The Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC) grants registration to Registered Fire Protection Technicians (RFPT) applicants who meet the registration requirements and standards established by the Professional Governance Act and the ASTTBC Bylaws­. ASTTBC confirms an applicant meets these standards through a careful review and validation of an applicant’s education, training, and work experience as well as requiring completion of a professional practice and ethics examination.  The application process is detailed and thorough and ensures ASTTBC RFPT registrants meet the highest standard to protect the public and environment.

Prior to submitting a RFPT application for registration, please read the information below to ensure that you are familiar with ASTTBC’s registration requirements. RFPTs must be registered with one or more endorsements. 

NOTICE: Educational, experiential, and competency requirements, as well as ASTTBC policies and procedures in place at the time a complete application is submitted will apply.

Registered Fire Protection Technician (RFPT) Registration:

RFPTs perform fire protection and life safety services through inspection and testing of fire protection equipment and related systems such as fire alarms, fire pumps, unit emergency lighting, electrical generators, water-based fire protection systems, portable fire extinguishers, special suppression systems, commercial kitchen duct cleaning, and smoke control systems.

Fire protection and life safety services are required as specified in the BC and the National Fire Codes, BC and National Building Codes, and applicable local government Bylaws using Canadian and international standards as they apply in BC. 

Currently there are twenty-three (23) jurisdictions in BC that require an RFPT to inspect and test the fire and life safety systems in buildings. This reserves the practice of fire inspection and testing services to registrants of ASTTBC registered as an RFPT. This means that in order to legally perform this work in these jurisdictions, an individual must be registered with ASTTBC as a RFPT in the appropriate endorsement(s).

There are ten (10) endorsement categories which a fire protection applicant may apply for:

  • Portable fire extinguishers (EX)
  • Unit emergency lighting systems (EM)
  • Fire alarms systems (AL)
  • Water-based fire protection systems (sprinkler systems) (WA)
  • Commercial kitchen exhaust systems (includes cleaning) (CO)
  • Special suppression systems pre-engineered (SP-P)
  • Special suppression systems custom-engineered (SP-C)
  • Stationary fire pumps (FP)
  • Smoke control systems (SM)
  • Generators systems (GS)

Registration Requirements

RFPT applicants must meet the requirements outlined in the bylaws­, including:

  • be legally authorized to work in Canada,
  • be a person of good character,
  • have met the English Language Proficiency Policy requirements, and
  • have completed the following:
    • EDUCATION – completed the approved course(s)/training or equivalent, or request to complete a relevant challenge exam if all other registration requirements have been met except the education. Some endorsements require the successful completion of a challenge exam in addition to completion of approved course(s)/training (note submission of a complete online application is required before the exam may be administered, fees apply. Learn more on the challenge exams on the Exams page.)
    • EXPERIENCE – completed the minimum length of work experience specified for the endorsement, and completed supervised work on the minimum number of units/systems specified the endorsement (note details on this work must be recorded in the Work Log as part of the online application.)
    • COMPETENCIES – completed the general competencies required for all RFPT applicants, and completed the endorsement specific competencies (note applicants will be required to describe how, when, where they met each competency as part of the online application.)

Educational, Experiential and Competencies Requirements

Read the registration requirements section above before reviewing the information in this section.

The following are the specific registration requirements for each endorsement.

  • Portable fire extinguishers (EX)

    EDUCATION

    • BCIT OCHS 1410, or Vancouver Fire “Fundamental Six”, or equivalent course, or 80% on relevant challenge exam

    EXPERIENCE

    • Length: minimum 3 months
    • Log: supervised testing of 200 fire extinguishers or various types including CO2, stored pressure, cartridge, dry chemical and others

    COMPETENCIES

    • See Schedule A, Part 6 of the bylaws
  • Unit emergency lighting systems (EM)

    EDUCATION

    • Electrical Fundamentals: BCIT FIRE 1050, or equivalent course meeting the competencies as listed in Schedule G of the bylaws, and
    • BCIT FIRE 2077, or Vancouver Fire “Fundamental Six”, or equivalent course, or 80% on relevant challenge exam

    EXPERIENCE

    • Length: minimum 3 months
    • Log: supervised testing of 100 various types of emergency lighting units (a minimum of 3 types and voltages)

