- AZ-ROOF is the PSI site identifier for the CR-42 Roofing exam under the Arizona Registrar of Contractors.
- The exam has 50 questions, a 120-minute limit, and a 70% passing score.
- Roofing systems (including BUR and waterproofing) is the largest section, with 20 of the questions drawn from that domain.
- The outline was last revised June 8, 2023, and the exam is partly open book with specific approved references.
What Is a AZ-ROOF, Exactly?
"AZ-ROOF" refers to the Arizona Roofing Contractor Trade Exam, the trade competency test that PSI administers on behalf of the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (AZ ROC). Officially, the exam itself is labeled CR-42 Roofing (Residential/Commercial); AZ-ROOF is simply the shorthand identifier used when referring to this specific credentialing exam on this site and in candidate prep materials.
This is not a standalone certification you can earn independently of licensure. It's one required piece of the puzzle that a qualifying party must clear before a roofing contracting business can be licensed to operate legally in Arizona. If you're just starting to research what this exam covers and why it exists, our companion piece on AZ-ROOF Certification walks through the bigger licensing picture in more detail.
Who Needs to Take It
The CR-42 exam is required for the individual acting as the qualifying party for a roofing contracting business seeking licensure in Arizona. The qualifying party is the person whose experience and passing exam scores allow the business - not the individual - to hold the roofing license. This distinction matters: the license belongs to the business entity, and the qualifying party's role is to demonstrate the trade knowledge and experience that justifies granting it.
Typical candidates include:
- Experienced roofers stepping into a qualifying-party role for a new or existing roofing company
- Contractors expanding into residential or commercial roofing work who need CR-42 specifically
- Business owners who need someone in-house to satisfy AZ ROC's trade exam requirement
If you're unsure whether your background meets the eligibility bar before you even schedule a test, review AZ-ROOF Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify for the specific experience and documentation rules.
Exam Format and Question Breakdown
The CR-42 exam is built around 50 questions administered in a 120-minute window, with a 70% score required to pass. PSI's published item counts break down as 5, 5, 20, 10, 6, and 4 questions across the six content areas - a lopsided distribution that candidates often underestimate until they see it mapped against the actual domains.
PSI last revised this outline on June 8, 2023, so any prep materials referencing an older breakdown should be treated with caution. If you want the exact number for how much you need to get right versus how the raw score converts, see AZ-ROOF Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Key Takeaway
Nearly half the exam (20 of 50 questions) comes from a single domain covering roofing systems, BUR, and waterproofing. Under-preparing that section is the single biggest risk factor for failing the CR-42.
The Six Content Domains
Every question on the CR-42 exam maps to one of six domains. Understanding not just the names but the relative weight of each is essential for allocating study time wisely. For a full breakdown of each domain with sample topic lists, see AZ-ROOF Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 6 Content Areas.
Domain 1: Estimating and Plan Reading
Candidates must interpret roofing plans and specifications, calculate material quantities, and produce accurate cost estimates.
- Reading roof plans and elevation details
- Calculating square footage, pitch, and waste factors
Domain 2: Surface Preparation and Planning
This domain tests knowledge of substrate inspection, deck preparation, and planning a roofing job before installation begins.
- Identifying deck deficiencies before tear-off
- Sequencing prep work correctly
Domain 3: Steep and Low Slope Roofing, including BUR and Waterproofing
The largest domain by far, covering both steep-slope shingle/tile systems and low-slope built-up roofing (BUR) and waterproofing membranes.
- Steep-slope installation methods and flashing details
- Low-slope membrane systems, ply application, and waterproofing principles
Domain 4: Roofing Components
Focuses on the individual materials and assemblies that make up a complete roofing system.
- Underlayments, fasteners, and flashing components
- Ventilation and insulation elements
Domain 5: Safety
Covers jobsite safety practices relevant to roofing work, tied closely to the OSHA references allowed in the exam room.
- Fall protection requirements
- General jobsite hazard recognition
Domain 6: Repairs and Reroofing
Tests knowledge of diagnosing existing roof problems and executing repairs or full reroofing projects.
- Identifying failure points in existing systems
- Reroofing over existing substrates versus full tear-off
What You Can (and Can't) Bring to Testing
The CR-42 exam is partly open book, which is a meaningful advantage if you prepare correctly - and a trap if you don't. Approved references include the listed OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 materials and one edition of the IBC/IRC (2009, 2012, 2015, or 2018).
