Tennessee · FSR
Fire & Smoke Restoration Certification in Tennessee
Get certified in Fire & Smoke Restoration (FSR) online with NISCR's self-paced course and receive a same-day certificate when you finish. From kitchen fires in Memphis to smoke damage after the wildfires that struck the Great Smoky Mountains region, Tennessee homeowners need skilled technicians who understand soot chemistry, deodorization, and contents cleaning, and this credential helps you prove you do.
100% online & self-paced — your certificate the same day, anywhere in Tennessee.
- Self-paced
- Instant certificate
- 2-year validity
Licensing
Do you need a license in Tennessee?
Tennessee does not issue a dedicated 'fire restoration' license, but fire cleanup frequently involves structural repair and rebuild work that falls under the state contractor license once a project reaches $25,000, or a Home Improvement license for smaller residential jobs in certain counties. Some fire-damage work may also intersect with electrical or other trade requirements. Your NISCR certificate is a professional credential, not a government license. Always verify current obligations with the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors and local authorities before performing regulated work.
A NISCR Certificate of Completion confirms completion of NISCR training and examination. It is a professional credential, not a government license. Where local law requires a license to perform a service, the technician is responsible for obtaining it.
Local demand
The fire & smoke restoration market in Tennessee
Tennessee carries real fire exposure: the devastating 2016 Gatlinburg and Sevier County wildfires sent smoke and soot through thousands of structures, and the state's older housing stock in cities like Memphis and Chattanooga, combined with cold-weather heating fires during freeze events, keeps fire and smoke losses common. Drought conditions on the Cumberland Plateau and in East Tennessee can also elevate wildland-urban fire risk.
Earning potential
What fire & smoke restoration pros earn in Tennessee
Fire and smoke restoration technicians in Tennessee may see illustrative pay around $18 to $31 per hour, with content-cleaning specialists and crew leads in metro areas often earning more. These figures are illustrative and not guaranteed; actual earnings depend on employer, experience, certification, and local demand.
Technician hourly
$20–35 / hr
Insurance project ticket
$3,000–15,000+
Owner potential
strong project margins
Illustrative ranges — actual earnings vary by location, effort, and experience, and are not guaranteed.
Curriculum
What you’ll learn
- Identify smoke residue types — dry, wet, protein, and fuel/oil soot — and select the correct cleaning method for each.
- Assess heat and smoke migration to scope the true extent of damage beyond the visibly affected area.
- Clean structural surfaces and contents using dry sponging, wet cleaning, abrasive, and immersion methods matched to the substrate.
- Remove soot from HVAC components and porous materials, and determine when restoration gives way to controlled demolition and disposal.
- Apply deodorization techniques — thermal fogging, hydroxyl and ozone treatment, and sealing — to eliminate odor at the source rather than mask it.
- Stabilize the loss site by addressing corrosion, char, and ongoing acidic residue activity before it causes secondary damage.
The process
How it works
Enroll & pay
Secure checkout, instant course access.
Complete the course + short quiz
Self-paced lessons, then a short quiz — 75% to pass, unlimited retries.
Download your certificate
Personalized certificate generated instantly, with a unique verification ID.
Questions
Fire & Smoke Restoration certification in Tennessee — FAQ
- Do I need a license to do fire and smoke restoration in Tennessee?
- There is no specific state fire-restoration license, but rebuild and structural repair work can require a Tennessee contractor license at $25,000 or a county Home Improvement license, and related trades like electrical may have their own rules. Always verify with the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors and your local jurisdiction.
- Is there demand for fire restoration in Tennessee?
- Yes. Wildfire events like the 2016 Gatlinburg fires, an aging urban housing stock, and winter heating fires during freeze events all drive steady demand for trained fire and smoke restoration technicians.