Requirements:
- Qualifying Person – This person can either be a licensed contractor, employer, fellow employee, supervisor, journeyman, foreman or someone that has the required level of experience and can personally vouch for your level of experience
- Required Level of Experience – In Arizona each license classification requires a different level of experience. Most licenses require at least 4 years experience at the journeyman level. You will need to be able to prove this experience with documentation at the AROC's request.
- Pass an Exam – You will need to pass a two-part exam (Business Management/Trade) with a score of 70% or higher. . Some classifications only require that you to take the business management license. To see whether or not your trade requires both exams, see below. You can apply for these exams through PSI's website. See Below
- Criminal Background Check – All applicants in Arizona have to pass a criminal background check. It is not impossible to get a contractor license in Arizona if you have a criminal record, just be hones ton the application. However, charges associated with: Fraud, Embezzlement and Forgery are big red flags
- Form a Legal Entity – Arizona only issues licenses to legal entities. This includes: Sole Proprietorships, Limited Liability Companies, S-Corp, C-corporations and partnerships. To learn how to set up a business click here.
- Contractor Bond – All Contractors in Arizona are required to have an active construction bond in place for a license can be activated. The amount for your contractor bond depends on the classification you are applying for. To learn more about construction bond requirements in Arizona, read below
- Pay License Fees – Contractor license fees are paid every two years. The amount you have to pay depends on the classification you apply for, however they typically range between $580 and $1050. To see a the full breakdown of Arizona license fees click here.
- Identification – You must have a USA issued form of identification along with a social security. You must be at-least 18 years of age and you cannot currently be on probation or parole.
- Complete Application – You can find the license application form here.
- It can be either sent by mail to:
- Registrar of ContractorsP.O. Box 6748Phoenix, AZ 85005-6748
- or delivered to:
- 1700 W. Washington StreetSuite 105Phoenix, AZ 85007-2812
Contractor License Fees
There are 3 General Contractor License options in Arizona
Residential ( B- )
Commercial ( B-1 / B-2)
General Dual License ( KB- 1 ) Residential + Commercial
- $870 – State Fees / Residential General Contractor License
- $9,000 – Bond
- $780 – State Fees / Commercial General Contractor License
- $5,000 – Bond
- $1050 – State Fees / Dual General Contractor License
- $14,000 – Bond
See AROC website for updated fees: https://roc.az.gov/
Who Needs A General Contractor License In Arizona?
- Anyone offering services to build, repair or remodel residential or commercial property over $1,000 in labor or materials
- Anyone offering services that require pulling a building permit
- Click here to see the full list of License Classifications in Arizona
This includes:
- Building
- Altering
- Repairing
- Wrecking
- Adding to
- Subtracting from
- Moving
- Demolishing
According to the AROC website: Any Building, Highway, Road, Railroad, or Structure must hold a Contractor License in Arizona.
This also applies to anyone contracting for services involving erection of scaffolding, utility services, metering devices, sewer lines, and mechanical or structural service.
Commercial License
- Allows you to bid on all Commercial Construction Projects
- Work related to electrical, plumbing, air conditioning systems, boilers, roofing, swimming pools, spas and water wells must be subcontracted to an appropriately licensed contractor
- Strip Malls, Restaurants, Shopping Centers, etc.
Residential License
- Allows you to bid on all Residential Construction Projects
- Work related to electrical, plumbing, air conditioning systems, boilers, swimming pools, spas and water wells must be subcontracted to an appropriately licensed contractor
- Houses, Apartment Buildings, Town Homes etc
Dual License
- Allows you to bid on all Residential and Commercial Construction Projects
- Work related to electrical, plumbing, air conditioning systems, boilers, swimming pools, spas and water wells must be subcontracted to an appropriately licensed contractor
Basic Requirements to be a General Contractor
To get the Arizona General contractor license you must meet the following basic requirements:
- Be at least 18 years of Age
- Form of USA Issued Identification
- Social Security Number
- Not Currently On Probation or Parole
You Must also have
- 4 Years of Journeyman Level Experience
- Be able to verify work experience in at least 7 recent projects
- Be able to verify work experience in at least 8 maintenance projects
- Be able to document your experience at the request of the ROC
- A Business entity
What is a Journeyman?
Arizona has no journeyman electrical certification. The definition of a journeyman can vary based on your region.
The universal expectation of a journeyman is that they can perform all of the duties associated with their trade un-supervised.
A Journeyman is someone who has demonstrated a level of mastery in their trade.
The Arizona Registrar of Contractors may request to see documentation of your experience.
It is important that you have some way to prove your claim of being a journeyman.
