How to Get a Plumbing License in Arizona (2026 C-37, R-37 and CR-37 Guide)

Arizona does not issue an individual plumbing license. Instead, the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC) issues a plumbing business license to the company, while one person called the qualifying party supplies the field experience and passes two exams on the company's behalf.

This 2026 guide covers the classes, experience, exams, fees, bond and renewal for an Arizona plumbing business license, plus how to become a plumber here if you are not pursuing the contractor license yourself. For the rules every Arizona trade shares, see our Arizona contractor license page and the national contractor license guide.

At a glance The ROC issues a plumbing business license to the company; there is no statewide journeyman or master plumber credential. Experience: four years of practical or management plumbing experience for the qualifying party, at least two within the last ten years. Two exams: the SRE ($61, Gmetrix, online only) and the PSI plumbing trade exam ($66), each passed at 70%. ROC fees at issue: $580 for C-37, $720 for R-37R, $850 for CR-37, for a two-year license. Time: the ROC has 60 calendar days to decide a complete new license application.

The short answer

• Who needs it: anyone who contracts for plumbing work, unless an A.R.S. 32-1121 exemption applies.
• What it's called: Arizona's plumbing license is a business license issued to the licensed entity, not a personal credential for the plumber who works under it.
• The classes: C-37 (commercial), R-37 or R-37R (residential) and CR-37 (dual), plus solar versions such as C-77 and CR-77.
• Experience: four years of practical or management plumbing experience for the qualifying party, at least two within the last ten years.
• Two exams: the Statutes and Rules Training Course and Exam (SRE, $61, Gmetrix, online only) and the PSI plumbing trade exam ($66, online or at a test center), each passed at 70%.
• Bond: $2,500 to $50,000 for commercial work by volume; $4,250 or $7,500 for residential work; dual licenses post both.
• ROC fees at issue: $580 for C-37, $720 for R-37R, $850 for CR-37, for a two-year license.
• Renewal: every two years, no continuing education step.

Do you need a license to do plumbing in Arizona?

Yes, if you contract for it. A.R.S. 32-1151 makes it unlawful to act as a contractor, bid, or claim the capacity to contract without an ROC license in good standing in the name of the business. The exemptions are narrow:

• The small job (handyman) exemption. Work valued under $1,000 (labor and materials combined) on one project is exempt only if it is casual or minor, does not require a building permit, is not part of a larger job split to stay under the limit, and any advertising says "not a licensed contractor" (A.R.S. 32-1121(A)(14)). Plumbing that needs a permit never qualifies, whatever the price, and neither does any job that connects to a natural gas or propane supply or any plumbing done in connection with fire sprinklers (A.R.S. 32-1121(D)).
• Employees. A plumber working for wages as their only compensation needs no ROC license of their own (A.R.S. 32-1121(A)(11)).
• Owner builders. An owner improving property for their own occupancy may do the work personally or with licensed contractors; a sale, or even an offer to sell, within one year after completion is evidence the work was done for sale (A.R.S. 32-1121(A)(5)).

City cards are separate. The City of Phoenix issues its own journeyman and apprentice licenses for plumbing and mechanical work where a permit is required. A Phoenix journeyman passes an exam and shows four years of related experience; apprentices work under a licensed journeyman or an Arizona licensed contractor.

Skipping the license is costly. Contracting without a license is a class 1 misdemeanor with a fine of at least $1,000 for a first offense and at least $2,000 after that (A.R.S. 32-1164). An unlicensed business that bids a job worth more than $1,000 can be barred from a license for one year after the bid date; a first offense on a project under $20,000 draws a written warning instead (A.R.S. 32-1123).

Before you hire, verify the license. Call the ROC Licensing Department at 1-877-692-9762, or search by business name on roc.az.gov, to confirm the license is active and that its classification covers the job. A Phoenix (or other city) card is a local add-on, not a substitute for the ROC business license.

How to become a plumber in Arizona

Arizona has no statewide plumber's license of its own, so becoming a plumber here means building the experience that eventually qualifies you, or someone at your company, to hold the ROC plumbing business license.

Most plumbers start as an employee of a licensed plumbing business, working under direction while building toward the four years of practical experience A.R.S. 32-1122 requires of a qualifying party. The ROC counts military training, accredited program transcripts, and completion certificates from a U.S. Department of Labor approved apprenticeship toward that experience, whether or not you were licensed, or working for a licensed business, when you earned it (A.A.C. R4-9-119).

In Phoenix, you can also pursue the city's own journeyman plumber card, which needs four years of related experience and a passing exam score; apprentices work under a licensed journeyman or an Arizona licensed contractor while they build that record. Other cities do not issue a separate trade card, so check locally.

