- What the AZ-ROOF (CR-42) Exam Actually Tests
- Exam Format, Timing, and Scoring
- Open-Book Rules: What You Can and Can't Bring
- Domain-by-Domain Study Priorities
- A 2026 Study Timeline Built Around the Item Counts
- How the Exam Fits Into Your AZ ROC License
- Common First-Attempt Mistakes
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The CR-42 exam has 50 questions, a 120-minute limit, and a 70% passing score.
- Roofing systems (including BUR and waterproofing) carry 20 questions - the largest single domain.
- You may bring OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 materials and IBC/IRC editions 2009, 2012, 2015, or 2018 into the test.
- NRCA manuals and Roofing Construction & Estimating are study-only - they cannot enter the exam room.
What the AZ-ROOF (CR-42) Exam Actually Tests
When people search "AZ-ROOF," they're almost always looking for information on the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (AZ ROC) trade exam for roofing contractors, officially designated CR-42 Roofing (Residential/Commercial) and administered through PSI testing centers. AZ-ROOF is simply the site identifier this blog uses for that specific credential path. If you're still getting your bearings on the terminology, our overview of what AZ-ROOF is and the breakdown of what AZ-ROOF actually means are good starting points before you dive into study mode.
This is not a generic construction knowledge quiz. It's a trade-specific competency exam built around the day-to-day judgment calls a qualifying party makes on residential and commercial roofing jobs: reading plans, choosing materials, sequencing tear-off and installation, and knowing when a repair is code-compliant versus when it needs a full reroof. PSI's outline behind CR-42 was last revised June 8, 2023, so any prep material referencing an older structure should be treated with caution.
Exam Format, Timing, and Scoring
The mechanics are straightforward once you internalize the numbers:
- 50 total questions delivered in a fixed-format, closed-response style typical of PSI trade exams.
- 120-minute time limit - roughly 2.4 minutes per question if you pace evenly, though estimating and code-lookup questions will eat more of your clock than straightforward terminology questions.
- 70% passing score - you need 35 or more correct answers out of 50.
Those three numbers are the backbone of every scheduling and review decision you'll make. For a deeper dive into exactly how the passing threshold is calculated and what it means for your margin of error, see our dedicated breakdown of the AZ-ROOF passing score.
Key Takeaway
With 50 questions and a 70% cutoff, you have room to miss 15 questions and still pass - but weak performance in the largest domain (roofing systems, 20 questions) is much harder to offset than a few missed questions elsewhere.
Open-Book Rules: What You Can and Can't Bring
CR-42 is partly open book, and understanding the reference rules in advance saves you from a stressful surprise at the test center. Approved reference materials include:
- The listed OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 materials covering construction safety standards.
- IBC or IRC code editions - 2009, 2012, 2015, or 2018 (check which editions your test center stocks or confirms as acceptable before exam day).
Two nuances trip up first-time candidates:
- Roofing Construction & Estimating and the listed NRCA manuals are excellent study resources but are explicitly study-only - you cannot bring them into the exam room.
- Pre-existing annotations, highlighting, and permanent tabs in your approved references are allowed. However, loose papers, temporary sticky tabs, and any writing done during the test itself are prohibited.
A silent, nonprinting, nonprogrammable calculator is permitted, which matters for the estimating and plan-reading questions where you'll be doing area, waste-factor, or material-quantity math.
Domain-by-Domain Study Priorities
PSI's published item counts for CR-42 are 5, 5, 20, 10, 6, and 4 across the six domains. That distribution should directly shape how many hours you spend on each topic. For a full walkthrough of every domain with example task statements, read our complete guide to all six AZ-ROOF exam domains.
Domain 1: Estimating and Plan Reading (5 questions)
Covers reading roof plans and elevations, calculating material quantities, and applying waste factors.
- Practice converting roof pitch and square footage into material counts using your permitted calculator.
Domain 2: Surface Preparation and Planning (5 questions)
Focuses on substrate inspection, deck condition assessment, and job-sequencing decisions before installation begins.
- Know the difference between prep steps for new construction versus tear-off/reroof jobs.
Domain 3: Steep and Low Slope Roofing, including BUR and Waterproofing (20 questions)
This is the largest domain by far and covers shingle, tile, and metal systems on steep slope, plus built-up roofing (BUR), modified bitumen, single-ply membranes, and waterproofing details on low-slope assemblies.
- Prioritize this domain first in your schedule - it carries 40% of the total exam.
- Study flashing details, ponding-water mitigation, and membrane seaming methods specifically.
Domain 4: Roofing Components (10 questions)
Underlayments, fasteners, flashings, vents, drains, and accessory hardware - the parts that make a roofing system function as a whole.
- Memorize which underlayment and fastener types pair with which roof coverings.
Domain 5: Safety (6 questions)
Directly tied to the OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 reference you're allowed to bring in - fall protection, ladder safety, and job-site hazard awareness.
- Practice locating specific fall-protection sections quickly in your OSHA reference during timed drills.