Acceptable construction work experience documentation includes:
- W2’s
- Tax Returns
- Check Stubs
- Contracts
- Letter from a licensed contractor
- Acceptable work experience documentation includes:
How can I prepare for the Arizona General Contractor License Exam?
There are two exams you will need to pass:
- Business Management (Required)
- TRADE (You can take either the AROC Trade Test or the NASCLA Trade Test)
NASCLA Trade Exam
- 115 Questions
- Passing Score: 70%
- Time Allowed: 180 Minutes
- $106 per exam
- $25 application fee
ROC Exam
- 110 Questions
- Passing Score: 70%
- Time Allowed: 240 Minutes
- $66 per exam
Business Management
- 80 Questions
- Passing Score 70%
- Time Allowed: 180 minutes
- $66 per exam
Apply for an exam date here
Business Management Exam
The examination is facilitated by a third party company named: PSI
The exam covers:
- Arizona Registrar of Contractors Statutes
- Arizona Registrar of Contractors Rules
- Workmanship Standards
- Business Management
- Business Mathematics
- Contracts and Agreements
- Insurance and Bonding
- Safety, Record Keeping and Employment Regulations
- Financial Management
- Tax Laws
- Liens
- Environmental Regulations
Trade Test
The trade portion of the general contractor license exam will cover:
- Sitework
- Concrete
- Masonry
- Metals
- Blueprint Reading
- Carpentry
- Thermal and Moisture Protection
- Doors and Windows
- Finishes
- Safety and Building Codes
Some things to remember on exam day!
- On test day you must bring two forms of identification
- You will be given a piece of scratch paper and pencil
- Non programmable calculators are permitted
- No electronic devices are allowed inside the testing area
- You get 3 attempts to pass the exam
- If you do not pass after 3 attempts you have to wait 180 days to take the exam again
- The exam is multiple choice and taken on a computer
Where do you take the General Contractor License exam in Arizona?
YUMA
Yuma – Arizona Western College
2020 SE Avenue 8E
Yuma, AZ 85365
TUCSON
2601 N. Campbell Avenue,
Suite 201-3
Tucson, AZ 85719
TEMPE
Mill Avenue Business Center
40 W. Baseline Road, Suite 221
Tempe, AZ 85283
PHOENIX – MIDTOWN
5727 N. 7th Street,
Suite 301
Phoenix, AZ 85014
GLENDALE
Glendale-Arizona Flight Training Center –
Glendale Airport
6799 N Glen Harbor Blvd
Glendale, AZ 85307
FLAGSTAFF
Northern Arizona University
Du Bois Building 64, Room 140306
E. Pine Knoll Drive
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
Setting up your Construction Business
Arizona only issues General Contractor licenses to legal business entities.
Before applying you can choose from the following business entities to operate through:
- Sole Proprietor (individual)
- Partnerships
- Corporations
- LLC (Limited Liability Companies)
These business entities must be registered with the: Arizona Corporation Commission
Steps to getting licensed in Arizona
- Complete a Background Check
- Form a Legal Entity
- Submit Application with your passing score (at least 70%), Contractor Bond Number, and Background Check
- Application Processing typically takes between 20-30 days
Applications can be mailed to:
Registrar of Contractors, P.O. Box 6748, Phoenix, AZ 85005-6748
Or hand-delivered to:
1700 W. Washington Street, Suite 105, Phoenix, AZ 85007-2812
You can check your application status here at the AROC Website
What is the Arizona Registrar of Contractors?
The Arizona Registrar of Contractors is the governing agency that regulates construction activity in the state of Arizona.
The agency was established in 1931 to regulate the construction industry of Arizona.
Its mission is to protect the health and safety of the public by ensuring that construction contractors are qualified, licensed, and bonded.
The Agency is responsible for:
- Processing Contractor License Applications in Arizona
- Resolving Disputes and Complaints
- Enforcing Contractor License LAW in Arizona
- Regulation of the Industry
Arizona Contractor License Reciprocity
Contractor License reciprocity is an agreement between the Contractor licensing boards of two different states.
It can mean that they have similar building standards, allowing contractors to work freely between states.
In the context of licensing, it means that a contractor who is licensed in one state, may not need to retake an exam to get licensed in another state.
Learn more about California's Contractor License reciprocity agreement with Arizona!
Final Thoughts
This article will continue to be updated as time goes on.
Getting licensed in Arizona is relatively easy compared to other states like California. Check out these blog posts for information on the licensing process for Louisiana, Utah, Georgia, Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada
Make sure that you complete your contractor license packet and study consistently for your exam!
Getting a contractor license can be a huge asset for you if you are RMO
Getting licensed in Arizona can also help you expand your business and take on larger clients!