Texas Roofer License Requirements

Official classification: No statewide license — voluntary RCAT registration; municipal permits apply · Issued by the No state agency licenses roofers; voluntary program run by the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas (RCAT).

🏠 RooferTX ✔ Verified 2026-06-16

License types

RCAT Licensed Residential Roofing Contractor (voluntary) — Voluntary credential. Requires $300,000 combined-single-limit general liability or a $100,000 surety bond, plus workers' comp or equivalent. Pass a business/safety exam and a residential roofing exam at 70%+.
RCAT Licensed Commercial Roofing Contractor (voluntary) — Voluntary credential. Requires $500,000 combined-single-limit general liability or a $100,000 surety bond, plus workers' comp or equivalent. Pass a business/safety exam and a commercial roofing exam at 70%+.
Municipal permits (mandatory in practice) — Roofing work generally requires a city building permit and inspection; some cities require contractor registration before issuing roofing permits. The mandatory layer is local, not state.

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	No state requirement. RCAT (voluntary) requires the applicant to be a principal in a Texas-domiciled roofing company for at least 2 continuous years before applying.
Application fee	RCAT initial license: members $550 (one category) / $750 (both); non-members $850 / $1,050. RCAT membership runs ~$500/yr separately.
License fee	Included above
Renewal fee	$250 per year (RCAT)
Renewal period	Annual (RCAT)
Continuing education	RCAT: 8 Continuing Education Units per 12-month period.
Bond required	No statewide bond. RCAT accepts a $100,000 surety bond as an alternative to its general-liability requirement; some cities require a permit/registration bond.
Liability insurance	Not state-mandated. RCAT requires $300,000 CSL general liability (residential) or $500,000 CSL (commercial) — or a $100,000 surety bond instead.
Property damage	Covered within the combined single limit above.
Workers' comp	Not state-mandated for roofers, but RCAT requires workers' compensation or equivalent benefits.
Background check	Not a state requirement.
Credit requirement	None
Reciprocity	N/A — no statewide license; RCAT is a private voluntary credential
Processing time	RCAT: exams must be completed within one year of application approval.

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Exams

RCAT Business & Safety Exam	Provider: RCAT Passing: 70% Fee: Included in RCAT licensing fee
RCAT Roofing Specialty Exam (Residential and/or Commercial)	Provider: RCAT Passing: 70% Fee: Included in RCAT licensing fee; complete within 1 year of approval

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Local / municipal notes

Texas does NOT license roofers at the state level — anyone can legally call themselves a roofer. The RCAT 'license' is a respected but VOLUNTARY industry credential, not a government license. What IS required in practice: a city building permit (and inspection) for roofing work, plus whatever insurance/registration the local jurisdiction mandates. Homeowners should verify a roofer's insurance and RCAT status directly.

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-06-16 — always confirm current requirements directly with the No state agency licenses roofers; voluntary program run by the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas (RCAT) before applying. This is not legal advice.

Official sources

https://www.rcat.net/licensing.html
https://www.rcat.net/membership.html