What Is the F-03 Certificate of Fitness?
The F-03 is the FDNY Certificate of Fitness for Indoor Place of Assembly Safety Personnel, required for anyone who helps maintain fire safety at an approved place of assembly (PA) or temporary place of assembly (TPA) in New York City. You earn it by passing a 25-question computer test at FDNY Headquarters with a score of at least 70%.
FDNY used to call these workers "fire guards"; the title changed to place of assembly safety personnel because it better describes the job: keeping exits unobstructed and properly marked, preventing overcrowding, and directing occupants to the nearest safe exit during a fire or other emergency. The F-03 and F-04 replaced the older F-94 certificate. Do not confuse it with the F-01, the Citywide Fire Guard for Impairment certificate used when a sprinkler or standpipe system is out of service.
For a full overview of practice resources and study materials, see our F-03 fire guard practice test question bank.
Who Needs the F-03 Certificate?
The F-03 is a premises-related certificate for venues that hold a Place of Assembly Certificate of Operation (PA). FDNY may require at least one place of assembly safety personnel where the Certificate of Occupancy allows 75 or more people indoors or 200 or more outdoors. Typical F-03 workplaces include:
- Theaters — live performing-arts and movie theaters (the F-03 test includes a section on theater-specific precautions)
- Sports arenas and stadiums, indoor skating rinks and bowling alleys
- Museums, cabarets, dance halls and bingo halls
- TV and radio studios that admit an audience, and passenger terminals
The number of safety personnel required is set in the premises' fire safety and evacuation plan, or on the TPA permit for temporary events. Staff who only work temporary events at different locations take the F-04 instead. The certificate is issued for a specific person and location, and you must keep it on you or readily available for FDNY inspection. For comprehensive preparation materials specific to the FDNY format, see our F-03 FDNY guide.
The F-03 exam has 25 multiple-choice questions, each with four answer choices, taken on a touch-screen computer at FDNY Headquarters, 9 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn (enter on Flatbush Avenue between Myrtle Avenue and Tech Place). You have 38 minutes and need 70% — at least 18 correct answers — to pass.
Key exam logistics:
- Apply online first: FDNY requires you to apply and pay the $25 fee online before arriving; it takes about 30 minutes
- Walk-in hours: Public Certification Unit, 1st floor, Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–2:30 p.m., closed on public holidays; no appointment needed
- What to bring: the completed application, an employer recommendation letter (or self-employment letter) and two forms of ID, one of them a government-issued photo ID
- Exam room rules: study booklets and phones are not allowed; FDNY provides any reference material the test requires
- Scoring: unanswered or double-marked questions count as wrong; there is no penalty for guessing
- Results: pass and you receive the certificate the same day; fail and you must submit a new application and pay the fee again — retesting on the same calendar day is not permitted
Take our free F-03 practice test to get comfortable with the question format before your FDNY exam appointment.
F-03 Exam Topics Covered
The F-03 test covers the entire FDNY study booklet for place of assembly safety personnel, which is based on the 2022 New York City Fire Code. Key topic areas include:
- Duties of place of assembly safety personnel: the fire safety and evacuation plan, the pre-event visual check (ESCAPE: Exits, Storage, Capacity, Aisles, Protection, Emergency exit lighting) and monitoring for overcrowding during the event
- Special fire safety precautions for theaters: daily checks, the no-smoking rule, keeping theater doors closed and keeping aisles clear of standing patrons — tested on the F-03 but not the F-04
- Temporary place of assembly duties: orientation, pre-event checks and prohibitions such as charging or storing lithium-ion batteries at events
- Fire protection systems: manual pull stations, sprinkler, standpipe and fire alarm systems
- Emergency procedures: fire, medical emergencies, bomb threats, chemical releases and active shooter incidents
- Portable fire extinguishers: P.A.S.S., fire classes A, B, C, D and K, mounting heights and inspection tags
- Lithium-ion battery safety
FDNY also expects candidates to know Fire Code sections 403, 404 and 906 and Fire Rules 403-01, 403-02 and 404-01.
Additional F-03 topic practice is available through our F-03 test question bank, which covers all exam domains with timed practice sessions.
Sample Fire Guard F-03 Practice Questions
Try these questions from our free Fire Guard F-03 practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
An F-03 fire guard discovers that a previous fire guard falsified entries in the fire watch log. What should the current fire guard do?
