Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference
Illinois Residential, Commercial and Industrial Roofing Contractor
Illinois · Continental Testing Services
Verified, not estimated. Every figure below is drawn from the official exam structure we maintain — question counts, passing standard and topic weighting. Practice questions are grounded in the source law with statute citations. We omit any figure we can't verify rather than guess at it.
Total questions
130
Passing score
70%
Exam time
150 min
Administered by
Continental Testing Services
Format
Closed-book
Illinois State Portion 130 questions
Safety and Employee Protection
25 Q · 19%
OSHA standards and recordkeeping requirements (Forms 300, 300A, 301)OSHA penalty types and enforcement inspectionsEmployee rights and anti-retaliation protections under the OSH ActJobsite safety equipment and emergency action plansSubstance abuse policies and safe hiring practicesEnvironmental regulations (asbestos, lead, hazardous waste, Clean Water Act, air quality)Workers' compensation and employment-related insurance requirementsEmployee vs. independent contractor classification and key employment laws (FLSA, ADA, Immigration and Nationality Act)Personal fall arrest systems: body belts vs. full-body harnesses, anchorage strength and D-ring attachment point (Safety Manual ch. 11)Portable power tools and abrasive wheels: guarding, ring testing and work-rest clearance (Safety Manual ch. 25)Jobsite sanitation: potable drinking water, prohibited common cups and dippers, washing and toilet facilities (Safety Manual)
Roofing Preparation and Materials
20 Q · 15%
Roof deck types and requirements (plywood, OSB, wood planks, spaced vs. solid sheathing)Underlayment materials and selection by roof covering type (asphalt felt, synthetic, polymer-modified bitumen, self-adhering)Underlayment configurations by slope and roof system (single-layer, double-layer, interlayment for shakes)Steep-slope roofing materials by type (asphalt shingles, clay/concrete tile, slate, wood shake/shingle, metal shingles)Low-slope membrane materials (built-up, polymer-modified bitumen, single-ply, liquid-applied, SPF)Rigid board insulation types, R-values, and installation for low-slope assembliesAir and vapor retarders in roof assemblies (placement, materials, permeance requirements)Material handling, storage, and weather conditions during applicationRoof insulation energy design: heating- and cooling-degree days, climate zones and radiant barriers (NRCA condensation and air leakage control volume; Steep-slope appendix)
Steep-Slope Roofing Systems
35 Q · 27%
Asphalt shingle materials, types, and performance standards (ASTM D3462, D3161, D7158)Clay and concrete tile profiles, materials, and attachment methodsSlate materials, grades, sizes, and installation configurations (standard, graduated, textural)Wood shake and wood shingle types, grades, and species requirementsMetal shingle materials, finishes, and attachment systemsRoof deck requirements and substrate types for steep-slope systemsUnderlayment and interlayment materials, configurations, and installation methodsFlashing details for steep-slope systems (valleys, eaves, chimneys, penetrations, step and counterflashing)
Low-Slope Roofing Systems
15 Q · 12%
Membrane types for low-slope roofing (BUR, polymer-modified bitumen, single-ply, liquid-applied, SPF)Roof deck types and substrate requirements for membrane roof systemsRigid board insulation types, R-value, and multilayer installation requirementsMembrane attachment methods (hot-applied, cold-applied, torch-applied, mechanically attached, adhered, self-adhering, ballasted)Slope, drainage, and ponding water requirements for low-slope assembliesAir and vapor retarders in low-slope roof assembliesFlashing, metal edge systems, and architectural metal flashing details for low-slope roofsReroofing decisions: re-cover vs. tear-off and replacement evaluation procedures
Rules, Regulations and Business Practices
20 Q · 15%
Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act requirements and definitionsLicense types, application process, and qualifying party obligationsInsurance, bonding, and surety requirements for licensureLicense renewal, expiration, inactive status, and restorationGrounds for disciplinary action, penalties, and enforcement proceduresContract requirements for roofing services including rescission and trust fund provisionsBusiness entity structures and their liability, tax, and management characteristicsEmployee classification, hiring documentation, and key employment lawsEstimating: direct job costs vs. general conditions, overhead and markup (NASCLA ch. 6-7)Financial management and tax basics: depreciation methods (straight-line, declining balance, MACRS), salvage value and useful life (NASCLA ch. 13-14)Contract interpretation: ambiguity construed against the drafter, order of precedence of contract documents (NASCLA ch. 7)Equipment ownership and operating costs in bids (NASCLA ch. 6)
Non-Residential Roofing Systems
15 Q · 12%
Built-up roof (BUR) membrane types, components, and installation methodsSingle-ply membrane systems (EPDM, thermoplastic) — attachment methods and configurationsPolymer-modified bitumen (APP and SBS) membrane systems and application techniquesSpray polyurethane foam (SPF) roof systems — application, surface texture, and protective surfacingsStructural and architectural metal panel roof systems — profiles, seam types, and substrate requirementsRigid board roof insulation types, R-value principles, and multilayer installation requirementsRoof deck types, slope and drainage requirements, and expansion joint designReroofing methods — re-cover versus tear-off replacement, existing system evaluation, and building code requirements
Key Distinctions
ArbitrationvsMediation
Arbitration uses a third-party arbitrator whose decision is legally binding on all parties, while mediation uses a neutral facilitator but the parties themselves set the final terms.
