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Membership

Stop quoting roofs. Start certifying them.

The inspection is the door. The certification is the business. You bring the expertise, we back it with a national standard.

Apply for membershipSee who covers my market

Where we work

See who already covers your market.

Every pin is an NRCIA accredited inspector, placed by the area they work in. Search your city to find out how much of your territory is already spoken for, and how much of it is not.

DEILINKYMDOHPAVAWVWashingtonPhiladelphiaChicagoPittsburghCincinnatiSaint LouisLouisvilleIndianapolisBaltimoreDaytonCharlestonColumbusDetroitRoanokeFort WayneMilwaukeeClevelandHuntingtonRichmondLexingtonSpringfieldEvansvilleMadisonToledoArlingtonAkronPeoriaErieGrand RapidsHarrisburgWilmington
Show member locations

Right now, the inspection is what you give away to win the bid.

You look at forty roofs to sell eight. The thirty-two you lose never call again, and neither do the eight, once the job closes and the check clears.

Why Accreditation

Five things you are paid to do, on a roof you used to look at for free.

Five services. Each one is an inspection you are authorized to perform and a document only a member can issue.

  1. Inspect

    Issues
    LeakFREE® Roof Inspection Report
    Inspection type
    LeakFREE® Check

  2. Certify

    Issues
    LeakFREE® Roof Certification
    Inspection type
    LeakFREE® Check

  3. Maintain

    Issues
    Annual Maintenance Assessment Report
    Inspection type
    Annual Maintenance Assessment

  4. Propose

    Issues
    Replacement Proposal Report
    Inspection type
    Replacement Proposal

  5. Evaluate

    Issues
    Condition Assessment Report
    Inspection type
    Condition Assessment

Service authorizations shown are those granted on RoofGUARD™ Accreditation. ForensicGUARD™ and E3GUARD™ authorize their own inspection types, set out in the comparison below.

Accreditation programs

Choose the work you want to be paid to perform.

Three programs, each an annual membership. Two are open to direct entry. You apply first, and pay only once NRCIA accepts your application.

  1. RoofGUARD™

    Inspect, certify, maintain, propose and evaluate. The full LeakFREE® service line on every roof you touch.

    • LeakFREE® Check inspections
    • Issue LeakFREE® Roof Certification
    • Annual Maintenance Assessments
    • Replacement Proposal Reports
    • Condition Assessment Reports
    Designation
    Certified Roof Inspector
    Entry
    No prerequisite program
    Term
    12 months
    $4,499

    Per year. Paid after NRCIA accepts your application.

    Apply for RoofGUARD™See the full program

  2. E3GUARD™

    California SB 721 inspections of exterior elevated elements on multifamily rental property.

    • E3CHECK™ SB 721 inspections
    • E3Assurance™ deliverables
    • Reporting software and client management
    Designation
    E3 Accredited Specialist
    Entry
    Statutory qualification
    Term
    12 months
    $3,999

    Per year. Paid after NRCIA accepts your application.

    Apply for E3GUARD™See the full program

  3. ForensicGUARD™

    Six inspection types for the work where the cause is disputed, plus everything RoofGUARD™ authorizes.

    • Forensic Roof® investigations
    • Claim and compliance inspections
    • Construction defect assessments
    • Installation and repair verification
    • StormCHECK™ storm inspections
    Designation
    Forensic Roof Inspector
    Entry
    12 months as CRI, or review
    Term
    12 months
    $5,999

    Per year. Includes everything RoofGUARD™ authorizes.

    Apply for ForensicGUARD™See the full program

What each program carries, compared across RoofGUARD, E3GUARD and ForensicGUARD
What each program carriesRoofGUARD™E3GUARD™ForensicGUARD™
Designation earnedCertified Roof Inspector (CRI)E3GUARD™ Accredited Specialist (E3AS)Forensic Roof Inspector (FRI)
Entry requirementDirect entry. No prerequisite NRCIA program.Direct entry. Statutory qualification for the work.12 consecutive months active CRI with 50 filed reports, or alternative eligibility review.
Inspection types authorizedLeakFREE® Check · Annual Maintenance Assessment · Replacement Proposal · Condition AssessmentE3CHECK™ CA-SB721ComplianceCHECK™ · ClaimCHECK™ · Forensic Roof® · VerificationCHECK™ · DefectCHECK™ · SystemsCHECK™ · StormCHECK™
Deliverables issuedLeakFREE® Roof Inspection Report · LeakFREE® Roof Certification · Assessment and Proposal ReportsE3Assurance™, SB 721 variantComplianceASSURANCE™ · ClaimASSURANCE™ · ForensicASSURANCE™ · VerificationASSURANCE™ · DefectASSURANCE™ · SystemsASSURANCE™
LeakFREE® certificationYesNoYes
Who hires this workHomeowners, buyers, realtors, escrow, property managersApartment owners, multifamily operators, property management firmsInsurance carriers, attorneys, builders, owners in dispute
Annual membership$4,499 / year$3,999 / year$5,999 / year

How enrollment works

Apply, enroll, train.

Every application is reviewed before anyone pays. Training takes about two weeks, and you start working on approval.

  1. Step 01 · Apply

    Every application is reviewed.

    Choose your program and send your application with your documents. Nobody pays before NRCIA has reviewed and accepted the application.

    Step 1 of 3

  2. Step 02 · Enroll

    Accepted, then checkout.

    Once NRCIA accepts you, you complete membership checkout for your program’s annual fee. Your twelve-month term starts the day you enroll.

    Step 2 of 3

  3. Step 03 · Train and work

    About two weeks of training.

    Training takes about two weeks. You start working on approval.

