How to get a General Contractor license in Arizona
The full Arizona general contractor licensing path — experience hours, required exam, fees, and where to apply. Verified 5/26/2026.
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B-1 (General Commercial) or B (General Residential)
Arizona is one of the strictest contractor-licensing states in the country. The Registrar of Contractors (ROC) requires every contractor who bids work over $1,000 (including labor and materials) to hold a license — even for handyman-style jobs. This guide walks through exactly how to qualify, which classification to pick, what the exams cover, and what it costs, with the most-asked questions answered at the bottom.
Step-by-step: how to get your Arizona contractor license
The Arizona ROC process has the same five steps for almost every classification. Plan on 60–120 days from start to license-in-hand.
- Pick your classification (residential, commercial, or dual) and a specific license code — e.g. B for General Residential, KA for General Commercial, or a CR-## specialty.
- Designate a qualifying party (you, or someone you employ full-time) with at least 4 years of practical, hands-on experience in the trade within the last 10 years. Trade-school credit can substitute up to 3 of those years.
- Pass two exams through PSI: the Arizona Statutes & Rules (SRE) exam (open-book, 80 questions) and the trade exam for your classification.
- Get a contractor license bond. Bond amounts scale with estimated gross volume — typically $4,250 to $25,000 for general classifications.
- Submit your application with the license fee, assessment fee, fingerprint card, and proof of workers' comp (or exemption) to the ROC. Most clean applications are issued in 4–6 weeks.
Which Arizona general-contractor classification is right for me?
Arizona splits general work into residential and commercial, and most new contractors apply for one — not both. Picking the wrong one is the most common reason apps get bounced back.
- B-1 General Commercial Contractor — any commercial structure. Bond range $5,000–$25,000.
- B General Residential Contractor — new homes plus remodels, including structural. Bond range $4,250–$15,000.
- B-2 Residential & Small Commercial — remodel and repair work on residential and small commercial. Lower bond, faster path for handyman-plus operators.
- KA Dual License (General Engineering) — only if you'll do heavy civil work like grading, paving, or utilities. Higher bond, harder trade exam.
- CR-## specialty codes (roofing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, etc.) — required if your work is specialty-only; a general license does NOT cover specialty work unless it's incidental to a larger project you're prime contractor on.
Arizona contractor exam: what's actually on it
Both exams are administered by PSI at testing centers in Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, and Yuma. You can also take them online with PSI's remote-proctored option. The SRE is open-book; the trade exam is closed-book.
Statutes & Rules Exam (SRE): 80 multiple-choice questions, 3.5 hours, 70% to pass. Covers ROC statutes (Title 32, Chapter 10), administrative rules, license requirements, complaint process, the Residential Contractors' Recovery Fund, and lien law basics. Open book — bring the Arizona Statutes & Rules reference and the contract law tabs.
Trade exam: 80–115 questions depending on classification, 3.5–5 hours, 70% to pass. For B (Residential) the trade exam covers blueprint reading, IRC code, foundations, framing, roofing, electrical/plumbing/HVAC fundamentals, OSHA, and estimating. Closed book — you bring only a calculator.
Arizona license fees & ongoing costs (2026)
Plan for roughly $900–$1,400 in upfront cost for a standard residential license, plus the bond premium. Renewal is every two years.
- License application fee: $480 (B Residential) / $580 (B-1 Commercial). Includes the first 2-year license period.
- Assessment fee for the Residential Contractors' Recovery Fund: $370 (residential only).
- PSI exam fees: $93 per exam, so $186 total for SRE + trade.
- Fingerprint clearance card: ~$67 through DPS.
- Bond premium: 1–3% of the bond amount per year for good credit. A $9,000 residential bond typically costs $100–$300/year.
- Workers' comp (if you have employees) or sole-prop exemption affidavit (free).
- Renewal: $480 every 2 years, plus continuing-education attestation. No CE hour requirement, but you sign that you've kept current.
How long does it take?
Realistic timeline from decision to license: 60–120 days. The fastest path is to schedule both PSI exams within 2–3 weeks of starting study, mail your fingerprint card the same week, and have your bond pre-approved before you submit the application. ROC processing time is the biggest variable — clean apps move in 4–6 weeks, anything with a missing document or experience verification can stretch to 12+.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a general contractor license in Arizona?
You need 4 years experience. Then pass the Statutes & Rules + Trade exam administered by PSI. Applications go through the Arizona Registrar of Contractors.
What exam do I need to pass?
Statutes & Rules + Trade exam — administered by PSI.
How much experience do I need?
4 years experience
What about fees, insurance, and continuing education?
Required for any contracting work. Separate residential vs commercial classifications.
Do I need a contractor license for jobs under $1,000 in Arizona?
No. Arizona's handyman exemption lets unlicensed people do work where the total value (labor + materials) is under $1,000 AND no building permit is required. The moment a job needs a permit OR exceeds $1,000, you need a license. Splitting a job into smaller invoices to dodge this is a misdemeanor.
Can I use my experience from another state to qualify for the Arizona exam?
Yes. The ROC accepts out-of-state experience as long as you can document it — pay stubs, W-2s, signed letters from prior employers, or copies of permits you pulled. Self-employment counts too, but you'll need invoices, permits, or tax returns showing the work.
What's the difference between Arizona's residential and commercial general license?
Residential (B) lets you build, remodel, or repair single-family homes and structures intended for residential use, including attached garages and accessory buildings. Commercial (B-1) lets you build any structure — including residential — but the trade exam is harder and the bond is larger. If you'll do both, get the B-1 or apply for both separately.
Is there reciprocity between Arizona and other states?
Arizona has limited reciprocity with California, Nevada, and Utah for the trade exam only — the SRE (statutes & rules) is required for everyone, no exceptions. You still need 4 years of qualifying experience and a bond.
What happens if I do contractor work in Arizona without a license?
First offense is a class 1 misdemeanor — up to $4,500 fine and 6 months in jail. You also can't sue to collect unpaid invoices on the work, and the homeowner can sue you to recover everything they paid. The ROC actively investigates Craigslist, Nextdoor, and Facebook Marketplace ads.
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