Arizona CR-9 Masonry Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC) issues a dedicated CR-9 Masonry classification (residential) and B-9 Masonry (commercial) under ARS Title 32 Chapter 10. Any masonry contracting at $1,000 or more (or any project requiring a building permit) requires an active ROC license. The qualifying party must pass two PSI exams (Arizona Statutes & Rules + the CR-9/B-9 trade exam), post a bond sized to the license bracket, and maintain workers compensation. This page documents the verified path including the Recovery Fund assessment and OSHA silica compliance.

The Licensing Authority

Arizona Registrar of Contractors (AZ ROC) is the statutory authority responsible for issuing and enforcing this license under 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

Baseline Eligibility

Eligibility begins with two baseline checks: the applicant must be 18 or older and must provide a valid Social Security Number. No Arizona residency requirement; out-of-state qualifying parties are accepted.

Good moral character

ROC reviews prior license discipline, civil judgments, and criminal history. Outstanding ROC complaints bar issuance.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure and fingerprint clearance card for the qualifying party.

Experience and Education Requirements

At least 4 years of masonry experience within the last 10 years installing brick, CMU, stone, structural masonry, mortar, flashing, weeps, and masonry restoration has to be evidenced and confirmed. Retain payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records, since the board may audit the experience claimed.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

ROC Statement of Experience (Form SOE) signed by prior licensed contractors
W-2, 1099, or payroll records covering the qualifying period
Project lists with addresses, owner contact, and dates

Education substitution

A two-year masonry technology degree from an accredited institution may substitute for up to two years of experience per ROC rule R4-9-108.

The Licensing Examination

The exam, administered by PSI Services LLC under contract to the Arizona ROC, breaks into the parts shown below — all must be passed before licensure:

Arizona Statutes and Rules (Business Management) — 80 questions, 150 minutes, passing score 70%
CR-9 / B-9 Masonry Trade Examination — TMS 402/602, IBC Chapter 21, brick, CMU, stone, mortar, anchored veneer — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $83 per PSI exam section ($166 total).

Retake policy: Failed sections may be retaken after paying a new $83 fee. Application remains valid for one year.

Financial Security and Insurance

A $4,250 surety bond, in the form prescribed by the AZ ROC, must be posted as a condition of licensure.

General liability

No state minimum, but ROC requires GL disclosure on the application. Most owners require $1,000,000 per occurrence.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory under ARS 23-901 for any Arizona employer with one or more employees. Masonry NCCI 5022 carries one of the highest manual rates in Arizona.

Additional financial requirements

Bond size scales with annual gross volume — CR-9 ranges from $4,250 (under $150K) to $15,000 (over $750K). Recovery Fund assessment of $370 also required for residential.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$100
Examination	$166
Initial license	$580
Renewal (every 2 years)	$270

License Renewal

The Arizona CR-9 Masonry — Arizona Registrar of Contractors must be renewed every 2 years. The fee to renew is presently $270. Arizona ROC licenses renew every two years. Late renewal carries a $90 penalty plus reactivation requirements.

Continuing education: No state CE requirement, but bond and insurance must remain current and the qualifying party must remain affiliated.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity Map

Arizona grants no NASCLA reciprocity for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
California	Trade exam waiver	Bilateral CSLB–AZ ROC agreement waives the trade exam for active C-29 holders with 5+ years.
Nevada	Trade exam waiver	Bilateral NSCB–AZ ROC agreement waives the trade exam for active C-13 masonry holders.
Utah	Trade exam waiver	Bilateral DOPL–AZ ROC agreement for active masonry contractors.

Arizona maintains bilateral trade-exam waiver agreements with neighboring western states for active masonry classifications.

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

The Licensing Roadmap

Choose CR-9 (residential) or B-9 (commercial). CR-9 covers single-family and duplex masonry; B-9 covers commercial structures over duplex. Dual licensure is common.
Document four years of masonry experience. Compile the SOE form with signed verifications and a project list within the last 10 years.
Pass the PSI Statutes and Rules exam. Score 70% or better on the 80-question Arizona business management exam.
Pass the PSI CR-9/B-9 Masonry trade exam. Score 70% or better on the masonry trade exam covering TMS 402/602 and IBC Chapter 21.
Obtain the qualifying party fingerprint clearance card. AZ DPS Level One card required before license issuance.
Post bond and Recovery Fund assessment. Bond $4,250–$15,000 based on volume bracket plus $370 Recovery Fund assessment for residential.
Submit ROC application with insurance certificates. File the application with $580 license fee, bond, GL certificate, and workers comp certificate.
Receive license number and post on jobs. ROC issues the CR-9/B-9 number; it must appear on all advertising and bids per ARS 32-1124.

Before Filing: A Checklist

Ahead of submission to AZ ROC, confirm every item on this short list:

☐ Arizona Corporation Commission entity registration
☐ AZ DPS Fingerprint Clearance Card for qualifying party
☐ Statement of Experience signed by prior licensed contractors
☐ PSI Statutes and Rules exam pass certificate (70%+)
☐ PSI CR-9 / B-9 Masonry trade exam pass certificate (70%+)
☐ Surety bond sized to volume bracket ($4,250–$15,000)
☐ $370 Recovery Fund assessment (residential CR-9)
☐ GL and workers compensation certificates

Common Application Pitfalls

The errors below are the ones that most frequently cost Arizona Masonry applicants time, drawn from the cited board guidance.

Underestimating the bond bracket

ROC audits annual gross volume; exceeding the bracketed bond amount triggers automatic suspension and a back-bond demand.

Missing the Recovery Fund assessment

Residential CR-9 applicants who skip the $370 Recovery Fund assessment have their application rejected at issuance.

Fingerprint card delay

AZ DPS clearance cards take 4–8 weeks. Apply on day one or the entire ROC timeline stalls.

Anchored veneer ties wrong gauge

TMS 402 requires corrosion-resistant ties of specific gauge per wind/seismic — Phoenix and Tucson inspectors fail jobs with undersized ties.

Silica plan absent on Phoenix sites

ADOSH targets masonry in metro Phoenix; missing written exposure control plans under 29 CFR 1926.1153(g) draw immediate citations.

Preparation Resources

The list below collects the board's cited references and the materials applicants typically study from. CLR is not paid to recommend any of them.

Arizona Statutes and Rules Reference Manual for Contractors — Arizona ROC. Required reference for the statutes and rules exam.
TMS 402/602 Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures — The Masonry Society. Adopted by reference under IBC Chapter 21.
International Building Code Chapter 21 — Masonry — International Code Council. Arizona adopts IBC at local jurisdictions; statewide reference for the CR-9/B-9 exam.

Other Arizona Trade Licenses

For a different Arizona credential, see these companion guides published by CLR:

Answers to Common Questions

Does Arizona have a dedicated masonry license?

Yes. CR-9 Masonry (residential) and B-9 Masonry (commercial) issued by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors.

What is the project value threshold?

$1,000 or any project requiring a building permit triggers the ROC license requirement under ARS 32-1121.

How big is the bond?

Bond sizing scales with annual gross volume — $4,250 for under $150K up to $15,000 for over $750K (CR-9). B-9 bonds are larger.

What is the Recovery Fund?

Arizona Residential Contractors Recovery Fund — a $370 assessment on residential CR-9 issuance funding consumer claims up to $30,000 per claim.

Does Arizona enforce OSHA silica for masonry?

Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) is a state-plan OSHA enforcing 29 CFR 1926.1153 with full Table 1 control requirements.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-04-26 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-25