Electrical contractor license cost AZ

The electrical contractor license cost in Arizona depends on classification: C‑11 (commercial) $100 application + $480 2‑year license; R‑11 (residential) $80 + $270 plus a Recovery Fund assessment; CR‑11 (dual) $100 + $380 plus Recovery Fund. Add a $61 Statutes & Rules (SRE) exam and a PSI trade exam, and the required license bond by volume.

Requirements last verified: 2026-10-20

Requirement	Details
Licensing agency	Arizona Registrar of Contractors (AZ ROC). See statutes/rules and license pages at roc.az.gov.
Application + license fees (2‑year)	C‑11 Specialty Commercial: $100 app + $480 license = $580. R‑11 Specialty Residential: $80 + $270 = $350. CR‑11 Specialty Dual: $100 + $380 = $480. Fee table: A.A.C. R4‑9‑130. Arizona Administrative Code R4‑9‑130 (fee schedule).
Recovery Fund (residential/dual)	Residential and dual licenses pay a Residential Contractors’ Recovery Fund assessment in addition to license fees (initial $370; renewal $270) per R4‑9‑130 and A.R.S. § 32‑1152(C) alternative. R4‑9‑130; A.R.S. § 32‑1152; AZ ROC fee page notes Fund participation. AZ ROC Licensing & Renewal Fees.
Required license bond	Based on estimated AZ annual volume and license type. Specialty Commercial (C‑11): $2,500 to $50,000. Specialty Residential (R‑11): $4,250 or $7,500 (two tiers). Dual (CR‑11): both commercial and residential amounts listed on the bond. See R4‑9‑112 bond table and A.R.S. § 32‑1152. R4‑9‑112 (bond limits); A.R.S. § 32‑1152.
Exams	Arizona Statutes & Rules Exam (SRE) online via Gmetrix: $61. AZ ROC fees page; AZ ROC exam update. Trade exam for C‑11/R‑11/CR‑11 via PSI (fee per PSI bulletin; commonly $66 per attempt). PSI Candidate Bulletin (ROC); example fee line in PSI bulletin: PSI bulletin excerpt. ROC notes NASCLA Electrical option for -11 classes. Applying for a License.
Experience (Qualifying Party)	Minimum 4 years practical/management experience, with at least 2 years in the last 10; up to 2 years may be substituted with qualifying technical training. A.R.S. § 32‑1122(E); see also acceptance of experience evidence in R4‑9‑119.
Minimum age	All persons listed on the application must be 18 or older. AZ ROC – Applying for a License.
Processing time	ROC’s overall time frame to issue/deny a new license: up to 60 calendar days (20 days admin completeness + 40 days substantive review). R4‑9‑113.
Renewal	Biennial renewal at same fee amounts shown in R4‑9‑130 (e.g., C‑11 $480; R‑11 $270; CR‑11 $380) plus Recovery Fund renewal assessment if residential/dual. R4‑9‑130.

How to calculate your Arizona electrical contractor license cost

1. Choose your classification (C‑11, R‑11, or CR‑11). Your classification controls fees, bond tier, and whether the Recovery Fund applies. See ROC’s classification guidance. AZ ROC license classifications.
2. Add application + 2‑year license fees. Use R4‑9‑130’s exact figures for your class: C‑11 $580 total, R‑11 $350 total, or CR‑11 $480 total. R4‑9‑130.
3. Include the Recovery Fund if residential/dual. First license term assessment is $370; renewal assessment $270. R4‑9‑130; A.R.S. § 32‑1152(C).
4. Budget for exams. SRE is $61 via Gmetrix; add the PSI trade exam for your -11 classification (per PSI bulletin). AZ ROC fees page; PSI bulletin.
5. Compute your license bond. Estimate your Arizona annual volume and apply the exact bond tier for your license type using R4‑9‑112 (e.g., C‑11 $2,500–$50,000; R‑11 $4,250 or $7,500). R4‑9‑112.
6. Account for entity and compliance costs. Form your entity (ACC filing if LLC/corp), fingerprint/background if requested, and gather Qualifying Party proof of experience required by A.R.S. § 32‑1122(E). A.R.S. § 32‑1122.
7. Plan for renewal. Biennial renewal uses the same license fee schedule; residential/dual continue Recovery Fund assessments or may instead post the $200,000 additional bond authorized in statute. A.R.S. § 32‑1152(C); R4‑9‑130.

