Arkansas Roofing/Roof Decks - Commercial Exam: Step-by-Step Study Guide
Preparing for the Arkansas Roofing/Roof Decks - Commercial exam is easier one step at a time. This guide starts with the key facts from the official bulletin, then covers the topics on the exam, the reference books, sample questions with answers, and a simple way to prepare. PSI gives the exam.
Arkansas Roofing/Roof Decks - Commercial Exam Overview
Start with the facts. Here's what the official bulletin says:
| Questions | 30 questions |
| Time limit | 75 minutes |
| Passing score | 21 correct answers out of 30 scored questions |
| Books in the exam room | Open book |
On exam day
- Candidates must supply their own references, may use later editions except for Code books, may not bring additional papers, and may bring downloaded references only if bound.
- References may be highlighted, underlined, annotated and indexed before the exam but not written in during it, and only permanent tabs are allowed.
- Candidates will have access to an online calculator and may not bring their own calculator.
References you may bring
- Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA) (with latest available amendments)
- Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 Selections by PSI (with latest available amendments)
- International Building Code (2015)
- Roofing Construction and Estimating (1995)
- NRCA Roofing Manual: Membrane Roofing Systems (2019 or 2023 (after October 1, 2025, only the 2023 edition may be used))
- Carpentry and Building Construction (2016)
Source: Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board – Roofing/Roof Decks – Commercial, 10/17/2220. Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.
Topics on the Arkansas Roofing/Roof Decks - Commercial Exam
Next, the content. The official content outline has 5 topics:
| Topic | Questions | Share of the exam |
|---|---|---|
| Estimating and Plan Reading | 5 | 17% |
| Surface Preparation and Planning | 4 | 13% |
| Steep Slope Roofing, including BUR, Waterproofing | 14 | 47% |
| Roofing Components | 4 | 13% |
| OSHA Safety | 3 | 10% |
A Simple Plan to Prepare for the Arkansas Roofing/Roof Decks - Commercial Exam
Step one is the books. This is an open-book exam, so the references on the bulletin's list are what you'll work from, while you study and in the exam room. Get the editions the bulletin names.
Step two is learning your way around them. Go through each book's table of contents and index until you know where the major subjects are. You don't need to memorize the books. You need to find things in them.
Step three is marking them up. Highlight the sections you use most. The exam facts above list the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings, so follow them exactly.
Step four is timed practice. Our practice exams run on a clock, so you get used to the real exam's pace: about 2 minutes 30 seconds per question.
Along the way, give the most time to the biggest topics. Steep Slope Roofing, including BUR, Waterproofing and Estimating and Plan Reading make up 63% of the exam.
The last step is consistency. Keep practicing until you pass several practice exams in a row. That's the signal you're ready.
Reference Books for the Arkansas Roofing/Roof Decks - Commercial Exam
The bulletin lists six reference materials that are allowed in the examination center.
Where to get them:
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926
- IBC 2015
- Roofing Construction and Estimating
- NRCA Roofing Manual: Membrane Roofing Systems
- Carpentry and Building Construction
On Test Day
Go through the exam at a steady pace. On your first pass, answer the questions you know and bookmark the ones you don't. Every exam lets you come back to bookmarked questions.
On your second pass, return to your bookmarks one at a time. You have 75 minutes for 30 questions, which is about 2 minutes 30 seconds per question, so keep moving and don't let one question hold you up. Before you finish, answer anything you skipped. A blank can't earn a point.
Study Tips
On an open-book exam, the winners aren't the smartest people in the room — they're the fastest at finding answers. Buy the required book, practice with it open, and tab and highlight each section the first time a question sends you there. Learn the index and table of contents until you can land on any topic in seconds. That speed is what separates a pass from a fail.
Know your way around each book's index and table of contents. Open-book exams reward speed: you need to find specific items quickly.
On an open-book exam, work through every question once: answer the ones you know and skip the ones you don't. Then go back to the ones you flagged. You can bookmark questions for later review, just like on our exams — and don't sink too much time into any single question. The clock is still running.
Give yourself at least three to six weeks. Use your exam's candidate bulletin as your roadmap for what's tested, and spend your time on finding-it-fast skills over rote memorization. In practice, aim for three clean passes at 80% or higher — setting your practice bar above the real cut score gives you a comfortable margin on test day.
Practicing against a ticking clock is the best way to beat exam-clock anxiety. Use these timed tests to build your pacing, so you learn to move steadily and never burn too long on a single question. By test day, the format feels routine.
Sample Arkansas Roofing/Roof Decks - Commercial Practice Questions
Here are a few questions from our practice question bank, each with its answer and reference.
Sample 1 — Roofing Components
Question: Scuppers are being used to provide secondary (emergency overflow) drainage for a parapeted low-slope commercial roof. What is the minimum opening dimension permitted for these scuppers?
- A. 2 inches
- B. 6 inches
- C. 4 inches
- D. 3 inches
Correct Answer: C
IBC 1503.4.2 states that scuppers used for secondary (emergency overflow) roof drainage shall not have an opening dimension of less than 4 inches, and that flow through the primary drainage system shall not be considered when locating and sizing the scuppers.
Reference: IBC 2015 Chapter 15 — Section 1503.4.2 Scuppers
Sample 2 — OSHA Safety
Question: Employees required to handle or use flammable liquids, gases, or ______ materials shall be instructed in the safe handling and use of these materials.
- A. Corrosive
- B. Explosive
- C. Toxic
- D. Radioactive
Correct Answer: C
According to OSHA 1926 CFR 29, §1926.21(b)(5) (Page 30), employees required to handle or use flammable liquids, gases, or toxic materials shall be instructed in the safe handling and use of these materials and made aware of the specific requirements contained in subparts D, F, and other applicable subparts.
Reference: OSHA 1926 CFR 29, §1926.21(b)(5), Page 30
Sample 3 — Steep Slope Roofing, including BUR, Waterproofing
Question: What is the minimum grade of red cedar shingle recommended because of its natural decay resistance and reduced waste during installation?
- A. Grade 4 (Green Label)
- B. Number 2 Grade (Red Label)
- C. Grade 3 (Black Label)
- D. Number 1 Grade (Blue Label)
Correct Answer: D
Number 1 Grade (Blue Label) cedar shingles are recommended because they're naturally decay-resistant. Also, less material is wasted during installation because these shingles don't break as easily as the lower grades.
Reference: Roofing Construction and Estimating, Chapter 6 — Wood Shingles and Shakes
Sample 4 — Estimating and Plan Reading
Question: On trusses with long spans, what prevents the bottom chords from moving as the ceiling finish is applied?
- A. Ceiling joists
- B. Sheathing
- C. Permanent bracing
- D. Temporary bracing
Correct Answer: C
On trusses with long spans, permanent bracing prevents the bottom chords from moving as the ceiling finish is applied. Temporary bracing serves a different purpose during initial installation.
Reference: Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 17 Review, Page 501
Practicing Online vs. With a PDF
A PDF lets you read questions at your own pace. The real exam runs on a clock. Our practice exams are timed and on a screen, so you practice finding answers with the clock running. Each attempt draws a new set of questions from our bank, and your results show your score by topic, so you always know what to study next.
Your Next Step
Take the free Arkansas Roofing/Roof Decks - Commercial practice exam to see where you stand. Then study the topics that need the most attention, one at a time. For the official rules, read the exam bulletin, and see the licensing board's website.