Roofing Certifications: GAF, OC and CertainTeed

Open almost any roofing company's website and you will find a row of badges near the top: GAF Master Elite, Owens Corning Platinum Preferred, CertainTeed ShingleMaster. They look official, and some of them are hard to earn. But a badge on a website is a claim, not proof.

This guide explains what the major roofing manufacturer certifications mean, what they do and do not tell you about a roofer, which warranties they unlock, and how to verify a certified roofer before you sign a contract.

What is a roofing manufacturer certification?

Shingle manufacturers run programs that rank the contractors who install their products. To move up a level, a roofing company usually has to show proof of a state license and insurance, train its crews on the brand's installation methods, and meet standards for reputation, volume or customer satisfaction. In return, higher tiers can offer the manufacturer's strongest warranties, including coverage for the roofer's workmanship.

A certification is not a license. In California, only CSLB can license a roofer, and roofing work over $1,000 needs an active California contractor license. Manufacturers say so themselves: GAF and CertainTeed both note that their certified contractors are independent businesses, not employees, and that the credential is not a guarantee of the contractor's work.

What does GAF Master Elite mean?

GAF Master Elite is GAF's top residential contractor certification, and GAF says fewer than 2% of roofing contractors earn it. GAF's tiers run roughly like this:

• GAF Certified: the entry tier. The contractor is licensed where required, insured and committed to ongoing training.
• GAF Master Elite: the top tier, with stricter requirements on licensing, insurance, reputation and training. GAF also gives its best Master Elite contractors the President's Club award each year.

The practical meaning of GAF Master Elite for a homeowner is the warranty. Only a Master Elite roofer can offer GAF's Golden Pledge limited warranty, which adds coverage for misapplication of the roof system, meaning workmanship, for up to 25 years, plus a GAF inspection. Certified and Master Elite contractors can offer the Silver Pledge, which has shorter workmanship coverage.

What is Owens Corning Platinum Preferred?

Owens Corning runs the Owens Corning Roofing Contractor Network with three levels: Credentialed, Preferred and Platinum Preferred. Owens Corning Platinum Preferred is the top level and is limited to a small share of the network. Platinum contractors must meet requirements for licensing, insurance, years in business and customer satisfaction.

Owens Corning Platinum Preferred roofers can offer the Platinum Protection warranty, which is the brand's top system warranty and includes long workmanship coverage when a full Owens Corning roof system is installed. Preferred contractors can offer the Preferred Protection warranty. Our GAF vs Owens Corning vs CertainTeed guide compares the shingle lines themselves, including Duration and Timberline HDZ.

What is CertainTeed ShingleMaster and SELECT ShingleMaster?

CertainTeed credentials roofers through its contractor program. For years, the top shingle tier was called SELECT ShingleMaster. CertainTeed has since reorganized, and its current homeowner brochure names ShingleMaster PREMIER as the credential that can offer its strongest warranty. You may still see SELECT ShingleMaster on older websites and older warranties, which stay valid under the terms they were issued with.

The warranty that matters is SureStart PLUS. On a CertainTeed Integrity Roof System, SureStart PLUS extends full, non-prorated coverage for up to 50 years on single-family homes. The 4-STAR level adds 15 years of workmanship coverage, and the 5-STAR level adds 30 years, according to CertainTeed's current chart. If you are buying premium shingles such as Presidential, our guide to Presidential and designer shingles covers which lines pair with these warranties.

Source: CertainTeed, Why Credentialing Matters and SureStart PLUS homeowner brochure (2026); GAF and Owens Corning contractor program pages

How do the certifications compare?

Brand	Top tier	Top warranty it unlocks	Workmanship coverage
GAF	Master Elite	Golden Pledge	Up to 25 years
Owens Corning	Platinum Preferred	Platinum Protection	Long term, see current terms
CertainTeed	ShingleMaster PREMIER (formerly SELECT ShingleMaster)	SureStart PLUS 5-STAR	Up to 30 years

Warranty terms change, so treat this table as a starting point. Ask the roofer for the actual warranty document for the exact product and system they are quoting.

How do you verify a GAF certified roofer?

Do not rely on a logo on a truck or a website. To verify a GAF certified roofer, or any certified roofer, follow these steps:

1. Use the manufacturer's own locator. GAF, Owens Corning and CertainTeed each have a "find a contractor" tool on their websites. Search your ZIP code and confirm the company name appears at the tier it claims.
2. Match the business name. The certified company on the locator should match the name and license on your contract, not a sister company or a sales office.
3. Ask for the warranty in writing. If the roofer says "Golden Pledge" or "5-STAR," ask for that warranty to be named in the contract, and ask how and when they register it with the manufacturer.
4. Check the license separately. Look up the roofer on CSLB to confirm an active C-39 license, a current bond and workers' comp.

ConFacts does part of this work for you. A ConFacts report checks whether a manufacturer certification the roofer claims can be verified, and flags it when it cannot, alongside the license, bond, workers' comp and CSLB records. Everything rolls into a 0 to 100 Trust Score, and we never take money from contractors.

Does a certified roofer guarantee a good roof?

No. Certification shows that a company met a manufacturer's standards at a point in time. It does not prove the crew on your job is trained, that the company is financially stable, or that it will answer the phone in year eight. Some excellent roofers skip certification programs entirely because of the fees and paperwork.

Use certifications as one signal among several. A licensed and insured roofer with a clean CSLB record, clear written warranties and good reviews is a better bet than a badge alone. Our list of questions to ask a roofer before hiring helps you test the rest.

When does certification matter most?

Certification matters most when you are paying for a premium or full system roof, when you plan to stay in the home a long time, or when you want a transferable warranty that can help when you sell. In those cases, the manufacturer backed workmanship coverage is real value. It matters less on a small repair, where no system warranty applies.

Frequently asked questions

What does GAF Master Elite mean for my warranty?

Only a Master Elite roofer can offer GAF's Golden Pledge warranty, which adds long term workmanship coverage backed by GAF.

Is Owens Corning Platinum Preferred better than GAF Master Elite?

Neither is better in general. Both are the top tier of their brand. Compare the specific warranty, shingle line and the roofer's own record.

Is SELECT ShingleMaster still a CertainTeed credential?

CertainTeed's current materials name ShingleMaster PREMIER as the top shingle credential. Older SELECT ShingleMaster warranties remain valid under their original terms.

Can a roofer lose its certification?

Yes. Manufacturers review contractors and can drop them. Check the locator close to the date you sign.

Does a certification replace a California contractor license?

No. Any roofer doing work over $1,000 in California needs an active CSLB license, whatever badges they show.