United States · Licensing examWho issues a roofing contractor license?
| State | License | Exam |
|---|---|---|
| California | C-39 Roofing (CSLB) | Law and Business plus C-39 trade |
| Florida | Roofing contractor (DBPR) | Business and Finance plus Trade Knowledge |
| North Carolina | S(Roofing) specialty (NCLBGC) | 60 questions in 120 minutes |
| Illinois | Limited or unlimited roofing (IDFPR) | Residential, or Residential, Commercial and Industrial |
| Minnesota | Residential roofer (DLI) | Qualifying roofer (QR) exam |
What a roofing contractor license covers
- California: a C-39 contractor installs and repairs surfaces that seal, waterproof and weatherproof a structure, using materials such as shingles, tile, slate, metal roofing, felt, tar and urethane foam.
- Florida: the statute makes a roofing contractor's work unlimited within the roofing trade, including roofing, waterproofing and coatings, with set exceptions.
- North Carolina: roofs and decks on homes and on commercial, industrial and institutional buildings, including shingles, metal, single ply and built-up roofing, flashing, gutters and downspouts. The license is needed for projects of $40,000 or more.
- Illinois: a limited license covers homes and buildings of up to 8 units. An unlimited license adds commercial and industrial work.
What's on a roofing contractor exam?
North Carolina's S(Roofing) exam is open book, with 60 questions and 70% to pass. Steep-slope roofing is the biggest part:
| Topic | Questions |
|---|---|
| Steep roofing | 18 |
| Business and law | 7 |
| Substrate | 6 |
| Elastomeric | 6 |
| Built-up bituminous | 6 |
| Safety | 5 |
| Repairs | 4 |
| Sheet metal and flashing | 3 |
| Licensing | 2 |
| Building code | 2 |
| Liens | 1 |
Its reference list includes the NRCA Roofing Manuals for steep slope (2025), metal panel and SPF (2024) and membrane systems (2023). Florida's roofing Trade Knowledge exam lasts 5 hours.
Sources: CSLB · Florida Statutes · Florida DBPR and Professional Testing and 3 more. Checked October 2026.
- CSLB: C-39 Roofing Contractor ↗
- Florida Statutes (2026): Section 489.105 ↗
- Florida DBPR and Professional Testing: Examination Registration Instructions (revised 08/01/2024) ↗
- PSI: North Carolina General Contractors Candidate Information Bulletin (updated 11/19/2025) ↗
- IDFPR: Application for Licensed Roofing Contractor ↗
- Minnesota DLI: Residential contractor licensing ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.
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