Once you have the experience and pass the SRE and the PSI plumbing trade exam, you, or your employer, can apply for the ROC plumbing business license through the steps below.

The Arizona plumbing classifications: C-37, R-37, R-37R and CR-37

Arizona offers plumbing in three scopes that match the commercial, residential and dual structure used across ROC trades, plus solar versions:

Notes on scope and classification rules:

• C-37 (and the commercial half of CR-37) covers water supply piping and fixtures, venting and sanitary drainage, septic tanks, lawn sprinklers, water conditioning, pool piping, gas piping, hot water heating to 30 psig and 220 degrees F, steam to 15 psig, and hydronic balancing.
• R-37 adds fire protection as it relates to water sprinkler systems, sewage treatment systems, fixtures and vents, and solar, and it includes all R-37R subclasses.
• The older R-37R subclasses (central vacuum, fixture refinishing, pool plumbing, gas piping, sewers and drains, solar liquid) are closed to new applicants (A.A.C. R4-9-103).
• If you service homes only, R-37R or R-37 covers you. For commercial and residential together, the dual CR-37 covers both with one license, and CR-77 adds solar on top of that.

Step by step: how to get a plumbing license in Arizona

1. Pick the classification that matches the work you will actually contract for.
2. Name the qualifying party: the owner, partner, member, officer or employee who holds the experience and will pass the exams. Everyone named on the license must be at least 18.
3. Pass the SRE and the plumbing trade exam, then apply within two years of passing.
4. Form and register the business. LLCs and corporations register with the Arizona Corporation Commission and stay in good standing; partnerships register with the Secretary of State.
5. Complete background checks and identity documents. Every person named on the application needs a background check through the ROC vendor, valid for 90 days. Individuals document citizenship or lawful presence (A.R.S. 41-1080).
6. Arrange the bond and workers' compensation. Buy the bond for your scope and volume and attest to workers' compensation coverage or an exemption (A.R.S. 32-1122(B)(1)(i)). General liability insurance is not an ROC license item, but project owners may require it by contract.
7. Apply through the ROC Online Customer Portal (mail and in person filing are also accepted) and pay the application fee, license fee and, for residential or dual work, the Recovery Fund assessment.
8. Answer any deficiency notice within 30 days, or the ROC may return the application (A.A.C. R4-9-113).

The experience requirement

To serve as the qualifying party for an Arizona plumbing license, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Have a minimum of four years of practical or management experience in the type of plumbing you are applying for, with at least two of those years inside the past ten years (A.R.S. 32-1122(E)(1)).
• Know that technical training at an accredited college or university, or in a manufacturer's accredited training program, can replace part of that experience, but never more than two of the four years.

The ROC accepts military training, accredited program transcripts, and completion certificates from an apprenticeship approved by the U.S. Department of Labor or a state apprenticeship agency as evidence of trade experience, and it counts experience whether or not you were licensed, or working for a licensed business, when you earned it (A.A.C. R4-9-119). Keep solid documentation of your work history; the ROC can request it.

The two required exams: SRE and the PSI plumbing trade exam

Every Arizona plumbing applicant must pass two exams unless a waiver applies:

Notes on the exams:

• The R-37 solar portion adds 30 questions and 75 minutes to the trade exam.
• Taking two trade exams costs $116 total; the solar portion alone is $40.
• The C-37 (CR-37) outline is heaviest on drainage, waste and vents (15 items), water supply (12), fuel gas (11) and septic and sewer (11).
• After a failed attempt you wait 30 days to retake; after three attempts the wait becomes 90 days (A.A.C. R4-9-106). The PSI fee is not refundable and is valid for one year.
• Prefer live instruction over self study? Our exam prep tour covers Arizona ROC exam prep classes.

The Arizona bond schedule for plumbers

The license bond is sized to your scope and your anticipated annual volume of work in Arizona. It must be continuous; you can raise it any time but lower it only at renewal (A.A.C. R4-9-112).

Commercial plumbing (C-37, C-77, C-78, and the commercial half of a dual license):

Residential plumbing (R-37, R-37R, and the residential half of a dual license):

A dual CR-37 bond combines the residential and commercial amounts on one bond. Residential and dual licensees must also satisfy a $200,000 consumer protection requirement (A.R.S. 32-1152(C)), either with a $200,000 surety bond or cash deposit or by paying into the Residential Contractors' Recovery Fund, the more common choice, built into the fee schedule below. The Fund pays an eligible homeowner up to $30,000 per residence and no more than $200,000 against any one license.

(Bond premiums are set by the surety and change over time; verify current amounts before you apply.)

