Illinois Residential Roofing Contractor Practice Exam

The exam covers five topic areas. Here's what each one actually demands.

Safety and Employee Protection 25 items

This is the heaviest section. Nearly a third of your exam is here, so treat it that way.

You need to know OSHA recordkeeping cold: which injuries go on Form 300 versus Form 301, who is required to maintain them, and how long records must be kept. Form 300A (the annual summary) has its own posting requirements — know those separately. The exam tests the distinction between programmed and unprogrammed OSHA inspections and the penalty structure for violations.

Fall protection is tested in detail (Chapter 11—Fall Protection in the NRCA Safety Manual). Lifeline breaking strength, maximum arresting forces, and personal fall arrest system components show up as calculation questions. The worked example below is a real one.

Hazard Communication under 29 CFR 1926.59 covers Safety Data Sheets (SDS), labeling requirements, and the employer's obligation to maintain a hazardous substance list. Emergency Action Plans under 29 CFR 1926.35 are tested on specific required elements: alarm systems, evacuation procedures, and employee accounting after an evacuation.

Lead exposure under 29 CFR 1926.62 is tested extensively — action levels, permissible exposure limits, required engineering controls, hygiene facilities, respirator selection, and medical surveillance triggers all appear in the question bank.

Employee rights under the OSH Act include anti-retaliation protections and the right to access exposure and medical records.

Roofing Preparation and Materials 12 items

Know the differences between plywood, OSB, wood planks, and spaced versus solid sheathing — and when each is appropriate. Underlayment types (asphalt felt, synthetic sheets, self-adhering polymer-modified bitumen) each have distinct characteristics, ASTM standards, and installation requirements per the NRCA Roofing Manual steep-slope chapters.

Asphalt shingles are tested on UL fire ratings (Class A, B, C), wind resistance ratings (ASTM D3161 and D7158), and the difference between organic and fiberglass mat construction. Ice and water shield installation — how far it must extend up from the eave — is a repeat topic.

Clay, concrete, and slate tile questions focus on profiles, physical properties, and applicable ASTM standards. Wood shakes versus wood shingles: know the grades, species, and the distinction between shakes (split face) and shingles (sawn).

Steep-Slope Roofing Systems 20 items

Second-heaviest section. Calculation questions appear here regularly.

Asphalt shingle installation requires knowing fastener requirements, starter course placement, exposure and offset patterns, and how attachment requirements change on very steep slopes. Valley types — open, closed, woven — and their flashing requirements are tested.

Flashing is a major sub-area: drip edge metal, step flashing, counterflashing, chimney flashing, pipe flashings, and sidewall flashing. The NRCA Architectural Metal Flashing manual is the primary source for dimensions and sequencing.

Clay and concrete tile installation covers single- and double-layer underlayment systems, valley design, and fastening. Slate installation covers grades, sizes, nail types, and repair procedures (the NRCA Steep Slope manual appendix covers slate repair step-by-step).

Estimating questions — squares, bundles, waste factors, pallets — appear in this section. The worked example below walks through one. Practice the math: it's multi-step and time-pressured.

Low-Slope Roofing Systems 8 items

Fewer questions, but don't skip this section. Know the membrane types: BUR (built-up roofing), polymer-modified bitumen, EPDM, thermoplastic (TPO/PVC), liquid-applied, and spray polyurethane foam (SPF). Each has distinct attachment methods and substrate requirements.

Rigid board insulation: know R-value principles and why multilayer installation is required (offsetting joints). Slope and drainage requirements — what constitutes positive drainage — are tested. Vapor retarders and air retarders in low-slope assemblies appear as conceptual questions: what they do and where they go in the assembly.

Rules, Regulations and Business Practices 15 items

This section is entirely Illinois-specific. The Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act (225 ILCS 335) is the core source.

Know the definition of "roofing work" under 225 ILCS 335/2(o) and 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1460.5 — including what is explicitly excluded (gutters, TV antennas, chimney repairs by masons). License types, the qualifying party's obligations, surety bond and insurance requirements, and the license renewal process all appear here.

Grounds for disciplinary action (225 ILCS 335/9.1), contract requirements including rescission rights, and trust fund provisions are tested. Know the difference between active, inactive, and expired license status and what restoration requires.