Nascla Contractors Guide 14th, Chapter 7 — ArbitrationCollaborative LawvsMediation
Collaborative law uses each party's own advocates to negotiate a result with no neutral third party, whereas mediation involves a neutral mediator facilitating the discussion.
Nascla Contractors Guide 14th, Chapter 7 — Collaborative LawLump-Sum ContractvsCost-Plus Contract
In a lump-sum contract the contractor bears all cost risk for a fixed price, while in a cost-plus contract the owner reimburses actual costs plus a percentage or fixed-fee markup.
Nascla Contractors Guide 14th, Chapter 7 — Lump-Sum ContractUnit-Price ContractvsLump-Sum Contract
A unit-price contract pays the contractor per unit based on actual quantities used, making it suitable when quantities are unknown in advance, whereas a lump-sum contract sets one predetermined total price regardless of actual quantities.
Nascla Contractors Guide 14th, Chapter 7 — Unit-Price ContractAddendavsModifications (Change Orders)
Addenda are changes made to contract documents before the contract is awarded, while modifications/change orders are written changes made after the contract has been executed.
Nascla Contractors Guide 14th, Chapter 7 — Making Changes to the ContractDesign/BuildvsTurnkey
In design/build the owner contracts one company to manage design through construction, while in turnkey the contractor additionally secures financing and land before delivering the completed project.
Nascla Contractors Guide 14th, Chapter 7 — TurnkeyWritten AgreementvsOral Agreement
Written agreements always take legal precedence over oral agreements because oral terms are difficult to prove if a dispute arises.
Nascla Contractors Guide 14th, Chapter 7 — Oral AgreementsMaterial BreachvsLiquidated Damages
A material breach is a serious contract violation (e.g., owner refusing to pay) that may void the contract and result in litigation, whereas liquidated damages are a predetermined per-day penalty written into the contract for a specific breach such as late completion, and they are the exclusive remedy for that breach.
Nascla Contractors Guide 14th, Chapter 7 — Breach of ContractCritical Path Method (CPM)vsBar Chart / Calendar Scheduling
CPM graphically shows interdependent relationships between tasks so delays can be traced through the schedule, while bar chart and calendar scheduling do not show task interdependencies.
NASCLA Contractors Guide, Chapter 8 — Critical Path Method sectionFree Float TimevsTotal Float Time
Free float is how long an activity can be delayed without affecting the early start of the next activity, while total float is how long it can be delayed without affecting the overall project completion date.
NASCLA Contractors Guide, Chapter 8 — Float Time sectionAccrual Accounting MethodvsCash Accounting Method
The accrual method recognizes income when services occur and expenses when incurred regardless of payment timing, while the cash method records income and expenses only when money is actually received or paid.
NASCLA Contractors Guide, Chapter 14 — Accrual Method sectionArchitectural Metal Panel Roof System (Water-Shedding)vsWeatherproof Roof System
Architectural metal panel systems rely on slope to shed water rapidly and have seams that are not necessarily watertight, classifying them as water-shedding rather than weatherproof systems.
NRCA Roofing Manual — Metal Panel Roof Systems, Section 5.1Key Terms
Retainage Nascla Contractors Guide 14th, Chapter 7 — Retainage
A percentage (generally 10%) withheld from each progress payment to protect the owner, which may be reduced after substantial completion of the project.
Liquidated Damages Nascla Contractors Guide 14th, Chapter 7 — Breach of Contract / Liquidated Damages
Predetermined per-day damages written into a construction contract for late completion, calculated by multiplying the daily rate by the number of days late, and serving as the exclusive remedy for that specific breach.
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA) NASCLA Contractors Guide, Chapter 14 — Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA) section
A payroll tax paid solely by the employer (not withheld from employees), reported on Form 940, for which employers who pay state unemployment tax on time receive an offset credit.
