Become a licensed Florida roofer today!
Roofing contractors are in high demand across Florida. With the number of residential and commercial buildings across the state, new roofing as well as roofing repair companies have a huge opportunity to build extremely viable businesses. Whether you are looking to run a small residential roofing operation, or you want to tackle large scale projects, you must have the proper roofing license in order to legally do so.
In this article we will breakdown and simplify what it takes to become a licensed roofing contractor in the state of Florida.
Types of Florida Roofing License
Florida roofing contractors are regulated by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) as well as the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB). Together, these institutions ensure that roofing contractors meet the required business licensing, experience requirements, and ongoing education to stay up to date on the latest code changes and building standards.
There are two different types of roofing contractor license in the state of Florida–the Certified Roofing Contractor and the Registered Roofing Contractor licenses. The former will permit you to work as a roofer anywhere in Florida. Prospective roofing contractors must meet state requirements as well as pass the roofing exam.
Registered roofing contractors on the other hand are only allowed to work in certain jurisdictions in Florida. These contractors need to meet local competency requirements often by passing a local roofing exam and proving they have sufficient insurance and workers’ compensation as set by local ordinance.
While registered contractors can only work in particular localities, they are not obligated to take the Florida roofing exam or meet state experience requirements.
How to Get a Roofing License in Florida
In order to obtain a state certified roofing contractors license an applicant must:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Have good moral character. (A criminal incident in the past does not prevent you from getting a license so long as you have had your civil rights restored, all debts to society paid, no pending or current liens such as IRS, and have no pending or ongoing criminal litigation).
- Be credit worthy. (Applicants will be subject to a credit report on both the applicant and the business with a preferred FICO score of a 660 or above.)
- If you do not meet the 660 FICO score, you CAN still get your license by posting a licensing bond. Bond amounts vary based on whether the applicant is a Division I or Division II contractor, however this amount can be reduced by 50% upon taking a board-approved financial responsibility course.
- Four years of qualifying construction experience.
- You do not have to have the necessary experience before you take the exam. The test scores are valid for 4 years, meaning you have 4 years to gain the required experience after passing the state exam.
- Experience needs to be demonstrated in installing the following:
- Shingles and shakes
- Gutters and downspouts
- Built-up roofing systems
- Single-ply systems
- Concrete and tiel roofing
- Architectural metal roofing
- Note: if you earn a construction or building-related degree you can then substitute up to three years of experience in the field, although at least one of these years needs to be field experience.
- Pass the Business and Finance exam and the Roofing Trade Knowledge exam (see below; the application process can’t begin until the exams are passed)
- Pass an electronic fingerprinting and background check through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement
- Hold no less than $100,000 in public liability and $25,000 in property damage coverage. You will need to maintain proof of insurance for your roofing license for pulling permits and conducting normal business operations.
Once these requirements are met, you can submit your completed application to the DBPR with your fee (typically between $145 and $245 based on where you fall in the state application cycle).
Important note about experience:
Experience does not have to be gained in Florida or even the USA so long as it can be verified and notarized by a State Certified Florida Licensed Roofing Contractor with an equal to or higher certification.
Exams & Application
Your next step is to enroll in the Florida contractor exam program which are administered by Pearson VUE. Exams are offered throughout the year and are taken on a computer. You will need to sign up for the Business and Finance exam and the Roofing Trade Knowledge exam.
Once you pass your exams, you will need to complete and file your footing contractor license application with the DBPR. Send all necessary documents such as your exam results, fingerprint clearance, proof of experience, and any credit or bond paperwork along with your application.
The Construction Industry Licensing Board will review your materials and may contact you if additional documentation is required. Approval of your application should take no more than 90 days, but you can monitor the status of your application through the online portal.
The Florida Roofing Contractor License Exams
The roofing exam is actually a pair of exams–the Business and Finance exam and the Roofing Trade Knowledge exam. Each of these two exams are lengthy, so we advise you to schedule them with Pearson VUE on different days.
The Business and Finance exam contains 120 questions and you are limited to 6.5 hours to complete it. Exam topics include:
- Florida contractor laws
- Administrative duties
- Bidding and contract management
- Establishing and managing a contracting business
- Construction accounting
- Complying with government regulations
The Roofing Trade Knowledge Exam contains topics tied to roofing and is 80 questions long with a 5 hour time limit.
You can expect to see questions on the exam regarding:
- Safety practices
- Wind mitigation
- Different roofing materials and systems such as shingles, shakes, single-ply membranes, etc.
- Florida Building Code requirements regarding roofing
- Roof installation techniques
Both exams are open-book, meaning you can bring certain approved reference books to the test. You still need to be very familiar with the exam questions, however, given the timed format. This is why it is recommended studying with a tabbed and highlighted book ahead of time.
If you fail to pass one exam you will need to retake it. You need to pass both parts within 4 years, however.
How long does it take to get a Florida roofing license?
You should allow for 2 to 3 months for the application process to finish. This of course does not include all the necessary education and experience requirements.
Between taking your exams, gathering the needed paperwork and proof of experience, getting fingerprinted, applying and having an appointment with the board, and waiting to receive your roofing license to be issues, you could expect to wait between 12 to 18 weeks from start to finish.
Commercial Roofing vs Residential Roofing
There are many differences between commercial and residential structures as it relates to roofing. It is not only a difference in materials, but also of the overall design and engineering that is involved in the roofing structure.
Commercial roofs tend to be much larger in order to span buildings, warehouses, or joined office spaces. However, it is not just the size that makes commercial roofs differ from residential. Often commercial roofs are nearly flat and are far less decorative than most residential roofs.
While flat in nature, the design principles of pitching and curbs needed to encourage water runoff still apply. Materials for commercial roofing structures may include metal, asphalt, or ply membranes to prevent water intrusion.
Residential roofs have the same overall purpose as a commercial roof, but residential roofing designs can vary significantly. Residential roofs often combine style and functionality to produce an aesthetically appealing, structurally sound, and watertight solution for homes. A typical plywood, bonded water barrier membrane, and then a shingle, tile, or metal top layer are common core components of a residential roof.
When it comes to function, the building code dictates the standards by which the critical components of the roof must adhere to. Cities and HOAs often dictate the style, colors, and sometimes even materials used for the cosmetic aspect of tiles, shingles, or sheet metal to produce a consistent look and feel between homes and condos.
Florida Construction School for Roofing
While there isn’t an education requirement that must be met before an applicant can take the Florida roofing licensing exam, it is highly recommended that even those with experience in the field take an exam prep course. There is a huge difference between having the field experience to repair and replace roofing structures, and understanding the nitty-gritty details associated with the trade knowledge and business and finance questions that are found on the licensing exam.
Gold Coast School of Construction will fully prepare you to pass the roofing licensing exam and obtain your roofing contractors license. You can learn more information about how the Gold Coast curriculum works by reviewing our Florida roofing license courses, or by contacting a helpful career counselor at 1-800-732-9140. We also offer Florida roofing exam simulators and practice tests to help prepare you for the actual state exam!
You will quickly learn why Florida contractors trust Gold Coast Schools, where “The Proof is in the Passing!”