Arkansas Roofing License Requirements (2026)

The Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (CLB) regulates roofing under A.C.A. §17-25. Commercial roofing projects of $50,000 or more require a Commercial Contractor license; residential roofing projects of $2,000 or more require a Residential Remodeler license. The CLB issues a Roofing specialty classification for both tiers. Applicants must submit a reviewed or audited financial statement, pass the PSI trade and Business and Law exams, and bind workers compensation for any employee crew.

Governing Authority

This license is issued and enforced by Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (ACLB) pursuant to Arkansas Code Title 17 Chapter 25 (Contractors) and Title 17 Chapter 38 (Residential Building); ACLB Rules and Regulations. The Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (ACLB) licenses Commercial Contractors, Residential Builders, and Residential Remodelers statewide, sets financial responsibility standards, administers PSI examinations, and conducts disciplinary proceedings. ACLB enforces the $50,000 single-project threshold above which contracting work requires a state license.

Official portal: https://aclb.arkansas.gov/
Address: 4100 Richards Road, North Little Rock, AR 72117
Phone: (501) 372-4661

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, an applicant must have reached age 18 and hold a valid Social Security Number. No Arkansas residency requirement. Out-of-state entities must register with the Secretary of State.

Good moral character

CLB reviews felonies individually; fraud is disqualifying.

Background investigation

Disclosure required on application.

Experience & Education Matrix

Eligibility requires two years of documented roofing experience at the foreman or contractor level for the commercial classification; residential remodeler does not specify a minimum but requires exam competency, documented and independently verifiable. Payroll, tax, project, and supervisor records are the usual proof the board will accept.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Sworn experience affidavit
Project list with addresses and values
Reference letters from licensed contractors

Education substitution

Construction degree may substitute for one year.

Examination Structure

Examinations are administered by PSI Services LLC. The applicant must pass the following examination parts before the license can issue:

Arkansas Roofing Trade Exam — 60 questions, 180 minutes, passing score 70%
Arkansas Business and Law Exam — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $80 per exam.

Retake policy: Failed exams may be retaken; application valid one year.

Insurance & Financial Security

Licensure is conditioned on filing a $10,000 contractor license surety bond with the ACLB.

General liability

CLB requires certificate of insurance at application. Market standard $1,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Mandatory in Arkansas for any construction employer with three or more employees under A.C.A. §11-9-102.

Additional financial requirements

Commercial applicants submit a reviewed or audited financial statement proving net worth of at least $10,000 (more for higher license limits). Residential Remodeler requires a $10,000 surety bond in lieu of a financial statement.

Application and License Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$100
Examination	$160
Initial license	$200
Renewal (every year)	$200

Maintenance & Renewal

Expect to renew the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board Residential / Commercial Roofing every year. Renewal currently costs $200. Annual renewal by anniversary date.

Continuing education: Residential Remodeler license requires four hours of CE annually.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Arkansas Roofing License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and Endorsement

The NASCLA Accredited Examination is accepted by Arkansas for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Louisiana	Trade exam waived	Bilateral CLB–LSLBC endorsement.
Mississippi	Trade exam waived	Bilateral CLB–MSBOC endorsement.
Tennessee	Trade exam waived	Bilateral CLB–TBLC endorsement.

Arkansas CLB accepts NASCLA commercial accreditation in lieu of the trade exam. Business and Law never waived.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Roofing license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Pick the classification. Commercial Contractor Roofing for jobs $50,000+, Residential Remodeler Roofing for residential jobs $2,000+.
Prepare financials or bond. Commercial: reviewed/audited financial statement. Residential: $10,000 surety bond.
Document experience and references. Two years minimum at foreman or contractor level for commercial.
Submit the CLB application. $100 application fee plus $200 license fee for commercial, $100 for residential.
Pass the PSI trade and B&L exams. 70% each. NASCLA accreditation can waive the trade exam for commercial.
Bind general liability and workers comp. Workers comp required at three employees under §11-9-102.
Receive the license and renew annually. Commercial $200 renewal, residential $100. File annually with updated financials.

Pre-Submission Checklist

The items below are the ones worth confirming before the application is filed with ACLB:

☐ CLB application with classification designation
☐ Reviewed or audited financial statement (commercial) OR $10,000 bond (residential)
☐ Experience affidavit and project list
☐ PSI trade and Business and Law pass certificates
☐ General liability certificate of insurance
☐ Workers comp declaration page (3+ employees)

Study and Reference Materials

These are the preparation and reference materials tied to this credential — cited by the regulator or widely used by applicants. CLR earns nothing from listing them.

Arkansas Contractor Candidate Information Bulletin — PSI Services. Exam source list.
International Building Code Chapter 15 — International Code Council. Arkansas-adopted roof assembly code.
NRCA Roofing Manual — National Roofing Contractors Association. Primary technical reference.

Common Filing Mistakes

Based on the board's own instructions and the sources cited here, the problems below are what most often stall a Arkansas Roofing application.

Confusing residential vs commercial thresholds

A Residential Remodeler cannot bid a $60,000 commercial reroof. The Commercial Contractor license is required.

Tornado-season tear-off timing

Arkansas sits in tornado alley. Leaving a roof open during spring storms creates total-loss exposure — insurers and AG complaints follow.

Ice and water shield on cold-side eaves

IRC R905.1.2 requires ice-barrier membrane in regions with average January temps at or below 25°F. Northern Arkansas counties qualify — inspectors fail the job without it.

OSHA fall protection

Arkansas adopts federal OSHA 29 CFR 1926.501 — fall protection required at six feet. Citations common on residential reroofs.

Letting bond lapse mid-year

Residential Remodeler surety bond must be continuously in force. A lapse automatically suspends the license.

Other Arkansas Trade Licenses

CLR covers other Arkansas trades as well — the published guides below may be more relevant:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Arkansas residential roofing threshold?

Residential roofing projects of $2,000 or more on one- or two-family dwellings require the Residential Remodeler license with a Roofing classification.

What is the commercial threshold?

Commercial or public roofing projects of $50,000 or more require the Commercial Contractor license under A.C.A. §17-25-101.

Does Arkansas require a financial statement?

Yes for commercial — a reviewed or audited statement proving net worth. Residential licensees may substitute a $10,000 surety bond.

Is NASCLA accepted?

Yes. An active NASCLA Accredited Commercial Contractor certificate waives the trade exam for commercial applications. Business and Law is never waived.

When does the license renew?

Annually. Commercial $200, residential $100. Updated financial statement or bond required at renewal.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-04-13 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-12