Perm (Vapor Transmission Unit) Roofing Construction & Estimating, Chapter 12 — Measuring Vapor Barrier Effectiveness
A unit of vapor permeability equal to the transmission of 1 grain of water vapor per square foot per hour per inch of mercury pressure difference; the lower the perm rating, the better the vapor barrier.
OSHA Construction Noise Action Level (29 CFR 1926.52) NRCA Safety Manual, Chapter 17—Hearing Conservation
Under OSHA's construction standard, engineering controls, administrative controls, or hearing protection must be provided when noise exceeds an eight-hour TWA of 90 dBA.
ACRM Repair vs. Removal Threshold (OSHA Asbestos Regulations) Chapter 1—Asbestos-containing Roofing Material, Table 1, Regulated Roofing Operations
Under OSHA asbestos regulations, work disturbing asbestos-containing roofing material is classified as a 'repair' only if the amount removed fits in one standard 60-by-60-inch waste bag; larger quantities are classified as 'removals' with additional requirements.
CGL Asbestos Coverage — Occurrence Basis (CNA/NRCA) Chapter 1—Asbestos-containing Roofing Material, CNA/NRCA insurance provisions
The NRCA-affiliated CGL coverage offered through CNA provides an optional exception to the asbestos exclusion written on an occurrence basis, meaning coverage applies from the time the claim's triggering event occurs rather than when the claim is filed.
Workers' Compensation — Asbestos Exclusion Chapter 1—Asbestos-containing Roofing Material
Workers' compensation and employer's liability policies do not contain specific exclusions for asbestos-related injuries, unlike CGL and umbrella policies which increasingly include asbestos exclusions.
ASTM D4586 Type I vs. Type II Asphalt Roof Cement NRCA Steep-Slope Manual, Asphalt Shingles Chapter 4 — Asphalt Roof Cement (ASTM D4586)
Under ASTM D4586, Type I asphalt roof cement uses low-softening point asphalt and Type II uses high-softening point asphalt; Class I/II designations (not Type) distinguish dry-surface from damp/wet-surface application.
Heating-Degree Day (HDD65) NRCA Roofing Manual: Architectural Metal Flashing and Condensation and Air Leakage Control—2022, Chapter 1, Section 1.3—Climate Conditions
A climate measurement calculated as the difference between 65°F and the outdoor mean temperature for a given day when that mean temperature is below 65°F, used to quantify heating energy demand.
Cooling-Degree Day (CDD50) NRCA Roofing Manual: Architectural Metal Flashing and Condensation and Air Leakage Control—2022, Chapter 1, Section 1.3—Climate Conditions
A climate measurement calculated as the difference between the outdoor mean temperature and 50°F for a given day when the mean temperature exceeds 50°F, used to quantify cooling energy demand.
CSI MasterFormat NASCLA Contractors Guide, Pages 6-3 and 6-8
A Construction Specifications Institute classification system that groups numbers and job tasks by major construction activities; using it for both estimates and cost tracking makes it easier to compare estimated to actual costs.
Value Engineering NASCLA Contractors Guide, Chapter 8 — Value Engineering section
A project management approach whose objective is to understand the owner's cost, quality, and time priorities and deliver a product of the highest value, often incentivized by owner bonuses for cutting costs without sacrificing quality.
Just-In-Time (JIT) Delivery NASCLA Contractors Guide, Chapter 8 — Just-In-Time section
A materials management strategy that times deliveries to arrive as materials are needed, keeping inventory costs low and reducing the risk of on-site theft or vandalism.
Positive Method vs. Negative Method (Roof Area Measurement) Roofing Construction and Estimating, Chapter 1, Pages 7-8
The positive method divides an irregular roof into rectangles and adds their areas, while the negative method extends roof lines into one large rectangle and subtracts non-roof areas; both yield identical results.
Channel (Pan) Flashing NRCA Architectural Metal Flashing, Chapter 3, Section 3.7 Sidewall Flashing
A type of sidewall flashing used with S-tile, pan-and-cover, and most interlocking tile roof systems that extends under the roof covering along the length of a wall, as opposed to step flashing used with plain flat tile profiles.
Formulas to Know
Liquidated Damages Total
Daily rate × Number of days late = Total liquidated damages assessedRoof Area — Positive Method
Total roof area = Sum of all individual rectangle areasRoof Area — Negative Method
Total roof area = Area of large enclosing rectangle − Sum of non-roof areasHeating-Degree Day (HDD65)
HDD65 = 65°F − Outdoor mean temperature (when mean temp < 65°F)Cooling-Degree Day (CDD50)
CDD50 = Outdoor mean temperature − 50°F (when mean temp > 50°F)Retainage Withheld per Payment
Retainage = Progress payment amount × Retainage percentage (typically 10%)