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NORTH CAROLINA
FIRE INSPECTOR LEVEL I
CERTIFICATION EXAM PRACTICE
2026
Practice Questions & Answers With Rationales
(Fire Code, Inspections & Life Safety)
North Carolina
WHAT YOU WILL GET
150 practice questions
Correct answers with rationales
Fire inspection and code enforcement topics
,NORTH CAROLINA FIRE INSPECTOR LEVEL I
CERTIFICATION EXAM – EXAM PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALE 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Which organization is responsible for administering North Carolina Code
Officials Qualification Board certification examinations?
A) North Carolina Code Officials Qualification Board
B) North Carolina State Fire and Rescue Commission
C) International Code Council
D) National Fire Protection Association
Correct Answer: North Carolina Code Officials Qualification Board
Rationale: The North Carolina Code Officials Qualification Board administers the certification
process for code officials, including fire inspection credentials. The Office of State Fire Marshal
staffs the Board, while PSI handles examination registration and delivery after the candidate
receives authorization. The International Code Council and NFPA are important code and
standards organizations but are not the North Carolina certification authority.
2. Before a candidate can register and pay for the North Carolina state
examination, what must occur?
A) The candidate must purchase all reference books.
B) The candidate's examination eligibility must be transmitted to PSI.
C) The candidate must obtain an ICC Fire Inspector certificate.
D) The candidate must pass the state examination first.
Correct Answer: The candidate's examination eligibility must be transmitted to PSI.
Rationale: OSFM explains that candidates must first obtain examination eligibility from the
Board. After approval, the eligibility information is electronically transmitted to PSI, allowing
the candidate to register and schedule the examination. This prevents candidates from
independently scheduling before the Board has confirmed that the applicable certification
requirements have been satisfied.
3. What is the published passing score for the North Carolina Code Officials
Qualification Board state examination?
,A) 60 percent
B) 65 percent
C) 70 percent
D) 80 percent
Correct Answer: 70 percent
Rationale: North Carolina's certification rules require a passing grade of at least 70 percent on
the written state examination for the applicable inspector type and level unless an exemption
applies. The 70-percent standard should not be confused with the higher passing standards used
by some unrelated fire-service qualification examinations.
4. A candidate fails a COQB examination and wants to review the questions
answered incorrectly. Which statement is most accurate?
A) The candidate automatically receives all correct answers.
B) The candidate may obtain the complete examination booklet.
C) The candidate may publish the reviewed questions afterward.
D) The candidate may schedule an examination review according to PSI/Board procedures.
Correct Answer: The candidate may schedule an examination review according to
PSI/Board procedures.
Rationale: OSFM states that candidates who fail may schedule an exam review within the
applicable review period. The review allows the candidate to examine questions answered
incorrectly and challenge specific questions through the established process. The correct
answers are not simply provided to the candidate, and examination content remains protected.
5. Which entity conducts the state examination after the candidate has been
authorized by the Board?
A) PSI Services, LLC
B) National Fire Academy
C) International Code Council
D) North Carolina Community College System
Correct Answer: PSI Services, LLC
Rationale: The North Carolina application process identifies PSI Services, LLC as the
examination provider. Board staff determine eligibility, transmit the authorization, and PSI
handles registration and examination scheduling. Community colleges and other approved
educational agencies may deliver required courses, but they do not replace PSI as the state
examination provider.
6. Which statement best describes the relationship between certification and
examination eligibility?
, A) Passing the examination automatically creates a certificate.
B) Examination eligibility is unnecessary when the candidate has fire-service experience.
C) The candidate must follow the Board's eligibility process before taking the examination.
D) Any firefighter may register directly with PSI.
Correct Answer: The candidate must follow the Board's eligibility process before taking
the examination.
Rationale: North Carolina requires the candidate to satisfy the applicable qualification and
course requirements before examination eligibility is issued. PSI receives the authorization
electronically from NCDOI. Passing the examination is an important step, but the certification
process includes additional Board requirements and application steps.
SECTION 2 — ADMINISTRATION AND
DEFINITIONS
7. Which document is specifically identified as an approved reference for the
current Fire Level I examination?
A) 2021 International Fire Code only
B) NFPA 101 only
C) 2018 North Carolina Fire Code
D) 2024 International Building Code only
Correct Answer: 2018 North Carolina Fire Code
Rationale: The current PSI Fire Level I examination outline identifies the 2018 North Carolina
Fire Code as an approved examination reference. It also identifies the 2018 Administrative Code
and Policies and 2020 NC COQB Board Rules. Candidates should rely on the current PSI
bulletin rather than assuming that a newer model code edition automatically replaces the
published examination reference.
8. Which chapters are identified under the Administrative and Definitions
portion of the Fire Level I examination?
