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NFPA Certification · Last updated November 2026

NFPA Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) Exam: free practice test

NFPA's broad-scope certification for people who work to reduce fire loss: engineers, inspectors, fire officers, insurance and risk professionals. The exam follows eight domains drawn from the Fire Protection Handbook, 21st edition, with Fire Suppression (22%), Safety in the Built Environment (16%) and Detection and Alarm (14%) the largest.

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About the CFPS exam

NFPA's broad-scope certification for people who work to reduce fire loss: engineers, inspectors, fire officers, insurance and risk professionals. The exam follows eight domains drawn from the Fire Protection Handbook, 21st edition, with Fire Suppression (22%), Safety in the Built Environment (16%) and Detection and Alarm (14%) the largest.

What's on the exam

CFPS
Safety in the Built Environment
7 key facts
Fire Science and Fire Analysis
6 key facts
Fire Prevention, Materials and Processes
6 key facts
Facility Fire Hazard Management
6 key facts
Fire and Rescue Services
6 key facts
Detection and Alarm
7 key facts
Fire Suppression
7 key facts
Confining Fires
6 key facts

Each branch is a topic in the official outline. Members see every key fact on the full mind map. Read the free study guide →

How to pass the CFPS exam

  • 100 questions in 3 hours is 1 minute 48 seconds each. Open book is not extra time: answer what you know first and look up only what you must.
  • Fire Suppression is 22% of the exam. Know sprinkler hazard classes, densities, hose stream allowances, K-factor math, standpipe classes and special agents without the book.
  • Tab the handbook by section and key tables before exam day. Only permanent adhesive tabs are allowed, so do it once and do it well.
  • Eligibility needs 2 to 6 years of fire-loss work depending on your degree, and you have 12 months from approval to pass, with up to 3 attempts.

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Create a free account after the test: your score by topic, a mistakes bank, the complete study notes for the first topic, flashcards and the Fire Protection Formulas & Values Sheet.

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What's in the premium CFPS prep

Premium CFPS prep is studied one topic at a time. Each step starts with that topic's key notes and flashcard deck, then its own question sets of 25, so you master one topic before you move to the next. When every topic is strong, the 6 full mock exams show you're ready.

3,000practice questions, every answer explained
6full-length mock exams, 100 questions each, timed
800flashcards with spaced repetition, sorted by topic
60comprehensive key notes across 8 topics

Your step-by-step study path

  1. 1
    Safety in the Built Environment8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
    Notes free with an account
  2. 2
    Fire Science and Fire Analysis8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
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  3. 3
    Fire Prevention, Materials and Processes8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
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  4. 4
    Facility Fire Hazard Management8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
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  5. 5
    Fire and Rescue Services7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
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  6. 6
    Detection and Alarm7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
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  7. 7
    Fire Suppression7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
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  8. 8
    Confining Fires7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
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  9. Final step: 6 full mock exams100 questions each, timed like test day. Pass them, then book your exam.
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Free with an account

Read the complete CFPS study notes for “Safety in the Built Environment”

Our first full set of comprehensive notes, about 15 minutes of reading: Codes, standards and the AHJ · Occupant load · Egress capacity and number of exits · Interior finish · Systems working together, a worked exam example, the traps examiners use and a one-minute recap. Create a free account to read it and see how premium notes work before you decide.

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Study tools included

3,000 practice questions

3,000 exam-style questions per exam, organized topic by topic in sets of 25. Every answer explained, with the rule it comes from.

6 full mock exams

6 full-length timed mock exams per exam, with real question counts and time limits, so test day feels like practice day.

Exam Readiness Score

One 0 to 100 number that tells you when you're ready to book. Reach 80 and you're covered by our Pass Guarantee.

800 flashcards + spaced repetition

800 flashcards per exam, in a deck for each topic, that come back right before you'd forget them. Five minutes a day keeps every number fresh.

