How to Get Your
Arizona Plumbing License
Your complete guide to becoming a licensed plumber in Arizona. Learn about requirements, exams, costs, and the step-by-step process to launch your plumbing career.
Arizona Plumbing License Quick Facts
Minimum Experience
4 years in plumbing
License Fee
$580 - $850
Licensing Authority
Arizona Registrar of Contractors
Renewal Period
Every 2 years
Required Exams
2 exams (SRE + Trade)
Contract Threshold
License required for $1,000+
Who Provides Plumbing Licenses in Arizona?
All the licenses for plumbers in Arizona are governed by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. You can go to its official website to apply for all your license-related requirements.
Arizona Licensing Authority
Arizona Registrar of Contractors
ROCIssues all plumbing contractor licenses for Arizona and oversees licensing, bonding, and compliance requirements
Types of Plumbing Licenses in Arizona
In Arizona, plumbers are classified as per their specialties. Choose the license path that matches your business needs.
License Types Available
Choose Your License Path
Specialty Commercial Plumbing (C-37)
Commercial plumbing license for contractors providing plumbing services in commercial estates and regions.
Key Requirements
- 4 years of commercial plumbing experience
- Pass SRE and Trade exams
- $100 application + $480 license fee
Specialty Residential Plumbing (R-37R)
Residential plumbing license for contractors providing plumbing services in residential estates and regions.
Key Requirements
- 4 years of residential plumbing experience
- Pass SRE and Trade exams
- $80 application + $270 license + $370 recovery fund
Specialty Dual CR-37 Plumbing (CR-37)
Dual plumbing license for contractors providing plumbing services in both commercial and residential estates and regions.
Key Requirements
- 4 years of plumbing experience (both types)
- Pass SRE and Trade exams
- $100 application + $380 license + $370 recovery fund
Solar Services
These licenses do not include permission for solar services. To include solar services in your license, you need to apply for any of the following licenses:
- Specialty Commercial Plumbing, Including Solar (C-77)
- Specialty Residential Plumbing, Including Solar (R-37)
- Specialty Dual CR-37 Plumbing, Including Solar (CR-77)
For providing solar services, you also need to clear a separate solar exam apart from the other two required exams. To learn more about the license classifications and permissions provided for each, visit the ROC license classifications page.
Requirements for Arizona Plumbing Licenses
Before you are eligible to apply for a plumbing license in Arizona, you need to meet these requirements.
All License Types
Arizona Plumbing License Requirements
1Legal Structure
Business entity requirement
Legal Structure
Business entity requirement
- Must apply as a legal entity - Sole Proprietor, Partnership, LLC, or Corporation
- Cannot get a contracting license as an individual in Arizona
- If you want to provide service as an individual, go for sole proprietorship
2Qualifying Party
Experience requirement
Qualifying Party
Experience requirement
- Minimum of 4 years of hands-on or managerial experience in the plumbing field
- Experience must be for the type of license you seek
- May need to provide documents to verify experience
- Qualifying party must pass both required exams (SRE and Trade)
- Can be you or someone you have employed
3Documentation
Required documents
Documentation
Required documents
- Government-issued IDs of you and your qualifying party
- Receipts of background check for you and your qualifying party
- Must have a clear criminal record
- Application must match your ID (include all names: first, middle, and last)
Plumbing License Costs in Arizona
These are the official figures for the plumbing license cost of a new application as given on the website of Arizona Registrar of Contractors.
Two-Year License Period
Arizona License Fees (New Application)
| License Type | Exam Fee | License Fee | Renewal Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specialty Commercial Total: $580 | — | $480 | $480 |
| Specialty Residential Total: $720 | $370 (recovery fund) | $270 | $540 |
| Specialty Dual Total: $850 | $370 (recovery fund) | $380 | $650 |
Source: Arizona Registrar of Contractors
License Renewal Information
You need to renew your plumbing license every two years. Renewal fees are lower than initial application fees since they don't include the application fee.
Arizona Plumbing Exam Details
There are two exams you need to pass if you want your plumbing license. If you're applying for a solar license, you'll need to pass a third solar exam.
Exam Structure and Costs
Required Plumbing Exams
Business management exam - $54
Plumbing knowledge exam - $66
Exam Providers
The Bond and The Fund You Need to Take Care of
Unfortunately, the various costs shown above aren't the only costs you need to bear to get your license. In Arizona, property owners and the state are protected from any kind of illegal activities or damage done by contractors (including plumbers). Thus, you will need to file for one or both of these, depending on the type of license you need.
1. Contractor's Bond
Contractor's bond or license bond is mandatory for all types of contractors in Arizona. In other words, you cannot go past it.
The amount for the bond is determined by the type of plumbing license you want and the anticipated annual gross volume of the amount of contract you will get. Check out the official figures for the bond amount.
Based on License Type and Anticipated Gross Volume
Contractor's Bond Requirements
| License Type | Exam Fee | License Fee | Renewal Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Specialty (Less than $375k) Bond amount | — | $4,250 | |
| Residential Specialty ($375k or more) Bond amount | — | $7,500 | |
| Commercial Specialty ($150k or less) Bond amount | — | $2,500 | |
| Commercial Specialty ($150k - $500k) Bond amount | — | $7,000 | |
| Commercial Specialty ($500k - $1 million) Bond amount | — | $17,500 | |
| Commercial Specialty ($1 million - $5 million) Bond amount | — | $25,000 | |
| Commercial Specialty ($5 million - $10 million) Bond amount | — | $37,500 | |
| Commercial Specialty (Over $10 million) Bond amount | — | $50,000 |
Dual License Bond Calculation
To calculate the bond amount for the dual license, add the amount required for residential and commercial based on your anticipated gross volume.
