Certificate of Fitness for Supervision of Aerosol (W-49)

You need a Certificate of Fitness if you have 100 pounds or more of aerosols. Aerosols are things like:

• Spray paint
• Hair spray
• Whipped cream

They come in containers and are sprayed out by a propellant.

This Certificate of Fitness is only good for the person and locations it is issued to.

• Pass a written exam or get approved training: To get this Certificate of Fitness, you must pass a written exam or get training from a company with a New York City Fire Department (FDNY) approved training program. Review the Notice of Exam and Study Materials.

  • A-49 Notice of Exam and Study Materials (PDF)

• If you need to take the exam: Apply in person and bring these documents:

  • A completed Certificate of Fitness Application Form (PDF)
  • A letter of employment.
    Sample Employer Recommendation Letter (PDF)
    Sample Self-Employment Letter (PDF)
  • Two forms of ID. One must be a government-issued photo ID, like a driver's license or passport.

• If you received FDNY approved training: Review the A-49 Alternative Issuance Procedure Information (PDF). Only your company's Designated Coordinator can submit an application for you. They must apply online and provide:

  • Your name, mailing address, phone number, email, gender, Social Security number, date of birth, weight, height and work location
  • A letter on company letterhead confirming you completed the training program
  • A completed Applicant Affirmation Form (PDF)
  • A copy of your employee ID
  • A recent ID photo (2x2 color head shot) in JPG or JPEG format
  • A letter from FDNY confirming the training program has been reviewed and approved

Online applications:

• If your application meets all NYC Fire Department (FDNY) requirements, you will get your certificate in the mail within five business days.
• If FDNY has any questions about your application, they will contact you or your Designated Coordinator within two business days.
• If you or your Designated Coordinator do not respond within 10 days, your application will be terminated. You will need to submit a new application and pay the fee again to reapply.

In-person applications:

• If you pass the exam, you will get your certificate right after you finish the exam.
• If you fail the exam, you will get a failure report after you finish the exam. To retake the exam, you will need to submit a new application and pay the fee again.

• The New York City Fire Code changes often: you must read and know the latest Study Materials.

• You need to renew this certificate every three years:
  
  The NYC Fire Department (FDNY) will send you a Renewal Notice 90 days before your certificate expires. This letter will have your certificate number, expiration date and the renewal fee amount. You must renew your certificate within 364 days of the expiration date. If your certificate is more than one year past its expiration date, you will need to apply again. FDNY may ask you to take a re-examination when you renew. No certificate will be renewed without the required certification form or a retake of the exam.

• To change your mailing address, submit the following in person or by mail to the NYC Fire Department (FDNY), Cashier's Unit, 9 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201:

  • A letter requesting the change of mailing address
  • A copy of your certificate with the old address
  • A personal check or money order for $5.00 made payable to the "Fire Department City of New York"

• To change your work location, submit the following in person or by mail to NYC Fire Department (FDNY), Cashier's Unit, 9 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201:

  • A letter from your current employer (on company letterhead) confirming that you are an employee and stating your new work location. If self-employed, a letter requesting a change to your work location
  • A copy of your certificate with the old address
  • A personal check or money order for $5.00 made payable to the "Fire Department City of New York"

• To request a replacement certificate, submit the following in person or by mail to the NYC Fire Department (FDNY), Cashier's Unit, 9 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201:

  • A government-issued photo ID (like a driver's license or passport). The name on the ID must match the name on the certificate
  • Your Social Security number
  • Your mailing address
  • A personal check or money order for $5.00 made payable to the "Fire Department City of New York"

• Gather electronic copies of your supporting documents.
• Pay the $25 application fee online by credit card, debit card, or E-Check.
• A convenience fee applies to credit card payments. The application fee is non-refundable.
• City employees may request a fee exemption by uploading a copy of their employee ID and a letter from their City agency on official letterhead confirming that they are a current employee and that the Certificate of Fitness will be used as part of their work-related responsibilities.
• If you are an individual, you can only submit your own application.
• If you are submitting applications on behalf of a company's employees, you must be authorized by the company to act as a Designated Coordinator, and the company must be approved by FDNY. To request approval, email pubcert@fdny.nyc.gov.

• If you are an individual, have your 12-digit Certificate of Fitness Access ID: this is on your Renewal Notice. If you do not have your Renewal Notice, your Access ID is your eight-digit Certificate of Fitness number and the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you are renewing for a company's employees, the company must be approved by FDNY and have an eight-digit Company Code. To request approval, email pubrenew@fdny.nyc.gov.

• Pay the $15 renewal fee online by one of these methods:

  • Credit card (American Express, Discover, Mastercard or Visa)
  • Debit card (Mastercard or Visa)
  • E-check
    
    Renewals submitted 90 days (up to one year) after the expiration date will have a $25 penalty in addition to the renewal fee. A convenience fee of 2.49 percent will be added to all credit card payments. The renewal fee is non-refundable. You cannot request a fee exemption if you renew online.

• If all the requirements are met, a certificate will be mailed out within 10 days.

• To renew a certificate, go to the Renew Online page: if you are an individual, you can only renew your own certificate.

• Pay the $15 renewal fee by one of these methods:

  • Cash
  • Credit card (American Express, Discover, Mastercard or Visa)
  • Debit card (Mastercard or Visa)
  • Personal or company check (made payable to the New York City Fire Department)
  • Money order (made payable to the New York City Fire Department)
    
    Renewals submitted 90 days (up to one year) after the expiration date will have a $25 penalty in addition to the renewal fee. A convenience fee of 2.49 percent will be added to all credit card payments. The renewal fee is non-refundable. City employees may request a fee exemption if they submit a copy of their employee ID and a letter from their City agency on official letterhead to confirm that they are a current employee and that the Certificate of Fitness will be used as part of their work-related responsibilities.

• Submit your Renewal Notice (or if you did not receive a Renewal Notice, a copy of your certificate), and if applicable, your fee payment and supporting documents to:
  
  NYC Fire Department (FDNY)
  Cashier's Unit
  9 MetroTech Center, 1st Floor
  Brooklyn, NY 11201
  Hours: Open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Closed on public holidays.

• If all the requirements are met, a certificate will be issued immediately.

• Pay the $15 renewal fee by one of these methods:

  • Personal or company check (made payable to the New York City Fire Department)

  • Money order (made payable to the New York City Fire Department)
    
    Renewals submitted 90 days (up to one year) after the expiration date will have a $25 penalty in addition to the renewal fee. The renewal fee is non-refundable. City employees may request a fee exemption if they mail a copy of their employee ID and a letter from their City agency on official letterhead to confirm that they are a current employee and that the Certificate of Fitness will be used as part of their work-related responsibilities.

• Mail your Renewal Notice (or if you did not receive a Renewal Notice, a copy of your certificate), and if applicable, your fee payment and supporting documents to:
  
  NYC Fire Department (FDNY)
  Cashier’s Unit
  9 MetroTech Center, 1st Floor
  Brooklyn, NY 11201

• If all the requirements are met, a certificate will be mailed out within four to six weeks.