How the calculator works
- NICET charges per level, not per certification. You pay for every level from the one above your current level up to your target, because each level needs the exams below it.
- Each application fee covers one test session, an experience review and one supplemental review. The calculator adds $115 for each extra supplemental review you choose.
- Express Evaluation is $305 per paid level, so choosing it at every level multiplies it.
- On the ITFAS track, FAS Level II credits ITFAS Level I, and FAS Level III or IV credits ITFAS Levels I and II. Covered levels carry no application fee, and the calculator adds the $165 credit review instead. NICET's own pages show $160 in one place, so the figure on your payment form decides.
- Retakes are your number. The handbooks allow at most three attempts in any 12 months, so the calculator offers up to 2 retakes per level.
- Renewal is every three years: $220 for one certification plus $60 for each additional one. All your certifications share one expiration date.
Print a cost estimate for your employer
Press Print this estimate under your totals to get one page with each NICET fee level by level, any retakes and renewals, your books and travel, and the totals. It has lines for your name, an approver and the date, and a link that reopens the same numbers. Hand it in with a reimbursement request or save it as a PDF from the print dialog. Copy a link to this estimate sends the same numbers to a supervisor or a coworker.
The fee schedule behind the numbers
| Level | FAS application | Total to reach it (FAS) | ITFAS application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level I | $235 | $235 | $235 |
| Level II | $325 | $560 | $325 |
| Level III | $380 | $940 | Not offered |
| Level IV | $435 | $1,375 | Not offered |
Fees as listed by NICET, effective 1 August 2026. The NICET exam fees guide explains rescheduling, refunds and the places where NICET's pages disagree, and the renewal guide covers CPD points and deadlines.
Two worked examples
| Candidate | What is counted | Total |
|---|---|---|
| A technician with no certification who goes for FAS Level II, passes both exams first time and renews once | Level I $235, Level II $325, renewal $220 | $780 |
| A Level II FAS holder who uses that credit for ITFAS Level I and tests for ITFAS Level II | Level I covered by credit, Level II $325, credit review $165 | $490 |
Both use fees alone, with books, travel and retakes at zero. Add Express Evaluation at both FAS levels and the first example grows by $610, to $1,390.
What is not priced
- Code books and study materials. You buy the references you plan to use, and prices vary by provider.
- Travel and time off. Enter your own figure.
- Retakes, late reschedules and reinstatement. NICET sets no fixed amount we can cite, so check your NICET account. A late reschedule is half the original testing fee, and a refund carries a processing fee.
Questions candidates ask
How much does NICET certification cost?
NICET charges an application fee for each level you test at: $235 for Level I, $325 for Level II, $380 for Fire Alarm Systems Level III and $435 for Level IV. Each level needs the exams below it, so Level II costs $560 in applications before books and travel.
How much is a NICET retake?
NICET lists no separate retake price in its fee schedule or the candidate handbooks. The handbooks say you can retest after 30 days, with at most three attempts in any 12-month span. Enter the amount your NICET account shows and the calculator adds it for each retake.
How much does it cost to renew my NICET certification?
The fee schedule shows $220 every three years, which includes one certification, plus $60 for each additional one. Returning an expired certification to Active Status adds a $125 late fee on top.
Next steps
Know which level you can document? The NICET level checker shows which Fire Alarm Systems level is next, and how to get NICET certified walks through the steps. Every retake is another fee, so find your weak topics before you book.