To become a fire safety director in New York City, you earn the FDNY F-89 certificate of fitness for the job, which is officially called Fire and Life Safety Director (FLSD). You need three years of relevant full-time experience (or 18 months that include six continuous months at one location), a 31-hour FDNY-approved course, two FDNY computer exams (N-85 and Z-89) and a passing on-site exam in your building. The certificate is valid only for you and only at that location, and it renews every three years.
Other cities set their own rules. Chicago, for example, uses a different credential, covered near the end. Confirm the rules with the fire department that covers your building before you pay for a course. This page was checked against FDNY and City of Chicago documents on 31 October 2026.
NYC F-89 at a glance
| Item | What FDNY says |
|---|---|
| Official name | Fire and Life Safety Director (F-89). A temporary T-89 exists for premises that only have a Fire Safety and Evacuation Plan. |
| Where one is required | In any commercial building that needs a Comprehensive Fire Safety and Emergency Action Plan or previously needed a Fire Safety Director. In general: high-rise office buildings, hotels, and buildings that voluntarily installed fire alarm systems with two-way voice communication. An FLS Director must be on the premises during regular business hours. |
| Who can apply | At least 18, a reasonable understanding of English, evidence of character and past employment, and the experience listed below. FDNY’s listed qualifications do not include a degree. |
| Course | 31 hours at an FDNY-certified school: 20 hours General Topics and Fire Emergency plus 11 hours Non-Fire Emergency (including active shooter and medical emergency preparedness). |
| Exams | Two FDNY computer exams, then an on-site exam at the building. |
| Validity | The F-89 is valid for 3 years and is renewable. It is valid only at one location and for one person. |
How to become a fire safety director in NYC, step by step
Step 1: Check that you qualify
FDNY requires at least three years of full-time work experience, or 18 months of full-time experience that includes at least six months of continuous employment at one work location, in one or more of these fields:
- firefighting or other public safety emergency response employment;
- any fire safety-related employment, including code enforcement, fire safety inspection, fire prevention or emergency preparedness;
- the design, installation, operation or maintenance of building fire protection, electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation or air conditioning systems, or other building systems regulated by the construction codes;
- equivalent experience acceptable to the Department.
The application form asks for a notarized verification letter for each employer you claim. Candidates must also be physically able to do the job; if in doubt, FDNY says to contact its Certificate of Fitness unit before you schedule the exams.
Step 2: Complete the 31-hour course
Take the course at an FDNY-certified school. It has two components that can be taken together or separately (the second within 3 months of the first diploma): 20 hours of general topics and fire emergency, and 11 hours of non-fire emergencies. The school gives a final exam for each part, and you need 70% on each to get a diploma. School diplomas issued on or after 1 February 2018 are valid for 9 months and cannot be renewed.
Step 3: Pass the two FDNY computer exams
Apply and pay online first. You need an FDNY certificate of fitness application ID before you can book an appointment. Each application costs $25 per computer exam. The exams are taken at FDNY Headquarters, 9 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn. Bring two forms of identification, at least one government-issued photo ID.
| Exam | Questions | Time | Pass mark | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N-85 (Fire component) | 120 multiple choice | 186 minutes | 70% | Within 9 months of your course diploma |
| Z-89 (Non-Fire component) | 55 multiple choice | 83 minutes | 70% | Within 9 months of passing N-85 |
If you fail a computer exam twice, FDNY requires you to retake the matching course component: the 20-hour course after two N-85 failures, or the 11-hour course after two Z-89 failures.
Step 4: Get your Certificate of Completion
After you pass both computer exams and meet the experience requirement, FDNY issues a Certificate of Completion. Without it you cannot schedule the on-site exam. It is valid for one year and cannot be renewed.
Step 5: Pass the on-site exam in your building
Only authorized personnel designated by the building owner can request the on-site exam, and they must do it online through FDNY Business. Candidates cannot schedule their own. The first attempt should be requested within 6 months of receiving the Certificate of Completion, and any request must be made within one year of it.
The F-89 on-site exam has three parts: general building knowledge, a fire component and a non-fire component. You fail the whole exam if your total score is below 70, you fail two or more “important” questions, or you fail at least one mandatory question. If you pass some components, you can retake only the ones you failed, and the retest fee depends on which components you retake (see the fee table below).
Step 6: Pay for the card and keep it current
After you pass, FDNY sends an email with instructions to pay the $25 card issuance fee. Renewal is every three years. A $25 late fee applies if you renew more than 90 days after expiry but within one year. If the F-89 has been expired for more than a year, you must redo the 31-hour course, both computer exams and the on-site exam. If you stop working at the premises, return your card with the surrender form.
