Licensing Guides
State Roofing License: How to Become a Roofing Contractor in Oklahoma
Roofing, OK
Table of Contents
Roofing License Requirements in Oklahoma
Types of Roofing Licenses in Oklahoma
Steps to Get a Roofing License in Oklahoma
Benefits of Getting a Roofing Contractor License in Oklahoma
What Is the Mean Salary for a Roofer in Oklahoma?
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Roofing License in Oklahoma?
How to Get a Roofing License in Oklahoma
How Long Does it Take to Get a Roofing License in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma Roofer Training Programs and Schools
Oklahoma Roofing Licensing Exam Details
Who Issues Roofing Licenses in Oklahoma?
Do I Need to Renew My Oklahoma Roofing License?
Continuing Education
Does Oklahoma Reciprocate Roofing Licenses?
Does My Oklahoma Roofing Contractor License Work in Any Other State?
National Roofing Certifications
Other Requirements Unique to Oklahoma
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We all need a good roof over our heads, and the people who build and maintain that part of our homes need to know what they’re doing. Many states require roofers to be licensed. Others simply require solid insurance to back up that essential work.
There are 154,500 roofers nationwide according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and Oklahoma employs 940 of them. The national number is projected to grow 6% from 2023 to 2033, adding more than 13,000 of these skilled workers to the ranks. In Oklahoma, according to CareerOneStop, the U.S. Department of Labor’s job search website, the projected growth rate is 5% for roofers.
If you’re thinking about starting a roofing business or you want a job in the field, you need to know the requirements in your state or local jurisdiction. This guide will help you determine what you need before you get started.
Roofing License Requirements in Oklahoma
The state of Oklahoma regulates the skilled trades of Plumbing, Electrical, Mechanical, Roofing, Building and Construction Inspectors, and Home Inspectors. General Contractors are not currently required to have a state license in Oklahoma. Oklahoma requires roofing contractors to be registered with the state before advertising or performing roofing work and requires an additional endorsement for commercial roofing contractors. Registrations are issued through the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board (CIB) based upon the requirements laid out in the Roofing Contractor Registration Act, which went into effect in 2010. It states that anyone wishing to enter the field must obtain a Roofing Contractor Registration by providing and submitting a completed application, along with proof of compliance with workers’ compensation laws, proof of lawful presence, and required fees.
The person registering must be an owner, partner, or qualifying party of a roofing business. The state does not require employees of registered roofing contractors to be registered. However, every commercial roofing contractor must not only be registered but must themself or through a qualifying party qualify for the endorsement through a combination of experience and demonstrating adequate knowledge of the trade by passing an examination. Roofing contractors who do not perform commercial roofing contractor work and only perform residential roofing contractor work do not need to obtain a commercial endorsement.
Types of Roofing Licenses in Oklahoma
Oklahoma offers two classifications for roofing contractors. To become a registered residential or commercial roofing contractor in Oklahoma, you need to meet specific requirements outlined by the CIB.
Residential Roofing Contractor
Must be 18 years old.
Must be an owner, partner, or qualifying party of a roofing business.
Must secure at least $500,000 in general liability insurance.
Must secure workers’ compensation insurance, if applicable.
Commercial Roofing Contractor
Must meet the above criteria by having a valid registered roofing contractor registration.
Must pass both the trade and business and law portions of the commercial endorsement examination.
Must secure at least $1,000,000 in general liability insurance.
Must secure workers’ compensation insurance.
Steps to Get a Roofing License in Oklahoma
The steps to getting either of the two types of roofing contractor registrations are similar. You must meet the age requirement, apply to the board and present proof of insurance and proof of lawful presence in the United States. There is that additional step of passing the exam for commercial roofing contractors.
Applicants must:
Be at least 18 years of age.
Apply using the CIB application form and pay fees.
Provide proof of $500,000 general liability insurance for residential contractors and $1,000,000 for commercial contractors.
Provide proof of workers’ compensation (or exemption from coverage for residential only). Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance will be required for all registrations with commercial endorsements and the CIB must be listed as a certificate holder.
Every applicant's business name must currently be registered with the Oklahoma Secretary of State.
Present affidavit verifying lawful presence in the United States.
For Commercial Endorsement only must pass the state roofing contractor examination.
Benefits of Getting a Roofing Contractor License in Oklahoma
There are many benefits to getting a roofing contractor registration in Oklahoma.
First, and most important, it is illegal to perform roofing work or do any kind of structural or remodeling work without a registration number.
Registration with the state is proof of your authority to perform the work.
Only registered roofing contractors can: operate a business and advertise services, obtain commercial insurance, pull building permits, and pass inspections, and bid on public and government projects.
Having a registration and, when appropriate, a commercial endorsement protects your company and customers.