ROC application fees (official 2026 schedule)

These are the ROC's official new license fees for a two-year license, with the renewal fee for each:

Notes on fees:

• Totals do not include the SRE and trade exam fees. Residential and dual classifications include the $370 Residential Recovery Fund assessment, which satisfies the $200,000 consumer protection requirement.
• A change of qualifying party costs $100 (A.A.C. R4-9-130).
• First time sole proprietors may qualify for a fee waiver as the spouse of an active duty service member, as an honorably discharged veteran within two years of discharge, or with family income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines (A.R.S. 41-1080.01); the Recovery Fund assessment is still owed.

How long does it take, and what does it cost?

The ROC has an overall time frame of 60 calendar days to decide a complete new license application (A.A.C. R4-9-113; A.R.S. 32-1124). Time waiting on your answers to a deficiency notice does not count (A.R.S. 41-1074(B)).

The hard costs include the ROC fees ($580 to $850 by scope), the SRE ($61) and trade exam ($66), your bond premium, and insurance.

If you are deciding between getting licensed yourself and placing a qualifier so your business can operate now, see how hiring a qualifying agent works or call 615-219-2110 to talk it through.

Renewing an Arizona plumbing license

Licenses run two years. A license not renewed is suspended by operation of law the business day after its renewal date; you can reactivate within one year by filing the renewal with a $50 late fee, and after one year you must apply for a new license (A.R.S. 32-1125). The ROC renewal checklist asks you to confirm Corporation Commission standing, an active bond that covers your volume, and workers' compensation information, then pay on the portal. It lists no continuing education step.

Moving your plumbing business to Arizona from another state

The ROC rules give plumbers qualified elsewhere a trade exam waiver: the ROC may waive the trade exam for a qualifying party who is currently, or within the past five years was, the qualifying party for a licensee in another state in the same or a comparable classification (A.A.C. R4-9-106(E)). You attach the waiver form to your application; the ROC does not pre-approve waivers. The SRE cannot be waived under this rule, so a plumber coming from Washington or anywhere else still passes the SRE and posts an Arizona bond.

From plumbing license to plumbing contractor business

The Arizona license belongs to the business, not the person (A.A.C. R4-9-101), and every licensed company needs a qualifying party: a person responsible for the licensee's conduct under the license who either owns an interest in it or is regularly employed by it (A.R.S. 32-1101). If you own your shop and you are the qualifier, you are covered. A qualifying party may serve one additional licensee only with at least 25% common ownership or a subsidiary relationship (A.R.S. 32-1127).

The problem shows up when the qualifier leaves, or when a plumbing business expands into Arizona without anyone holding the experience and exam scores. That is where a qualifying agent comes in.

A qualifying agent qualifies the company either as an owner with an ownership interest or as a full-time W-2 employee who actually supervises the plumbing work, never on a percentage cut, flat fee or per project arrangement. The Licensing Company was built by Marshall Schofield and Jeremiah Jaskulski, recognized authorities on contractor qualification, to place those professionals with companies that need them. Learn how hiring a qualifying agent works, read what a qualifying agent is, see how the role applies to plumbing contractors, or explore our contractor qualifier services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are plumbers licensed in Arizona? Plumbing businesses are. The ROC licenses the contracting company, and a plumber working for wages under that company needs no state license of their own. Some cities, including Phoenix, add journeyman and apprentice cards.

Is there a journeyman or master plumber license in Arizona? No. Arizona does not issue statewide journeyman or master plumber licenses. Plumbing is licensed at the contractor level, and your field experience is what qualifies you to take the contractor exams.

What is the difference between the C-37, R-37, R-37R and CR-37 plumbing licenses? C-37 is commercial only, R-37R is residential only, R-37 is residential including solar, and CR-37 is the dual license covering the C-37 and R-37R scopes.

Can I take the Arizona plumbing exam online? Yes. The SRE is offered only online through Gmetrix, and the PSI trade exam can be taken remote proctored or at a PSI test center. Both need 70% to pass.

How much is the bond for an Arizona plumbing license? Commercial plumbers post $2,500 (for $150,000 or less in annual volume) up to $50,000 (for over $10 million). Residential plumbers post $4,250 under $375,000 of volume or $7,500 above it, and dual licensees post both. Residential and dual licensees also meet the $200,000 requirement, usually through the Recovery Fund.

How much does an Arizona plumbing license cost? ROC application and license fees run from $580 (commercial) to $850 (dual), plus the $61 SRE and $66 trade exam, plus your bond premium and insurance.

Does Arizona require continuing education for plumbers? No. The ROC renewal checklist, repeated every two years, has no continuing education step.