FDNY fees to budget for
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Application, per computer exam (N-85 and Z-89) | $25 each |
| F-89 on-site exam | $750 |
| F-89 card issuance | $25 |
| Fixed FDNY fees if you pass everything first time | $825 |
| F-89 renewal | $15 |
| On-site retest, non-fire component only | $305 |
| On-site retest, fire component only, or general building knowledge only | $445 |
| On-site retest, fire and non-fire components, or all three | $750 |
These fees come from FDNY’s F-89 notice of exam (revised 26 October 2022) and the current F-89 page, which lists $25 for a new application and $15 for renewal. The 31-hour course fee is set by each school and is not listed by FDNY. Overtime charges can apply for after-hours on-site exams. Check FDNY’s page for current amounts.
If you work in more than one building
An F-89 holder can hold the certificate for two separate locations at the same time without special restrictions. Holders registered or about to be registered at three or more locations must submit a variance form with a $200 payment, and must pass the on-site exam again to renew at each location.
What an FLS Director does
FDNY’s FLSD curriculum lists the duties of the FLS Director under the Comprehensive Fire Safety and Emergency Action Plan. In summary, the FLS Director must:
- be in the building during regular business hours as defined in the plan (a Deputy FLS Director covers when the Director is absent);
- go to the Fire Command Center in a fire, medical or other non-fire emergency, carry out the actions in the plan, tell arriving responders what is happening and follow their directions;
- report any fire or non-fire emergency to 911, and any decision to put the plan into effect;
- know the plan fully and run the staff training and fire and non-fire emergency drills the Fire Code requires;
- supervise and train the Deputy FLS Director and other FLS staff, and select, train and supervise the FLS brigade;
- check each day that fire wardens and deputy wardens are available, where wardens are required;
- communicate information and directions to occupants in an emergency;
- approve drill education materials, make sure required notices are posted and records are kept, and review how employers account for occupants after an evacuation or relocation.
The curriculum also explains that the 2014 Fire Code and rule 3 RCNY §113-02 replaced the older Fire Safety Director and Fire Safety/EAP Director rules with the single FLS Director role. Older F-58, F-25, F-59 and F-85 certificates stopped being valid on 1 March 2020 and had to be converted to T-89 or F-89 under the new requirements.
Outside New York City: Chicago as an example
Chicago uses the title Fire Safety Director under Municipal Code chapter 13-78. Covered high-rise buildings need a Fire Safety Director and a Deputy Fire Safety Director, and both must hold an Emergency Preparedness Certificate issued by the Chicago Fire Department’s Bureau of Fire Prevention. According to the Chicago Fire Department’s study guide, certification has three linked parts: classroom instruction, a written exam and an in-building practical. The municipal code says the certificate is valid for one year and renewable annually.
Chicago’s Fire Safety Director must occupy the building’s fire command station in an emergency, carry out monthly building safety inspections, design and direct emergency evacuation procedures and drills, and assign fire wardens and emergency evacuation teams where the plan requires them. This page does not cover other cities or countries. Ask the local fire authority what, if anything, it requires.
Questions people ask
Is a fire safety director the same as a fire and life safety director?
In New York City, the current role and certificate are Fire and Life Safety Director (F-89). The older Fire Safety Director certificates were replaced under rule 113-02. Other places still use the older title.
Do I need a degree?
FDNY’s listed qualifications are age, English, evidence of character and employment, experience, the approved course and exams. A degree is not on that list.
Can I schedule my own on-site exam?
No. Only authorized personnel designated by the building owner can request it.
How long do the course diploma and exam letters last?
The school diploma is valid for 9 months. The N-85 passing letter is valid for 9 months and the Z-89 letter for 12 months. The Certificate of Completion is valid for one year. None of these can be renewed.
Related guides
- Fire escape safety: routes, exits and evacuation planning
- Fire drill safety: planning, roles and evacuation checks
- How to perform a fire safety risk assessment in the workplace
- What does PASS stand for in fire safety?
Sources and last checked
All facts on this page were checked on 31 October 2026. Fees, exam details and procedures change, so confirm them with FDNY before you apply.
- FDNY F-89 Fire and Life Safety Director page
- FDNY F-89/T-89 Notice of Exam (revised 26 Oct 2022)
- FDNY F-89/T-89 application form
- FDNY Fire and Life Safety Director curriculum
- FDNY approved Fire and Life Safety Director schools
- Chicago Fire Department Fire Safety Director study guide
This page is general information, not legal advice. The FDNY or your local fire authority decides what applies to you.