You Do Not Have to Figure This Out Alone
The exam is not testing whether you can roof. It is testing code, safety rules, and business law, in the way the state likes to ask it. That is what our class is built around.
A Class Built for This Exam
Every topic, practice question, and review session follows the five content areas the state tests. Live in Rosemont near O’Hare, or on Zoom. Classes in English and in Spanish.
Practice at Home With First Try
You keep your study guide and your notes, and you get First Try, our practice tool, to drill questions at home right up to exam day.
The Get Licensed Guarantee
Come back to class free until you pass. And if you do your part and still aren’t licensed, your tuition back.
Help With the Paperwork
We walk you through registering with Continental Testing before the deadline, and through your state license application after you pass. See the licensing timeline.
Roofing Without a License Costs Up to $15,000 Per Offense
If you work as a roofing contractor in Illinois, a valid roofing license is a requirement, not a recommendation. Under the Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act, the state can assess a civil penalty of up to $15,000 for each offense for roofing, or offering to roof, without a license (225 ILCS 335, Sec. 10a).
Once you are licensed, your license number has to appear on:
- All contracts and bid proposals
- Building permits
- Commercial vehicles used for the business
- Your advertising and marketing materials
A license is also what lets you pull your own permits and sign your own contracts, in your company’s name.
Registering for the Exam With Continental Testing
The Illinois roofing exam is given by Continental Testing Services, the testing company the state uses. You register and pay Continental directly. Every CNTC student gets walked through this step, so nothing is missed.
How to Register
- Go to the Illinois roofing page at continentaltesting.net, or call Continental Testing at (800) 359-1313.
- Pick the right exam: Residential, or Residential, Commercial & Industrial (Unlimited).
- Complete the application and pay the $248 exam fee.
- Watch for your admission notice. It arrives about 10 days before the exam with your date, time, and location.
General Exam Information
Purpose of the Exams
These exams are required for licensure as a roofing contractor under the Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act. The Act describes the profession and the license types. Copies are available from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) at idfpr.illinois.gov.
Exam Length
| Exam | Time allowed |
|---|---|
| Residential | 90 minutes |
| Residential, Commercial & Industrial (Unlimited) | 2½ hours |
| Commercial & Industrial (upgrade) | 90 minutes |
The Commercial & Industrial upgrade exam is only for contractors who already hold the Residential license and want to qualify for the Unlimited license.
Who Can Sit for the Exam
The state sets the eligibility rules. Contact IDFPR for the current requirements, or call us and we will tell you what we see students asked for.
What to Bring
- Two sharpened Number 2 pencils
- A non-programmable, non-printing, solar or battery-powered calculator (optional)
There is no power source for calculators at the test site. Programmable calculators, computers, other electronics, and markers are not permitted.
If You Pass
Score 70% or higher and you receive a passing notice and an application for your license.
If You Do Not Pass
You receive a re-examination application. You can retake the exam, and with CNTC you come back to class free until you pass.
What Is on the Test
Illinois has two roofing license classes: Residential, and Residential, Commercial & Industrial (Unlimited). The breakdown below is for the Residential exam.
| Content area | Questions |
|---|---|
| Safety and Employee Protection | 25 |
| Roofing Preparations & Materials | 12 |
| Steep-Slope Roofing Systems | 20 |
| Low-Slope Roofing Systems | 8 |
| Rules, Regulations & Business Practices | 15 |
| Total, Residential exam | 80 |
| Total, Unlimited exam | 130 |
Topics Covered
Asphalt shingle, tile, slate and wood roofing · Architectural metal · Reroofing · Moisture control · Metal roofing systems · Rigid board roof insulation · Spray polyurethane foam · Waterproofing and dampproofing · Design guidelines · Repair
Recommended Study Materials
The exam questions are drawn from the references below. Most can be bought from the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) bookstore at nrca.net or 847-299-9070.
NRCA References
- The NRCA Roofing Manual: Architectural Metal Flashing, Condensation Control and Reroofing (2010)
- The NRCA Roofing Manual: Membrane Roofing Systems (2011)
- The NRCA Roofing Manual: Metal Panel and SPF Roofing Systems (2012)
- The NRCA Roofing Manual: Steep-Slope Roof Systems (2009)
- The NRCA Waterproofing Manual (2005)
- Repair Manual for Low-Slope Membrane Roof Systems (1997)
- The NRCA Safety Manual, Second Edition (2009)
- Pocket Guide to Safety (1997)
Other Materials
- Roofing Construction and Estimating by Daniel Atcheson (1995), Craftsman Book Company
You can buy the references and study them after work. Or take the class that has already pulled out what the state asks, and practice it until you are ready.
See the Roofing Prep CourseApplying for Your License With IDFPR
Passing the exam is the big step, but it is not the last one. To receive your Illinois roofing contractor license, you send a complete application and supporting documents to IDFPR. We walk our students through this packet, because a mistake here can cost weeks.
Step by Step
- Receive your passing notice and license application from Continental Testing.
- Get the required surety bond (amounts below).
- Get the required insurance coverage.
- Complete the IDFPR application in full, with your personal and business information.
- Submit the application with the fee, your bond, and proof of insurance.
- Wait for the state to issue your license. See our licensing timeline for how long each step takes.
Bond Requirements
| License | Surety bond |
|---|---|
| Residential | $10,000 |
| Unlimited (Residential, Commercial & Industrial) | $25,000 |
Bonds are issued by licensed surety providers. The yearly cost is a small percentage of the bond amount and depends on your credit.
Insurance Requirements
IDFPR requires proof of liability and property damage insurance before it issues your license, and workers’ compensation coverage if you have employees. Your insurance agent sends the certificate. Check the current required amounts with IDFPR before you buy a policy.
The License Is Step One
Most of our roofing students come back for the next course. Here is what else we teach.
Now You Know What Is on the Exam. Let Us Get You Ready for It.
Reserve your seat in the next roofing class, or call us with questions. We will walk you through enrollment, the schedule, and the state registration.
The Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act
Under the Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act (225 ILCS 335), contractors offering roofing services in Illinois must hold a license from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) before doing any work. To get that license, each contractor must pass a state exam that reflects current roofing standards and practices. Which exam you take depends on the types of buildings you plan to work on.
The full text of the Act is available from IDFPR at idfpr.illinois.gov.