Arizona has no individual HVAC or refrigeration technician license. The ROC licenses the company as C-39, R-39R or CR-39 through a qualifying party. Here are the exams, bond, fees and qualifier rules from the statute and the ROC's rules.
Arizona does not issue a license to an individual HVAC or refrigeration technician. The Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC) licenses the contracting business instead, under an air conditioning and refrigeration classification such as CR-39, and every license stands on a qualifying party who has the experience and passed the exams. For the full statewide picture see the Arizona contractor license requirements, and for every other state see how to get a contractor license in each state.
At a glance Issued by: the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, to the company, not the technician HVAC classes: C-39 commercial, R-39R residential, CR-39 dual Qualifying party: four years of trade experience, two within the last ten years Exams: the $61 Statutes and Rules Exam plus the $66 PSI trade exam, 70% to pass ROC fees at filing: $580 for C-39, $720 for R-39R, $850 for CR-39
Do You Need a State License to Work as a Refrigeration Technician in Arizona?
No, not as an employee. Arizona has no statewide journeyman, master or technician license for HVAC or refrigeration work. The contractor statute exempts "an employee with wages as the person's sole compensation" (A.R.S. 32-1121(A)(11)), so a technician on a licensed company's payroll works under that company's ROC license.
The picture changes the moment you work for yourself. Anyone who contracts, bids or offers HVAC work must hold an ROC license in the business's own name, and a pulled permit is prima facie evidence that a contract exists (A.R.S. 32-1151).
The $1,000 rule. A person without a license may take a job only when the whole project, labor and materials together, is less than $1,000, the work is casual or minor, and no local building permit is required (A.R.S. 32-1121(A)(14)). Splitting a bigger job into small contracts does not qualify, and any advertising must carry the words "not a licensed contractor."
Gas work is carved out. The $1,000 exemption does not apply to any work that connects to natural gas, propane or another gaseous fuel (A.R.S. 32-1121(D)(2)). So even a small gas furnace swap cannot rely on the $1,000 exemption.
Servicing equipment that could release refrigerant also requires federal EPA Section 608 certification, covered below. Cities and counties issue building permits, so check with the local building department where the job sits.
The HVAC Classifications: CR-39, C-39 and R-39R
Arizona sorts most trades into commercial, residential and dual scopes. For air conditioning and refrigeration, the ROC's rules set up these classes:
| Class | Name | Market |
|---|---|---|
| C-39 | Air Conditioning and Refrigeration | Commercial |
| R-39R | Air Conditioning and Refrigeration | Residential |
| CR-39 | Air Conditioning and Refrigeration | Dual (both) |
| C-79 | AC and Refrigeration, Including Solar | Commercial |
| R-39 | AC and Refrigeration, Including Solar | Residential |
| CR-79 | AC and Refrigeration, Including Solar | Dual (both) |
| C-49 | Refrigeration (perishables, process) | Commercial |
| C-58 | Comfort Heating, Ventilating, Evaporative Cooling | Commercial |
| CR-58 | Comfort Heating, Ventilating, Evaporative Cooling | Dual (both) |
Notes on the classes:
- CR-39 allows the scopes of both the commercial C-39 and the residential R-39R in one license (R4-9-104).
- The solar classes (C-79, R-39, CR-79) add solar equipment to the same air conditioning scope (C-79 in R4-9-102, R-39 in R4-9-103, CR-79 in R4-9-104). The R-39 scope includes all R-39R subclassifications.
- C-49 Refrigeration covers systems that process, store and display perishables, including walk in boxes, and excludes comfort air conditioning (R4-9-102).
- C-58 covers warm air heating systems, gas fired furnaces and space heaters, ventilation and evaporative cooling units; its scope does not list refrigeration (R4-9-102). CR-58 pairs C-58 with the residential R-39R warm air heating, evaporative cooling and ventilating scope (R4-9-104).
If you only service homes, R-39R is enough. To bid homes and commercial buildings, the dual CR-39 covers both with one license, one exam and one qualifying party.
What the C-39 Scope Covers
The C-39 classification lets a licensee install, alter and repair refrigeration and evaporative cooling systems (R4-9-102). It also covers wet, dry and radiant heating. Wet systems (boilers, coils and baseboard convectors) are limited to 30 PSIG and 220° F for hot water and 15 PSIG for steam, and dry systems include gas fired furnaces and space heaters.
