Florida Roofing Contractor License: How to Qualify and Pass

Roofing is the largest Division II license in Florida by exam volume, and one of the few trades where the statute itself spells out work beyond the roof covering. A certified roofing contractor can work statewide after passing two exams: the 80-question roofing trade knowledge exam and the Business and Finance exam every construction license requires.

What a roofing contractor may do

F.S. 489.105(3)(e) defines a roofing contractor as one "whose services are unlimited in the roofing trade" with the skill to install, maintain, repair, alter, extend or design "all kinds of roofing, waterproofing, and coating." Coatings are excluded only when they are not represented to protect, repair, waterproof, stop leaks or extend the life of the roof.

The definition also lists work that is expressly within roofing scope:

• skylights
• required roof-deck attachments
• repair or replacement of wood roof sheathing or fascia as needed during a roof repair or replacement
• evaluation and enhancement of roof-to-wall connections on structures with wood roof decking, as described in Section 706 of the Florida Building Code, Existing Building, when done with a roof covering replacement or repair

That last item matters in Florida's insurance-driven reroof market: a roofer may evaluate and strengthen roof-to-wall connections as part of a reroof, without a separate license.

Who else may do roofing

F.S. 489.113(3) requires every contractor to subcontract roofing unless it holds a roofing certificate or registration. The one exception is narrow: a general, building or residential contractor need not subcontract wood shingles, wood shakes, or asphalt or fiberglass shingles on a new building of its own construction. And no GC, BC or RC certified after 1973 may advertise or hold out as a roofing contractor without a roofing license (489.113(3)(g)). A Division I license is not a substitute for a roofing license if you plan to sell reroofs.

Certified vs registered roofing contractors

A certified roofing contractor holds a state certificate of competency and can work in any Florida county or city (F.S. 489.105(8)). A registered roofing contractor has met a local jurisdiction's competency requirements and is limited to that jurisdiction (F.S. 489.105(10)). The state exams below lead to certification.

Eligibility

F.S. 489.111(2) requires you to be 18, of good moral character, and to meet one of these:

A year of experience means at least 2,000 person-hours. Experience must be lawfully gained under a contractor licensed in roofing or a category that covers it (Rule 61G4-15.001(1)).

Financial responsibility, insurance and background

• Credit: a current consumer credit report with no unsatisfied judgments or liens, and a FICO-derived score of 660 or higher. Below 660, complete a Board-approved 14-hour financial responsibility course (Rule 61G4-15.006).
• Insurance: affidavit of workers' compensation, public liability and property damage insurance (F.S. 489.115(5)). Roofing minimum: $100,000 liability and $25,000 property damage (Rule 61G4-15.003).
• Fingerprints for state and FBI checks (F.S. 489.115(9)).
• Continuing education: 14 hours per renewal cycle. The statute requires that a portion cover wind mitigation methodologies for applicable license categories (F.S. 489.115(4)(b)).

Exams required

Both are computer-based at Pearson VUE test centers and offered daily. The roofing exam outline (ECI) splits the 80 questions across nine areas:

Weights can vary by plus or minus 3%. The roofing exam guide explains how each area maps to the references.

Exam volume

Pearson VUE exam performance reports for the Florida DBPR construction exams show the roofing trade exam had 961 graded attempts in 2024 and 1,194 in 2025, the most of any Division II trade exam. The 2025 first-time pass rate was 57%.

Reference books (titles only)

The 2026 roofing reference list allows:

• Walker's Building Estimator's Reference Book
• Code of Federal Regulations, OSHA 29 Part 1926
• SMACNA Architectural Sheet Metal Manual
• Roofing Construction and Estimating (Craftsman)
• The NRCA Roofing Manual: Membrane Roof System
• The NRCA Roofing Manual: Metal Panel and SPF Roof Systems
• The NRCA Roofing Manual: Steep-Slope Roof Systems
• The NRCA Roofing Manual: Architectural Metal Flashing and Condensation and Air Leakage Control
• The NRCA Waterproofing Manual
• Florida Building Code: Building, and Test Protocols for High Velocity Hurricane Zones

Business and Finance uses a separate list built around the Florida Contractors Manual.

Fees

Step by step

1. Confirm you have 4 years of roofing experience (or a qualifying combination) with at least 1 year as a foreman.
2. Register with Professional Testing, Inc. online and pay $135.
3. After approval (about 72 hours), schedule both exams with Pearson VUE.
4. Buy the current reference editions. Bound originals only; highlighting is allowed, notes and removable tabs are not.
5. Pass both exams within four years of your first scheduled exam. Retakes require a new PTI registration and a 21-day wait.
6. Apply to DBPR with your credit report, insurance affidavit and fingerprints.
7. If you will work through a company, qualify the business.

FAQ

How long does it take to get a roofing license in Florida?

The experience requirement sets the pace: 4 years, or less if you have college credit or a degree. Once you have it, you can register with PTI, schedule within about 72 hours of approval, and sit both exams on separate days. A failed exam means a 21-day wait before the retake.

Can I get a Florida roofing license without experience?

No. Every path in F.S. 489.111 requires roofing experience, including at least 1 year as a foreman unless you use the degree path, which still requires 1 year of proven experience.

Is the Florida roofing exam open book?

Yes. Both the roofing trade exam and Business and Finance are open book. You bring the approved references; they must be bound originals with only permanent tabs.

Can a general contractor do roofing in Florida?

Only shingle and shake roofs on new buildings the contractor is building. Reroofs and other roof systems require a licensed roofing contractor.

What insurance does a Florida roofer need?

Workers' compensation (or a valid exemption), plus at least $100,000 of public liability and $25,000 of property damage coverage for the license.

How many questions are on the roofing exam?

80 scored questions in 5 hours. You need 56 correct to pass.

Pass Business and Finance

Every roofing candidate also takes the 120-question Business and Finance exam. Our Florida Business and Finance Exam Prep covers it with 90 days of original practice questions and explanations, including lien law, workers' comp and job costing. Related reading: construction lien law and payroll tax.