Arizona General Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The Arizona Registrar of Contractors (AZ ROC) licenses general contractors statewide under A.R.S. Title 32 Chapter 10. Any contracting work valued at $1,000 or more, or any work that requires a building permit regardless of value, requires an AZ ROC license. Arizona separates residential (B-class) from commercial (KA/KB-class) general contracting and offers dual residential-and-commercial credentials. The Class B General Residential Contractor is the standard residential builder credential, KA is the broadest commercial credential authorizing all commercial trade work, and KB-1 is the standard commercial general building contractor.

Governing Authority

Under Arizona Revised Statutes Title 32 Chapter 10; Arizona Administrative Code Title 4 Chapter 9, Arizona Registrar of Contractors (AZ ROC) is the body that issues this license and enforces compliance with it. 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

Eligibility Requirements

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

AZ ROC conducts a fitness review on every qualifying party. Felony convictions and prior license revocations are reviewed individually.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application; AZ ROC verifies through state databases.

Experience & Education Matrix

The applicant must document and verify at least four years of practical trade experience within the prior ten years at the journeyman, foreman, supervisor, or contractor level in the classification applied for. Keep payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records to support the claim, as the board can request proof for any period within its lookback window.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

AZ ROC Statement of Experience form signed by each qualifying employer
W-2 statements, pay stubs, or 1099 records covering the qualifying period
Notarized affidavits from prior supervisors or licensed contractors

Education substitution

Up to two of the four years may be satisfied by accredited construction-related college coursework on a sliding scale set by AZ ROC rule.

Examination Structure

The licensing examination is delivered by PSI Services LLC (under contract to AZ ROC). All of the following parts must be cleared prior to issuance:

Arizona Statutes and Rules (SRE) Examination — 80 questions, 150 minutes, passing score 70%
Trade Examination — Class B General Residential (or chosen classification) — 100 questions, 210 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $83 per exam part paid to PSI on the day of testing.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be re-taken individually by paying a new $83 fee. Each application remains valid for one year.

Insurance & Financial Security

Licensure is conditioned on filing a $9,000 contractor license surety bond with the AZ ROC.

General liability

AZ ROC does not impose a state-level general liability minimum. Most commercial owners contractually require $1,000,000/$2,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory in Arizona under A.R.S. §23-961 for any business with one or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

AZ ROC contractor license bond scales with annual gross volume: $9,000 for residential B-class up to $750,000 in volume, rising to $15,000 above. Commercial KA/KB-class bonds range from $5,000 to $100,000. Residential contractors also pay into the Residential Contractors Recovery Fund.

Application and License Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$200
Examination	$166
Initial license	$480
Renewal (every 2 years)	$480

Maintenance & Renewal

Expect to renew the Arizona General Contractor (B, B-1, B-2, KA, or KB) every 2 years. Renewal currently costs $480. Arizona contractor licenses renew every two years. Bond and workers compensation must remain in force throughout the cycle.

Continuing education: AZ ROC does not require continuing education for renewal.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and Endorsement

Arizona does not accept the NASCLA Accredited Examination for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
California	Trade exam waived	Bilateral AZ ROC–CSLB reciprocity for active general contractors in good standing for at least five years.
Nevada	Trade exam waived	Bilateral AZ ROC–Nevada State Contractors Board reciprocity.
Utah	Trade exam waived	Bilateral AZ ROC–Utah DOPL reciprocity.

AZ ROC does not accept the NASCLA Accredited Examination. The Arizona Statutes and Rules exam is always required even when the trade exam is waived.

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

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Choose the classification. B General Residential, B-1 General Small Commercial, B-2 General Remodeling, KA Dual Commercial, or KB-1 Commercial General Building. Each authorizes a specific scope.
Document four years of qualifying experience. Prepare the AZ ROC Statement of Experience form and gather W-2s, pay stubs, and supervisor affidavits covering the prior ten years.
Submit the AZ ROC application. File with the application fee, qualifying party designation, and proof of experience. AZ ROC issues an exam authorization.
Pass both PSI examinations at 70%. Score 70% or better on the Arizona Statutes and Rules exam and the trade exam for the chosen classification.
Post the contractor license bond and insurance. Bond amount scales with annual gross volume. Workers compensation required for any business with one or more employees.
Receive the AZ ROC license. AZ ROC issues the license after the exam is passed, the bond is filed, and the Recovery Fund assessment is paid (residential only). The license must be renewed every two years.

Common Filing Mistakes

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

Misreading the $1,000 threshold

Any project that requires a building permit needs a license regardless of dollar value. Contractors who assume the $1,000 ceiling protects all small jobs face civil penalties.

Choosing the wrong classification

A B General Residential contractor cannot bid commercial work. The KA dual commercial credential is required for general commercial scope.

Underestimating the bond amount

The bond scales with annual gross volume. Contractors who exceed their bonded volume must immediately upgrade or face license suspension.

Skipping workers compensation

Arizona requires workers compensation for any business with one or more employees — the strictest threshold in the southwest.

Forgetting the Recovery Fund

Residential contractors must pay into the Residential Contractors Recovery Fund at issuance and renewal. Skipping this fee blocks license issuance.

Study and Reference Materials

What follows are the regulator-cited and commonly used preparation references for this trade. They appear here for convenience only; CLR takes no compensation for them.

Arizona Contractors Reference Manual — AZ ROC / PSI. Official reference for the Statutes and Rules exam.
NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management — Arizona edition — NASCLA. Standard reference for the trade exam business portion.
A.R.S. Title 32 Chapter 10 and A.A.C. Title 4 Chapter 9 — State of Arizona. Licensing law and rules.

Pre-Submission Checklist

These are the pieces to lock down before filing with AZ ROC:

☐ AZ ROC application with $200 fee and qualifying party designation
☐ AZ ROC Statement of Experience covering four years within the prior ten
☐ PSI Statutes and Rules exam pass certificate at 70%+
☐ PSI trade exam pass certificate at 70%+ for the chosen classification
☐ Contractor license bond at the volume-appropriate amount
☐ Workers compensation coverage certificate (any business with one or more employees)
☐ Residential Contractors Recovery Fund assessment (residential classes only)

Other Arizona Trade Licenses

Should the General Contractor path not apply, these other Arizona trade guides from CLR may help:

Frequently Asked Questions

When do I need an Arizona General Contractor license?

Any contracting work valued at $1,000 or more, or any work that requires a building permit regardless of value, requires an AZ ROC license under A.R.S. §32-1121. The handyman exemption is narrow.

What is the difference between Arizona B and KB classifications?

B-class licenses authorize residential general contracting (B General Residential, B-1 General Small Commercial, B-2 General Remodeling). KA/KB-class licenses authorize commercial general contracting. KA is the broadest commercial credential.

How much is the Arizona contractor license bond?

Residential B-class bonds start at $9,000 for annual volume up to $750,000 and rise with volume. Commercial KA/KB bonds range from $5,000 to $100,000 depending on volume.

Does Arizona accept the NASCLA exam?

No. AZ ROC requires the PSI trade examination plus the Arizona Statutes and Rules examination. NASCLA is not accepted.

How often does the Arizona contractor license renew?

Every two years. There is no continuing education requirement, but the bond and workers compensation must remain in force.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-06-14 · Next scheduled review 2026-09-12