C-14 Practice Test

The C-14 is a Certificate of Fitness exam from the Fire Department of the City of New York, Bureau of Fire Prevention. This page lists the official exam facts we could verify, such as format, fee, passing score and time limit. It also gives free practice sets by topic and worked explanations. Our questions are written by us and are not real exam questions.

C-14 Exam at a Glance

What the C-14 is and how it works

According to Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), Bureau of Fire Prevention, “The C-14 exam will consist of 50 multiple-choice questions, administered on a “touch screen” computer monitor.”^[1]

The C-14 is a Certificate of Fitness issued by the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), Bureau of Fire Prevention. You sit the exam in person on a touch-screen computer at FDNY Headquarters, 9 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn. The exam has 50 multiple-choice questions and you have 76 minutes to finish. A score of at least 70% is required to receive the certificate.

The application fee is $25 and is non-refundable. Most Certificate of Fitness exams run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM, except legal holidays. If you pass and meet all other requirements, the certificate is issued the same day, and your status shows online within 1-2 business days.

If you fail, you receive a failure report. To retake the exam you must submit a new application and payment. The certificate is valid for 3 years. Renewal costs $15, a late renewal adds a $25 penalty, and the certificate lapses after 1 year, so read the renewal page for the exact timing.

Eligibility requirements and the study materials can change. Check the official FDNY notice of examination and the NYC Business application page before you apply.

C-14 content outline and where to practise each area

The content areas below are copied from the official C-14 content outline published by Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), Bureau of Fire Prevention. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.

Worked examples: how to reason through C-14 questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: How should best practices be adapted when applied to new situations?

1. Evaluate the specific context and modify as needed while maintaining core principles
2. Apply them exactly as written regardless of circumstances
3. Abandon them entirely and create new methods each time
4. Use them only if specifically required by regulation

Answer: A. Evaluate the specific context and modify as needed while maintaining core principles

Explanation:

The correct answer is to evaluate the specific context and modify as needed while keeping the core principles. Best practices come from experience, but a new situation may differ from the one they were written for, so judgment is required. Applying them exactly as written ignores real differences and can produce a poor or unsafe result. Abandoning them and inventing new methods each time throws away what has already been learned. Using them only when a regulation requires it treats them as optional, when they are useful whether or not a rule demands them. The general rule: keep the principle, adjust the method to fit the situation.

Example 2

Question: Which of the following represents a conflict of interest for a C-14 professional?

1. Having a financial stake in a vendor while being responsible for vendor selection
2. Attending professional development conferences
3. Mentoring junior colleagues in the field
4. Serving on a professional certification board

Answer: A. Having a financial stake in a vendor while being responsible for vendor selection

Explanation:

The correct answer is having a financial stake in a vendor while being responsible for vendor selection. A conflict of interest exists when a personal interest could improperly influence a professional decision, and here the money could shape which vendor is chosen. Attending professional development conferences, mentoring junior colleagues and serving on a certification board are normal professional activities. None of them gives you a personal gain that competes with your duty in a specific decision. The general rule: ask whether a private benefit could affect a decision you are responsible for. If it could, disclose it or step aside.

Example 3

Question: What is the primary purpose of data analysis in professional practice?

1. To transform raw data into actionable insights for decision-making
2. To create complex charts for presentations
3. To justify decisions that have already been made
4. To fulfill annual reporting requirements only

Answer: A. To transform raw data into actionable insights for decision-making

Explanation:

The correct answer is to transform raw data into actionable insights for decision-making. Analysis exists so that people can decide and act on evidence rather than guesses. Creating complex charts is only a way to present results and does not make the analysis useful. Justifying decisions that were already made reverses the order, since the data should inform the decision. Fulfilling annual reporting requirements only is too narrow, because analysis is useful throughout the year. The general rule: good analysis starts with a question and ends with a decision someone can act on.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official FDNY study materials for the C-14. They set the real scope, and our sets are general practice written by us, so they do not replace them. Read the outline once, then note the content areas listed in the table above.

1. Take a short untimed set from Core Concepts & Fundamentals to find out which terms you do not know.
2. Work through Safety Protocols & Regulations and Radiological Safety & Regulatory Compliance. After each wrong answer, find the matching passage in the official material and read it.
3. Use Handling & Contamination Prevention to practise checklist-style questions.
4. Near test day, take a mixed practice test in one sitting on a screen. Keep to the same 76-minute limit and aim for at least 70%.

Before you go, confirm the exam hours and bring what the notice asks for.

Sources & last verified

1. Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), Bureau of Fire Prevention — number of questions, time limit, passing score, delivery (official source). “The C-14 exam will consist of 50 multiple-choice questions, administered on a “touch screen” computer monitor.” Verified Oct 28, 2026.
2. Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), Bureau of Fire Prevention — exam fee (official source). “Pay the $25 application fee online by credit card, debit card, or E-Check.” Verified Oct 22, 2026.
3. Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), Bureau of Fire Prevention — retake policy, score release, testing window (official source). “Applicant who fails the exam will receive a failure report. To retake an exam applicants will need to submit a new application and payment.” Verified Oct 22, 2026.
4. Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), Bureau of Fire Prevention — validity, renewal (official source). “You need to renew this certificate every three years” Verified Oct 22, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.