Roofing certifications play an essential role in the credibility of a vast roofing industry. At their core, roof certificates validate a roofing contractor’s skillset, expertise, and commitment to quality and safety.
Furthermore, certification denotes a professionalism that separates serious roofing companies from their less credible competitors.
Roofing contractors looking to advance their careers, gain trust within their community, and add credibility to their business can look to certification as a stepping stone toward those goals.
With this in mind, Roofer’s Guild outlines six roof certificates to consider in 2025.
1) OSHA Safety Certificate
Everyone has heard the saying “safety first” at some point as the sentiment expands beyond the roofing craft.
However, roofing professionalism is uniquely tied to safety in a way that other industries are not.
The first concern of any roofing job is performing it safely. Furthermore, most customers are equally concerned about the safety outcome of any potential job.
Obtaining the OSHA Safety Certificate demonstrates your commitment to safety. It lends a level of trust to your roofing brand and business.
Learn More: https://www.osha.gov/training/certificate
2) NRCA Pro Certification
The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) is as prestigious as it sounds in the roofing community.
Their ProCertification program serves as an official badge of honor for roof system installers throughout the US.
As a result, earning this honor can separate your company from local competitors.
This certificate is widely considered the standard for roof system installation, validating contractors with skills and experience to perform quality roof installations.
Earning this certificate requires passing an online exam that evaluates a roofer’s knowledge of low-slope roofs.
Certified contractors are verified on the NRCA website.
Learn More: https://www.nrca.net/procertification
3) State Roofing License/Certification
While some states require licensing to perform roofing services, others, like Texas and Montana, do not formally require a license.
However, state organizations like RCAT offer a licensing/certification program that allows roofers to earn more credibility than their unlicensed counterparts.
While nothing legally requires roofers in Texas (and states like Kansas, Montana, and others) to earn such a license, they act similarly to other certifications by lending credibility to your business and establishing consumer trust.
In addition, marketing a roofing business is primarily done locally, making regional certification especially beneficial for promoting your business to potential customers.
Learn more: https://www.rcat.net/licensing.html
4) GAF Master Elite Certification
GAF is the largest roofing manufacturer in North America and a widely known brand by both roofers and their consumers.
As a result, earning a GAF certification is a great way to add instant credibility to your roofing business in 2025.
The certificate provides a multitude of perks to contractors, including enhanced warranty access and discounts on select services.
In addition, roofers with this certification can offer their customers enhanced warranties, providing extended coverage to homeowners.
The GAF Master Elitie certification is the most prestigious of GAF’s certificates. Still, newer roofers can start with lower-level honors.
Learn More: https://www.gaf.com/en-us/for-pros/contractors/roofer-certification
5) SELECT ShingleMaster™ Credential
CertainTeed offers the SELECT ShingleMaster™ credential to roofing professionals looking to distinguish their companies from competitors.
Like GAF, CertainTeed is a renowned roofing manufacturer and a recognizable brand to most consumers.
With this in mind, earning the SELECT ShingleMaster™ Credential creates a distinct selling proposition for roofing contractors.
The credential includes SureStart™ PLUS extended warranty coverage and a verified listing of your roofing business on CertainTeed’s website.
Learn More: https://www.certainteed.com/select-shinglemaster
6) Forklift Safety and Inspector (CICB)
It’s no secret that forklifts are commonly used in roofing projects, particularly large-scale, commercial ones.
With this in mind, the Forklift Safety and Inspector CIC is a worthwhile certification for roofing contractors.
The certificate validates a contractor’s ability to identify safety procedures, perform inspections, and maintain record-keeping procedures for forklifts used in a roofing context.
Earning this certificate will also require an understanding of forklift components, mechanical systems, and hydraulic, electric, and air systems.
Learn More: https://www.cicb.com/classes/forklift-inspector-training
Roofing Certification Benefits
Earning one or more of the above certifications can impact your roofing company or career in multiple ways.
From increasing the credibility of your business to advancing your individual salary, roof certificates are valuable signals of recognition throughout the industry.
Let’s look at some of the primary benefits:
Earning Credibility
Certificates represent a tangible demonstration of a roofer’s competence in various roofing disciplines.
Whether it is expertise with safety protocols or an advanced understanding of the nuance of installation techniques, certificates lend legitimate credibility to contractors and companies.
A consumer’s trust level toward roofers proven to have undergone extensive training and assessment procedures is considerably higher than a counterpart lacking such credentials.
Improving Job Prospects
For non-principals within a roofing company hierarchy, certifications can be a stepping stone to business ownership or improved job positions.
By earning certificates, contractors can forgo many of the initial training required for “green” job candidates.
Furthermore, certified roofers are regularly considered for higher-level positions and trusted with higher-end, lucrative roofing projects.
Increasing Salary
Certified roofers also have a more straightforward pathway to higher salaries than their non-certified colleagues.
Certifications help contractors establish themselves as essential assets to their company.
In addition, roofing certificates can distinguish contractors as experts in specialized or niche roofing categories that open more financial doors within a company structure or as future business owners.
In either case, certified roofers can expect to earn more money throughout their careers.
Final Thoughts
Roof certificates are valuable to professionals looking to establish credibility and earn more money.
Their impact can span from professional growth to job security and financial stability.
By establishing yourself or your company as a competent and trustworthy business, you can overtake competitors for new roofing customers.
It’s no secret that professional services like roofing are inherently tied to credibility and trustworthiness. This is especially true in the sales cycle.
Roofers regularly seek new ways to differentiate their companies in an increasingly competitive industry.
The six certificates listed in this post are great places to start. By earning one or more of these certifications, you begin to establish yourself within the roofing industry in 2025 and beyond.