Arizona Solar Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Arizona does not issue a standalone “CR-11 / CC-11 Solar” contractor license. A solar contractor is an appropriately licensed ROC contractor whose license is marked or supplemented for solar work. For commercial photovoltaic work, that is commonly a C-11 Electrical contractor with the required solar qualification. R-11 and CR-11 are the residential and dual electrical classifications. Solar thermal, pool-heating, boiler, plumbing, and HVAC work can require a different solar-capable ROC classification, such as C-74, C-77, C-78, C-79, or the corresponding residential or dual classification. This page uses the commercial C-11 electrical path and fees; confirm the exact scope with ROC before applying.

Regulatory Body

Arizona Registrar of Contractors (AZ ROC) administers the credential or scope-specific rules discussed here under Arizona Revised Statutes Title 32 Chapter 10; Arizona Administrative Code Title 4 Chapter 9. Whether that pathway applies depends on the work scope and conditions explained below. 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

Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Applicants must provide a Social Security Number. Arizona law does not require Arizona residency. An applicant entity must provide the information required by A.R.S. § 32-1122, and an LLC or corporation attests that it is in good standing with the Arizona Corporation Commission.

Good moral character

Each person named on the license must meet the conduct requirements in A.R.S. § 32-1122; a recent denial, refusal, or revocation can prevent initial licensure.

Background investigation

ROC requires a background check through its vendor for every person named on the application; the background check expires 90 days after completion.

Experience and Education

At least 4 years of For C-11 Electrical, the qualifying party needs at least four years of practical or management experience specific to the classification (or its equivalent); at least two years must be within the preceding ten years. 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 application and qualifying-party experience documentation for the selected classification
Verification records requested by the ROC for the qualifying party’s claimed experience
Solar warranty submitted with an application for a solar classification

Education substitution

Accredited college, university, or manufacturer-accredited technical training may count toward the requirement, but no more than two of the four years may be credited training.

Exam Requirements

Testing provider or authority: Arizona ROC (online Statutes and Rules course/exam) and PSI Services (trade and solar examinations). The following examination requirements cover the pathways described in this guide; follow each part's classification, waiver, and local-scope conditions. Unpublished format details do not remove an examination requirement:

Arizona Statutes and Rules Exam (SRE) — ROC online course and exam — question count: confirm with the authority, timing: confirm with the authority, passing score 70%
C-11 Electrical trade examination — PSI — question count: confirm with the authority, timing: confirm with the authority, passing score 70%
Solar examination for the selected solar qualification — PSI — question count: confirm with the authority, timing: confirm with the authority, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $61 for the SRE, $66 for one PSI examination, and $40 for the listed Solar Portion Only fee when applicable.

Retake policy: PSI requires a 30-day wait after a failed trade or solar examination. After three failed attempts, PSI requires a 90-day wait; each scheduled examination carries the listed fee.

Insurance and Bonds

The applicant must secure and file a $2,500 surety bond before the AZ ROC will release the license.

General liability

Arizona ROC does not publish a statewide commercial-general-liability minimum for C-11 in its licensing requirements. Project owners or local authorities may impose separate insurance requirements.

Workers' compensation

The application requires an attestation of compliance with Arizona workers’ compensation law and, when required, the policy number or proof of self-insurance.

Additional financial requirements

A C-11 applicant must file a surety bond or cash deposit. For a commercial specialty contractor, the current ROC schedule is $2,500 to $50,000, based on contemplated annual Arizona volume; $2,500 applies at $150,000 or less.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application	$100
Examination	$167
Initial license	$480
Renewal (every 2 years)	$480

To turn these board fees into a realistic year-one budget — bond premium, liability insurance, and exam prep included — open the cost calculator preloaded for Arizona solar.

Renewal and Continuing Education

The Arizona C-11 Electrical Contractor with Solar Qualification (Commercial PV) runs on a 2 years renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $480. A license suspended for failure to renew for more than one year requires a new license application. Keep the required bond in force for renewal.

Continuing education: ROC’s renewal checklist focuses on an active, adequate bond and workers’ compensation policy information or an applicable exemption; it does not list continuing education as a C-11 renewal item.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity

For this classification, Arizona does not recognize the NASCLA Accredited Examination.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified.

Arizona does not have direct reciprocity. ROC may review a request to waive the trade examination and experience when the qualifying party has held a comparable out-of-state license within the previous five years and obtained it by trade examination; an out-of-state waiver does not waive the Arizona SRE.