    Competencies

    • See Schedule A, Part 6 of the bylaws
  • Fire alarms systems (AL)

    EDUCATION

    • Electrical Fundamentals: BCIT FIRE 1050, or equivalent course meeting the competencies as listed in Schedule G of the bylaws, and
    • BCIT FIRE 2084, Vancouver Fire “Fundamental Six”, or CFAA training, or equivalent course, or 80% on relevant challenge exam

    EXPERIENCE

    • Length: minimum 12 months
    • Log: supervised testing of 25 fire alarm systems

    COMPETENCIES

    • See Schedule A, Part 6 of the bylaws.
  • Water-based fire protection systems (sprinkler systems) (WA)

    EDUCATION

    • BCIT FIRE 2080, or Vancouver Fire “Fundamental Six”,
    • or equivalent course, or 80% on relevant challenge exam

    EXPERIENCE

    • Length: minimum 12 months
    • Log: supervised inspection and testing of a minimum of 40 water-based fire protection systems of various types such as wet, dry, deluge, and standpipe

    COMPETENCIES

    • See Schedule A, Part 6 of the bylaws.
  • Commercial kitchen exhaust systems (includes cleaning) (CO)

    EDUCATION

    • Phil Ackland course, or 80% on relevant challenge exam

    Experience

    • Length: minimum 3 months
    • Log: supervised cleaning and inspection of a minimum of 25 commercial kitchen exhaust systems

    Competencies

    • See Schedule A, Part 6 of the bylaws.
  • Special suppression systems pre-engineered (SP-P)

    EDUCATION

    • BCIT FIRE 2088, or equivalent course, or 80% on relevant challenge exam

    EXPERIENCE

    • Length: minimum 24 months
    • Log: supervised inspection and testing of a minimum of 40 special fire suppression systems

    COMPETENCIES

    • See Schedule A, Part 6 of the bylaws.
  • Special suppression systems custom-engineered (SP-C)

    EDUCATION

    • BCIT FIRE 2088, or equivalent course, or 80% on relevant challenge exam

    EXPERIENCE

    • Length: minimum 24 months
    • Log: supervised inspection and testing of a minimum of 40 special fire suppression systems of various types

    COMPETENCIES

    • See Schedule A, Part 6 of the bylaws.
  • Stationary fire pumps (FP)

    EDUCATION

    • 80% on relevant challenge exam

    EXPERIENCE

    • Length: minimum 12 months
    • Log: supervised inspection and testing of a minimum of 40 water-based fire protection systems that include fire pumps

    COMPETENCIES

    • See Schedule A, Part 6 of the bylaws.
  • Smoke control systems (SM)

    EDUCATION

    • RFPT (AL) registration, and
    • BCIT FIRE 2086, or equivalent course, or 80% on relevant challenge exam

    EXPERIENCE

    • Length: minimum 24 months
    • Log: supervised inspection and testing of a minimum of 40 smoke control systems

    COMPETENCIES

    • See Schedule A, Part 6 of the bylaws.
  • Generators systems (GS)

    EDUCATION

    • Electrical Fundamentals: BCIT FIRE 1050, or equivalent course meeting the competencies as listed in Schedule G of the bylaws, or Red Seal Electrician (industrial or construction), or  Red Seal Mechanic, or heavy-duty mechanic, or automobile mechanic, and
    • 80% on relevant challenge exam

    EXPERIENCE

    • Length: minimum 24 months
    • Log: Supervised inspection and testing of a minimum of 40 generator systems of various types

    COMPETENCIES

    • See Schedule A, Part 6 of the bylaws.

Examinations

RFPT applicants must successfully complete the Professional Practice & Ethics exam before registration.  For more information, please see the Exams page.

An applicant may also attempt a challenge exam in order to satisfy the educational requirement for their applicable endorsement. Some endorsement require the successful completion of a challenge exam in addition to the completion of approved course(s)/training.

ASTTBC Guidance and Standards of Practice for Fire Protection

Review the information on the Standards of Practice, Practice Guidelines and Practice Bulletins pages.

How to Submit a Fire Protection Application

Applications are submitted through ASTTBC’s online application platform at asttbcapply.ca.

