Roofing License Process

Everything you need to know — from whether you need a license to getting it in your hands.

Do You Even Need a Roofing License?

Any work that is casual or inconsequential under $2,500 you don't need a license for. But for roofing, that doesn't really apply because it's a specific trade and any roofing work that is done needs to have a permit.

Without a license you do not have any lien rights on the project, which puts you in jeopardy of not getting paid.

What Are the Consequences of Doing Unlicensed Work?

Doing contracting work without the required roofing license can result in a first-degree misdemeanor for a first offense and a third-degree felony for a second offense. DBPR or a local licensing board may also issue a cease-and-desist order, the unlicensed contractor's contract may be legally unenforceable, and a building department cannot issue a permit for work requiring a state license. In certain cases involving negligence, malfeasance, or misfeasance, the consumer may also be entitled to three times the actual compensatory damages, plus costs and attorney's fees.

What Scope of Work Can You Do With a Roofing License?

Install, maintain, repair, alter, extend, or design and use materials and items used in the installation, maintenance, extension, and alteration of all kinds of roofing, waterproofing, and coating, except when coating is not represented to protect, repair, waterproof, stop leaks, or extend the life of the roof.

The scope of work of a roofing contractor also includes all of the following and any related work: skylights; required roof-deck attachments; any repair or replacement of wood roof sheathing or fascia as needed during roof repair or replacement; and the evaluation and enhancement of roof-to-wall connections for structures with wood roof decking.

What Are the Requirements?

Obtain a passing score of 70% or higher on the Business and Finance Exam and Roofing Trade Exam.
Be at least 18 years of age.
Meet the educational/experience requirements.
Be of good moral character.
Pay all applicable fees.
Obtain workers' compensation coverage.
Demonstrate financial responsibility.

What Is the Business and Finance Exam?

125 Questions

6 hrs 30 min

70% to Pass (84/120)

Open Book

Five of those questions are pilot questions that don't count toward your score. Only 120 questions are actually scored, meaning you need to get 84 questions right to pass.

5 Books for This Exam

2025 Contractor Manual
Builder's Guide to Accounting 2001
AIA A201 2017
AIA A401 2017
AIA A701 2018

Don't think of this as a construction exam. It has almost nothing to do with construction — it's more of a law and accounting exam. I've seen contractors with 30 years of experience fail because they went in thinking their experience was enough.

For these exams, you don't need to retain and learn all of this information. It's more about knowing how the books work and how they are outlined. You need to be strong at using the index and table of contents. It's not knowing the information, it's knowing how to find the information in the books.

It's important for you to highlight and tab your books yourself so you understand what you're highlighting and tabbing. I don't recommend purchasing books that are already highlighted and tabbed because you don't know why things were highlighted or tabbed. In the course, I'll show you how to highlight and tab each book in video so you understand everything.

What Is the Roofing Trade Exam?

85 Questions

5 Hours

70% to Pass (56/80)

Open Book

After passing Business and Finance, your Roofing Exam is next. I recommend studying one exam at a time and starting with Business and Finance since it's only five books. Business and Finance has nothing to do with the Roofing Exam, so there is no overlap between these exams. There's no point in studying them together and confusing yourself.

11 Books for This Exam

Roofing Construction & Estimating Revised
SMACNA Architectural Sheet Metal Manual, 7th Edition
Walker's Estimating Guide, 33rd Edition
OSHA 29 Part 1926, July 1, 2025
NRCA Waterproofing Manual, 2nd Edition
NRCA Architectural Metal Flashing 2026
NRCA Steep-Slope 2025
NRCA Metal Panel & SPF 2024
NRCA Membrane 2023
Florida Building Code – Building 2023
Florida Building Code – Test Protocols for High Velocity Hurricane Zones 2023

5 Books You CANNOT Bring

Walker's Estimating Guide, 33rd Edition
Builder's Guide to Accounting
Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th Edition, 2021
Placing Reinforcing Bars, 10th Edition, 2019
Application and Finishing of Gypsum Panel Products, GA-216, 2018

These are all the current editions DBPR is currently testing. Walker's Estimating will be updated in 2028. OSHA is updated every year. NRCA books are updated every 4 years — so if a book is on the 2026 edition, it will next update in 2030. The Florida Building Code is updated every three years. For the Roofing Construction Estimating book and SMACNA Architectural Sheet Metal Manual, there is currently no news on when they will be updated.

For this exam, your experience really counts — but don't try to answer the questions based on your experience. Answer them based on what the books are saying. You may have been doing something for years and the book says something different. They're testing you on what's in the book, not what's happening in the real world.

A lot of the questions may be things you have never seen in the field or even heard of. Keep in mind the people making these exams aren't contractors — they define themselves as psychometricians. All the answers are in front of you inside the books; you just need to find them. That's what I teach you in the course.

Where Do I Take the Exam?

You will take the exam at Pearson VUE, which has testing centers all over the country — you can even take it in Hawaii if you want.

