KB-2 Dual Building
Scope: Commercial and residential structures
Testing: PSI trade exam plus Statutes & Rules
Arizona Contractor License Exam Guide (2026)
Arizona contractors pour slabs over caliche, rebuild wildfire corridors in Payson, and retrofit data centers across Phoenix. The Registrar of Contractors (ROC) issues commercial and residential licenses (Class A/B/C) after applicants pass PSI trade exams plus the AZ Statutes & Rules exam.
Last verified: June 2026 via Arizona Registrar of Contractors. Official source: Arizona Registrar of Contractors.
- PSI ExamsTrade + Statutes
- CR-65Many specialties
- Bond$4k-$100k
How Arizona licenses contractors
The ROC licenses commercial (Class A), residential (Class B), and specialty (Class C/CR) contractors. Applicants must document four years of experience, pass the PSI trade exam, pass the Statutes & Rules exam, submit a background check, post a surety bond, and provide workers-comp coverage.
Jobs run from 120-degree Phoenix rooftops to Flagstaff snow and high-wind monsoons. Exams emphasize caliche excavation, desert waterproofing, energy code for mixed-dry climates, and dust-control compliance.
Official source: Arizona Registrar of Contractors
Arizona licensing at a glance
- PSI Exams — Trade + Statutes
- CR-65 — Many specialties
- Typical cost: ROC application + license fee: $580–$1,050 depending on classification
- State-specific trade exam required (NASCLA not accepted for primary licensing path)
- Common license path: KB-2 Dual Building
Arizona contractor license types
B-1/B-2
Scope: Commercial or residential building
Testing: PSI trade exam plus Statutes & Rules
C/CR Specialties
Scope: Trades such as electrical, HVAC, solar
Testing: PSI trade exam specific to the specialty plus Statutes & Rules
Bond amounts range from $4,250 (small residential) to $100,000 (large commercial). Some classifications require financial statements to prove working capital.
What's on the Arizona contractor exam
PSI testing centers are located in Phoenix, Tempe, Glendale, Tucson, Flagstaff, Yuma, and online.
What Arizona exam questions emphasize
- International Building/Residential Codes with Arizona amendments
- Desert soils, caliche, and energy code requirements
- Statutes & Rules Booklet (Title 32, Title 41, ROC rules)
- OSHA heat illness prevention and dust control permits
Exam-day logistics
- Bring two IDs, approval letter, and reference manuals
- Open-book policy allows only the books listed in the PSI bulletin
- Scores post immediately; upload bond and insurance documents to ROC's portal
Arizona contractor exam blueprint (verified June 2026)
| Licensing authority | Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC) |
|---|---|
| Exams | Statutes & Rules Exam (SRE) — online via GMetrix, $61, cannot be waived — plus a trade exam via PSI, $66 (test center or online) |
| SRE covers | ARS Title 32, Chapter 10; ROC administrative rules (Arizona Administrative Code); lien law (ARS Title 33, Chapter 7) |
| Passing score | 70% on each exam; results valid 2 years; 30-day wait to retake |
| Experience | 4 years of class-specific experience, with 2 of the last 10 years recent |
| License bond (by volume) | Residential General under $750k = $9,000; Commercial GC at $150k or less = $5,000; dual licenses combine both amounts (ARS § 32-1152) |
| Other costs | Residential Recovery Fund assessment $370 for residential/dual licenses; ROC application + license fee $580–$1,050 depending on class |
| NASCLA | Accepted in lieu of the trade exam for B-1/B-2/KB-1/KB-2 ($106 plus $30 transcript) |
What trips Arizona applicants up
Arizona requires two separate exams, and the Statutes & Rules Exam is delivered online by GMetrix ($61) — not by PSI, and not the $66 many guides list. The SRE cannot be waived even if you transfer in a trade exam or NASCLA score, so build study time for Arizona-specific statutes and lien law, not just your trade.
Verified sources: AZ ROC — Applying for a License · AZ ROC — License & Renewal Fees · PSI Candidate Bulletin #2528.
Who needs an Arizona ROC license (and who does not)
Almost all contracting offered to the public in Arizona requires the correct ROC classification. The Statutes & Rules Exam cannot be waived.
| KB / B dual or building licenses | Covers: Building contracting under ROC building classifications Authority: Arizona ROC — SRE + PSI trade exam + experience/financials |
|---|---|
| C / CR specialties | Covers: Specialty contracting classifications Authority: ROC specialty exams — classification must match the work performed |
| Working outside classification | Covers: Bidding work your license does not cover Authority: Prohibited — add the correct classification before expanding scope |
Most-missed Arizona contractor exam topics
SRE statute items and desert soils/energy details separate ROC exams from generic national prep.