Ventilation is in scope too: duct work, air filtering and water treatment devices, pneumatic or electrical controls and control piping. So are insulation of refrigerant pipes and ductwork, liquid fuel piping and tanks, water and gas piping from the service connection to the equipment, and testing and balancing.
One electrical limit matters in the field. A C-39 contractor may add a new circuit to an existing service panel or sub panel, but installing a new service panel or sub panel is excluded.
Who Must Qualify the License
The ROC licenses a business, and the business names a qualifying party who meets the experience and exam rules for the class (A.R.S. 32-1122(E)). If you own the shop and hold the experience, you can be your own qualifying party.
The qualifying party needs four years of practical or management trade experience in the type of work the license covers, with at least two of those years within the last ten. Technical training at an accredited college, university or manufacturer's accredited program can replace part of that time, never more than two of the four years (A.R.S. 32-1122(E)(1)).
The ROC must accept military training, transcripts from accredited programs and completion certificates from a U.S. Department of Labor or state approved apprenticeship as evidence of experience (R4-9-119). It counts experience whether or not your employer was licensed, and even if you were a minor then (R4-9-119), though the license itself cannot go to a minor (A.R.S. 32-1122(G)). Keep pay stubs, W-2s and employer letters with dates.
The SRE and the CR-39 Trade Exam
The qualifying party takes the exams (PSI Candidate Information Bulletin), and Arizona requires at least 70% on each (R4-9-106).
| Exam | Given by | Fee | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statutes and Rules Exam (SRE) | Online course, bought via GMetrix | $61 | Online only |
| R-39R/C-39 (CR-39) trade exam | PSI | $66 | Online or test center |
| Two PSI exams at once | PSI | $116 | Online or test center |
| Solar portion only | PSI | $40 | For the solar classes |
The CR-39 trade exam has 80 questions and a 210 minute limit (PSI CR-39 content outline). Refrigeration, air conditioning and warm air heating carry 12 items each, and the rest covers controls, boilers, ventilation, evaporative coolers, piping, testing and balancing, and sizing. It is open book for the International Mechanical Code 2018, the International Fuel Gas Code 2018 and 29 CFR Part 1926.
Retakes. After a failure you wait 30 days, then 30 days after a second failure, then 90 days after any later one (R4-9-106(D)). The PSI fee is valid for one year and is not refundable.
Timing and waivers. The exam must be taken not more than two years before you apply (A.R.S. 32-1122(E)(2)). The ROC waives it for someone who was a qualifying party on an Arizona license in the same class within five years (A.R.S. 32-1122(F)), and may waive the trade exam for a qualifying party in another state in the same or a comparable class within five years (R4-9-106(E)).
EPA Section 608 Certification
Federal rules require Section 608 certification for technicians who maintain, service, repair or dispose of equipment that could release ozone depleting refrigerants (EPA Section 608). It comes from the Clean Air Act and 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F, and applies nationwide.
The EPA recognizes four certification types (EPA certification requirements): Type I for small appliances, Type II for high and very high pressure equipment, Type III for low pressure equipment, and Universal for all three. Section 608 is a personal credential; it does not authorize anyone to contract, and the ROC license does not replace it. See EPA 608 certification vs an HVAC license.
Bond Amounts by Annual Volume
Arizona requires a license bond or cash deposit before the ROC grants an original license, sized by class and estimated annual Arizona volume (A.R.S. 32-1152). The ROC's rule sets the figures (R4-9-112):
| License type | Estimated annual volume | Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Specialty commercial (C-39, C-49, C-58, C-79) | Less than $150,000 | $2,500 |
| Specialty commercial (C-39, C-49, C-58, C-79) | $150,000 to under $500,000 | $7,000 |
| Specialty commercial (C-39, C-49, C-58, C-79) | $500,000 to under $1,000,000 | $17,500 |
| Specialty commercial (C-39, C-49, C-58, C-79) | $1,000,000 to under $5,000,000 | $25,000 |
| Specialty commercial (C-39, C-49, C-58, C-79) | $5,000,000 to under $10,000,000 | $37,500 |
| Specialty commercial (C-39, C-49, C-58, C-79) | $10,000,000 or more | $50,000 |
| Specialty residential (R-39R, R-39) | Less than $375,000 | $4,250 |
| Specialty residential (R-39R, R-39) | $375,000 or more | $7,500 |
Every C class uses the specialty commercial rows and every R class the specialty residential rows. A dual CR-39, CR-58 or CR-79 contractor posts one bond carrying both amounts, one from each table, based on commercial and residential volume (A.R.S. 32-1152(B)(6), R4-9-112(A)(6)). The surety sets the premium you actually pay.
