diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/TechniqueDetailPage.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/TechniqueDetailPage.tsx
index c575fb3..a3513bf 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/TechniqueDetailPage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/TechniqueDetailPage.tsx
@@ -158,6 +158,10 @@ export default function TechniqueDetailPage() {
   const canReview =
     user?.role === "admin" || user?.role === "red_lead" || user?.role === "blue_lead";
 
+  // Same roles that can create tests (mirrors backend POST /tests/from-template)
+  const canRunTemplate =
+    user?.role === "admin" || user?.role === "red_lead" || user?.role === "blue_lead";
+
   const {
     data: technique,
     isLoading,
@@ -584,7 +588,7 @@ export default function TechniqueDetailPage() {
                       <ExternalLink className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
                       View test
                     </button>
-                  ) : (
+                  ) : canRunTemplate ? (
                     <button
                       onClick={() => setTemplateFormId(tpl.id)}
                       className={`flex items-center gap-1 rounded-lg border px-3 py-1.5 text-xs font-medium transition-colors ${
@@ -596,7 +600,7 @@ export default function TechniqueDetailPage() {
                       <FlaskConical className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
                       {needsReRun ? "Run This Test" : latestValidated ? "Re-run" : "Run This Test"}
                     </button>
-                  )}
+                  ) : null}
                 </div>
               </div>
               );
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/TestCatalogPage.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/TestCatalogPage.tsx
index 14a3077..b82db71 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/TestCatalogPage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/TestCatalogPage.tsx
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import {
 import { getTemplates } from "../api/test-templates";
 import TestFromTemplateForm from "../components/TestFromTemplateForm";
 import type { TestTemplateSummary } from "../types/models";
+import { useAuth } from "../context/AuthContext";
 
 // ── Constants ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
@@ -75,6 +76,13 @@ export default function TestCatalogPage() {
   const navigate = useNavigate();
   const { templateId } = useParams<{ templateId: string }>();
   const [searchParams, setSearchParams] = useSearchParams();
+  const { user } = useAuth();
+
+  // Only leads and admins can create tests from templates
+  const canUseTemplate =
+    user?.role === "admin" ||
+    user?.role === "red_lead" ||
+    user?.role === "blue_lead";
 
   const [search, setSearch] = useState(searchParams.get("search") || "");
   const [source, setSource] = useState(searchParams.get("source") || "");
@@ -236,6 +244,7 @@ export default function TestCatalogPage() {
               <TemplateCard
                 key={tpl.id}
                 template={tpl}
+                canUse={canUseTemplate}
                 onUse={() => navigate(`/test-catalog/${tpl.id}/use`)}
               />
             ))}
@@ -286,9 +295,11 @@ export default function TestCatalogPage() {
 
 function TemplateCard({
   template,
+  canUse,
   onUse,
 }: {
   template: TestTemplateSummary;
+  canUse: boolean;
   onUse: () => void;
 }) {
   return (
@@ -341,14 +352,16 @@ function TemplateCard({
       {/* Spacer */}
       <div className="flex-1" />
 
-      {/* Action */}
-      <button
-        onClick={onUse}
-        className="mt-4 flex w-full items-center justify-center gap-1.5 rounded-lg border border-cyan-500/30 bg-cyan-500/10 py-2 text-sm font-medium text-cyan-400 hover:bg-cyan-500/20 transition-colors"
-      >
-        <FlaskConical className="h-4 w-4" />
-        Use Template
-      </button>
+      {/* Action — only visible to users who can create tests */}
+      {canUse && (
+        <button
+          onClick={onUse}
+          className="mt-4 flex w-full items-center justify-center gap-1.5 rounded-lg border border-cyan-500/30 bg-cyan-500/10 py-2 text-sm font-medium text-cyan-400 hover:bg-cyan-500/20 transition-colors"
+        >
+          <FlaskConical className="h-4 w-4" />
+          Use Template
+        </button>
+      )}
     </div>
   );
 }