Registration gives you a competitive advantage in the job market.
Licensure also increases your earning potential.
What Is the Mean Salary for a Roofer in Oklahoma?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the annual mean salary for roofers nationally as $50,030, and $43,960 for those in Oklahoma. That salary, as you might expect, increases as you acquire more experience.
According to Indeed.com, the average wage for a roofer in Oklahoma is $21.72 per hour with $6,375 of overtime per year.
Pay ranges can vary widely, depending on the city and many other important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, and the number of years you have spent in your profession.
What Business Owners Need to Know
Getting the most out of a roofing technician, no matter where they are in their licensing journey, takes work. ServiceTitan’s cloud-based, all-in-one roofing software gives technicians and business owners the technology they need to do the work efficiently, and the data they need to do it smartly.
ServiceTitan features:
SMS communications that keep customers informed about the technician’s visit.
Location-specific service history, including recorded calls, accessible from the mobile app.
Required forms that ensure every job is done right, driving consistency.
The ability to build multi-option proposals with photos, on-site, in minutes.
Sales presentations that make conversations with customers easier and drive the average ticket.
Mobile payment acceptance, eliminating lost checks and increasing cash flow.
To learn more, schedule a demo with a product expert today.
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Roofing License in Oklahoma?
Getting started in the roofing field in Oklahoma is relatively affordable. Since there is no requirement for higher education, people entering the field can learn on the job. If you choose to get a roofing contractor registration through the state there are forms to be filled out and fees to be paid.
FEES
Amount due for an initial roofing contractor registration, $75. Amount due for a renewal registration, $75. Amount due for an initial commercial endorsement including registration, $230. Amount due for renewal of commercial endorsement, $100.
Those seeking a commercial endorsement will need to take the statewide examination offered through PSI Testing Services. The exam is made up of two parts, and the fee for each is $92, so $184 combined.
There is also the expense of securing the various types of insurance required for registration.
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How to Get a Roofing License in Oklahoma
To become registered as a roofing contractor in Oklahoma you will first need to be at least 18 years old and decide what type of roofing you plan to undertake. If you plan to work only on residential properties, you need only obtain a Roofing Contractor Registration. If you plan to perform work on commercial or industrial properties, you will need to obtain a Roofing Contractor Registration with Commercial Endorsement.
In either case, you must first be at least 18 years of age. To qualify to receive a roofing contractor registration number, you must be a business owner, partner, or qualifying party of a roofing business. Every applicant's business name must currently be registered with the Oklahoma Secretary of State. You will also need to secure at least $500,000 in general liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance or exemption from coverage. The final part of the application requires you to sign an affidavit verifying lawful presence in the United States.
A roofing registration allowing residential work that is in good standing is required before a commercial roofing contractor endorsement is approved. If you intend to do roofing work on either commercial properties or industrial properties you will need to demonstrate further expertise in the field and additional insurance. The initial steps are the same, however, because you must apply for a Roofing Contractor Registration and add to it a Commercial Endorsement. You are permitted to apply for both at the same time. So, once again, you must be at least 18 years of age and be an owner, partner, or qualifying party of a roofing business. The business name must currently be registered with the Oklahoma Secretary of State providing at least one of the following documents:
Certificate of Record of Trade Name
Certificate of Record of Fictitious Name
Certificate of Good Standing (*Must be updated annually*)
You must secure a certificate of insurance for at least $1,000,000 in general liability insurance, and EVERY commercial roofing contractor must provide proof of workers’ compensation insurance. There are no exemptions to this for commercial roofing contractors. Again, you will need to sign an affidavit verifying lawful presence in the United States. The final piece to the Commercial Endorsement is taking and passing the statewide roofing examination made up of two parts — a trade exam and a business and law exam. Once your application is approved and you are eligible for examination, you will need to contact the third-party testing service PSI. You can apply for the exam online.
The state requires license renewal. You will need to keep your registration current through renewal every year by the expiration of your birth month. For commercial endorsements to be renewed, you must complete four hours of continuing education every three years.
There are some exemptions under Oklahoma law, such as someone working on his or her own property or that of an immediate relative, without any compensation. The CIB provides a complete list of those exemptions on its website. Failure to register is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $500 per offense.
There is a page on the CIB website entirely dedicated to “Frequently Asked Questions.”
How Long Does It Take to Get a Roofing License in Oklahoma?
There is no specified number of years of experience in Oklahoma to become a registered roofing contractor. You need to learn the business, typically by working on a crew for another registered roofing contractor, and when you can meet all the requirements for application you can start that process.
Oklahoma Roofer Training Programs and Schools
Roofers generally learn on the job. There are some training programs available through the roofers union and roofing contractors’ associations.
