Arizona Solar Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC) issues two solar contractor classifications under A.R.S. §32-1101 and Arizona Administrative Code R4-9: CR-11 Solar (residential) and CC-11 Solar (commercial). Both authorize installation of solar photovoltaic, solar thermal water heating, pool heating, and solar daylighting systems within their scope. The older "C-11" shorthand still appears in industry chatter but the ROC Classifications list uses the CR-/CC- prefixes to distinguish residential from commercial. Applicants must document four years of experience as a journey-level worker, foreman, supervisor, or contractor in the solar trade within the past ten years, pass the trade and the Statutes and Rules examinations, and post a license bond sized to license type and gross volume (CR-11 residential bond starts at $9,000; CC-11 commercial bonds scale higher with revenue).

Regulatory Body Profile

Authority over this credential rests with Arizona Registrar of Contractors (AZ ROC), which issues and polices it 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

The Eligibility Audit

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.

Good moral character

ROC reviews criminal history under A.R.S. §32-1122.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application.

Experience and Education Standards

At least four years of practical solar trade experience as a journey-level worker, foreman, supervisor, or contractor within the past 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 Statement of Experience signed by qualified verifiers
W-2 statements covering the qualifying period
NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification (counts as experience)

Education substitution

Up to two years may be substituted with approved technical training or a related degree.

The Exam Syllabus

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

Arizona C-11 Solar Trade Examination — 80 questions, 200 minutes, passing score 70%
Arizona Statutes and Rules Examination — 70 questions, 150 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $74 per part.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be retaken individually after re-paying the fee.

Bonding, Insurance & Financial Security

The applicant must secure and file a $9,000 surety bond before the AZ ROC will release the license.

General liability

No state minimum, but $1M commercial general liability is the de facto industry standard.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory under A.R.S. §23-901 for any business with employees.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required for the residential C-11. Commercial classifications require a financial statement showing positive net worth.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$480
Examination	$148
Initial license	$200
Renewal (every 2 years)	$480

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The Arizona ROC CR-11 / CC-11 Solar Contractor runs on a 2 years renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $480. ROC licenses renew every two years.

Continuing education: No state CE requirement for C-11.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Out-of-State Reciprocity

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

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
California	Trade exam waiver possible	ROC has a trade-exam waiver MOU with CSLB; applicant must have held the equivalent CSLB classification (C-46 Solar, C-10 Electrical, or C-36 Plumbing for thermal) in good standing for at least 5 of the prior 7 years. Statutes & Rules exam is still required.
Nevada	Trade exam waiver possible	NSCB MOU; same 5-of-7-years-in-equivalent-classification rule. Statutes & Rules still required.
Utah	Trade exam waiver possible	Utah DOPL MOU; same 5-of-7-years rule. Statutes & Rules still required.

ROC reciprocity is exam-waiver only, not full license recognition. You still file a full Arizona application, post the bond, and pass the Arizona Statutes & Rules exam. NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification does not replace ROC licensure.

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

The Application Roadmap

Document four years of solar experience. Compile the ROC Statement of Experience with qualified verifier signatures.
Submit the ROC C-11 application. File with the $480 application fee.
Pass the trade and statutes-and-rules exams at 70%. Both administered by PSI.
Post the $9,000 license bond (residential). Commercial classifications scale the bond by gross volume.
File the certificate of insurance and workers compensation. Required before issuance.
Receive the C-11 license. ROC issues the wallet card after bond and insurance are filed.
Pull local building and electrical permits per project. Each Arizona jurisdiction requires local permits.

Pre-Application Checklist

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

☐ Four years of documented solar experience
☐ ROC C-11 application + $480 fee
☐ Pass trade exam and statutes-and-rules exam at 70%+
☐ $9,000 license bond (residential)
☐ $1M commercial general liability insurance (industry standard)
☐ Workers' compensation coverage
☐ Local building and electrical permits per project

Where Applications Stall

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

Picking residential when you need commercial

CR-11 covers residential 1-4 unit scope only. Anything commercial — schools, warehouses, ground-mount utility arrays — requires CC-11 with a larger bond and (often) a financial statement.

Skipping the Statutes and Rules exam

Both parts must pass. Many applicants over-prep the trade exam and underestimate Statutes and Rules.

Letting the bond lapse

ROC will administratively suspend the license immediately upon bond cancellation.

Forgetting workers compensation

Mandatory in Arizona for any business with employees.

Missing local permits

State licensure does not exempt you from city/county permits.

Recommended Study 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.

NEC Article 690 — Solar Photovoltaic Systems — NFPA. Primary technical reference.
Arizona ROC C-11 Candidate Information Bulletin — PSI. Free PDF outlining exam content.
A.R.S. §32-1101 and AAC R4-9 — State of Arizona. Statutory framework.

Other Arizona Trade Licenses

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

Common Questions

Does Arizona have a dedicated solar license?

Yes. The Class C-11 Solar license is a dedicated specialty contractor classification.

Residential or commercial?

CR-11 covers residential, CC-11/KA-11 covers commercial. Pick the one that matches your work scope.

Is NABCEP required?

No. NABCEP is voluntary in Arizona.

How big is the license bond?

$9,000 for residential C-11. Commercial classifications scale by gross volume.

Does Arizona reciprocate?

Partially. ROC has trade-exam waiver MOUs with California, Nevada, and Utah, but only for contractors who held the equivalent classification 5 of the prior 7 years. The Arizona Statutes & Rules exam, application, and bond are still required.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-04-16 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-15