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

Solar Licensing in Neighboring States

Contractors working near a state line, or weighing where to qualify first, should compare Arizona's requirements against the bordering jurisdictions before committing to an application:

California Solar License Requirements — California Class C-46 — Solar Contractor
Colorado Solar License Requirements — Colorado Solar PV — Electrical Contractor or Photovoltaic Installer Framework
Nevada Solar License Requirements — Nevada Solar Contractor License — C-2 Electrical and C-2g Photovoltaics
New Mexico Solar License Requirements — New Mexico Solar PV Contractor Requirements — Electrical License and CID Permits
Utah Solar License Requirements — Utah S202 Solar Photovoltaic Contractor — Specialty Contractor Path

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Identify the solar system and contractor scope. For commercial PV, begin with C-11 Electrical; for solar thermal, pool, plumbing, boiler, or HVAC work, verify the proper solar-capable ROC classification with ROC.
Document the qualifying party’s experience. For C-11, show the four years of classification-specific experience required by A.R.S. § 32-1122, including at least two years in the preceding ten years.
Complete the required examinations. Complete the ROC SRE, the selected trade examination, and the solar examination as required for the selected solar qualification unless ROC confirms a waiver.
Prepare the application and solar warranty. File the ROC application with the selected classification, qualifying-party materials, and a copy of the solar warranty required for a solar classification.
File the required bond. File a surety bond or cash deposit in the amount tied to the C-11 annual volume before the license can be issued.
Maintain the license and solar qualification. Renew biennially with a bond in force and keep ROC information current. Obtain project permits from the applicable local authority.

Application Checklist

Before submitting to AZ ROC, the applicant should have each of the following ready:

Correct underlying ROC classification selected for the system scope
C-11 qualifying party with four years of classification-specific experience for the commercial PV path
ROC SRE completed unless ROC grants a waiver
Selected PSI trade examination and solar examination completed as required
Solar warranty included for a solar-classification application
C-11 surety bond or cash deposit sized to contemplated annual volume
Completed ROC application, fee, and required applicant identification/materials

Common Filing Mistakes

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

Applying for a nonexistent “CC-11 Solar” or “CR-11 Solar” license

C-11, R-11, and CR-11 are electrical classifications. Solar qualification is added to the applicable ROC license rather than issued as a standalone solar class.

Using the PV path for a thermal or pool system

Solar thermal, pool-heating, boiler, plumbing, and HVAC work may require a different underlying ROC classification and solar qualification.

Omitting the solar warranty

ROC’s licensing forms state that an applicant for a solar classification must submit a copy of its solar warranty.

Letting the bond lapse

A bond or cash deposit must be in full force and effect for renewal; bond cancellation can suspend the license by operation of law.

Assuming another state’s license transfers automatically

An out-of-state contractor still needs an Arizona ROC application and bond; ask ROC before relying on an examination waiver.

Study and Reference Materials

The following references are cited by the regulator, used in the application process, or commonly used to prepare for the trade scope. Listed for reader convenience; CLR receives no compensation for these recommendations.

Arizona Contractor Candidate Information Bulletin — PSI Services / Arizona ROC. Current registration, fee, retake, and trade-content-outline directions.
Arizona ROC License Classification Requirements — Arizona Registrar of Contractors. Use this chart to identify the underlying classification, required examinations, and solar-warranty flag.
Arizona Statutes and Rules Exam course — Arizona Registrar of Contractors. ROC’s required online SRE course and examination for new qualifying parties unless waived.

Other Arizona Trade Licenses

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Arizona have a standalone solar contractor license?

No. Arizona law requires a contractor installing, altering, or repairing a solar device to qualify as a solar contractor. ROC marks or supplements the appropriate underlying contractor license; “CC-11 Solar” and “CR-11 Solar” are not ROC classifications.

Which license is used for commercial photovoltaic work?

The ROC classification requirements list C-11 Electrical for commercial electrical work and flag a solar warranty when solar work is performed. The qualifying party must also meet the solar-qualification examination requirement in A.R.S. § 32-1170.02.

What does the commercial C-11 bond cost?

The bond amount—not the premium—ranges from $2,500 to $50,000 for a commercial specialty contractor, according to contemplated annual Arizona volume. The $2,500 amount applies at $150,000 or less.

Is NABCEP certification required by ROC?

The ROC’s current licensing materials identify the required ROC/PSI examinations and solar warranty; they do not list NABCEP certification as an Arizona contractor-license prerequisite.

How often does C-11 renew?

ROC license fees are published for a two-year license. A current license is suspended by operation of law after its renewal date if it is not timely renewed with a valid bond on file.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-09-04 · Next scheduled review 2026-12-03

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Corrections and presentation updates

2026-09-30: Corrected examination detection when format details are unpublished and updated the summary layout and requirements score. Source-check dates are unchanged.
2026-09-08: Shared template updated to distinguish unspecified eligibility requirements, retain cost qualifications, and use consistent headings. Source-check dates are unchanged by presentation updates.
2026-09-21: Local-only guides now use a compliance-focused structure and terminology instead of implying a statewide license application. Source-check dates are unchanged by this presentation update.