From June 1st the FIA will be providing online examinations to give fire professionals more choice on how they wish to sit their exams for their qualifications.

18 May 2020

5 things do you need to know about our new online exams

We are committed to listening to our members and the wider fire industry and through offering online examinations we hope this enables fire professionals from around the country, and the world, to take advantage of their time at home to complete our industry-recognised qualifications as there is no other way to raise your knowledge and gain qualifications right now.

  • From June 1st the FIA will provide online examinations where required for their training
  • Full requirements to take the exams will be published in due course
  • Those who have taken training online and due an exam will be notified about available dates
  • Delegates who had resits exams cancelled since the start of April will be contacted about sitting exams online
  • At present, online exams are only for our range of qualifications

Our Qualifications that are eligible for online exams:

  1. FUNDAMENTALS IN FD&A UNITS 1 & 2
  2. FOUNDATION COURSE
  3. ENVIRONMENTAL COURSE
  4. FD&A ADVANCED MAINTAINER
  5. FD&A ADVANCED COMMISSIONER
  6. FD&A ADVANCED INSTALLER

Online Exam Testimonies 

Here is what fire professionals from across the industry and the United Kingdom have had to say:

Employees Perspective:

"After waiting to rebook my exam with the FIA, I was lucky to have the chance to help them trial there new online examination for the BS 5839-1 Fundamentals qualification. I would recommend using the FIA's new exciting online course and examination if you cannot attend the class. Another benefit is that it lets you do the course at your own pace and take the exam without having to travel. I found that it is essential to read and revise the BS-5839-1 before the exam."

Ben Grimble, Fire Alarm and Extinguisher Engineer, M&G Fire Protection (Essex) Ltd


'The exam was very easy to follow and presented in a clear concise way, the material was engaging and the manner adopted by the trainer put you at ease. The exam was well managed and felt like it was taken seriously, as it should.

It felt like you were in the classroom with little difference, perhaps a sign of new times. It also gave me the chance to complete the sessions and help me gain my AO Level 3 qualification and if I had to wait for the classroom exam would have added a lengthy delay.'

Mike Stonehouse, Senior Sales Engineer, Johnson Controls

Employers Perspective:

"As Director of M&G Fire Protection (Essex) Ltd we have used the FIA training services for several years, the training has always been to a very high standard, we have now had staff pass the Level 3 Fundamentals conversion course, the Level 3 Fundamentals course and are pleased to have our engineer Ben Grimble to be the first engineer in the UK to pass the online examination. 

In this changing world, it is vital that every company and organisation changes its practices to suit the working practices put upon by this pandemic, by enabling engineers to remote learn and also pass an accredited exam through modern technology is great news and enables us as a Company to continue to progress with our training program.

With the support of the FIA and the technology used Ben has said that he found the online exam to be a great benefit as it eliminates the stress and tiredness caused by travelling and is far less stressful taking the exam in the comfort of his own home rather than a classroom-type scenario, both Ben and the company are delighted that he has achieved the same Level 3 accredited exam as his work colleagues who completed the classroom-based exam.

All of us at M&G Fire Protection would like to congratulate Ben and the FIA for this positive step forward and would highly recommend the course and exam to other engineers whether working or on Furlough at present."

Steven Middleton, Director, M&G Fire Protection (Essex) Ltd

Be sure to keep your eyes out for more information on online examinations on our social media channels and our website.


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