How to get a general contractor license in Arizona
Edited by John Voll. Last verified .
Arizona Registrar of Contractors licenses general contractors in Arizona. A license is required for any job of $1,000 or more (labor and materials combined) and for any job of any size that needs a local building permit; the handyman exemption below $1,000 covers only casual or minor work.
Who licenses general contractor work in Arizona
| Credential | State license |
|---|---|
| Board | Arizona Registrar of Contractors official statement |
| Official lookup | Search general contractor licenses |
| When a license is needed | A license is required for any job of $1,000 or more (labor and materials combined) and for any job of any size that needs a local building permit; the handyman exemption below $1,000 covers only casual or minor work. source |
| License types | B General Residential Contractor, B-1 General Commercial Contractor, B-2 General Small Commercial Contractor, B-3 Limited Remodeling and Repair Contractor, KB-1 and KB-2 (dual license general classes) |
How to get licensed
- Apply to Arizona Registrar of Contractors for a credential such as B General Residential Contractor, B-1 General Commercial Contractor or B-2 General Small Commercial Contractor.
- Qualifying party must pass the Arizona Statutes and Rules Exam (SRE) unless they qualified an Arizona license in the last five years, plus the PSI trade exam where ROC requires one (PSI lists a B General Residential Contractor exam). source
- Experience: 4 years (Qualifying party needs at least four years of practical or management experience in the trade, two of them within the last ten years; up to two years can be technical training). source
- Post a surety bond or cash deposit of $5,000 to $15,000 for a general residential license, amount set by the registrar up to a statutory maximum of $15,000 (commercial bonds scale with annual volume up to $100,000). source
- Carry applicant must attest to compliance with workers' compensation insurance law and give the policy number if required to carry it; no general liability insurance minimum was found in the statutes read. source
- Pay the new two-year general residential (B) license: $180 application fee, $320 license fee and $370 recovery fund assessment, $870 total before exam fees: $870. source
- License renews every two years (annual renewal only by hardship petition). source
General contractor requirements in Arizona
| Exam | Qualifying party must pass the Arizona Statutes and Rules Exam (SRE) unless they qualified an Arizona license in the last five years, plus the PSI trade exam where ROC requires one (PSI lists a B General Residential Contractor exam). source |
|---|---|
| Experience | 4 years (Qualifying party needs at least four years of practical or management experience in the trade, two of them within the last ten years; up to two years can be technical training). source |
| Bond | Surety bond or cash deposit of $5,000 to $15,000 for a general residential license, amount set by the registrar up to a statutory maximum of $15,000 (commercial bonds scale with annual volume up to $100,000). source |
| Insurance | Applicant must attest to compliance with workers' compensation insurance law and give the policy number if required to carry it; no general liability insurance minimum was found in the statutes read. source |
| Renewal | License renews every two years (annual renewal only by hardship petition). source |
| Reciprocity | No contractor reciprocity agreement was found in the contractor statutes; Arizona's general law (ARS 32-4302) lets a new Arizona resident licensed at least one year in good standing in another state get the same license, but ROC's use of it for contractor classes was not confirmed. source |
| Fees |
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Hiring a general contractor?
See every official lookup in Arizona, which board covers which trade, and what to check before you hire.
Questions
- Do you need a general contractor license in Arizona?
- Arizona Registrar of Contractors licenses general contractors in Arizona. A license is required for any job of $1,000 or more (labor and materials combined) and for any job of any size that needs a local building permit; the handyman exemption below $1,000 covers only casual or minor work.
- How do I check a general contractor license in Arizona?
- The Arizona Registrar of Contractors keeps the record for general contractors in Arizona. Use the official lookup on this page, and treat the board's own record as final.
- How much does a general contractor license cost in Arizona?
- New two-year general residential (B) license: $180 application fee, $320 license fee and $370 recovery fund assessment, $870 total before exam fee. New two-year general commercial (A, B-1, B-2) license: $200 application fee and $580 license fee, $780 total before exam fee. New two-year general dual (KA, KB-1, KB-2) license: $200 application fee, $480 license fee and $370 recovery fund assessment, $1,050 total before exam fee. Two-year renewal of a general residential license: $320 license fee and $270 recovery fund assessment, $590 total. Two-year renewal of a general commercial license, $580. $61 (Arizona Statutes and Rules Exam (SRE) fee). $66 (PSI trade exam fee for one exam ($116 for two)). $50 (Late renewal penalty).
- How much experience do you need for a general contractor license in Arizona?
- 4 years (Qualifying party needs at least four years of practical or management experience in the trade, two of them within the last ten years; up to two years can be technical training).
- How often does a general contractor license renew in Arizona?
- License renews every two years (annual renewal only by hardship petition).
Other trades in Arizona
- Electrical license in Arizona
- Plumbing license in Arizona
- HVAC license in Arizona
- Roofing license in Arizona
- All Arizona trades
General contractor license in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
- https://roc.az.gov/
- https://roc.az.gov/contractor-search
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/32/01151.htm
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/32/01121.htm
- https://test-takers.psiexams.com/api/content/bulletin/5617
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/32/01122.htm
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/32/01152.htm
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/32/01123-01.htm
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/32/04302.htm
- https://www.azroc.gov/licensing-fees
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/32/01126.htm
This is not a government site. The licensing board's own record governs; always confirm on the official lookup. Information as of October 6, 2026.