Alabama Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractor

Alabama Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractor Exam: What You Need to Know to Pass

You've put in the work on the job site. Now you need to prove it on paper. The Alabama Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractor exam is a 60-question, open-book test that stands between you and your contractor license. Pass it with a 70% or better, and you're in business — literally. This guide breaks down exactly what's on the exam, what books to bring, how to study smart, and where to practice. Start with our free practice exam to see where you stand right now.

Exam Overview: The Basics

Here's what you're dealing with:

• Questions: 60 scored questions
• Time limit: 150 minutes
• Passing score: 70% — that means 42 correct answers out of 60
• Format: Open book, multiple choice
• Administered by: PSI Exams

This is an open-book exam, which sounds easier than it is. You can bring approved references, but the clock doesn't wait while you search. Tabbing your books before the exam isn't optional — it's the whole game. More on that below.

The official exam bulletin has the full candidate information, including testing center locations and any updates to approved materials.

What Topics Are on the Alabama Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractor Exam?

Five topic areas make up the exam. Here's the breakdown by item count:

1. Steep and Low Slope Roofing, including BUR and Waterproofing — 27 Items

This is nearly half the exam. You need to know asphalt shingle installation requirements, built-up roofing (BUR) composition and bitumens, single-ply membrane systems (EPDM, TPO, PVC) and their attachment methods, and polymer-modified bitumen systems (APP and SBS). Underlayment configurations for steep-slope systems also fall here. Spend the most time on this section.

2. Estimating and Plan Reading — 10 Items

Roof area calculations, slope factors, rafter length, hip and valley length, net versus gross area, waste allowances, and local area cost adjustments. A calculator is allowed — but you need to know which formulas to use and where to find them fast.

3. Roofing Components — 9 Items

Solid versus spaced decking, plywood and board sheathing, underlayment materials and classifications, ice barrier requirements, and flashing types (drip edge, valley, step, apron, counterflashing, crickets and saddles).

4. Surface Preparation and Planning — 8 Items

Roof deck inspection, plywood and OSB grading standards and minimum thickness, structural load and deflection limits, minimum slope requirements by system type, and underlayment selection by roof covering and slope.

5. Safety — 6 Items

OSHA fall protection rules for roofing work, personal fall arrest systems, guardrail specifications, scaffold safety, and ladder and stairway requirements. These come straight from 29 CFR 1926.

Sample Questions

Here are five questions from our practice pool. These reflect the style and difficulty you'll see on the real Alabama Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractor exam. Work through them — but we're not giving you the answers here. Try our free practice exam to check your thinking.

Question 1 — Roofing Components (Hard)
Compared to organic felts of the same weight, fiberglass felt underlayment costs approximately how much more?
- A) 85 percent more
- B) 65 percent more
- C) 45 percent more
- D) 25 percent more

Question 2 — Estimating and Plan Reading (Easy)
When calculating the area of an irregularly-shaped level roof, the negative method requires the estimator to:
- A) Divide the roof into triangles and sum them
- B) Extend roof lines into one rectangle, then subtract excluded areas
- C) Multiply plan area by the roof-slope factor
- D) Divide the roof into rectangles and sum them

Question 3 — Roofing Components (Medium)
When installing plywood roof sheathing, what is the minimum panel span index rating recommended for use under a built-up roof?
- A) 48/24
- B) 24/0
- C) 16/0
- D) 32/16

Question 4 — Steep and Low Slope Roofing (Medium)
For double-coverage underlayment on a steep-slope roof, what top lap dimension is required?
- A) 19 inches
- B) 12 inches
- C) 2 inches
- D) 6 inches

Question 5 — Estimating and Plan Reading (Medium)
You are bidding a commercial re-roofing project in Birmingham, Alabama. After compiling your total estimated project cost using a national estimating guide, what area modification adjustment should you apply?
- A) Add 3 percent
- B) Deduct 10 percent
- C) No modification required
- D) Deduct 18 percent

Know the answers? Or just guessing? The free practice exam will tell you.

What Types of Questions to Expect

Our full practice bank has 448 questions across all five topic areas. Here's what each section actually tests:

Estimating and Plan Reading — 65 practice questions
Expect math-heavy problems: calculating roof area using positive and negative methods, applying slope factors to get actual surface area, determining rafter length from plan dimensions, and finding hip and valley lengths using appendix tables. You'll also see regional cost adjustment problems like the Birmingham example above.

Surface Preparation and Planning — 85 practice questions
Questions cover deck inspection criteria, OSB and plywood grading and minimum thickness requirements, deflection and load-bearing limits, and minimum slope standards for different roofing systems. Underlayment selection by slope and covering type appears here too.

Steep and Low Slope Roofing, including BUR, Waterproofing — 223 practice questions
This is the deepest section by far, matching its weight on the real exam. Questions test shingle installation details, BUR system components and bitumen types, single-ply attachment methods for EPDM, TPO, and PVC, APP versus SBS modified bitumen differences, and underlayment configurations for steep-slope applications.

