- The LA-RRC has 50 scored questions, a 2-hour limit, and a 70% passing score administered by PSI.
- Installation of Roof Coverings is the largest of the five domains - prioritize it first.
- The exam fee is $125; only bound, pre-tabbed references are allowed, no loose pages.
- Act 422 requires the trade exam for residential roofing jobs of $7,500 or more starting January 1, 2026.
Exam Snapshot: The Numbers You Must Memorize
Before you touch a single practice question, lock in the mechanics of the exam itself. The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors classifies Residential Roofing as subclassification 9.2 under Residential Construction, and the trade exam is administered by PSI. These numbers show up constantly in candidate questions, so treat them as non-negotiable facts you can recite without hesitation.
| Exam Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Classification | Residential Roofing, subclassification 9.2 |
| Testing vendor | PSI |
| Format | Computer-delivered, open-reference, multiple-choice |
| Scored questions | 50 |
| Unscored experimental questions | Up to 1-10 (may be added by PSI) |
| Time limit | 2 hours |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Exam fee | $125 |
For a deeper breakdown of what that 70% threshold means in terms of raw questions, see the LA-RRC Passing Score 2026 guide. If you want a full walkthrough of registration steps and eligibility before you schedule, review the LA-RRC Requirements 2026 article first.
The Five Domains at a Glance
The LA-RRC blueprint is built from five content areas. Knowing the relative weight of each helps you allocate review time instead of studying everything equally.
Domain 1: Materials
Covers shingle types, underlayment, flashing materials, fasteners, and material compatibility for steep-slope residential systems.
- Match material specs to manufacturer and code requirements
- Know underlayment and flashing selection criteria
Domain 2: Installation of Roof Coverings
This is the largest domain on the exam and covers proper application sequencing, fastening patterns, ventilation tie-ins, and finish detailing for shingle and steep-slope systems.
- Prioritize this domain first in your study plan
- Expect the highest question count of any single domain
Domain 3: Roof Drainage
Focuses on gutters, downspouts, slope requirements, and water-shedding details that prevent leaks and structural damage.
- Understand drainage system sizing and placement logic
- Connect drainage detailing to flashing choices from Domain 1
Domain 4: Roofing Structures
Tests knowledge of framing components, sheathing, and structural elements that support roof coverings.
- Know how structural elements interact with covering installation
- Review deck preparation requirements
Domain 5: Safety
Draws heavily on OSHA fall-protection and jobsite safety standards specific to residential roofing work.
- Study OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 fall-protection provisions
- Expect scenario-based safety questions, not just definitions
For a full breakdown of how each domain is tested and sample topic lists, the LA-RRC Exam Domains 2026 guide goes deeper than this quick-reference version.
Approved References and Tabbing Rules
The LA-RRC is open-reference, but the rules around what you can bring - and how you can prepare it - are strict. Know these before exam day so you're not turned away at the testing center.
- 2021 International Building Code
- OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926
- Roofing Construction and Estimating by Daniel Atcheson
- NRCA Roofing Manual: Steep-Slope Roof Systems
Key Takeaway
Candidate-supplied books may be highlighted, annotated, indexed, and permanently tabbed before you arrive - but only bound copies. Loose pages are prohibited, and no writing is permitted during the actual testing session.
Build your tabbing system around the domain breakdown above: color-code tabs for Installation of Roof Coverings differently than Safety references, since those two areas pull from different source material. If you're still deciding which physical copies to buy and tab, the LA-RRC Study Guide 2026 walks through a reference-prep checklist in more detail.
Act 422 and Act 757: The Rules Behind the Exam
Two legislative changes directly affect why this exam matters and who needs it. Both should be part of your working knowledge, not just trivia.
These two acts are the backbone of why demand for licensed roofers is shifting in Louisiana. For a broader look at what the credential actually unlocks professionally, see Is the LA-RRC Certification Worth It? and the LA-RRC Salary Guide 2026.