    Step 3 of 3

Before you apply

What we ask of everyone, whichever program you pick.

The standard is the same at every door. Programs differ in what they authorize you to perform, never in what they ask you to carry.

How the review runs

  1. Submit your application

    Program selection, business details and required documentation.

  2. Documentation verified

    Insurance certificates, proof of bond and license documentation checked against program requirements.

  3. Background disclosure reviewed

    Your attestation is reviewed. NRCIA reserves the right to independently verify.

  4. Ethics commitment executed

    Code of Ethics and conflict-of-interest disclosure signed and logged to your file.

  5. Approved, or returned with deficiencies

    If something is missing, you get it back with specifics, not a rejection letter.

  6. Membership checkout, then portal access

    Once you are accepted you complete membership checkout. Designation issued, directory profile live, Academy and InspectionPLUS® open.

  1. An active business entity, or documented authorization to inspect under a licensed contractor's umbrella.
  2. General liability insurance, $1,000,000 minimum per occurrence, plus Workers' Compensation.
  3. Errors and omissions insurance, $1,000,000 minimum per occurrence.
  4. Proof of bond.
  5. NRCIA named as additional insured on general and professional liability, where commercially available.
  6. No felony conviction within seven years, and no professional license revocation in any state within three.
  7. Physical capability for a five-zone inspection: interior, attic, exterior, perimeter, rooftop.
  8. Executed agreement to the NRCIA Code of Ethics, including conflict-of-interest disclosure.

In their words

What the standard looks like in the field

Tim Orscheln, NRCIA Forensic Roof® Inspector · HomeLyfe LLC · Maricopa County.
Testimonial
“Being a member of the NRCIA is what differentiates us from every other person that’s knocking on doors out there right now… It has absolutely helped us as a team, because we’re all proud to be part of the NRCIA.”
Tim OrschelnNRCIA Forensic Roof® Inspector · HomeLyfe LLC · Maricopa County
“Thanks to their expertise and dedication, I have experienced a remarkable return on investment… The level of care, precision, and reliability you bring to every interaction is truly impressive.”
Sean DriscollNRCIA Forensic Roof® Inspector · Driscoll and Company Construction · Orange County
“This was the best inspection certification I have, because it enables me to really have an actual specialty as opposed to the very general approach which is common with home and commercial inspections. I have exponentially doubled my services since I became a member.”
Max CohenNRCIA Forensic Roof® Inspector · Roof Eval · Nassau County
“One of the things I appreciate most about NRCIA is the strong sense of community and accountability. We meet weekly to stay aligned with the organization’s core values and to continuously improve how we serve homeowners.”
Luis felipe GutierrezNRCIA Forensic Roof® Inspector · Vast Roofing · Duval County

From the people they serve

Property owners, attorneys and agents who called an accredited member.

“There’s no licensing requirement for roof inspectors in California. I can’t gamble on that. When I recommend someone, my reputation is on the line. I choose NRCIA inspectors because they’ve already proven themselves through training and accountability.”
Sharon GrimesReal Estate
“I desperately emailed NRCIA and was surprised by a prompt and very detailed answer, giving me good guidance along the way. Once you lose trust in your contractor, a neutral and professional point of view is crucial.”
NaseProperty Owner
“NRCIA provides outstanding expert consulting support to my law firm and my clients on defective roofing cases by providing thorough, credible, evidence-based inspection reports and expert opinions on damages. The reports are easy to understand and reliable.”
Jason BurrisAttorney

Upkeep and questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Accreditation is maintained, not owned. Reaccreditation is the only term we use for keeping it current.

That depends on what you do with it. An Accreditation you never bill against is an expense. One you use turns a single roof into five billable services and an annual return visit, and it authorizes you to issue a LeakFREE® certification, which nobody outside NRCIA can do.

Each program is an annual membership. RoofGUARD™ is $4,499 a year, E3GUARD™ is $3,999 a year and ForensicGUARD™ is $5,999 a year. You pay after NRCIA accepts your application, and your twelve-month term starts the day you enroll.

RoofGUARD™ and E3GUARD™ are direct entry. ForensicGUARD™ requires 12 consecutive months as an active Certified Roof Inspector with 50 documented reports filed, or qualification under alternative eligibility: five years of demonstrated forensic or investigative experience, evaluation by an NRCIA Master Forensic Inspector, and approval at panel discretion.

Coverage is not exclusivity, and NRCIA does not grant territories. A dense area tells you the work is there and that clients in that market already know what the credential means. A thin area tells you the demand is unserved. Both are reasons to apply. They are just different arguments.

No. Payment does not constitute acceptance. Every application goes through document verification, background disclosure review and ethics execution before Accreditation is confirmed. The review exists to protect the standard, which is the reason the designation carries weight.

Yes, and they are an entry requirement rather than an afterthought. Members remain responsible for every license, registration, certification, permit, insurance, training and qualification requirement that applies to their services and their jurisdictions. NRCIA Accreditation sits alongside those obligations. It does not replace them.

Not ready to apply

Talk to us first.

Tell us where your business is now. We will tell you plainly whether Accreditation is worth it for you, and what it would change.

  • A real answer, from somebody who has read your numbers
  • No obligation, and no application started
  • Usually the same working day

A few questions, then we will come back to you

Choose the work. We back it with the standard.

Applications are reviewed, not processed. Apply first, and once NRCIA accepts you, you complete membership checkout for your program.

Apply for membershipTalk to someone first
Running a company with two or more inspectors?Talk to us about membership for every inspector on your team.Not an inspector, but you know a few?The Ambassador Program is for insurance professionals, realtors and industry partners. No fee to participate, flat commission per successful referral, paid monthly.