Applying for a License

Click on one of our easy to follow checklists and watch our Applicant Education Seminar below to learn more about the application process.

Applying for an Arizona Registrar of Contractors' license? Need help with your application?

We offer a free monthly online Applicant Education Seminar that walks you through the application process. Click the video below to watch our last seminar or click on register to sign up for an upcoming session.

Seminario Educativo para Solicitantes (Virtual): 6 de Junio de 2024

¿Quiere convertirse en un contratista autorizado en Arizona? Regístrese para el próximo Seminario Educativo virtual para solicitantes que se llevará a cabo el 6 de junio.

¡Únase con nosotros mientras recorremos el proceso de solicitud de principio a fin y haga al equipo cualquier pregunta que tenga sobre el proceso de solicitud para ser contratista autorizado en Arizona!

Getting a Contractor's License

On this page, you will find a simple overview of the steps you must take to get a contractor's license from the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. If at any time you have a question and the answer is not provided below, give us a call at 877.692.9762 or email Registrar of Contractors Licensing staff at [email protected] .

The Registrar of Contractors is now offering free virtual Applicant Education Seminars, where applicants can learn about the application and get their questions answered. You can also find some short videos to watch that explain common mistakes that delay applications from getting approved. We encourage you to view the videos before starting your application.

NOTE: Due to Coronavirus 2019 (also referred to as COVID-19), please see new changes to PSI Services testing security procedures and rescheduling guidelines.

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Identify a Qualifying Party The Applicant must identify a Qualifying Party for the license.

The Qualifying Party must pass the required examinations by at least 70% and submit the exam results. The Qualifying Party must complete the AZ Statutes and Rules Training Course and Exam (SRE). The Qualifying Party must also complete a specific trade exam, unless eligible for a waiver. • To determine which exams are required for a specific license classification, refer to License Classification Requirements.
• NOTE: Due to Coronavirus 2019 (also referred to as COVID-19), please see new changes to PSI Services in-person testing security procedures and rescheduling guidelines.
PSI Services has also set up a dedicated phone number just for AZ ROC trade exam candidates. If you need to contact PSI Services about your trade exam, please call 855-744-0310 or email [email protected] .
• The SRE is a computer-based training program and exam that is only offered online through Gmetrix.

For assistance with SRE login, course navigation and system requirements contact Gmetrix at 801-323-5800 or email [email protected] .
• Trade and solar exams can be taken either online or at a testing center through PSI
• Information about all of the required exams (including cost, how to schedule, links to trade-specific content outlines, and study materials) can be found in the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin. Applicants for the B-1 General Commercial Contractor and B-2 General Small Commercial Contractor license classifications may take the National Association of State Licensing Agency Commercial General Building Exam in lieu of the AZ ROC trade exam. The fee for these exams is $106 plus the $25 application fee. The application fee is paid directly to NASCLA and the examination fee to PSI Exams Online. Applicants for the CR-11 Electrical, C-11 Electrical, and R-11 Electrical license classifications have the option of participating in the National Association of State Licensing Agency Electrical Examination Program in lieu of taking the AZ ROC trade exam. The fee for these exams is $116 and is paid to PSI Exams Online directly. The NASCLA Accredited Examination Program was designed to reduce redundant licensing requirements and assist contractors who need to be licensed in multiple jurisdictions. For more information on the benefits of taking the NASCLA exam instead of the AZ ROC trade exam visit NASCLA's website. AZ ROC has reorganized several exams. The knowledge needed for these classifications remains the same, what classification you apply for will depend on the scope of work you plan on doing and the experience you already have. You must meet the minimum experience requirements in order to apply for the classification. If you have already taken and passed one of these exams before they were combined, as long as the exam was taken within two years of applying for the classification that matches the exam, the test will be accepted. You must apply within that two year time-frame. The B, B-3, CR-61 exams have been combined into one exam. Whichever of those classifications you want to obtain, you will take this new combined exam. The B-1, B-2, KB-1, KB-2 exams have been combined into one exam. Whichever of those classifications you want to obtain, you will take this new combined exam. Please refer to the ROC's classifications page for complete descriptions of these classifications. https://roc.az.gov/license-classifications

• Use the Online Customer Portal to fill out and submit the application.

• Mail this application to: Registrar of Contractors, P.O. Box 6748, Phoenix, AZ 85005-6748

Essential Parts of the License Application Packet

Essential Parts of a License Application Packet

Before you submit your application packet to the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, you must make sure that your application packet includes all of the parts in the checklist below.

