FDNY Updates Certificate of Fitness Procedures

By Katherine Baerga

Effective April 2, 2024, the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) has updated the procedures for Certificates of Fitness (COF). All Certificate of Fitness applicants must now apply and pay for the certification through the FDNY online portal, FDNY Business, before coming to the FDNY Headquarters for testing. COF applicants must provide proof of application and payment to gain entrance to the FDNY; otherwise, they will need to reschedule the exam.

Certificate of Fitness Application

To apply online, COF applicants must provide an email address, a NYC ID account number, and employer contact information. Applicants must upload supporting documents for the specific COF for which they are applying, including government-issued photo identification.

FDNY offers a step-by-step guide for completing the application and a video tutorial. Assistance is also available by calling 311.

Proof of Application

Upon completing the online application and submitting payment, applicants will receive two emails at the email address used when paying. One email will be from FDNY Business; this email will include a record number that begins with the current year. The second email will come from CityPay.

Exam applicants must bring proof of the application and payment confirmation when appearing at FDNY for testing. This proof can take the form of an email printout or a digital email on a mobile device.

The FDNY will make no exceptions to this requirement. Any applicants who do not bring proof of online application and payment will be turned away.

If you have any questions about these changes, or if you need assistance, please contact Metropolis Group at 212.233.6344.