- Pass by scoring 45 of 60 questions correctly (75%) within 120 minutes.
- Steep Roofing carries the heaviest weight at 16 of 60 questions.
- Only the listed 2018 International Building Code is open-book; NRCA and OSHA references are study-only.
- Fee is $95 for one portion or $140 for trade plus the Contractor Management Survey together.
Exam Basics at a Glance
The Nevada C-15 Roofing and Siding Contractor Trade Exam is administered by PSI on behalf of the Nevada State Contractors Board. This is the full C-15 trade examination, not the narrower C-15a Roofing exam, so candidates should confirm which credential their application requires before scheduling. The blueprint is fixed: 60 scored questions delivered by computer in multiple-choice format, with 120 minutes on the clock and a passing threshold of 45 correct answers (75%).
PSI may quietly insert 1 to 10 unscored experimental questions into your form, still inside the same 120-minute window. There is no way to identify which questions are experimental, so every question deserves the same level of attention. For a deeper walkthrough of how this scoring works, see NV-C15 Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Domain Breakdown and Weighting
Nine content domains make up the C-15 trade exam. Knowing the relative weight of each domain helps you allocate study time proportionally instead of spreading effort evenly across topics that don't carry equal exam value.
Domain 3: Steep Roofing
This is the single largest domain on the exam at 16 of 60 questions, making it the highest-leverage area to master.
- Shingle, tile, and steep-slope underlayment installation sequencing
- Fastening patterns and exposure requirements for sloped assemblies
| Domain | Focus Area |
|---|---|
| Domain 1 | Safety |
| Domain 2 | Roofing Substrates |
| Domain 3 | Steep Roofing (largest, 16 of 60 questions) |
| Domain 4 | Roofing Repairs |
| Domain 5 | Elastomeric Roofing |
| Domain 6 | Built-up Bituminous Roofing |
| Domain 7 | Sheet Metal and Flashing |
| Domain 8 | Siding |
| Domain 9 | Photovoltaic Systems |
For a complete walkthrough of every domain with detailed subtopics, review NV-C15 Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 9 Content Areas. If you're still assessing how tough this test really is compared to what you expected, How Hard Is the NV-C15 Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 breaks down the difficulty factors in more depth.
Open-Book References and Testing Rules
The C-15 exam is not fully open-book. Only the listed 2018 International Building Code may be brought in as a reference and used during testing. NRCA manuals, OSHA materials, and other listed study references are for preparation only - they are not permitted in the testing room.
Key Takeaway
Highlight, underline, and apply permanent tabs to your 2018 IBC copy before test day. Handwritten notes and inserted papers, whether made before or during the exam, are strictly prohibited.
A silent, nonprinting, nonprogrammable calculator is allowed at the testing station, which is useful for load, coverage, and measurement calculations that appear across several domains. Because so much of the exam hinges on knowing exactly which code sections apply to steep roofing, flashing details, and substrate transitions, spend time practicing navigation of your tabbed code book rather than just reading it cover to cover.
Fees, Scheduling, and Retakes
Understanding the fee structure and scheduling mechanics prevents costly mistakes. The trade exam alone costs $95. If you also need the Contractor Management Survey (CMS) portion, the combined fee for both is $140. Retakes follow the identical fee schedule - there is no discount for repeat attempts.
- Application fee: $300, separate from exam fees
- Initial licensing and biennial renewal: $600 each, plus applicable Residential Recovery Fund charges
- Timing rule: required examinations must be completed within six months after application submission
- Retake wait: two weeks between attempts
- Voided application: three failed attempts void the application entirely
For a full cost breakdown covering every fee a candidate encounters, read NV-C15 Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. If you're unsure whether you meet the underlying eligibility rules - including the four years of relevant experience within the preceding fifteen years, or how up to three years of approved education can substitute - check NV-C15 Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Because the six-month completion clock starts at application submission, coordinate your study timeline with your application timeline. Review current testing windows and deadlines in NV-C15 Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling so you don't lose time to an expired application.
Must-Know Topics by Domain
Below is a condensed, domain-by-domain reference of the concepts most likely to show up across the 60 scored questions.
Domain 1: Safety
Fall protection, ladder setup, and jobsite hazard recognition specific to roofing and siding work.
- Anchor point placement and personal fall arrest components
Domain 2: Roofing Substrates
Deck materials, sheathing compatibility, and moisture considerations before roofing installation begins.
- Substrate inspection and preparation sequencing
Domain 4: Roofing Repairs
Diagnosing leak sources and selecting repair methods appropriate to the existing roof system.
- Patch versus full-section replacement decision points
Domain 5: Elastomeric Roofing
Application methods, curing considerations, and compatible substrates for elastomeric coatings and membranes.
Domain 6: Built-up Bituminous Roofing
Ply sheet layering, hot asphalt application sequencing, and surfacing for low-slope built-up systems.
Domain 7: Sheet Metal and Flashing
Flashing details at penetrations, valleys, and transitions - a frequent source of scenario-based questions.
- Metal compatibility and fastener selection
Domain 8: Siding
Installation clearances, fastening schedules, and material-specific requirements across siding types.
Domain 9: Photovoltaic Systems
Roof penetration methods and mounting considerations when integrating PV systems with roofing assemblies.
Many candidates preparing for this exam already work in the field, whether that's on residential roofing crews or with contractors who bid siding and PV integration jobs. If you're weighing whether pursuing this license fits your career direction, Is the NV-C15 Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and NV-C15 Jobs cover the practical employment angle.
Last-Week Review Plan
In the final week before your scheduled test date, shift from broad learning to targeted recall. This is not a generic study method - it's built around the C-15 domain weighting itself.
Steep Roofing Deep Review
- Re-work every practice question tagged to Domain 3 since it represents 16 of 60 questions
- Re-tab your 2018 IBC sections related to steep-slope installation
Flashing and Substrate Cross-Check
- Review Domain 7 (Sheet Metal and Flashing) and Domain 2 (Roofing Substrates) together since they interact on most job scenarios
Lower-Weight Domains and Safety
- Cycle through Domains 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9 with quick recall drills
- Confirm Domain 1 safety fundamentals are second nature
Logistics and Reference Check
- Confirm your tabbed 2018 IBC is testing-center ready with no handwritten notes
- Verify your silent, nonprinting calculator is compliant
For a longer-horizon plan that starts well before exam week, see NV-C15 Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. Pairing that guide with focused practice questions on our practice test platform is one of the most direct ways to gauge readiness against the actual domain weighting.
Frequently Asked Questions
The exam contains 60 scored questions with a 120-minute time limit. PSI may add up to 10 unscored experimental questions within that same time allowance.
You need 45 correct answers out of 60, which is 75%.
Only the listed 2018 International Building Code is open-book. You may pre-highlight, underline, and add permanent tabs, but handwritten notes and extra papers are not allowed.
The trade portion alone is $95. If you also need the Contractor Management Survey portion, the combined fee is $140, and retakes use the same fee schedule.
Retakes require a two-week wait between attempts. If you fail three times, the application is voided and you would need to reapply.
For deeper context on what this credential actually represents and how it fits within Nevada's licensing system, browse What Is NV-C15?, NV-C15 Meaning, and NV-C15 Certification. When you're ready to test your recall against realistic scenario questions, head over to our NV-C15 practice test hub and work through domain-specific sets before your scheduled exam date.