, 2026 |
Exam | Exam Date | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
Cannon/Mortar, Fireworks, | October 15, 2025 February 11, 2026 April 15, 2026 June 17, 2026 August 19, 2026 October 21, 2026 | September 19, 2025 January 16, 2026 March 20, 2026 May 22, 2026 July 24, 2026 September 25, 2026 |
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.