ICC G15 Shingle Roofing (2018 IBC/IRC) Exam: A Practical Study Guide
The ICC G15 Shingle Roofing (2018 IBC/IRC) exam tests the rules and the reference books behind the work. This guide lays out the job: the key facts from the official bulletin, what the exam covers, the books you need, sample questions with answers, and how to get ready. Pearson VUE gives the exam.
The ICC G15 Shingle Roofing (2018 IBC/IRC) Exam at a Glance
Here's the rundown from the official bulletin:
| Questions | 60 questions |
| Time limit | 150 minutes |
| Passing score | a minimum score of 70 |
| Books in the exam room | Open book |
| Exam fee | $120 |
On exam day
- Test questions are in four-option, multiple-choice format, with one answer on each question scored as correct.
References you may bring
- International Building Code (2018)
- International Residential Code (2018)
Scheduling, changes and retakes
- Exams are scheduled through PearsonVUE at www.pearsonvue.com/ICC, where candidates can create an account, schedule an exam, locate a test center, purchase vouchers and request accommodations.
- Results for examinations taken electronically are available immediately after the examination is completed.
- You must wait 10 days before retaking a failed exam.
- After passing, contact the jurisdiction in which you wish to be licensed for any other requirements, because ICC is not a licensing agency.
Source: National Contractor/Trades Examination Information Bulletin, PUBLISHED June 30, 2026. Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.
What the ICC G15 Shingle Roofing (2018 IBC/IRC) Exam Covers
The official content outline breaks the exam into 4 topics:
| Topic | Questions | Share of the exam |
|---|---|---|
| Job Planning and Setup | 11 | 18% |
| Types of Roofing Material and Application | 14 | 23% |
| Fasteners, Flashings, Scuppers, Etc. | 19 | 32% |
| Re-roofing | 16 | 27% |
How to Get Ready for the ICC G15 Shingle Roofing (2018 IBC/IRC) Exam
Treat your reference books like your tools. On an open-book exam you don't need every rule memorized. You need to know which book holds it and where to find it.
Buy the books the bulletin lists, in the editions it names. An older or newer edition can put the answer on a different page, or change it.
Learn your way around each book before you study anything else. The table of contents and the index are your layout.
Highlight what you look up most. Check the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings before you add any.
Do the big jobs first. Fasteners, Flashings, Scuppers, Etc. and Re-roofing make up 59% of the exam.
Put in the reps with timed practice exams. The clock trains you to find answers at the pace the real exam needs: about 2 minutes 30 seconds per question.
Measure twice. When you miss a practice question, find the section in your book, read it and mark it. Keep at it until you pass practice exams consistently.
The Books for the ICC G15 Shingle Roofing (2018 IBC/IRC) Exam
The references listed for this open-book exam are the 2018 International Building Code and the 2018 International Residential Code.
Where to get them:
Working the Exam on Test Day
Work the exam in two passes. On the first pass, answer everything you know and bookmark the rest. Every exam lets you come back to bookmarked questions. On the second pass, go back to your bookmarks and take them one at a time.
Don't get hung up on one question. You have 150 minutes for 60 questions, which is about 2 minutes 30 seconds per question. Before you finish, make sure nothing is left blank.
Study Tips
Read each answer choice in order. If it seems correct, mark it as your current best. Each subsequent choice must beat your current best to replace it. Keep going until you've reviewed all choices, then verify your final selection actually answers the question.
Our practice exam is specifically designed to mimic the testing conditions at all exam centers. While untimed PDF study guides might help with studying, they don’t prepare you for the challenge of managing your time during an actual test.
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.
Sample ICC G15 Shingle Roofing (2018 IBC/IRC) Questions
These come from our practice question bank, each with its answer and the reference behind it.
Sample 1 — Job Planning and Setup
Question: You are a residential roofing contractor and a bulk shipment of roof-covering material arrives at the job site loose rather than in individual packages carrying the manufacturer's identifying marks and the required approved testing agency labels. For the material to be acceptable, that same identifying information must be supplied in what form?
- A. Written approval issued by the building official
- B. Grading bureau inspection label on each bundle
- C. Bill of lading or certificate from the manufacturer
- D. Field test report from an approved testing agency
Correct Answer: C
Per 2018 IBC Section 1506.3 (Product identification), roof-covering materials must be delivered in packages bearing the manufacturer's identifying marks and the approved testing agency labels required by Section 1505; bulk shipments of materials must be accompanied with the same information issued in the form of a certificate or on a bill of lading by the manufacturer. A testing agency field report, a building official's approval letter, and grading bureau bundle labels (required for wood shakes and shingles under Sections 1507.8.9 and 1507.9.10) do not satisfy the bulk-shipment identification requirement.
Reference: IBC 2018 Section 1506.3
Sample 2 — Fasteners, Flashings, Scuppers, Etc.
Question: A residence has a low-slope roof section enclosed by parapet walls where roof drains are required. Overflow scuppers are installed in the adjacent parapet walls for secondary drainage. The inlet flow line of those scuppers must be located how far above the low point of the roof served?
- A. 6 inches
- B. 4 inches
- C. 2 inches
- D. 3 inches
Correct Answer: C
Per IRC Section R903.4.1, overflow scuppers must be three times the size of the roof drains, have a minimum opening height of 4 inches, and be installed with the inlet flow line located 2 inches above the low point of the roof served.
Reference: IRC 2018 Section R903.4.1
Sample 3 — Re-roofing
Question: During test cuts on a one-family dwelling reroof, you find the existing roof coverings are dry, sound and fully adequate as a base for additional roofing. What is the greatest number of existing applications of roof covering that may remain in place beneath a new roof recover?
- A. Three
- B. None
- C. One
- D. Two
Correct Answer: C
Per IRC R908.3.1.1, a roof recover is not permitted where the existing roof has two or more applications of any type of roof covering. Therefore no more than one existing application may remain; a second layer triggers a full roof replacement with removal down to the roof deck (IRC R908.3). The dry, sound condition of the existing covering does not override the layer limit.
Reference: IRC 2018 Section R908.3.1.1 Roof recover not allowed, Item 3
Sample 4 — Types of Roofing Material and Application
Question: You are installing a slate shingle roof with sheet metal valley flashing. What is the minimum required width of the valley flashing?
- A. 11 inches
- B. 15 inches
- C. 8 inches
- D. 24 inches
Correct Answer: B
IBC 2018 Section 1507.7.7 requires valley flashing for slate shingles to be not less than 15 inches wide, with a minimum uncoated thickness of 0.0179 inch zinc-coated G90.
Reference: IBC 2018 Page 351
Why Practice Online Instead of With a PDF
A PDF is like reading about a job instead of doing it. 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 break your score down by topic so you know where to put in more work.
Get Started
Take the free ICC G15 Shingle Roofing (2018 IBC/IRC) practice exam to see where you stand, then put your time into the topics that need it. For the official rules, read the exam bulletin, and see the licensing board's website.