- Statutes & Rules Exam content from ARS Title 32 and ROC rules
- IBC/IRC with Arizona amendments under timed PSI conditions
- Desert soils, caliche, and energy-code requirements
- Lien law scenarios tied to Arizona practice
- Experience recency rules (recent years within the lookback window)
Trade-specific exam guides
If you're licensing in a single trade rather than the Arizona general contractor classification, the dedicated trade hub will get you to the right code book and exam structure faster.
- General contractor exam guide — IBC/IRC, NASCLA acceptance, and Business & Law.
- Electrical contractor exam guide — NEC (NFPA 70) calculations and grounding/bonding.
- Plumbing contractor exam guide — IPC/UPC drainage sizing, venting, and backflow.
- HVAC contractor exam guide — IMC ventilation, refrigerant management, and load calcs.
Arizona code books & approved references (2026)
Always confirm the exact editions and tab rules in your candidate bulletin before exam day. Editions can change between license cycles.
- International Building Code 2018
- International Residential Code 2018
- Arizona Statutes & Rules Booklet
- Arizona energy code (IECC base)
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926
Fees & timeline for the Arizona contractor license
- ROC application + license fee: $580–$1,050 depending on classification
- Statutes & Rules Exam (SRE): $61, paid to GMetrix online
- Trade exam: $66, paid to PSI (or NASCLA $106 + $30 transcript where accepted)
- License bond: $5,000–$100,000+ based on classification and anticipated annual volume (ARS § 32-1152)
- Residential Recovery Fund assessment: $370 for residential and dual licenses
Confirm current amounts on the ROC fee schedule; the bond amount scales with your anticipated gross volume.
Arizona Business & Law focus
The Statutes & Rules exam covers ROC licensing statutes, lien law, payroll, taxes, and safety.
- Know ARS Title 32, Chapter 10 and ROC administrative rules
- Understand lien notice timelines (20-day preliminary notices)
- Register for Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) with ADOR
- Maintain workers-comp, general liability, and dust-control plans
Practice with our Arizona ROC exam prep and the national Business & Law exam hub for cross-state baseline rules.
NASCLA acceptance in Arizona
Arizona does not accept NASCLA in place of ROC testing. Every qualifier must pass the online Statutes & Rules Exam (SRE) and the applicable PSI trade exam, then meet ROC experience and financial filing requirements for the classification you want. Confirm the current candidate bulletin for your classification, then use timed state-specific practice instead of assuming an out-of-state NASCLA letter will transfer.
More: National NASCLA exam guide and our in-depth NASCLA Accredited Exam study walkthrough.
A focused 4-week study plan for the Arizona exam
Because Jobs run from 120-degree Phoenix rooftops to Flagstaff snow and high-wind monsoons, this four-week outline targets what Arizona field inspectors and your licensing board exam items actually test—not generic national prep.
- Week 1 — Map the exam. Pull your current candidate bulletin, list every reference, and confirm the modules you have to pass. Start a one-page error log. Spend extra time on: International Building/Residential Codes with Arizona amendments.
- Week 2 — Code book navigation. Drill open-book lookups (or memorisation drills if your module is closed-book) until you can find any answer in under 60 seconds. Anchor practice around: Desert soils, caliche, and energy code requirements.
- Week 3 — Business & Law. The Statutes & Rules exam covers ROC licensing statutes, lien law, payroll, taxes, and safety. Layer in scenario-based questions on contracts, lien notice, payroll, and insurance.
- Week 4 — Full simulations. PSI testing centers are located in Phoenix, Tempe, Glendale, Tucson, Flagstaff, Yuma, and online. Run two full-length timed simulations. Review every miss with a one-sentence rule statement.
FAQs - Arizona contractor exam
How much experience is needed?
Four years of supervisory experience in the requested classification.
Are exams open book?
Yes for most PSI trade exams when you use ROC/PSI-approved references. The Statutes & Rules Exam is a separate online module—confirm format and reference rules in your authorization email before test day.
What is the 20-day notice?
A preliminary lien notice required for lien rights in Arizona.
Does Arizona accept NASCLA?
No. Arizona requires the Statutes & Rules Exam plus the PSI trade exam for your ROC classification. NASCLA does not waive either step or the experience/financial review.
What insurance is required?
General liability is recommended; workers-comp is mandatory for employees.
How often do I renew?
Every two years with bond and insurance verification.
Where are exams offered?
PSI centers statewide and remote proctoring.
More Arizona contractor exam prep resources
Core resources
Exam-day reading
Start your Arizona contractor exam prep today
Use a realistic, Arizona-focused simulator to build timing, confidence, and repeatable passing habits.