Arizona Carpentry License Requirements (2026)

Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC) regulates carpentry under several specialty classifications. Residential framing and rough carpentry use the R-9 (or B-3 dual) Carpentry classification; commercial framing uses CR-9 / C-9 Carpentry; finish carpentry, cabinetry and millwork fall under R-37 / C-37 Carpentry-Remodeling and Cabinets. Every contractor must hold the specific classification matching the scope of work. ROC requires a passing grade on the Arizona Statutes & Rules (SRE) exam plus the trade exam administered by PSI, a Qualifying Party (QP) with at least four years of trade experience, and a license bond scaled to the gross volume of work.

Federal requirement: EPA Lead RRP Rule

Renovation, repair, or painting that disturbs paint in pre-1978 housing is regulated nationwide under the federal EPA Lead RRP Rule — regardless of whether Arizona licenses this trade. See our complete EPA RRP Lead Certification guide for who needs firm and renovator certification, what it costs, and how renewal works.

Regulatory Oversight

This license is issued and enforced by Arizona Registrar of Contractors (AZ ROC) pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes Title 32 Chapter 10; Arizona Administrative Code Title 4 Chapter 9. AZ ROC licenses residential, commercial, and dual contractors statewide, administers the Residential Contractors Recovery Fund, and conducts complaint investigations and disciplinary proceedings.

Official portal: https://roc.az.gov/
Address: 1700 W Washington St Suite 105, Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: (877) 692-9762

Who May Apply

An applicant qualifies only after meeting the age floor of 18 and producing a valid Social Security Number. No Arizona residency requirement.

Good moral character

Criminal history is reviewed case-by-case by the licensing authority.

Background investigation

Criminal history disclosure required on the application.

Required Experience and Education

Eligibility requires Four years of journey-level carpentry experience within the last ten years for the Qualifying Party (A.R.S. §32-1122)., documented and independently verifiable. Payroll, tax, project, and supervisor records are the usual proof the board will accept.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Notarized experience affidavits from licensed supervising contractors
W-2s, 1099s, or payroll records covering the qualifying period
Apprenticeship completion certificate where applicable

Education substitution

Approved carpentry apprenticeship or accredited trade school coursework may substitute for part of the experience requirement.

Examination Requirements

Examinations are administered by PSI Services LLC under contract to the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. The applicant must pass the following examination parts before the license can issue:

Arizona Statutes and Rules (SRE) — 80 questions, 150 minutes, passing score 70%
R-9 / CR-9 Carpentry trade exam — 80 questions, 210 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $80 per exam part paid to PSI plus the ROC application fee.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be retaken after paying a new exam fee. Applications remain valid for one year.

Insurance and Financial Requirements

The AZ ROC requires a $9,000 contractor license surety bond to be on file before the license will issue.

General liability

ROC does not impose a state GL minimum; most owners require $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate.

Workers' compensation

Workers compensation is mandatory under A.R.S. §23-901 et seq. for any contractor with employees.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement is required; bond amount scales to projected gross volume per A.A.C. R4-9-119.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$200
Examination	$160
Initial license	$580
Renewal (every 2 years)	$480

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the Arizona Specialty Residential / Commercial Contractor (Carpentry trades) comes due every 2 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $480. Biennial renewal on the anniversary of issuance. Late renewal incurs a $100 reinstatement fee.

Continuing education: No statutory continuing education. ROC may require remedial education after disciplinary action.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Arizona Carpentry License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and License Transfer

The NASCLA Accredited Examination is not accepted by Arizona for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
California	Trade exam waived	Reciprocal agreement with CSLB for active C-5/C-6 with 5+ years.
Nevada	Trade exam waived	Reciprocal agreement with NSCB.
Utah	Trade exam waived	Reciprocal agreement with DOPL.

ROC maintains bilateral reciprocity with CSLB, NSCB and Utah DOPL for carpentry classifications.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Carpentry license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

Application Process, Step by Step

Designate the Qualifying Party. Designate the Qualifying Party with four years of journey-level carpentry experience.
Register the business entity. Register the business entity with the Arizona Corporation Commission.
Submit the ROC application. Submit the ROC application with the $200 fee and classification request.
Pass the PSI Statutes and Rules and trade exams. Pass the PSI Statutes and Rules and trade exams at 70 percent.
Post the license bond and pay into the Residential Contracto. Post the license bond and pay into the Residential Contractors Recovery Fund.
File the workers compensation certificate (if employees) and. File the workers compensation certificate (if employees) and GL insurance.
Receive the ROC license number and display it. Receive the ROC license number and display it on all advertising and contracts.
Renew biennially. Renew biennially on the anniversary date with current bond and insurance.

Recommended References

The references below are either cited by the board, used during the application, or standard preparation for the trade. They are listed purely for convenience — CLR earns no commission on any of them.

Arizona Contractor License Reference Manual — Arizona ROC. Statutes, rules, and Recovery Fund summary.
International Residential Code (Arizona-adopted edition) — International Code Council. Open-book reference at PSI for the R-9 trade exam.
NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management — Arizona Edition — NASCLA. Optional Business and Law study aid.

Frequent Application Errors

Based on the board's own instructions and the sources cited here, the problems below are what most often stall a Arizona Carpentry application.

Wrong classification

Performing finish carpentry under an R-9 framing license — or vice versa — triggers ROC enforcement and voids the bond on that project.

Recovery Fund vs. license bond

Residential contractors must also pay into the ROC Residential Contractors Recovery Fund. It is separate from the license bond and required at issuance.

Letting the QP leave

If the Qualifying Party departs, ROC freezes the license. A replacement QP must be designated within 60 days or the license is suspended.

Lead RRP for pre-1978 trim

EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting certification is required for any carpentry that disturbs painted surfaces in pre-1978 housing; ROC checks during complaints.

Cash-handling threshold

Contracts over $1,000 require a written contract with statutory disclosures. Verbal agreements above the threshold are unenforceable and can trigger ROC discipline.

Document Checklist

The items below are the ones worth confirming before the application is filed with AZ ROC:

☐ ROC application with $200 filing fee
☐ Qualifying Party experience documentation
☐ PSI SRE and trade exam pass certificates
☐ License bond ($9,000 minimum for residential)
☐ Residential Contractors Recovery Fund payment
☐ Workers compensation certificate (if employees)
☐ General liability insurance certificate
☐ Arizona Corporation Commission registration

Other Arizona Trade Licenses

CLR covers other Arizona trades as well — the published guides below may be more relevant:

Questions Applicants Ask

Which Arizona ROC classification covers carpentry?

Residential framing uses R-9 Carpentry; commercial framing uses CR-9 / C-9 Carpentry; finish, cabinetry and remodeling use R-37 / C-37. Holding the wrong classification is unlicensed contracting under A.R.S. §32-1151.

Who is the Qualifying Party?

The QP is the individual who passes the SRE and trade exams and supervises all work. The QP must have at least four years of journey-level carpentry experience within the last ten years.

How is the license bond calculated?

ROC bonds scale by gross volume: $9,000 for Residential up to $750,000 in annual volume; up to $200,000 for commercial contractors over $10 million.

Does Arizona accept the NASCLA exam?

No. ROC requires the Arizona-specific SRE and the trade exam administered by PSI. NASCLA is not accepted.

How often does the license renew?

Every two years on the anniversary of issuance with renewal fee, current bond, and proof of workers compensation if applicable.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-05-08 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-06