Side by side
F-80 or a fire guard certificate: F-01 and F-02 side by side
The F-80 is the coordinator’s certificate, tied to one shelter. The F-02 is the fire guard certificate for shelters. The F-01 fire guard certificate covers fire watch wherever a required system is out of service. In a shelter, the coordinator directs the fire guards, and the fire guards patrol (each certificate’s FDNY Notice of Exam, as of October 2026).
Plan ref 7.1Updated October 25, 2026
Three certificates, one building
F-80, F-02 and F-01, each from its own FDNY Notice of Exam (as of October 2026)
| Point | F-80 | F-02 | F-01 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name (differs) | Coordinator of Fire Safety and Alarm Systems in Homeless Shelters | Fire Guard for Shelter (Citywide) | Fire Guard for Impairment (Citywide) |
| Main job (differs) | Runs fire safety in the shelter: plan, panel, drills, staff training; directs the fire guards | Patrols every area of a shelter at least once an hour; may also keep fire watch | Keeps fire watch where a required fire protection system is out of service |
| Valid where (differs) | One location; up to two shelters without a variance | Citywide | Citywide |
| FDNY test (differs) | 50 questions, 75 minutes | 25 questions, 38 minutes | 20 questions, 30 minutes |
| Pass mark | 70% | 70% | 70% |
| School course first (differs) | Yes, a school on the FDNY list | Not listed | Not listed |
| Papers (differs) | Diploma, notarized letter and notarized F-80 application | Employer letter (General Notice of Exam) | Employer letter (General Notice of Exam) |
| Relation to the others (differs) | Supervises the deputy, the fire guards and other FEP staff | No separate F-01 needed; may do F-01 duties in shelters only | Fire watch only; hourly shelter patrols are listed under the F-02 |
| Fees | $25 to apply, $15 to renew every 3 years | $25 to apply, $15 to renew every 3 years | $25 to apply, $15 to renew every 3 years |
Shaded rows marked ≠ are the points where at least one column differs from the others.
Each test is multiple choice on a touch-screen computer at FDNY Headquarters.
Match the job first, then the certificate
Hourly patrols are fire guard work. Every area of a shelter is patrolled at least once an hour, by a person holding a certificate as fire guard (Source: Study Material §4.1). In a shelter, that certificate is the F-02.
A fire watch starts when a required system is out of service. For the first four hours, in an affected area of 50,000 square feet or less, the impairment coordinator or a trained person named by the owner may keep it. After that, only Certificate of Fitness fire guards patrol, one for each 50,000 square feet (Source: Study Material §14.3). The FDNY can change the number on scene, and your shelter’s plan sets who goes.
The F-80 sits above both. The coordinator supervises and directs the deputy, the fire guards and other FEP staff (Source: Study Material §4).
The fire guard and fire watch concept page drills the difference. For the alarm and service certificates in the same building, see all shelter certificates compared.
An office tower next to the shelter has a sprinkler outage, and the first four hours are over. A guard holds only an F-02. Can the guard keep the fire watch there?
- AYes, because the F-02 is a citywide certificateOut in round 3
- BYes, if the shelter’s coordinator signs offOut in round 1
- CNo, outside a shelter that fire watch is F-01 workKeep
- DYes, any fire guard certificate covers any buildingOut in round 2
- Round 1 — rule out B.The coordinator directs staff inside the shelter. That authority does not reach the building next door.
- Round 2 — rule out D.Each fire guard certificate has its own scope in its own Notice of Exam, so this one is too broad.
- Round 3 — rule out A.This is the tempting one, since the F-02 is citywide. Citywide means any shelter in the city. The F-02 Notice of Exam lets holders do F-01 duties in shelters only.
No. An office tower’s fire watch after the first four hours needs an F-01 holder.
Before you pick a fire guard certificate
Does an F-02 holder also need an F-01?
No. The F-02 Notice of Exam says F-02 holders are not required to get an F-01, and may do F-01 duties in shelters only (rev. July 2026, as of October 2026).
Which of the three tests is shortest?
The F-01: 20 questions in 30 minutes. The F-02 is 25 questions in 38 minutes, and the F-80 is 50 in 75. All three need 70% (each Notice of Exam, as of October 2026).
Is the F-80 harder to get than a fire guard certificate?
It has more steps. The F-80 needs a school course and two notarized papers before the test. The F-01 lists no special requirements, and the F-02 lists only its F-01 relation (as of October 2026).
- FDNY F-80 Notice of Exam and Study Material, rev. January 2026Checked October 25, 2026
- FDNY F-02 Notice of Exam and Study Material, rev. July 2026Checked October 25, 2026
- FDNY F-01 Notice of Exam and Study Material, rev. January 2026Checked October 25, 2026
- FDNY F-02 certificate pageChecked October 25, 2026
- FDNY F-01 certificate pageChecked October 25, 2026
- FDNY General Notice of Exam for Certificates of FitnessChecked October 25, 2026
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F-80 is made for iPhone and iPad. Without one, every practice round on this site works in the browser.