Arizona electrical contractor license cost breakdown (C‑11, R‑11, CR‑11)

Most applicants should expect: base license fees (per R4‑9‑130), the SRE exam fee, a PSI trade exam attempt, and a license bond sized to actual Arizona volume. Residential and dual applicants add the Recovery Fund. For broader cost context across trades, compare our analysis of Arizona HVAC contractor license costs, which use the same ROC fee schedule and bonding framework.

Exact bond amounts for Arizona electrical contractors

Arizona sets bond amounts by license type and projected volume, and requires dual licensees to carry separate commercial and residential amounts on a single bond. The official bond table (R4‑9‑112) lists: Specialty Commercial $2,500–$50,000 across six tiers; Specialty Residential $4,250 or $7,500; General categories have higher tiers. See R4‑9‑112 and the companion bond statute at A.R.S. § 32‑1152.

Experience and exams required for Arizona C‑11/R‑11/CR‑11

The Qualifying Party must document at least four years of trade/management experience (two within the past 10 years), with up to two years substituted by accredited technical training. A.R.S. § 32‑1122(E). All listed persons must be 18+. AZ ROC. The SRE is $61 online; trade exams are delivered by PSI; -11 electrical candidates may use ROC’s NASCLA Electrical pathway where noted. Fees; PSI bulletin; Applying page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the total first‑time cost to get a C‑11 electrical license?

Common line items are $580 in AZ ROC fees (application + 2‑year license), SRE exam $61, at least one PSI trade exam attempt, and a license bond between $2,500 and $50,000 based on your estimated Arizona commercial volume. Residential/dual applicants add a Recovery Fund assessment. Sources: R4‑9‑130 & R4‑9‑112; AZ ROC fees page.

Do residential electrical contractors pay different fees?

Yes. R‑11 fees are $80 (application) + $270 (license) and include the Residential Contractors’ Recovery Fund assessment (initial $370; $270 at renewal). Bond tiers are $4,250 or $7,500 depending on projected volume. See R4‑9‑130 (fees) and R4‑9‑112 (bonds).

How big will my bond be as a first‑year electrical contractor?

It depends on the Arizona work you expect to perform that year. For C‑11, the lowest tier ($2,500) applies under $150,000 in AZ volume; tiers step up to $50,000 at $10M+. R‑11 uses $4,250 or $7,500. Dual CR‑11 shows both amounts. See the official bond table: R4‑9‑112.

How long does AZ ROC take to issue an electrical contractor license?

Under R4‑9‑113, the agency’s overall time frame is up to 60 calendar days: 20 days for administrative completeness review and 40 days for substantive review. Complex files or missing documentation can extend real‑world timelines. See R4‑9‑113.

Are Arizona exam fees refundable or waivable?

The $61 SRE fee is paid to Gmetrix; PSI trade exam fees are paid to PSI and follow PSI’s policies. ROC can waive experience or exam in limited cases (e.g., recent prior qualifying party in same class), but the SRE is generally required. See fees and A.R.S. § 32‑1122(F).

Building a budget for licensure in another regulated field? Our Arizona guides, including the step‑by‑step Private Investigator License Requirements in Arizona and the detailed Arizona Private Investigator License cost breakdown, explain how fees, bonds, and renewals work across industries.

Ready to run the numbers for your situation? License Navigator can calculate your exact Arizona electrical contractor license cost, generate a personalized checklist, and keep you on track from exams to bonding and renewal.