This bond can be in the form of a surety bond, cash bond, or certificate of deposit. You can get a certificate of deposit from any bank that operates in Arizona. If you want to obtain a surety bond, here is the list of businesses licensed to offer surety products in Arizona by the Arizona Department of Insurance.
Important: Ongoing Bond Requirement
The contractor's bond is never-ending. Thus, you need to keep paying premiums to the insurance company as agreed. If you fail to do so, your license will be suspended.
2. Recovery Fund
If you want to provide plumbing services to the residential arena, you need to take care of this as well. Whether you are looking for a specialty residential or dual license.
Arizona requires all licensed residential contractors to provide additional financial protection of $200k to their clients. There are two ways you can do this:
- Post a second bond (surety or cash) of $200k
- Pay into the Recovery Fund
Most of the residential contractors go with the Recovery Fund.
Steps to Get Your Arizona Plumbing License
Follow these steps to get your plumbing license in Arizona as a sole proprietor or partnership.
Step-by-Step Guide
Your Path to Becoming a Licensed Plumber
Choose Your Legal Structure
Decide on your business entity - Sole Proprietor, Partnership, LLC, or Corporation. If you want to work as an individual, choose sole proprietorship.
Gain Required Experience
Obtain 4 years of hands-on or managerial experience in the plumbing field for the type of license you seek.
Identify Your Qualifying Party
Determine who will be the qualifying party - either you or someone you have employed with 4 years of experience.
Qualifying Party RequirementsComplete Background Checks
Both you and your qualifying party need to get background checks done and have clear criminal records.
Get Background CheckChoose Your License Classification
Select your classification: Specialty Commercial Plumbing, Specialty Residential Plumbing, or Specialty Dual Plumbing (or solar variations).
View All ClassificationsPass the Required Exams
The qualifying party must pass both the Arizona Statutes and Rules exam (SRE) and the Trade-specific exam. Pass the Solar exam if applying for solar license.
Schedule SRE ExamObtain Contractor's Bond
Secure the required contractor's bond based on your license type and anticipated gross volume. This can be a surety bond, cash bond, or certificate of deposit.
Bond InformationPay into Recovery Fund (If Required)
If applying for residential or dual license, either post a $200k bond or pay into the Recovery Fund.
Gather Required Documents
Collect government-issued IDs and background check receipts for you and your qualifying party. Ensure your application matches your ID exactly.
Create Your ROC Account and Submit Application
Create your account on the Arizona Registrar of Contractors portal and complete your application online.
Create ROC AccountPay Required Fees
Pay the application fee, license fee, exam fees, and recovery fund assessment (if applicable) based on your license type.
Wait for Application Review
The Arizona Registrar of Contractors will review your application. You may receive a notification for errors in your application if corrections are needed.
Congratulations! You're Licensed!
You will be notified when your application is approved. You are now a licensed plumbing contractor in Arizona.
Pro Tip
You don't need to have a plumber's license yourself to become a plumbing contractor. You just need a business partner, member, or officer who is a licensed plumber to serve as your qualifying party.
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Start Your FREE TrialFrequently Asked Questions
What plumbing services can you provide legally without a license?
You can undertake plumbing services lesser than $1,000. For assignments worth more than that, you will need a plumbing license.
How much money do plumbers make in Arizona?
Currently, an average plumber makes $26.64 an hour in Arizona, as per the data from Indeed. However, this may fluctuate a bit in the future.
Do I need to renew my Arizona plumbing license?
Yes, you need to renew your plumbing license every two years. The renewal fees vary by license type but are generally lower than initial application fees since they don't include the application fee.
What is the difference between commercial, residential, and dual plumbing licenses?
- Commercial (C-37): Allows you to provide plumbing services in commercial estates only
- Residential (R-37R): Allows you to provide plumbing services in residential estates only
- Dual (CR-37): Allows you to provide plumbing services in both commercial and residential estates
The dual license requires both a contractor's bond and recovery fund, making it the most comprehensive but also most expensive option.
What is a qualifying party and do I need one?
A qualifying party is someone who meets the requirements of necessary knowledge, experience, and skills to apply for a plumbing contractor license. This person needs a minimum of 4 years of hands-on or managerial experience in the plumbing field. It can be either you or someone you have employed. Only the qualifying party can take the required exams.
Can I add solar services to my plumbing license?
Yes, but you need to apply for a specific solar license classification (C-77, R-37, or CR-77) and pass a separate solar exam in addition to the SRE and Trade exams. Visit the ROC license classifications page for more details.
Conclusion
Now you are equipped with all the needed information for getting an Arizona plumbing license. So this is the time for action. Depending upon the stage you are at, you may need to get 4 years of experience in plumbing. Or knock on the doors of the Arizona Registrar of Contractors to get your plumbing license.
Career Advice
Aim to become a plumbing contractor and start your own plumbing business to maximize your earning potential. With the average plumber in Arizona earning $26.64/hour, owning your own business can significantly increase your income through taking on larger contracts and managing multiple projects.
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