60 comprehensive key notes

60 key notes per exam, split across its topics and each explained in full: the concepts, worked exam examples, the traps examiners use and a quick recap. Your first set is free with an account.

Mind maps

See the whole exam on one screen: every topic and the facts under it.

Sample questions with answers

These are the questions in the free test above, with answers. Try the test first. You'll learn more by getting some wrong.

1. A 4,200 ft² (net) banquet room is set with tables and chairs. Using the NFPA 101 occupant load factor for less concentrated assembly use, what is the occupant load?
Answer: 280. Less concentrated assembly use (tables and chairs) is 15 ft² per person, net: 4,200 ÷ 15 = 280. The 7 ft² net factor is for concentrated use (chairs only), which would give 600.
2. Under NFPA 101, an interior wall finish with a flame spread index of 60 and a smoke-developed index of 300 (ASTM E84 / UL 723) is classified as:
Answer: Class B. Class A is flame spread 0-25, Class B 26-75 and Class C 76-200, each with a smoke-developed index of 450 or less. A flame spread of 60 with smoke 300 is Class B.
3. A story of a building has an occupant load of 800. Under NFPA 101, what is the minimum number of means of egress required from that story?
Answer: 3. NFPA 101 requires at least 2 means of egress, at least 3 where the occupant load is more than 500 but not more than 1,000, and at least 4 where it is more than 1,000. 800 falls in the 501-1,000 band.
4. A fire follows a medium t-squared growth curve, which reaches 1,055 kW (1,000 Btu/s) at 300 seconds. Assuming unlimited fuel and air, what is its heat release rate at 600 seconds?
Answer: 4,220 kW. Q = αt², so heat release rises with the square of time. Doubling the time from 300 s to 600 s multiplies Q by 2² = 4: 1,055 × 4 = 4,220 kW.
5. Before flashover, items across a room from the burning sofa begin to char and ignite without flame contact. Which mode of heat transfer is mainly responsible?
Answer: Radiation from the hot gas layer and flames. Remote ignition of contents in a compartment is driven by radiant heat from the flames and the hot upper gas layer. Flashover is commonly associated with an upper layer near 600°C (1,100°F) and about 20 kW/m² at floor level.
6. Under the NFPA 30 classification system, a liquid with a flash point of 90°F (32°C) is a:
Answer: Class IC flammable liquid. Class IC liquids have a flash point at or above 73°F (22.8°C) and below 100°F (37.8°C). Class II starts at 100°F, and Class IA and IB have flash points below 73°F.
7. During hot work, combustible materials that cannot be moved must be protected with covers or shields. Under NFPA 51B, they are of concern within what distance of the hot work?
Answer: 35 ft (11 m). NFPA 51B uses a 35 ft (11 m) radius: combustibles within it are relocated or, if they can't be moved, protected by approved covers, guards or shields, and a fire watch is posted.
8. In ISO's Public Protection Classification (PPC) program, which class represents the best fire protection for a community?
Answer: Class 1. PPC runs from Class 1 (best) to Class 10 (the area doesn't meet ISO's minimum criteria). The grading looks at emergency communications, the fire department and the water supply, with extra credit for community risk reduction.
9. Which smoke detector technology generally responds faster to a slow, smoldering fire that produces large, visible smoke particles?
Answer: Photoelectric (light-scattering). Photoelectric detectors respond well to the larger particles of smoldering fires. Ionization detectors respond better to the small particles of fast, flaming fires. Heat detectors respond to temperature, not smoke.
10. In an open-plan office, the average ambient sound level is 65 dBA and no sound lasting 60 seconds exceeds 70 dBA. Under NFPA 72, what is the minimum public-mode audible signal level?
Answer: 80 dBA. Public mode signals must be at least 15 dB above the average ambient sound level or 5 dB above the maximum sound level lasting 60 seconds, whichever is greater: 65 + 15 = 80 dBA versus 70 + 5 = 75 dBA. 80 dBA governs.
11. Using NFPA 13 density/area criteria, an Ordinary Hazard Group 2 occupancy is designed at 0.20 gpm/ft² over 1,500 ft². What is the sprinkler system demand before hose stream allowance and overage?
Answer: 300 gpm. Demand = density × design area = 0.20 × 1,500 = 300 gpm. The Ordinary Hazard hose stream allowance (250 gpm) is added afterward to size the water supply, giving 550 gpm in total.
12. A sprinkler with a K-factor of 5.6 gpm/psi½ operates at 16 psi. What is its discharge?
Answer: 22.4 gpm. Q = K√P = 5.6 × √16 = 5.6 × 4 = 22.4 gpm. Rearranged, P = (Q ÷ K)², which you'll need to find the pressure for a required flow.
13. A foam system produces finished foam at an expansion ratio of 100:1. How is it classified?
Answer: Medium-expansion foam. Low-expansion foam is up to 20:1, medium-expansion 20:1 to 200:1, and high-expansion 200:1 to about 1,000:1. AFFF is a concentrate type, usually used as low-expansion foam.
14. Under NFPA 14, a Class II standpipe system provides:
Answer: 1½ in. hose stations for use by trained personnel or the fire department during initial response. Class I has 2½ in. connections for the fire department and those trained in heavy hose streams. Class II has 1½ in. hose stations for trained personnel or the fire department during initial response. Class III has both.
15. Under NFPA 101 and NFPA 80, what is the minimum fire protection rating of a door in a 2-hour fire barrier enclosing an exit stair?
Answer: 1½ hours. Openings in 2-hour fire barriers, including exit enclosures, need 1½-hour fire doors. In 1-hour exit enclosures the doors are 1-hour; ¾-hour doors are used in other 1-hour barriers such as corridors and hazardous areas.