The $200,000 consumer protection layer. Residential and dual contractors must also furnish an additional $200,000 bond or cash deposit, or join the Residential Contractors' Recovery Fund by paying its assessment (A.R.S. 32-1152(C)). The recovery fund option is a $370 assessment at filing, shown below.
ROC Application and License Fees
The ROC charges an application fee and a biennial license fee for each classification, plus the recovery fund assessment for residential and dual scopes (R4-9-130):
| Classification | Application fee | License fee | Recovery Fund |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specialty commercial (C-39) | $100 | $480 | $0 |
| Specialty residential (R-39R) | $80 | $270 | $370 |
| Specialty dual (CR-39) | $100 | $380 | $370 |
That puts the ROC total at filing at $580 for C-39, $720 for R-39R and $850 for CR-39, before the $61 SRE and the $66 trade exam. Each classification needs its own application.
The license runs two years. Renewal is $480 for specialty commercial, $270 for residential and $380 for dual, plus a $270 recovery fund assessment on residential and dual licenses (R4-9-130). A late renewal adds a $50 penalty (A.R.S. 32-1126(D)).
The Licensing Steps in Order
- Pick the class. Match your work to C-39, R-39R or CR-39, or the solar version.
- Name the qualifying party and gather proof of four years of experience, two within the last ten.
- Form the business. An LLC or corporation must attest it is in good standing with the Arizona Corporation Commission (A.R.S. 32-1122(B)(1)(g)).
- Pass the exams. The qualifying party completes the $61 SRE and the $66 trade exam at 70% or better, unless a waiver applies.
- Arrange the bond sized to your class and estimated volume.
- Choose the $200,000 option for R-39R or CR-39: the recovery fund assessment or the additional bond.
- Confirm workers' compensation. The application requires an attestation, with the policy number if you must carry coverage (A.R.S. 32-1122(B)(1)(i)).
- File the application with the fees and score report within two years of passing, and be ready for fingerprints if the ROC requests a records check (A.R.S. 32-1122(H)).
- Keep the record current by reporting changes within thirty days (A.R.S. 32-1122(B)(4)).
Cost and Timeline
The hard costs are the ROC fees ($580 to $850 by scope), the $61 SRE, the $66 trade exam, EPA 608 certification, the bond premium and insurance. The surety and the insurer price the premium and any general liability policy from your credit, volume and history, so the total varies.
Processing time after filing depends on the ROC and on any records check the registrar requires. Documenting experience and scheduling exams are the slow parts, so start those first and confirm current fees with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors before you file.
The Qualifying Party Behind Every Arizona HVAC License
The Arizona license belongs to the business, and it stands on the qualifying party the business names (A.R.S. 32-1122(E)). If that person leaves, the license is at risk.
The qualifying party may not take other employment that conflicts with supervising the licensee's work, and may qualify only one additional licensee, and only with at least 25% common ownership or a 25% owned subsidiary (A.R.S. 32-1127). That person answers for the licensee's violations for regulatory purposes.
When a qualifying party leaves, the company and that person must notify the ROC in writing within 15 days. The company then has 60 days to requalify through another person, or the license is suspended by operation of law (A.R.S. 32-1127.01). Changing the qualifying party costs $100 (R4-9-130).
This is where a qualifying agent fits: an experienced professional who serves as your qualifying party as a full time W-2 employee who actually supervises the work. Our founders, Marshall Schofield and Jeremiah Jaskulski, built The Licensing Company around placing qualified people in that role. Read what a qualifying agent is, see the role for HVAC and mechanical contractors, or learn how hiring a qualifying agent works.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a state license to work as a refrigeration tech in Arizona? Not if you work for wages for a licensed company; A.R.S. 32-1121(A)(11) exempts an employee paid only wages, and Arizona issues no technician license. If you contract on your own, you need an ROC license unless the job is under $1,000, casual, needs no permit and involves no gas connection.