Applicant’s may start their Fire Protection application at any time by creating an account at no cost. 

Start the application once you begin your work experience to start recording completed work in the online Work Log.  Applicant’s may access the application as many times as needed before submitting.  An application fee will be required when the complete application is submitted.  

Applying for More than One Endorsement

An RFPT applicant may apply for one or more endorsement(s) at a time. The applicant is required to demonstrate they meet the requirements for all applicable endorsements and must provide all required documentation for each endorsement they are applying for. The applicant is only required to pay one application fee which covers as many endorsement(s) applied for at one time.

Please note that applicants should only apply for an endorsement once they have obtained all required education, training, and work experience and are able to demonstrate that they meet these requirements.

Applying for an Additional Endorsement

A practising RFPT in BC may apply for reclassification to add an endorsement once they have attained the minimum educational, competency and experiential requirements for the endorsement.  Refer to the Education, Competency, and Experiential Requirements section on this page for details on these requirements. The Fire Protection ‘add an endorsement’ application is completed online at asttbcapply.ca. 

Removing a Limit or Condition or Endorsement

For further information for information on how to remove an endorsement or limit or condition, please contact ASTTBC at registrations@asttbc.org.

Find an RFPT

A current listing of RFPT registrants can be found in the ASTTBC Registrant Directory.

The Application Process

  • Step 1: Start the online application for Fire Protection

    Applications are completed through ASTTBC’s online application platform at asttbcapply.ca. Please see the How to Submit a RFPT application section above.

    Applicants may start application once they begin completing the experiential requirements for registration.  A work log detailing the number of units/systems completed under supervision for the endorsement(s) is required, applicants may record in their work log as they gain their experience.

  • Step 2: Submitting your application through the ASTTBC application portal

    Once started, an applicant may access the application as many times as needed before submitting their complete application.  Remember to save your work regularly and check to the application is complete and up to date before submitting. Payment of the application fee will be required to submit the complete application.

  • Step 3: Initial Review – Document Collection & Completion of Challenge Exam(s) (if applicable)

    All applicants will receive an initial email to acknowledge their application, any clarification required, and any outstanding items.  During this phase, ASTTBC requests and/or files documentation received from third parties (e.g., referees, transcripts, letters of good standing, verification of certification etc.) and reminds applicants of any outstanding information required in order to review their file. The onus is on applicants to ensure that all required documentation is sent to ASTTBC.

    If a challenge exam has been requested by the applicant, it must be successfully completed before the next step, staff will advise. See the Exams page for information.

  • Step 4: File Review

    Once all the required documentation has been collected, and all applicable challenge exams have been successfully completed, the application will be reviewed by two qualified individuals (file reviewers) for evaluation and recommendation to the credentials committee. These file reviewers will review and provide an assessment report to the credentials committee and/or registrar that recommends whether an applicant’s education and experience meet the requirements for registration.

  • Step 5: Review by Credentials Committee

    After file review, the Credentials Committee review the application and assessment report provided by the file reviewers and may require clarification, request further information, or determine the applicant has met the basic requirements for registrant and is permitted to proceed to examinations. The Credentials Committee may also reject the application if the applicant has not demonstrated they meet the requirements for registration

  • Step 6: Examination

    Applicants recommended for approval are required to successfully complete the Professional Practice and Ethics (PP&E) examination before registration.  See the Exams page for information.

  • Step 7: Placement on the Register

    Once all then required examination have been successfully completed, the credentials committee moves to approve the application for registration and place them on the Register. Applicant must submit payment for the annual registration fee(s) before registration is granted.  Completion of a stamp application form and stamp fee will also be required.  Upon receipt of the payment, ASTTBC will issue a registration number, certificate and stamp and the applicant will be added to the Register.

ASTTBC Registrant Obligations

Once registered, all registrants are required to adhere to the Professional Governance Act and ASTTBC Bylaws, including Schedule D, Standards of Competence and Code of Ethics. Registrants must also adhere to ASTTBC guidance on practice, policies, and procedures. 

ASTTBC registration must be renewed annually.  Practising registrants are required to complete continuing education and professional development (CPD) credits annually, including credits for Indigenous awareness learning.  For information, visit the CPD page.