Roofing Components — 45 practice questions
Expect questions on plywood span index ratings, underlayment classifications, ice barrier installation requirements, and flashing installation details — drip edge, valley, step, and counterflashing included.

Safety — 30 practice questions
OSHA-specific questions on fall protection trigger heights for low-slope and steep roofs, personal fall arrest system components and inspection requirements, guardrail height and load specs, scaffold erection rules, and ladder safety requirements from 29 CFR 1926.

Required Study Materials

This exam is open book — bring the right books, tabbed and ready.

Required references (allowed in the exam room):

• OSHA 29 CFR 1926 — OSHA Standards for the Construction Industry. Every Safety question comes from this book. Know Subpart R inside and out.
• IBC 2021 — International Building Code 2021. Code questions are based on this edition specifically — later editions are not accepted for code topics.
• Roofing Construction and Estimating — Daniel Atcheson's 1995 reference covers estimating methods, slope factors, and material calculations. Your go-to for the Estimating section.
• NRCA Roofing Manual: Steep Slope Roof Systems — The 2026 edition. Tab it by roof system type (shingles, wood shakes, tile, metal). This manual and the one below cover the largest chunk of the exam.
• NRCA Roofing Manual: Membrane Roofing Systems — The 2023 edition. Tab by membrane type: BUR, modified bitumen, and single-ply systems.

Practical tools for your prep:

• Redi-Tag Permanent Colored Tabs — 100 laser tabs in five colors. Use color coding by topic area: one color for shingles, another for BUR, another for safety. Permanent adhesive only — no sticky notes or loose paper allowed in the exam.
• Sharpie Highlighters — 12-pack in assorted fluorescent colors. Mark key tables, installation dimensions, and slope requirements while you study. Let ink dry before highlighting to avoid smearing.

Books must be otherwise unmarked and may not contain loose or attached papers. Only permanent tabs are allowed. Do your highlighting before exam day.

Study Tips That Actually Work

Give yourself three to six weeks. That's a realistic window if you're working full time.

Weight your time to match the exam. Steep and Low Slope Roofing is 27 of the 60 questions. That's where most of your hours go. Tab the NRCA Steep Slope manual by system, tab the NRCA Membrane manual by membrane type (BUR, modified bitumen, single-ply), and mark IBC Chapter 15.

Practice the math until it's fast. The Estimating section allows a calculator, but 10 questions still move quickly. Work through roof area calculations, slope factor conversions, waste percentages, and labor rate problems from Roofing Construction and Estimating until you can find the right table and do the math in under two minutes.

Use a two-pass strategy on test day. Go through all 60 questions once, answering what you know immediately. Flag anything that requires a book lookup. Then go back with your references. The clock runs the whole time — don't get stuck on one question.

Aim for 80% in practice. The passing bar is 42 correct, but you want a cushion. If you're scoring 80% or better consistently on our full practice exam, you're in good shape for the real thing.

Your eligibility is good for one year with unlimited retakes — but each attempt costs $96. Treat your first sitting as the one that counts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the Alabama Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractor exam?
The exam has 60 scored questions.

What is the passing score?
You need to answer 42 questions correctly — that's 70% — to pass.

How long do I have?
150 minutes for the full exam.

How much does it cost to take the exam?
$96 per registration, whether it's your first attempt or a retake.

How do I register?
You can register online 24 hours a day at the exam registration page, or call PSI at (855) 257-1619. Phone registration hours are Monday through Friday 6:30 am–9:00 pm and Saturday–Sunday 8:00 am–4:30 pm, Central Time. Have a valid credit card ready for phone registration.

Is the exam open book?
Yes. You can bring your approved references into the testing center. Books must be free of loose or attached papers, and only permanent tabs are allowed — no sticky notes.

What references are allowed?
The five approved references are: 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA), IBC 2021, Roofing Construction and Estimating by Daniel Atcheson (1995), NRCA Roofing Manual: Steep Slope Roof Systems (2026), and NRCA Roofing Manual: Membrane Roofing Systems (2023). For all references except code books, later editions may be used. Code questions are based only on the listed code edition.

Can I use a calculator?
Yes — a silent, nonprinting, non-programmable calculator without an alphabetic keyboard or paper tape is allowed.

How many times can I retake the exam?
Unlimited times during your one-year eligibility period. If you don't pass within that year, you'll need to reapply with the state. The $96 fee applies each time you register.

What topics are covered?
Estimating and Plan Reading (10 items), Surface Preparation and Planning (8 items), Steep and Low Slope Roofing including BUR and Waterproofing (27 items), Roofing Components (9 items), and Safety (6 items). Full details are in the official exam bulletin.

Get Started Today

You've got the breakdown. Now put it to use. Start with the free practice exam — 10 questions, no account needed, no cost. It'll show you the format and give you an honest read on where your knowledge is solid and where the gaps are. When you're ready to go deeper, the full practice exam matches the real test: 60 questions, 150 minutes, same topic breakdown, with a score report that tells you exactly which areas need more work. Get your books tabbed, work through the practice questions, and go pass this thing. Check the state licensing website for any licensing requirements beyond the exam itself.