Top Must-Know Topics by Domain
Rather than re-reading full manuals cover to cover, focus your final review on the topics most likely to appear based on domain weighting and the reference materials tied to each area.
Installation of Roof Coverings (Highest Priority)
- Shingle exposure, offset, and starter-course requirements
- Nailing patterns and fastener placement per manufacturer and code
- Valley, hip, and ridge detailing sequences
- Ventilation integration during covering installation
Materials
- Underlayment types and where each is required
- Flashing material selection for penetrations and transitions
- Fastener corrosion resistance requirements
Roof Drainage
- Gutter and downspout sizing basics
- Slope and pitch requirements for proper water shedding
Roofing Structures
- Sheathing types and deck preparation before covering installation
- Structural inspection points before re-roofing
Safety
- OSHA fall-protection thresholds and equipment requirements
- Jobsite hazard identification scenarios
If you're unsure how difficult these topics are relative to each other, the How Hard Is the LA-RRC Exam? guide breaks down where most candidates lose points.
Final-Week Review Schedule
With only 2 hours and 50 scored questions on exam day, your final week should be about reinforcement and reference familiarity - not new learning. Here's a compact schedule built around the domain weighting discussed above.
Installation of Roof Coverings
- Drill nailing patterns, exposure rules, and valley/hip/ridge sequencing
- Re-tab NRCA Roofing Manual sections used most often
Materials and Roof Drainage
- Review underlayment/flashing pairings
- Practice slope and drainage sizing scenarios
Roofing Structures and Safety
- Review sheathing and deck-prep requirements
- Study OSHA 1926 fall-protection thresholds
Full Simulation
- Take a timed 50-question practice run under the 2-hour limit
- Confirm your bound references are tabbed and ready
For a longer-horizon prep plan that starts weeks earlier, the LA-RRC Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt lays out a full multi-week structure rather than just this final review week.
Test-Day Quick Reference
Print this section mentally - it's the checklist worth reviewing the night before your appointment.
- Confirm your exam fee ($125) is paid and your PSI appointment is scheduled - check current windows on the LA-RRC Exam Dates 2026 page.
- Bring only bound, pre-tabbed reference books - no loose pages accepted.
- Remember: no writing is allowed during the session itself, so all annotation must be done beforehand.
- Expect 50 scored questions plus possibly up to 10 unscored experimental items, for a maximum of 60 total.
- Pace yourself against the 2-hour limit - roughly 2 minutes per question if experimental items are included.
- You need 70% correct on scored questions to pass.
Key Takeaway
Since experimental questions are unmarked and mixed in, treat every question on screen as if it counts. Don't waste time guessing which ones are unscored.
Once you're comfortable with the format, run full practice sessions on our LA-RRC practice test platform to simulate the timing pressure before your real appointment. Repeated timed runs on the practice site are the fastest way to convert this cheat sheet into exam-day recall.
Frequently Asked Questions
The exam includes 50 scored multiple-choice questions, and PSI may add 1 to 10 additional unscored experimental questions that are not identified to the candidate.
You need 70% correct on the scored questions. See the LA-RRC Passing Score 2026 breakdown for exact question-count math.
Yes, the exam is open-reference. You may bring bound copies of the approved references - the 2021 IBC, OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926, Roofing Construction and Estimating, and the NRCA Roofing Manual: Steep-Slope Roof Systems - pre-highlighted, annotated, and tabbed. Loose pages are not permitted, and no writing is allowed during the test.
Installation of Roof Coverings is the largest domain on the exam, so it deserves the most review time. Materials, Roof Drainage, Roofing Structures, and Safety round out the remaining content areas.
Under Act 422, effective January 1, 2026, residential roofing projects valued at $7,500 or more require the Residential Roofing or Residential Construction classification, and passing the trade exam is mandatory for that classification. Act 757 also raises the residential liability-insurance minimum to $500,000 effective August 1, 2026.