I hold a plumbing license in another state. Can I use it in Arizona? Not directly. The ROC may waive the trade exam if you were a qualifying party in the same or a comparable classification within five years, but you still pass the SRE and obtain an Arizona license and bond.

My plumbing company's qualifier just left. What now? Both your company and the departing qualifying party must notify the Registrar in writing within 15 days, and you have 60 days from the disassociation date to requalify before the license is automatically suspended (A.R.S. 32-1127.01). You can qualify another eligible employee, or place a qualifying agent as a W-2 employee to qualify the license. We help businesses fill that role.

How do I verify an Arizona plumbing business license? Call the ROC Licensing Department at 1-877-692-9762, or search by business name on roc.az.gov, to confirm the license is active and that its classification covers the job.

How do I choose a licensed plumber for a repair, like a leak under the kitchen sink? Confirm the business holds an active ROC license in the right classification for the job, ask who the qualifying party is, and check that the bond matches the job's size before work begins. A city card, where one applies, is a local add-on, not a substitute for the ROC license.

Sources

A.R.S. and A.A.C. sections, the PSI candidate bulletin, and the Phoenix journeyman page were retrieved and opened directly 2026-10-17. roc.az.gov again refused direct requests that day (confirmed on its fee, bond, FAQ, applying and renewal pages, and on its homepage), and this week an Internet Archive capture could not be retrieved either, so those five ROC pages are carried forward unchanged from the Internet Archive captures opened 2026-07-12 to 2026-07-29 (dates in parentheses below); the roc.az.gov domain itself was reconfirmed live today through its azroc.gov redirect and its citation in the PSI bulletin.

• ROC, License and Renewal Fees (capture 2026-07-26)
• ROC, Bond Information (capture 2026-07-26)
• ROC, Frequently Asked Questions (capture 2026-07-29)
• ROC, Applying for a License (capture 2026-07-12)
• ROC, Renew a License Checklist (capture 2026-07-26)
• PSI, Arizona ROC Candidate Information Bulletin (revised 2/18/2026, retrieved 2026-10-17)
• PSI, C-37 (CR-37) Plumbing (Commercial) outline (retrieved 2026-10-17)
• PSI, R-37 Plumbing Including Solar (Residential) outline (retrieved 2026-10-17)
• A.R.S. 32-1101 (retrieved 2026-10-17)
• A.R.S. 32-1121 (retrieved 2026-10-17)
• A.R.S. 32-1122 (retrieved 2026-10-17)
• A.R.S. 32-1123 (retrieved 2026-10-17)
• A.R.S. 32-1124 (retrieved 2026-10-17)
• A.R.S. 32-1125 (retrieved 2026-10-17)
• A.R.S. 32-1127 (retrieved 2026-10-17)
• A.R.S. 32-1127.01 (retrieved 2026-10-17)
• A.R.S. 32-1151 (retrieved 2026-09-26, not reopened this cycle; no change found elsewhere to its 2026-10-17-confirmed neighbors)
• A.R.S. 32-1152 (retrieved 2026-10-17)
• A.R.S. 32-1164 (retrieved 2026-10-17)
• A.R.S. 41-1074 (retrieved 2026-10-17)
• A.R.S. 41-1080 (retrieved 2026-10-17)
• A.R.S. 41-1080.01 (retrieved 2026-10-17)
• A.A.C. R4-9-101 (retrieved 2026-10-17)
• A.A.C. R4-9-103 (retrieved 2026-10-17)
• A.A.C. R4-9-106 (retrieved 2026-10-17)
• A.A.C. R4-9-112 (retrieved 2026-10-17)
• A.A.C. R4-9-113 (retrieved 2026-10-17)
• A.A.C. R4-9-119 (retrieved 2026-10-17)
• A.A.C. R4-9-130 (retrieved 2026-10-17)
• City of Phoenix, Journeyman and Apprentice Licensing (retrieved 2026-10-17)

Get Your Arizona Plumbing Business Licensed and Bidding

Earning your plumbing business license is step one. Keeping your company qualified is where plumbing businesses stall. The Licensing Company places qualifying agents as full-time W-2 employees so your company can hold the correct ROC classification and keep bidding.

Call 615-219-2110, explore hiring a qualifying agent, or if you hold a plumbing license yourself, see how you could become a qualifying agent. Licensing across more of the trade? Our Arizona contractor license guide, Arizona HVAC license guide, and Arizona electrician license guide round out the ROC picture. If your plumbing company also builds patios, retaining walls or irrigation, read our Arizona hardscaping and irrigation license guide, and for the comparison across states see landscape contractor license requirements by state.