Getting certified
How to renew an F-80 certificate
An F-80 Certificate of Fitness lasts up to three years. The FDNY sends a renewal notice 90 days before it expires, and renewal costs $15. Renew 91 days to one year after expiry and a $25 late penalty is added. More than one year late, you need a new test (Source: FDNY General Notice of Exam, as of October 2026).
Plan ref 6.4Updated October 25, 2026
The renewal calendar
- Issue date
Certificate issued
Valid for a period not to exceed three years (Source: Study Material p. 15).
- 90 days before expiry
Renewal Notice
The FDNY sends a notice with your certificate number, expiration date and fee. Renewing on time is still your job.
- Expiration date
Certificate expires
Renewal is at the commissioner’s discretion. The FDNY may ask for a re-examination.
- 91 days to 1 year late
$25 penalty added
The late penalty comes on top of the $15 fee (Source: FDNY General Notice of Exam).
- Over 1 year late
Apply again
The certificate is not renewed. A new application and a new test are required.
What each change costs
F-80 fees after the test, as of October 2026
| Item | Fee | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Renewal, on time | $15 | Source: NYC Business F-80 page |
| Renewal, 91 days to one year late | $15 + $25 | Source: FDNY General Notice of Exam |
| Change of mailing address | $5 | Source: NYC Business F-80 page |
| Change of work location | $5 | Source: NYC Business F-80 page |
| Replacement card | $5 | Source: NYC Business F-80 page |
A card convenience fee applies to credit card payments. The renewal fee is not refundable, and a fee exemption cannot be requested when you renew on the FDNY site.
Ways to renew, and a new shelter
- On the FDNY site
- Use the simplified renewal, which asks for your certificate number, the last four digits of your Social Security number and your email. Or log in with NYC.ID. Pay by card, debit card or e-check. If all requirements are met, the card is mailed within 10 days (Source: NYC Business F-80 page).
- By mail
- Mail the Renewal Notice, or a copy of your certificate, with payment to the FDNY Cashier’s Unit, 9 MetroTech Center, 1st Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201. If all requirements are met, the card is mailed within four to six weeks.
- In person, maybe
- The sources disagree here. NYC Business and the General Notice of Exam still list renewal in person at FDNY Headquarters, with the certificate issued the same day if all requirements are met. The FDNY Certificates of Fitness page says renewals are online and by mail (Source: FDNY Certificates of Fitness page, as of October 2026). Check that page before you go.
- New shelter
- A work location change is $5 with a new employer letter. For the F-80, the Study Material also asks for a verification letter and an F-80 application for each shelter (Source: Study Material p. 5). Ask the FDNY before you start at the new site.
Late notices and re-exams
Will I have to take the test again to renew?
Not as a rule. The Study Material lists no special renewal requirements for the F-80, but the FDNY may ask for a re-examination when you renew (NYC Business, as of October 2026).
The 90-day notice never came.
You can still renew. Without the notice, your access ID is your eight-digit certificate number plus the last four digits of your Social Security number (NYC Business, as of October 2026).
How long is a new F-80 good for, and what did it cost?
Up to three years; how long the F-80 is valid has the detail, and the exam fee page covers the first $25.
- NYC Business: Certificate of Fitness F-80 (renewal, fees, changes)Checked October 25, 2026
- FDNY General Notice of Exam for Certificates of Fitness (late penalty, renewal routes)Checked October 25, 2026
- FDNY F-80 Notice of Exam and Study Material, rev. January 2026Checked October 25, 2026
- FDNY Certificates of Fitness page (renewal routes)Checked October 25, 2026
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