No. The following individuals are exempt:

•Employees of a licensed contractor who only do monitoring of alarm systems. Monitoring staff require training in monitoring procedures and a background check in their state.

•License holders of a certified electrical or alarm contractor’s license.  The Contractors License (EC – EF – EG- EY – EZ)  issued to an individual contractor acts as their FASA/BASA Card.

•Licensed journeyman (Licensed by a city or county that required a test) are exempt from the initial 14 hour training but they must have the background check and must have a current Fire Alarm System Agent (FASA) or Burglar Alarm System Agent (BASA) card and complete an approved six (6) hour renewal course every two (2) years.

Yes. Each FASA/BASA agent must complete six (6) hours of ECLB approved continuing education every two (2) years, to include false alarm reduction.

YES, The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) says BASA FASA certification can be transferred from one company to another but since the ID cards have the old company name and license number on them you need new ID cards. This requires your original Agent training certificate or other documentation of your original Agent Certification.  Contact us with whatever information you have and we will advise you how to proceed.

Any employees of electrical or alarm contractors engaged in the contracting or installation of alarm systems need to be certified as either a Fire Alarm System Agent (FASA) or Burglar Alarm System Agent (BASA) or both.  FASA and BASA certification requires that the employee meet the following criteria: Be at least 18 years of age, Complete a minimum of 14 hours of training by a board approved provider, Have not been convicted of a crime directly related to the business within the last three (3) years, Pass a Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) fingerprint and background check,  have not been committed for substance abuse within the last three (3) years.

Most Florida Alarm School students get the initial combined training as Burglar AND Fire Alarm System Agents.  We can do Burglar Alarm Agent only training for an individual company but we find very little demand for those classes. Your Agents get certificates from us showing Burglar and Fire Alarm Agent Training.  If your company has an EC or EF license they get Burglar And Fire Alarm Agent cards.  With an EG license they get Burglar Alarm Agent cards which, under 489.527 (9)  indicates they can do residential smoke detectors under the EG license but it does not make them a Fire Alarm Agent under other parts of the statute.  Please see 489.505 below.

 489.505 Definitions.—As used in this part:

(a) “Alarm system contractor I” means an alarm system contractor whose business includes all types of alarm systems for all purposes.

(b) “Alarm system contractor II” means an alarm system contractor whose business includes all types of alarm systems other than fire, for all purposes, except as herein provided. Note, (this “except” is where 489.537 comes in by adding the residential smoke detector to the EG contractor and therefore the Burglar Alarm Agents scope of work)

(25) “Burglar alarm system agent” means a person:

(a) Who is employed by a licensed alarm system contractor or licensed electrical contractor;

(b) Who is performing duties which are an element of an activity which constitutes alarm system contracting requiring licensure under this part; and

(c) Whose specific duties include any of the following: altering, installing, maintaining, moving, repairing, replacing, servicing, selling, or monitoring an intrusion or burglar alarm system for compensation.

(28) “Fire alarm system agent” means a person:

(a) Who is employed by a licensed fire alarm contractor or certified unlimited electrical contractor;

(b) Who is performing duties which are an element of an activity that constitutes fire alarm system contracting requiring certification under this part; and

(c) Whose specific duties include any of the following: altering, installing, maintaining, moving, repairing, replacing, servicing, selling, or monitoring a fire alarm system for compensation.

 489.537 Application of this part.—

(9) A registered electrical contractor, an alarm system contractor II certificate holder, and a registered alarm system contractor II shall be allowed to install residential smoke detectors or residential heat detectors.

This section opens a slight crack on the SCOPE of WORK,  to allow an EG contractor to install a RESIDENTIAL smoke or heat detector but, nothing in paragraph (9) makes an Alarm Contractor II into an Alarm Contractor I.

489.505 (28) indicates that only employees of an Alarm Contractor I (EF) or Certified Electrical (EC) can hold a FASA card.  According to every interpretation I have seen, a Fire Alarm Agent card with an EG license number would not be in compliance with Florida Statutes.  In addition there is strong sentiment among more and more fire officials to completely remove ALL fire from the EG license due to improper work done by bad contractors which have left families believing they had code compliant smoke detection systems when they did not.  While not an immediate issue, one bad fire where a family burns up could give them the motivation to get the law changed.  Because of that possibility I would recommend ANY significant Residential Alarm company work toward securing an EF or EC license to protect them from any future changes in the law.

No. Unless you are a licensed Alarm or Certified Electrical Contractor. In general if a building owner allows any person except a properly licensed contractor, to tamper with their Fire Alarm in any way, they are in violation of Florida statutes and can be fined or arrested. In addition, if the system fails in any way as a result of the improper work the building owner would likely assume the full liability for anyone killed or injured in the fire. By the way, a building owner can not refill their own Fire Extinguishers or pump out their own septic tanks either.

Yes, If you offer to perform any of the services of an alarm or electrical contractor you must actually be a licensed alarm or electrical contractor. The over the counter or mail order sales of alarm equipment to a customer is not illegal but the law requires ANYONE who helps the customer INSTALL or SERVICE that equipment for compensation (you get paid to help) to be a properly licensed contractor.  If you buy a new light fixture at the store you can install it in your home but if you hire an electrician to install it for you the electrician MUST be licensed.

Electricians who actually do FIRE ALARM WORK must have a FASA card, background check, etc. but not if they only do conduit, raceway or power work for a Fire Alarm. If an electrician hooks up a fire alarm horn they need a FASA card.

Yes, in most cases the FASA training is portable but there are some exceptions. Email us with your details and we will advise you how to proceed.

Because you call on the public in their homes and businesses and they are entitled to know you are not a Felon, Terrorist or Sexual Predator.  In addition, Florida law requires it.

If you are caught YOU can get a $500 Misdemeanor ticket or a ride to jail. Your employer will likely have an audit from the state and could be fined for every employee that is not in compliance with the law.  Best case is you get thrown off of the jobsite by the Inspector.

Yes. The sale, installation and service of alarm systems falls under the scope of work of an alarm contractor. If you are selling alarm systems at a customers location,  installing or monitoring them or providing repair service or inspections, you must have a license as an alarm contractor or certified electrical contractor.

NO. There are different types of Fire Alarm Inspections. If your employees inspect using a clipboard and a pencil they are performing a user level inspection and do not need to be agents. If your employees use a can of smoke, a screwdriver or any other tools during the inspection then they are illegally doing Fire Alarm Work and since you are not an Alarm or Electrical Contractor you can not provide them a Fire Alarm Agent Card.

No, you cannot use an unlicensed independent contractor. A person cannot work as a contractor of any type without a license. The individual must be licensed as an Alarm or Certified Elecrtical Contractor or be an employee (Agent) of a licensed Alarm or Certified Electrical Contractor and covered by Workers Comp. to sell alarm systems. (NO 1099s)

No. Alarm contracting is not within the scope of work for the ER license. You must hold a registered or certified alarm license or Certified Electrical License (EC). NOTE: an ER Licensee can install conduit and raceway for Fire and Security Alarm Systems but not the Alarm wiring or devices.  ER and EG contractors are permitted to install “Smoke Alarms” in a residence.

We provide classroom training at various locations around Florida. Usually at a training facility or hotel conference room. We can provide private training classes for your employees under certain conditions, contact us at 813-621-2333 or training@floridaalarmschool.org for more information