SPEC SHEET · AZ · PLUMBER
Arizona plumber license requirements
The answer
Arizona licenses at the CONTRACTOR level through the Registrar of Contractors — the C-37 classes — with no statewide journeyman or technician license for plumbers, who work under a licensed contractor. The qualifying party needs 4 years of practical or management experience (2 within the last 10; training substitutes up to 2 years) plus the Statutes & Rules exam ($61) and trade exam ($66). A new license runs $580 (Commercial), $720 (Residential) or $850 (Dual), excluding exams, on a two-year cycle.Your paths to the license
4 years experience → ROC license
The qualifying party documents at least 4 years of practical or management experience in the trade — at least 2 within the last 10 years — and passes the Arizona Statutes & Rules exam ($61, online via Gmetrix) plus the trade exam ($66, PSI), taken within 2 years before applying. The registrar may reduce the requirement where industry custom shows it excessive (A.R.S. §32-1122).
Technical training counts for up to 2 years
Technical training (trade school, apprenticeship classroom time) may substitute for up to 2 of the 4 required years — hands-on experience covers the rest.
Start as a trade worker
No state license is needed to work for a licensed contractor — start the experience clock now. Check whether your city runs its own registration program — and pick your class early: commercial (C), residential (R) or dual (CR).
Prior Arizona licensees: exam waived
Held the SAME Arizona classification within the preceding 5 years? The written exam is waived — and the experience documentation likewise (A.R.S. §32-1122). Out-of-state licenses get no such waiver; they count as documented experience.
License levels in Arizona
| Level | What it takes | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Plumber (unlicensed by the state) | Work under an ROC-licensed contractor; no state journeyman card exists. | — |
| ROC Specialty Commercial (C-37) | Commercial-scope specialty license; $580 new / $480 renewal (2-year); bond by volume tier. | $580 |
| ROC Specialty Residential (R-37) | Residential-scope specialty license; $720 new / $540 renewal incl. the $370/$270 recovery-fund assessment; bond $4,250–$7,500 by volume. | $720 |
| ROC Specialty Dual (CR-37) | Both scopes; $850 new / $650 renewal; posts BOTH bonds. | $850 |
Published fees
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| New specialty license (C) | $580 |
| New specialty license (R) | $720 |
| New specialty license (CR) | $850 |
| Renewal (2-year) — C / R / CR | $480 |
| Exams: AZ Statutes & Rules (Gmetrix) + trade (PSI) | $61 / $66 |
| License bond — Residential specialty | $4,250 |
| License bond — Commercial specialty (tiers) | $2,500 |
The exam
| Provider | Gmetrix (Statutes & Rules, online) + PSI (trade exam) |
| Fees | SRE $61 + trade exam $66 |
| Notes | Exams must be taken within 2 years before application; waived for holders of the same AZ classification within the preceding 5 years. No minors may be licensees, partners or officers. |
Moving here with a license? Renewal? The rest of the picture
Reciprocity: No formal trade reciprocity found on the read pages; prior AZ same-classification holders (within 5 years) get exam and documentation waivers. Check your exact state pair →
Renewal & continuing education: Two-year licenses: renewal $480 (C), $540 (R, incl. $270 recovery fund) or $650 (CR). Residential and dual licenses fund the Residential Contractors' Recovery Fund by assessment or a CD/cash bond (A.R.S. §32-1152).
Watch out: Bond amounts track your contemplated Arizona gross volume — residential specialty $4,250 (under $375k) or $7,500; commercial tiers $2,500–$50,000; dual posts both. The bond's classification must match the license. · A restricted R-37R solar-liquid-only variant exists; boilers/steamfitting are the adjacent C-4/R-4/CR-74 classes. · Fee totals exclude exam fees, per the ROC fee page.
Official sources for this page
- A.R.S. §32-1122 — qualifying-party experience, training credit, exams, waivers (official legislature site)
- ROC — licensing fees (A.R.S. §32-1126 + R4-9-130; two-year licenses; totals exclude exam fees)
- ROC — license classifications (C-/R-/CR- specialty classes)
- ROC — license bond amounts by class and gross volume
Arizona plumber licensing FAQ
How many hours do you need to become a licensed plumber in Arizona?
Arizona licenses at the CONTRACTOR level through the Registrar of Contractors — the C-37 classes — with no statewide journeyman or technician license for plumbers, who work under a licensed contractor. The qualifying party needs 4 years of practical or management experience (2 within the last 10; training substitutes up to 2 years) plus the Statutes & Rules exam ($61) and trade exam ($66). A new license runs $580 (Commercial), $720 (Residential) or $850 (Dual), excluding exams, on a two-year cycle.
What does the Arizona plumber license cost?
Published fees: New specialty license (C) $580 · New specialty license (R) $720 · New specialty license (CR) $850 · Renewal (2-year) — C / R / CR $480 · Exams: AZ Statutes & Rules (Gmetrix) + trade (PSI) $61 · License bond — Residential specialty $4,250 · License bond — Commercial specialty (tiers) $2,500. Exam-vendor fees may be extra — see the sources below.
Does Arizona have plumber license reciprocity?
No formal trade reciprocity found on the read pages; prior AZ same-classification holders (within 5 years) get exam and documentation waivers.
How often does the license renew?
Two-year licenses: renewal $480 (C), $540 (R, incl. $270 recovery fund) or $650 (CR). Residential and dual licenses fund the Residential Contractors' Recovery Fund by assessment or a CD/cash bond (A.R.S. §32-1152).
Get your personal route
Four questions — your experience and training matched against Arizona's actual routes.