Domain 6: Repairs and Reroofing (4 questions)
Covers diagnosing failure points, deciding between spot repair and full reroof, and code requirements for tear-off versus overlay.
- Know the code-driven limits on how many roofing layers can be left in place before a tear-off is required.
If you're unsure how these domains translate into real difficulty, our analysis on how hard the AZ-ROOF exam actually is compares candidate experience against the domain weighting above.
A 2026 Study Timeline Built Around the Item Counts
Rather than a generic weekly template, build your schedule proportionally to the question counts - this is the single most efficient thing you can do to raise your score. Spaced review still matters, but only after you've allocated time correctly across domains.
Roofing Systems Deep Dive (Domain 3)
- Study steep-slope shingle, tile, and metal systems
- Study BUR, modified bitumen, and single-ply low-slope systems
- Drill waterproofing details and flashing transitions
Components and Repairs (Domains 4 & 6)
- Match underlayments, fasteners, and flashing types to roof coverings
- Review reroof-versus-repair decision criteria and layer limits
Estimating, Prep, and Safety (Domains 1, 2 & 5)
- Practice quantity takeoffs and waste-factor math with your calculator
- Review substrate inspection and job-sequencing scenarios
- Study OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 fall-protection and ladder-safety sections
Full Simulation and Reference Prep
- Take timed 50-question practice runs under the 120-minute limit
- Finalize tabs and highlights in your IBC/IRC and OSHA references
- Review missed questions by domain, weighting review time toward Domain 3
For structured practice questions modeled on this same domain weighting, the AZ-ROOF practice test platform lets you drill each domain individually before attempting a full timed simulation. If you want a compressed, one-page reference to review during your final days, check the AZ-ROOF cheat sheet.
How the Exam Fits Into Your AZ ROC License
Passing CR-42 is one piece of a larger licensing puzzle, and it helps to see the whole picture so you don't get blindsided by a requirement you didn't know existed.
- Statutes and Rules Examination (SRE): This is a separate exam from CR-42 and covers Arizona contracting law and business rules rather than trade knowledge. Passing CR-42 does not satisfy the SRE requirement.
- Experience baseline: The qualifying party must document four years of trade experience, including at least two within the last ten years, with authorized provisions for training credit, reductions, and documentation waivers in certain cases.
- Timing window: Required written examinations generally must be taken within two years before your license application, so don't sit for CR-42 too far ahead of when you plan to apply.
- Business eligibility: Licensing also requires business eligibility review, applicable background checks, and maintaining the required bond. Remember: the resulting license belongs to the business entity, not to you personally as the qualifying party.
For a full checklist of these prerequisites, see AZ-ROOF requirements: eligibility, prerequisites, and how to qualify. And if you're budgeting for renewal down the road, the standard Specialty Dual renewal totals $650 per two-year cycle ($380 renewal plus $270 recovery-fund assessment) - details are in our AZ-ROOF certification cost breakdown.
Common First-Attempt Mistakes
Most candidates who don't pass on the first try make one of these errors:
- Under-studying Domain 3. Because roofing systems, BUR, and waterproofing account for 20 of 50 questions, treating it as "just another section" leaves too many points on the table.
- Bringing the wrong references. Showing up with NRCA manuals or Roofing Construction & Estimating instead of (or in addition to) your approved OSHA and IBC/IRC materials can cause delays or disqualification of materials at check-in.
- Adding temporary tabs at the last minute. Only pre-existing, permanent tabs and annotations are allowed - loose papers and sticky notes added right before the test are not permitted.
- Ignoring the SRE. Some candidates prepare exhaustively for CR-42 and forget the Statutes and Rules Examination is a separate requirement with its own study demands.
- Poor time allocation during the test. Spending too long on estimating math early on can leave insufficient time for the 20-question roofing systems section later in the exam.
If you want a realistic read on how difficult candidates generally find each of these pitfalls, our pass rate data analysis discusses what the available numbers actually show, without resorting to invented statistics.
Frequently Asked Questions
The exam has 50 questions total, split across six domains with published item counts of 5, 5, 20, 10, 6, and 4 respectively.
No. NRCA manuals and Roofing Construction & Estimating are study-only resources. Only the listed OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 materials and IBC/IRC editions 2009, 2012, 2015, or 2018 are approved for use during the exam.
No. The SRE is a separate licensing component from the CR-42 trade exam. You'll need to prepare for and pass both as part of your overall AZ ROC licensing process.
You need 70% or higher, which means correctly answering at least 35 of the 50 questions within the 120-minute time limit.
Yes, but only a silent, nonprinting, nonprogrammable calculator is permitted - useful for the estimating and quantity calculations in Domain 1.
Mastering CR-42 comes down to matching your study hours to the actual domain weighting, respecting the open-book rules to the letter, and treating the SRE as a separate project rather than an afterthought. Work through targeted practice questions on the AZ-ROOF practice test site, revisit the study guide overview as your exam date approaches, and you'll walk into the test center with a realistic shot at passing on your first attempt.