Roofing requires a license in Florida. A certified roofing contractor works statewide and must pass the state examination. A registered contractor works only where local licensing was satisfied and, per section 489.117(1)(a), Florida Statutes, "an examination is not required for registration" — but that route is largely closed to new entrants. In 2026, roofing statewide means the exam.
Roofing is licensed work
Section 489.113(2), Florida Statutes states that a person "must be certified or registered in order to engage in the business of contracting in this state." Roofing is one of the contractor categories the chapter defines, so it is not work you can perform under a general handyman exemption.
The chapter also constrains other contractors: section 489.113(3) requires a contractor to subcontract all roofing work "unless such contractor holds a state certificate or registration in the respective trade category." That is precisely why a certified general contractor may want a roofing license of their own — and, helpfully, why they get an exemption from part of the exam.
Certified versus registered
These are two different licenses with two different scopes.
Certified is the statewide license. Section 489.113(1) is direct about how you get it: "Any person who desires to engage in contracting on a statewide basis shall, as a prerequisite thereto, establish his or her competency and qualifications to be certified pursuant to this part. To establish competency, a person shall pass the appropriate examination approved by the board and certified by the department."
Registered is the local license. Section 489.117(1)(b) limits a registrant to "the counties, municipalities, or development districts where he or she has complied with all local licensing requirements," and only for the type of work covered. Registration is based on satisfying local competency requirements, and section 489.117(1)(a) says plainly: "An examination is not required for registration."
Why the no-exam route is not a shortcut
That last sentence is true, and it is why some candidates go looking for the registered path. Read a little further and the door mostly closes.
Section 489.117(2)(a) provides that the board may not issue a new registration after July 1, 1993 based on any certificate of competency or license issued by a municipal or county government that does not exercise disciplinary control and oversight over its locally licensed contractors.
The remaining lane, in section 489.117(2)(b), is a narrow grandfather provision. It requires that the applicant held a certificate of registration or a local license during 2021, 2022 or 2023, and can show that the local jurisdiction no longer offers that license type, along with the fee and proof of compliance with the insurance and financial responsibility requirements of section 489.115(5). For applicants who fit that description, "an examination is not required."
What this means in practice. If you were not already licensed somewhere in Florida during 2021–2023, the registered route is almost certainly not open to you, and even where it is, it confines you to specific jurisdictions rather than the state. For someone entering roofing contracting now and wanting to work statewide, the certified license — and therefore the examination — is the path. We would rather tell you that than pretend the alternative does not exist.
What certification requires
Beyond passing, section 489.111, Florida Statutes sets the eligibility gate: at least 18 years of age, good moral character, and one of a relevant 4-year degree plus 1 year of experience; 4 years of active experience including 1 year as a foreman; or 1 year as a foreman plus 3 years of accredited college-level credits.
Then the examination itself — two tests for most roofing candidates, at 70% each — followed by financial responsibility, insurance and the licensing fee. The full sequence is on how to get licensed.
The exemptions worth knowing
- Rule 61G4-16.0015(3), F.A.C. — a current active certified Division I licensee applying for a Division II license is exempt from the Business & Finance portion. They still take the roofing trade exam. See the full explanation.
- Section 489.113(1), Florida Statutes — a baccalaureate in building construction from an accredited 4-year college with a 3.0 GPA or higher means the applicant is "only required to take and pass the business and finance portion." That waives the trade exam, and it is a degree, not a course.
Neither exemption removes the license requirement itself. Both are narrow, both are conditional, and both should be confirmed with the DBPR for your own circumstances rather than assumed.
Verify before you rely on any of this
Statutes and rules are amended, fees are revised, and local building departments interpret requirements differently. Nothing here is legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the DBPR before applying for a license or beginning work.
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