In terms of union training, there is one chapter of the national organization United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers & Allied Workers in Oklahoma.
Local 143 – Oklahoma City
Local 143 offers training to member contractors’ employees as well as continuing education and other benefits.
The National Roofing Contractors Association also offers online education for member contractors’ employees. The association touts these online educational programs as a cost-effective, self-paced way to present training. The Oklahoma Roofing Contractors Association is the regional branch for Oklahoma of this national association.
Companies who make roofing products sometimes offer training as well. These distributors want you to know about their company’s latest offerings and will often hold training sessions about new and changing products. One such company is GAF. GAF offers a 1 Week Roofing Academy that is in-person in various locations around the country, including Oklahoma.
The website says the GAF Roofing Academy “will focus on teaching the basics of low slope commercial roofing installation.” Graduates of the class will have the knowledge and skills to enter into the commercial roofing industry and will receive a GAF Roofing Academy certification.
There are also many exam prep courses to help aspiring commercial roofing contractors pass the state-mandated examination for commercial endorsement.
1 Exam Prep Oklahoma Roofing Contractor Commercial Endorsement Online Exam Prep
1 Exam Prep Oklahoma Roofing Business And Law Online Exam Prep
American Contractors Exam Services Oklahoma Roofing Contractor Commercial Endorsement Course Online
RocketCert Commercial Roofing Contractor Licensing, Education & Exam Prep Online
Oklahoma Roofing Contractors Association Commercial Endorsement Prep Class for the Commercial Endorsement Test In-person Training
Oklahoma Roofing Licensing Exam Details
The Oklahoma CIB has contracted with PSI Testing Services to manage testing for the commercial endorsement of roofing contractors in Oklahoma. It provides a Testing/Exam Information page on its website.
Once your registration application is approved and you are eligible for examination, you will contact PSI to set the date, time, and location of the examination. There are two portions of the exam — OK Roofing Contractor Commercial Endorsement and OK Roofing Business and Law.
OK Roofing Contractor Commercial Endorsement 50 questions 150 minute time limit $92 fee
OK Roofing Business and Law 50 questions 120 minute time limit $92 fee
The Candidate Information Bulletin contains all the information about testing, including the scheduling procedure, exam site locations, tips for preparing for the exam, reference materials and content outlines. If you pass the license exam, the Oklahoma State Construction Industries Board will issue you a license. If you fail the exam, you must wait 30 days before retesting. Every subsequent failure requires you wait 90 days before retesting.
Who Issues Roofing Licenses in Oklahoma?
The Oklahoma Construction Industries Board issues all contractor licenses including roofing registrations. The CIB provides a “Path to Registration” page for roofing contractors on its website.
Do I Need to Renew My Oklahoma Roofing License?
Yes, you must renew your registration every year. The same application is used for initial and renewal registrations. A regular roofing contractor registration renewal will cost $75 for the next year before the birth month expiration date. A registration that is overdue by 31 to 60 days costs $100. The late fee for a suspended registration or registration overdue by more than 60 days is $150. You must renew your commercial endorsement every three years; that fee is $100. Before any commercial endorsement may be renewed, all applicable continuing education requirements must be met.
Continuing Education
All Commercial Roofing Contractors in Oklahoma are required to complete four hours of Continuing Education every 36 months. There are specific providers that are approved for Oklahoma continuing education units (CEUs). Among them are @homeprep and RocketCert.
Does Oklahoma Reciprocate Roofing Licenses?
The Oklahoma CIB does not have any reciprocal agreements for roofing contractors.
Does My Oklahoma Roofing Contractor License Work in Any Other State?
No, your Oklahoma roofing registration will not work in other states. There are no reciprocity agreements. The requirements you’ve met especially for commercial endorsement will, however, help you be prepared for licensing in other states. Ultimately, you will have to check to see what another state requires and follow its application process.
National Roofing Certifications
Other certifications can help you demonstrate your proficiency to potential employers and clients. The National Association of Roofing Contractors offers certification. It and other professional certifications are not required but can add to your marketability as a service provider and therefore increase your opportunity to make more money. You can also learn more about certification and roofing in Oklahoma through one of the industry associations in the state like the Oklahoma Roofing Contractors Association.
Other Requirements Unique to Oklahoma
Oklahoma has strict building codes, and roofing is a part of that. Roofing contractors need to be constantly updating their knowledge of building codes and their awareness of best practices to stay compliant and ensure excellence in their work.
Resources
You can stay up to date on all roofing industry news several ways:
Check top roofing blogs, including ServiceTitan’s blog.
Read about the latest industry trends, and discover ideas on how to grow your roofing business.
Listen to top roofing podcasts like ServiceTitan’s “Toolbox for the Trades” podcast.
