Stand out in roofing: The impact of certification for contractors

By Jonny Suchor. 

Learn how NRCA PROCertification® helps contractors and redefines roofing industry benchmarks.  

NRCA PROCertification® sets the roofing industry's high standard for excellence in roof system installation, ensuring certified installers possess the necessary skills and experience for quality work. 

The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) addresses the challenge of recruiting and retaining quality talent in the roofing industry. Implementing career path development and professional advancement initiatives is a strategic move to attract and retain individuals who excel in roofing. As a contractor, employing NRCA PROCertified(R) installers can help your company stand apart from the competition. Whether your PROCertified workers are roofing foreman, service and maintenance technicians, metal, slate, EPDM, modified bitumen or other roofing special, the NRCA has a certification path for your team. And just like last year at the International Roofing Expo (IRE), at IRE 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada at booth #5931, there will be live demonstrations of the ProCertification exam. 

“Everybody’s been hearing about PROCertification,” says Jared Ribble from NRCA, but what are the qualifications for getting it? 

Those eligible for the certification must have at least two to three years of experience in their designated field. Depending on the desired certification, there’s a multiple-choice eligibility exam, in addition to a hands-on skills assessment. Installers (or crew members – author's choice) seeking certification receive an assignment ahead of time and are asked to complete the assessment while demonstrating the common tasks they do every day on the job as a roofer. Contractors have the option of having a Qualified Assessor conduct the assessment on a mockup or can submit a video and pictures of them performing specific tasks on a job or on a mockup. Hear from Jared Ribble about what to expect during the metal panel roof systems installer exam conducted on a mockup.  

Still trying to decide if getting PROCertified is worth the time and investment? Take advice from NRCA Qualified Assessor John Scheh, “Earning the PROCertified metal panel roof systems credential gives you that professional recognition you’ve been seeking. You can share that certification with everybody to tell the world you are a true craftsperson.” 

As a contractor, it is important to be trusted ahead of time with your professionalism and the quality of your roof system installations. David Crowther, president at CFS Roofing Services, explains why he prefers workers who are PROCertified, saying, “The best part of having NRCA PROCertified installers is instilling pride in crew members while inspiring others who want to participate. It reinforces the skill level for quality workmanship and expertise.”  

And for those attending IRE 2024, make sure you stop by the NRCA booth #5931 to see a live demo of the PROCertification exam! 

Note to author from JR-NRCA: The value of PROCertification to the roofing contractor is that when the two or three crew leaders are wearing their red badge showing “I Am PROCertified” the rest of the crew wants it as well and raises their quality game. 

Also, when a contractor is using subs, they can now have evidence (the red badge) of who on the subcontract crew has had their skills verified. 

Contractors fear certifying their worker, and they leave. This is a legitimate concern, but our statistics show that 92% of the PROCertified installers are still with the company that they were employed by when they received their certification.