Guide
How to verify a Texas fire protection license
Check a fire alarm, extinguisher or sprinkler company's state registration in two minutes, and know what each registration type covers.
The short version
- Ask the company for its Texas SFMO certificate of registration number. It starts with ACR (fire alarm), ECR or HCR (fire extinguisher) or SCR (fire sprinkler).
- Search that number, or the company name, in the TDI State Fire Marshal's Office lookup.
- Confirm the registration type matches the work you're hiring for, and that the expiration date hasn't passed.
- Ask who will do the work, and check that technician's individual SFMO license in the same lookup.
Registration types
| Prefix | Registration | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| ACR | Fire Alarm Certificate of Registration | Fire alarm and detection systems |
| ECR | Fire Extinguisher Certificate of Registration | Portable extinguishers and fixed extinguishing systems |
| HCR | Extinguisher Hydrostatic Testing Certificate of Registration | Hydrostatic testing of extinguisher cylinders |
| SCR-G | Fire Sprinkler Certificate of Registration (General) | Fire sprinkler systems |
| SCR-U | Fire Sprinkler Certificate of Registration (Underground) | Underground fire mains |
| SCR-D | Fire Sprinkler Certificate of Registration (Dwelling) | One- and two-family dwelling sprinkler systems |
As of October 24, 2026, 1,070 companies hold an active fire alarm registration, 660 a fire extinguisher registration and 645 a fire sprinkler registration.
Red flags
- The company can't or won't give you a registration number.
- The registration type doesn't match the job (for example, an alarm-only company quoting sprinkler work).
- The registration is expired, or the company only appears under a different name than the one on your contract.
Every company in our Texas directory lists its registration numbers and expiration dates, re-checked against state records.
Frequently asked questions
- Who licenses fire protection companies in Texas?
- The State Fire Marshal's Office (SFMO), part of the Texas Department of Insurance, registers fire alarm, fire extinguisher and fire sprinkler companies and licenses the individuals who do the work.
- Why can't I find a company in the TDI lookup?
- The lookup only shows companies with an active registration. TDI notes that a company won't appear if its required insurance has expired or is not on file. Also try the company's legal name, since many operate under a DBA.
- Does a sprinkler company's registration cover fire alarms?
- No. Fire alarm, fire extinguisher and fire sprinkler work each require their own certificate of registration. A company doing more than one type of work needs one of each.