How to apply for your Illinois roofing license, step by step
You can do it yourself. This guide walks you through the steps, the documents and the order, using public information from the IDFPR (the state department that issues licenses).
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The steps, in order
1. Choose your license
Limited: residential roofing only (homes and buildings of up to 8 units). Unlimited: residential, commercial and industrial.
2. Your business, registered right
If you're an LLC or a corporation, register it with the Illinois Secretary of State. The "purposes" section must say: "To provide limited roofing services, pursuant to the Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act." (or "unlimited" for the unlimited license). If you're a sole proprietor, you are the qualifying party. If you use a different business name (DBA), you need the County Clerk's assumed name certificate. If your company is from another state: a Certificate of Good Standing less than 60 days old, and registration as a foreign company in Illinois.
3. The qualifying party passes the exam
Your business names a qualifying party, who runs the day-to-day roofing work and takes the exam with Continental Testing: the residential exam, or the residential, commercial and industrial exam. They must pass within 3 years of applying. Keep Continental's official result letter: the state asks for it, and a screenshot of the score doesn't count.
4. Insurance, on the RF-INS form
Your insurance company fills out the RF-INS form. Minimums: $250,000 property damage and $500,000 liability, per occurrence. It's the only proof of insurance the IDFPR accepts: the ACORD certificate many insurers give out doesn't count. The agent fills it out, not you, and the policy must be in your business's exact name. Also get the policy's declaration page.
5. The bond
A bonding company licensed in Illinois fills out the form: BD-LRF for $10,000 (limited) or BD-URF for $25,000 (unlimited). Don't change the wording on the form. Check that NEW APPLICATION is marked, and sign the "Principal" line yourself: many bonds arrive signed only by the bonding company.
6. If you have employees
You need your workers' comp certificate of insurance and an IDES statement of account (Illinois unemployment insurance) showing you're current. If you have no employees, you file a workers' comp exemption letter.
7. Send your application
Put it all in one packet: the roofing contractor application (form DPR-RF), signed by hand in ink; the qualifying party form; the Continental letter; the RF-INS and the bond; and your business documents. The $125 fee is paid online (the payment site may add a small charge). The packet is mailed to the IDFPR, to the address in the form's instructions. If you answer yes on the criminal history question, add a signed letter explaining each case and certified court documents with the court's seal. Allow about 8 business weeks.
8. Once you're licensed
Your license expires December 31 of every odd-numbered year. Always keep an active qualifying party: without one, the license stops being valid. If the state writes asking for more (a deficiency letter), send what's missing together with a copy of that letter.
Common mistakes
- The business registration is missing the roofing "purposes" sentence.
- The business name isn't identical on every document: letter for letter, same punctuation, same "LLC". Your Articles of Organization are the official version.
- The insurance comes on an ACORD certificate or another form instead of the RF-INS, or the policy is in someone else's name.
- The bond arrives without your signature as "Principal" or without NEW APPLICATION marked.
- A screenshot of the score is sent instead of Continental's official letter.
- The bond form's wording was changed.
- The application is incomplete or hard to read: the state sends it back.
- The qualifying party doesn't pass the exam in time.
Where to get the insurance and the bond
From an insurance agent who works with contractors. Many agents can also get you the bond; if not, a bonding company licensed in Illinois. Ask for a quote and name the RF-INS form and the bond form you need.
Official sources
This is general, public information from the IDFPR, not legal advice. Requirements can change: always confirm on the official IDFPR site.
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