Two commonly used study resources - Roofing Construction & Estimating and the listed NRCA manuals - are study-only. They're excellent for learning the material, but you cannot bring them into the testing room.
| Reference Type | Allowed in Testing Room? |
|---|---|
| OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 (listed materials) | Yes |
| IBC/IRC (2009, 2012, 2015, or 2018 edition) | Yes |
| Roofing Construction & Estimating | No - study only |
| Listed NRCA manuals | No - study only |
| Silent, nonprinting, nonprogrammable calculator | Yes |
Rules on how you can mark up your allowed references are specific: pre-existing annotations, highlighting, and permanent tabs made before your appointment are fine. Loose papers, temporary tabs, and writing in your references during the actual test are prohibited. Build your reference tabs well ahead of test day, not the night before.
How the Exam Fits Into AZ ROC Licensing
Passing the CR-42 trade exam is one requirement among several. Separately, candidates must also pass the Statutes and Rules Examination (SRE), which covers Arizona-specific business and legal knowledge rather than roofing trade content. Both exams are components of the same licensing pathway but test different competencies.
On the experience side, the statutory baseline requires four years of trade experience, including at least two within the last ten years, with certain authorized provisions for training credit, experience reduction, and documentation waivers depending on individual circumstances. Written examinations generally must be completed within two years before the license application is submitted, so timing your CR-42 attempt relative to your application matters.
Licensing also requires business eligibility review, applicable background checks, and maintaining the required bond. Remember: the resulting license is held by the business entity, with the qualifying party's exam results and experience serving as the qualification basis - not a personal credential the individual carries from job to job.
For the full mechanics of eligibility, documentation, and waiver provisions, see AZ-ROOF Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Fees, Renewal, and the Business License
Once licensed, the Specialty Dual license category carries a standard renewal cost of $650 per two-year cycle, broken into a $380 renewal fee and a $270 recovery-fund assessment. This is a licensing-maintenance cost distinct from any exam registration fee paid to PSI when you originally scheduled your CR-42 attempt.
For a complete breakdown of every cost a candidate or licensee should budget for - from initial exam scheduling through ongoing renewal - see AZ-ROOF Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Key Takeaway
Passing CR-42 is a one-time trade-competency hurdle, but the resulting license carries a recurring $650 renewal obligation every two years - budget for both.
Preparing by Domain Weight
Generic study techniques only matter if they're pointed at the right material. Given that PSI's outline assigns roughly 20 of 50 questions to Domain 3 (steep and low slope roofing, BUR, and waterproofing), your study calendar should not spend equal time across all six domains.
Domain 3 Deep Dive
- Study steep-slope installation and flashing details
- Work through BUR ply application and waterproofing membrane principles
Domains 1, 4, and 6
- Practice estimating calculations and plan reading
- Review roofing components and reroofing/repair scenarios
Domains 2 and 5, Plus Reference Navigation
- Cover surface preparation planning and OSHA safety topics
- Tab your approved IBC/IRC and OSHA references for quick lookup
Full-Length Practice and Review
- Take timed practice sessions modeled on the 50-question, 120-minute format
- Revisit weak domains identified in practice results
Use spaced repetition for terminology and calculation formulas, but reserve the majority of your hands-on practice time for domain 3 material since it carries the most weight by a wide margin. For a structured week-by-week plan built specifically around this weighting, see the AZ-ROOF Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. You can also gauge your general readiness level first by reading How Hard Is the AZ-ROOF Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
Once you've studied the material, running full-length timed practice sessions on our practice test platform is the most direct way to confirm whether your domain-by-domain knowledge holds up under the same 120-minute constraint you'll face on test day.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. AZ-ROOF refers to the CR-42 trade exam administered by PSI for the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. It's one required component of the broader roofing contractor licensing process, not a standalone credential.
The exam has 50 questions total, with a 120-minute time limit and a required score of 70% to pass.
No. The NRCA manuals and Roofing Construction & Estimating are study-only resources. Approved in-room references are limited to the listed OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 materials and one edition of the IBC/IRC (2009, 2012, 2015, or 2018).
No. The Statutes and Rules Examination (SRE) is a separate licensing component that tests business and legal knowledge, while CR-42 tests roofing trade competency.
The license belongs to the contracting business, not the individual qualifying party. The qualifying party's passing exam score and experience allow the business to become licensed.