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• Examination Results The Qualifying Party's original AZ SRE Statutes and Rules Exam results and trade exam results. A completed waiver form may be submitted in place of the trade exam for review with the application.
• Background Checks Copies of the payment transaction receipt from the background check for every person named on the License Application Form. Background checks expire 90 days from the completion date.

• Prior License Disclosure Forms If any person named on the License Application Form was named on a prior license, complete and attach a Prior License Disclosure Form for each person. Also include forms and documentation of disciplinary resolution, if applicable.
• License Cancellation Forms If you currently have a license that you wish to cancel upon the issuance of a new license, complete and attach a License Cancellation Form.
• Felony Disclosure Forms If any person named on the License Application Form was charged with or convicted of a felony, complete and attach a Felony Disclosure Form for each person.
• Unlicensed Activity Disclosure Forms If any person named on the License Application Form was convicted of unlicensed activity, complete and attach an Unlicensed Activity Disclosure Form for each person. and documentation of remedial measures.
• Solar Warranty A copy of the solar warranty per A.R.S. § 44-1762 and A.R.S. § 44-1763 (if you are applying for a solar license).

General Requirements

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Who can apply for a contractor's license? A sole proprietorship (individual), a partnership, limited liability company, or a corporation may apply for a contractor's license if they have a regularly employed person with the necessary experience, knowledge and skills who serves as the qualifying party. All persons listed on the application must be 18 years of age or older.

Also included in work requiring a license is the erection of scaffolding, connections to utility service lines, metering devices and sewer lines, mechanical or structural service to a structure or improvement and any other work in connection with the project.

"Contractor" includes subcontractors, floor covering contractors, hardscape contractors and consultants representing themselves as having the ability to supervise or manage a construction project for the benefit of the property owner.

Supervision or management includes hiring and firing of specialty contractors, scheduling of work on the project, and selection and purchasing of construction material.

Waiver of Trade Exam

What is examination waiver?

Passing a trade examination is one of the requirements necessary to be approved for a contractor's license. A trade examination helps the Registrar of Contractors assess whether an applicant has the knowledge required to perform the type of work authorized by a license. However, pursuant to R4-9-106(E) the Registrar may decide to waive the trade exam requirement under specific circumstances.

R4-9-106(E): “…the Registrar may decide a trade exam is not required where the qualifying party has been the qualifying party within the preceding five years for a license in good standing in the same classification in this state, or a classification the Registrar deems comparable in another state.”

* The AZ SRE Statutes and Rules Exam cannot be waived because it has reference to Arizona specific statutes and rules.

What information must be submitted when requesting a waiver for a trade examination?

• Complete and submit the Application to Waive a Trade Examination.

Qualifying Party

To whom does the term "qualifying party" refer?

The "qualifying party" means a person who is regularly employed by the licensee and is actively engaged in the classification of work for which the person qualifies in behalf of the licensee.

The qualifying party must have the necessary experience, knowledge and skills to supervise or perform the contracting work.

Who can be a qualifying party?

The qualifying party may be a sole proprietor, one of the partners of a partnership, one of the members of a limited liability company, one of the officers of a corporation or an employee of the contracting business.

What is the qualifying party required to do?

• They are the responsible managing employee.
• While engaged as a qualifying party for a licensee, the qualifying party shall not take other employment that would conflict with his duties as qualifying party or conflict with his ability to adequately supervise the work performed by the licensee.

Can the same person serve as the qualifying party for more than one entity?

Per A.R.S. § 32-1127, a person may serve as the qualifying party for one additional entity if one of the following conditions exists:

• There is common ownership of at least 25% between each licensed entity.
• One licensee is a subsidiary of another licensee for which the same person acts in a qualifying capacity. "Subsidiary" as used in ARS 32-1127(2) means a corporation of which at least twenty-five percent is owned by the other licensee.

Frequently Asked Questions

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• Will the Arizona Registrar of Contractors acknowledge receipt of my application? Yes. You will receive a receipt with a pending number on it. This number is used to keep track of your application. If you have questions on the status of your application, you may use the pending number when calling in so that your application can be located more quickly.
• How will I know if my application is approved? If the application is approved, a notice is mailed to you, and you will receive a call from a Licensing Representative.
• What happens if my application is not approved? If your application can not be approved, you will be notified.
• Can I get a refund of the fees? The Agency returns the license fee when a license is not issued. Such instances include, when an application is returned because the applicant failed to respond to a deficiency letter by providing requested information or when the applicant makes a request to withdraw their license application. The application fee is retained, however.

The Agency returns the application fee when the Agency exceeds the statutorily allowed timeframe to review and act upon a license by issuing or denying the license application. Note: This statutory timeframe does not include time the Agency is waiting on the applicant to respond to deficiencies. The license fee is retained, however.