Alarm System Licensing

Alarm System Licensing Requirements: 

The state of Iowa requires licensing for the installation, inspection, maintenance, or testing of all fire alarm, nurse call, and security alarm systems that "annunciate" a call. Systems, hard wired or wireless, that send a signal, text, phone call, or the like to local first responders, a monitoring service, security station, or individual require an alarm system license, as defined in Iowa Code 100C and Administrative Rules Chapter 277.  A company installing and/or testing such systems and their employees must be licensed before working in Iowa.

Licensing is NOT required for:

• a company that is providing monitoring services ONLY.
• CCTV and video recording systems or card reader/door access systems if no notifications are sent.
• licensed electricians ONLY when installing wiring and components of an alarm system as a licensed electrician working for a licensed electrical contractor. Final termination at, and all work done with, the alarm panel requires an alarm system license.

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Companies:

• All contractors who intend to work in Iowa are required to obtain a contractor license.  
• Contractors must list at least one responsible managing employee (RME) and provide a copy of their current qualifying certification as specified in the matrix below.
• Contractors will obtain and maintain current registration (or a written exemption) as a "construction contractor" with the Labor Services Division in compliance with Iowa Code chapter 91C and Iowa Administrative Code 875-Chapter 150.  Visit the Iowa Division of Labor - Contractor Registration for more information. 
• Contractors must provide a copy of the most current certificate of liability insurance on the ACORD form. The ACORD form must show coverage amounts of $1M per occurrence, $1M property damage, and $500K per person.

Technicians:

• All technicians who intend to work in Iowa are required to obtain a technician license under a licensed contractor.  They must provide a copy of their current qualifying certifications as specified in the matrix below.
• All technician trainees who intend to work in Iowa are required to obtain a technician trainee license under a licensed contractor and be supervised 100% of the time on the job site by a licensed responsible managing employee or licensed technician licensed under the scope of work authorized by the license. 

Licensing Fees:

Fee Structure for Contractor License

• $200 license fee
• $50 for each endorsement
• $50 for each responsible managing employee (RME)
• $35 criminal history background check for each RME

Fee Structure for Technician License

• $125 license fee
• $25 for each endorsement
• $35 criminal history background check

Fee Structure for Technician Trainee License

• $50 license fee
• $35 criminal history background check (new application and third application for renewal)

Payments can be made online by debit/credit card or eCheck/ACH or by mailing a check or money order payable to the Dept. of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing or State of Iowa and mailed to the Dept. of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing, Attention: Alarm Licensing Administration, 215 E 7th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319-0047.

Criminal History Background Check:

Stop mailing fingerprint cards!  Use Fieldprint Iowa Livescan network today!

Use Fieldprint's largest Livescan network in Iowa to schedule secure, electronic submission of your fingerprints for criminal history background checks required by Alarm System licensing.

Refer to the Program Scheduling Aid below for step-by-step instructions to schedule your Livescan appointment at one of the Fieldprint locations nearest you. 

Please be sure to use the Fieldprint Code for your license as indicated in the scheduling aids below.

Alarm licensing - FPIASFMAlarm

Alarm Licensing Fieldprint Program Scheduling Aid

For information on fingerprint locations outside our Livescan network, please visit the National Background Information-Fingerprinting Locations website.