A) Chapters 3 and 4
B) Chapters 1 and 2
C) Chapters 5 through 10
D) Chapters 50, 57, and 61
Correct Answer: Chapters 1 and 2
NORTH CAROLINA
FIRE INSPECTOR LEVEL I
CERTIFICATION EXAM PRACTICE
2026
Practice Questions & Answers With Rationales
(Fire Code, Inspections & Life Safety)
North Carolina
WHAT YOU WILL GET
150 practice questions
Correct answers with rationales
Fire inspection and code enforcement topics
,NORTH CAROLINA FIRE INSPECTOR LEVEL I
CERTIFICATION EXAM – EXAM PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALE 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Which organization is responsible for administering North Carolina Code
Officials Qualification Board certification examinations?
A) North Carolina Code Officials Qualification Board
B) North Carolina State Fire and Rescue Commission
C) International Code Council
D) National Fire Protection Association
Correct Answer: North Carolina Code Officials Qualification Board
Rationale: The North Carolina Code Officials Qualification Board administers the certification
process for code officials, including fire inspection credentials. The Office of State Fire Marshal
staffs the Board, while PSI handles examination registration and delivery after the candidate
receives authorization. The International Code Council and NFPA are important code and
standards organizations but are not the North Carolina certification authority.
2. Before a candidate can register and pay for the North Carolina state
examination, what must occur?
A) The candidate must purchase all reference books.
B) The candidate's examination eligibility must be transmitted to PSI.
C) The candidate must obtain an ICC Fire Inspector certificate.
D) The candidate must pass the state examination first.
Correct Answer: The candidate's examination eligibility must be transmitted to PSI.
Rationale: OSFM explains that candidates must first obtain examination eligibility from the
Board. After approval, the eligibility information is electronically transmitted to PSI, allowing
the candidate to register and schedule the examination. This prevents candidates from
independently scheduling before the Board has confirmed that the applicable certification
requirements have been satisfied.
3. What is the published passing score for the North Carolina Code Officials
Qualification Board state examination?
,A) 60 percent
B) 65 percent
C) 70 percent
D) 80 percent
Correct Answer: 70 percent
Rationale: North Carolina's certification rules require a passing grade of at least 70 percent on
the written state examination for the applicable inspector type and level unless an exemption
applies. The 70-percent standard should not be confused with the higher passing standards used
by some unrelated fire-service qualification examinations.
4. A candidate fails a COQB examination and wants to review the questions
answered incorrectly. Which statement is most accurate?
A) The candidate automatically receives all correct answers.
B) The candidate may obtain the complete examination booklet.
C) The candidate may publish the reviewed questions afterward.
D) The candidate may schedule an examination review according to PSI/Board procedures.
Correct Answer: The candidate may schedule an examination review according to
PSI/Board procedures.
Rationale: OSFM states that candidates who fail may schedule an exam review within the
applicable review period. The review allows the candidate to examine questions answered
incorrectly and challenge specific questions through the established process. The correct
answers are not simply provided to the candidate, and examination content remains protected.
5. Which entity conducts the state examination after the candidate has been
authorized by the Board?
A) PSI Services, LLC
B) National Fire Academy
C) International Code Council
D) North Carolina Community College System
Correct Answer: PSI Services, LLC
Rationale: The North Carolina application process identifies PSI Services, LLC as the
examination provider. Board staff determine eligibility, transmit the authorization, and PSI
handles registration and examination scheduling. Community colleges and other approved
educational agencies may deliver required courses, but they do not replace PSI as the state
examination provider.
6. Which statement best describes the relationship between certification and
examination eligibility?
, A) Passing the examination automatically creates a certificate.
B) Examination eligibility is unnecessary when the candidate has fire-service experience.
C) The candidate must follow the Board's eligibility process before taking the examination.
D) Any firefighter may register directly with PSI.
Correct Answer: The candidate must follow the Board's eligibility process before taking
the examination.
Rationale: North Carolina requires the candidate to satisfy the applicable qualification and
course requirements before examination eligibility is issued. PSI receives the authorization
electronically from NCDOI. Passing the examination is an important step, but the certification
process includes additional Board requirements and application steps.
SECTION 2 — ADMINISTRATION AND
DEFINITIONS
7. Which document is specifically identified as an approved reference for the
current Fire Level I examination?
A) 2021 International Fire Code only
B) NFPA 101 only
C) 2018 North Carolina Fire Code
D) 2024 International Building Code only
Correct Answer: 2018 North Carolina Fire Code
Rationale: The current PSI Fire Level I examination outline identifies the 2018 North Carolina
Fire Code as an approved examination reference. It also identifies the 2018 Administrative Code
and Policies and 2020 NC COQB Board Rules. Candidates should rely on the current PSI
bulletin rather than assuming that a newer model code edition automatically replaces the
published examination reference.
8. Which chapters are identified under the Administrative and Definitions
portion of the Fire Level I examination?
A) Chapters 3 and 4
B) Chapters 1 and 2
C) Chapters 5 through 10
D) Chapters 50, 57, and 61
Correct Answer: Chapters 1 and 2