What is a CR-39 license in Arizona? CR-39 is the dual Air Conditioning and Refrigeration classification, covering the work of both C-39 and R-39R under one license (R4-9-104). The qualifying party takes the R-39R/C-39 (CR-39) trade exam at PSI plus the SRE.
Is there a journeyman or master HVAC license in Arizona? No. Arizona does not issue statewide journeyman or master HVAC licenses. Your field experience is what qualifies you to stand as the qualifying party for a C-39, R-39R or CR-39 license.
Do I need EPA 608 certification to work on refrigeration systems in Arizona? Yes, if you maintain, service, repair or dispose of equipment that could release ozone depleting refrigerants. It is a federal certification, separate from the ROC license, and a contracting business generally needs both.
Can I take the NASCLA exam instead of the Arizona trade exam? Not for HVAC. NASCLA lists Arizona's acceptance of its commercial exam only for the B-1 and B-2 general commercial classes, so air conditioning applicants take the PSI trade exam. See our NASCLA exam guide.
I am licensed in another state. Do I have to retest? Maybe not for the trade exam, if you were a qualifying party in another state in the same or a comparable class within five years (R4-9-106(E)). The SRE is still required unless you were a qualifying party on an Arizona license within the last five years.
How much does an Arizona HVAC license cost? ROC fees run $580 for C-39, $720 for R-39R and $850 for CR-39, including the $370 recovery fund assessment on residential and dual scopes. Add the $61 SRE, the $66 trade exam, EPA 608 certification, the bond premium and insurance.
What happens if my company's qualifier leaves? Notify the ROC in writing within 15 days, then requalify through another person within 60 days of the disassociation, or the license is automatically suspended (A.R.S. 32-1127.01). You can qualify another employee who meets the rules or place a qualifying agent as a W-2 employee.
Talk to Our Team About Your Arizona HVAC License
Keeping the company qualified, especially when you expand into Arizona or lose a qualifying party, is where many HVAC businesses stall. The Licensing Company places qualifying agents as full time W-2 employees so your business can hold the right ROC classification and keep bidding.
Call us at 615-219-2110 or start with hiring a qualifying agent. If you hold an HVAC license yourself, see how to become a qualifying agent. Our Arizona contractor license guide and Arizona electrician license guide cover the ROC's other trades.
Sources
- A.R.S. 32-1121, persons not required to be licensed, retrieved 2026-09-28
- A.R.S. 32-1122, qualifications for license, retrieved 2026-09-28
- A.R.S. 32-1126, fees, retrieved 2026-09-28
- A.R.S. 32-1127, qualifying party responsibility, retrieved 2026-09-28
- A.R.S. 32-1127.01, disassociation and requalification, retrieved 2026-09-28
- A.R.S. 32-1151, contracting without a license, retrieved 2026-09-28
- A.R.S. 32-1152, bonds, retrieved 2026-09-28
- Ariz. Admin. Code R4-9-102, commercial classifications, retrieved 2026-09-28
- Ariz. Admin. Code R4-9-103, residential classifications, retrieved 2026-09-28
- Ariz. Admin. Code R4-9-104, dual classifications, retrieved 2026-09-28
- Ariz. Admin. Code R4-9-106, examinations, retrieved 2026-09-28
- Ariz. Admin. Code R4-9-112, bond limits, retrieved 2026-09-28
- Ariz. Admin. Code R4-9-119, minimum trade experience, retrieved 2026-09-28
- Ariz. Admin. Code R4-9-130, schedule of fees, retrieved 2026-09-28
- PSI Candidate Information Bulletin, Arizona Registrar of Contractors, retrieved 2026-09-28
- PSI content outline, R-39R/C-39 (CR-39), retrieved 2026-09-28
- PSI content outline, R-39/C-79 (CR-79), retrieved 2026-09-28
- EPA Section 608 Technician Certification, retrieved 2026-09-28
- EPA Section 608 technician certification requirements, retrieved 2026-09-28
- NASCLA, Arizona Registrar of Contractors, retrieved 2026-09-28
Disclaimer: This article is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, licensing guidance, or an offer of services. Licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction. For specific compliance questions, contact The Licensing Company for a confidential consultation.