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Certification guide

CFPS exam guide (2026): The Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) exam from [NFPA](https://www.nfpa.org/for-professionals/certification/cfps) has 100 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours. It is open book, but only with an original printed copy of the NFPA Fire Protection Handbook, 21st edition. The exam was updated to the 21st edition and now follows eight domains, with Fire Suppression (22%) the largest. Here's what that means for your preparation.

CFPS exam FAQ

How many questions are on the CFPS exam?

100 multiple-choice questions, with a time limit of 3 hours. Format: open book: only an original printed nfpa fire protection handbook, 21st edition (permanent adhesive tabs allowed; no sticky notes, photocopies or digital copies).

What is the passing score for CFPS?

Not published. NFPA reports pass or fail only; practise to 75% or higher.

How much does the CFPS exam cost?

US$499 application and exam (2026); retest US$249; annual renewal US$145. Fees and reference editions change, so confirm on nfpa.org before you apply.

Which languages is the CFPS exam offered in?

English (NFPA also announces Spanish and Arabic versions on nfpa.org).

Where do I take the CFPS exam?

Prometric (in-person computer-based test centers worldwide).

Is this CFPS practice test free?

Yes. The 15-question practice test on this page is free, with an explanation for every answer and no signup. A free account also unlocks the complete study notes for the first topic. The full CFPS prep is Premium at $147 a month for this exam.

What's in the premium CFPS prep?

3,000 practice questions organized topic by topic (Safety in the Built Environment: 375; Fire Science and Fire Analysis: 375; Fire Prevention, Materials and Processes: 375; Facility Fire Hazard Management: 375; Fire and Rescue Services: 375; Detection and Alarm: 375; Fire Suppression: 375; Confining Fires: 375), 6 full-length timed mock exams of 100 questions, 800 flashcards and 60 comprehensive key notes split across all 8 topics, plus a mistakes bank and the Readiness Score.

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Exam details are summarized from the official candidate information available in November 2026. NFPA changes formats and fees, so confirm with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) before you book. CFPSExamPrep is not affiliated with NFPA or Prometric.

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