Go to the Florida Exam website and register for your exams. It costs $135. Choose both exams — Business and Finance and Roofing — at the same time so you only pay the $135 once.

Wait 10–14 business days for your approval email. At this point you are only getting your Candidate ID — you are not scheduling your exam yet.

Once you receive the approval email, schedule Business and Finance for about a month and a half out. It costs $80 at Pearson VUE.

Don't schedule the Roofing Exam until you pass Business and Finance. The Roofing Exam also costs $80.

Should I Buy a Course?

A lot of people think, "Well, it's just books. I'll order them, start reading, and I'll be good." These are always the people who call me afterward and say, "Man, I went to take the exam, sat there for an hour, and was like, what is this?" Then they give up, submit the exam, and get a 20%. True story.

This exam is not about what you know. It's about whether you know how to find the information in the books. If you just order all of the books, you're going to get a big box of 16 books, look at it, and say, "This is impossible. I don't know how people do this." That's why I made the course — to make it an easy-to-follow process: one exam at a time, one book at a time, even one chapter at a time.

No other school gives you the option to start with just Business and Finance. Once they sell you the whole package, they don't care whether you fail or pass — you've already bought everything from them.

I've helped thousands of contractors pass their exams, including many who came to us after failing somewhere else or using outdated materials. If you want to pass on your first try, join us at Florida Exam Prep.

After I Pass, How Long Are My Exams Good For?

All exams are valid for 4 years from the date you pass them. Business and Finance is good forever after you get your license — if you ever want another license, you just need to take the trade exam. You don't have to take Business and Finance again.

Educational / Experience Requirements

Don't worry about the application until you pass your exams — working on it while studying is a nightmare. Your college credits don't have to be from construction courses, just from an accredited college. Typically 30 credits equal one year. Military service can also count. If you don't have college or military, you'll show four years of field experience.

Choose one of the following qualification options:

Four-year construction-related degree from an accredited college, equivalent to three years of experience, and one year of proven experience applicable to the category.

One year of experience as a foreman and not less than three years of credits from accredited college-level courses.

One year of experience as a worker, one year as a foreman, and two years of credits from accredited college-level courses.

Two years of experience as a worker, one year as a foreman, and one year of credits from accredited college-level courses.

Four years of experience as a worker or foreman, of which at least one year must have been as a foreman.

Three years of military service and one year of experience as a foreman.

Two years of military service, one year as a foreman, and one year of experience as a worker or foreman.

One year of military service, one year as a foreman, and two years of experience as a worker or foreman.

Foreman

A person who is in charge of a group of workers and usually is responsible to a superintendent, contractor, or his or her equivalent.

Worker

A person who, through active experience as a worker, has learned the trade by serving an apprenticeship as a skilled worker who is able to command the rate of a mechanic in the particular trade.

For each employer you'll need to provide: employer name and address, dates employed, employer phone number, employer license number, contact name, email, and number of years and months as a worker, foreman, or both.

If your experience is from another state or country where a license number doesn't exist, put N/A. Your experience does not have to be from Florida — you can use experience from other states and even other countries. If you didn't leave on good terms with an employer, the chance of DBPR calling is very low — but if they do, you can provide W-2s or 1099s.

Choose one of the following qualification options:

Three or More From This Category

Shingles
Metal
Tile
Concrete
Solar Tile

Experience Required in ALL of the Following

Single-ply Systems
Underlayment
Insulation (tapered, flat, foam)
Roof Penetrations
Parapet Walls
Flashings
Sheathing & Framing Repairs

Next, you will explain your job title and duties on the job site or job sites related to the categories above. The last thing you can add is any additional experience that may demonstrate substantial compliance with the statutory experience requirements.

What Does "Good Moral Character" Mean?

The licensing board may review your criminal history to determine whether anything relates to your ability to responsibly practice contracting. In general, a conviction that occurred more than five years before the application is received cannot by itself be grounds for denial. The board also recognizes that many common offenses — DUI, simple assault or battery, disorderly conduct, petit theft, marijuana possession, reckless driving, traffic offenses, and trespassing — do not necessarily relate to the practice of contracting.

What Are the Applicable Fees?

$295

Both exams (Business & Finance + Roofing Trade)

$80

Roofing Trade Exam at Pearson VUE

$80

Business & Finance at Pearson VUE

$245

Application fee

You will also need to pay for fingerprints and your background check.

Workers' Compensation Coverage

You can purchase workers' compensation coverage from an insurance broker, or if you're a sole proprietor or partner, you can file to be exempt. You will also need liability and property damage insurance — for a roofing contractor, you will need $100,000 in liability insurance and $25,000 in property damage coverage.

Financial Responsibility

You need to provide a credit report with a credit score of 660 or higher and no unsatisfied judgments or liens. If your score is below 660 with no unsatisfied judgments or liens, you can take a 14-hour financial responsibility course.

After I Get the License, Do I Ever Retake the Exams?

No. You never have to take these exams again. You will just need to renew your license every two years and complete 14 hours of continuing education every two years as well.