- A. Continue using the log without drawing attention to the false entries
- B. Document the discrepancy, preserve the evidence, and report it to the site safety manager and FDNY
- C. Correct the false entries personally to make the log accurate
- D. Destroy the compromised log and start a new one
Answer: B. Document the discrepancy, preserve the evidence, and report it to the site safety manager and FDNY
Log falsification is a serious fire code violation — it must be documented, preserved, and reported rather than concealed or altered.
What happens to a fire guard's Certificate of Fitness if FDNY finds they performed fire guard duties negligently or incompletely?
- A. A warning letter is issued with no effect on the certificate
- B. FDNY may suspend or revoke the Certificate of Fitness following a hearing process
- C. The employer is penalized but the certificate holder is not directly affected
- D. The certificate can only be revoked if a fire actually occurred due to the negligence
Answer: B. FDNY may suspend or revoke the Certificate of Fitness following a hearing process
FDNY may suspend or revoke a Certificate of Fitness for negligent or incomplete performance of duties following an administrative hearing.
A fire alarm has sounded and the Fire Guard investigates but finds no fire. What should the Fire Guard do?
- A. Reset the alarm without notifying anyone
- B. Notify FDNY and log the event in the logbook
- C. Ignore the alarm since no fire was found
- D. Only notify the building manager and take no further action
Answer: B. Notify FDNY and log the event in the logbook
Even if no fire is found, the Fire Guard must notify FDNY of the alarm activation and record the event in the logbook as required by NYC Fire Code.
What is the F-03 fire guard's obligation if an FDNY inspector issues a directive that the fire guard believes is incorrect or unduly burdensome?
- A. Refuse to comply and immediately contact the contractor's lawyer
- B. Comply with the directive, document it, and separately contest it through proper channels if warranted
- C. Comply only partially pending clarification from the contractor
- D. Ignore the directive until the general contractor can review it
Answer: B. Comply with the directive, document it, and separately contest it through proper channels if warranted
FDNY directives must be complied with — any contest of the directive must occur through proper legal channels after compliance, not through refusal.
Take the full Fire Guard F-03 practice test
🔥 🔥 What does the FDNY F-03 Certificate of Fitness cover?
The F-03 is the FDNY certificate for Indoor Place of Assembly Safety Personnel. Holders help maintain fire safety at an approved place of assembly (PA) or temporary place of assembly (TPA) at a specific NYC location.
📝 📝 How many questions are on the FDNY F-03 test?
The F-03 test has 25 multiple-choice questions, each with four answer choices. You have 38 minutes to finish it on a touch-screen computer at FDNY Headquarters.
🎯 🎯 What score do you need to pass the F-03 exam?
You need at least 70%, which is 18 correct answers out of 25. Unanswered questions count as wrong, and there is no penalty for guessing.
💵 💵 How much does the F-03 Certificate of Fitness cost?
The application fee is $25 and is nonrefundable; credit card payments carry a 2% fee. Renewal costs $15 every three years, plus a $25 penalty if you renew 90 days to one year late.
🏢 🏢 Where do you take the F-03 exam in NYC?
At the FDNY Public Certification Unit, 9 MetroTech Center, 1st floor, Brooklyn, entering on Flatbush Avenue. It is open Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–2:30 p.m. with no appointment, but you must apply and pay online first.
🪪 🪪 What do you need to bring to the F-03 test?
Bring the completed Certificate of Fitness application, an employer recommendation letter (or a self-employment letter) and two forms of ID. One ID must be government-issued with a photo, such as a driver's license or passport.
🚪 🚪 What does ESCAPE stand for on the F-03 pre-event check?
Exits, Storage, Capacity, Aisles, Protection and Emergency exit lighting. It is the FDNY reminder for confirming exits are unblocked and marked, aisles are clear, capacity is not exceeded and fire protection works before the event.
🧯 🧯 How do you use a fire extinguisher (P.A.S.S.)?
P.A.S.S. means Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep. Extinguishers must be mounted so the top is no more than 5 feet above the floor and the bottom at least 4 inches above it, and FDNY must be notified of any fire.
👥 👥 When are place of assembly safety personnel required?
FDNY may require at least one where the Certificate of Occupancy allows 75 or more people indoors or 200 or more outdoors. The exact number is set in the fire safety and evacuation plan or on the TPA permit.
🔄 🔄 What is the difference between the F-03 and F-04?
The F-03 is for a specific premises with a Place of Assembly permit, such as a theater or stadium, and its test includes theater precautions. The F-04 covers temporary events at different locations with a 20-question test; F-03 holders can add the F-04 for $25 without another exam.