Arizona Plumbing Contractor License

The plumbing contractor license cost in Arizona depends on license type: Specialty Commercial (C‑37) $580; Specialty Residential (R‑37) $720; and Specialty Dual (CR‑37) $850. These totals include application, license, and (for Residential/Dual) Recovery Fund assessments; exams and bond premiums are extra, per the Arizona Registrar of Contractors.

Requirements last verified: 2026-11-05

Requirement	Details
Licensing agency	Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC). See official fee schedule and instructions at ROC Licensing Fees and Applying for a License.
Total state fees (new)	C‑37: $580 ($100 application + $480 license); R‑37: $720 ($80 application + $270 license + $370 Recovery Fund); CR‑37: $850 ($100 application + $380 license + $370 Recovery Fund). Source: ROC Licensing Fees.
Exams and costs	Qualifying Party must pass Statutes & Rules Exam ($61 via Gmetrix) and, when required, the plumbing trade exam ($66 via PSI). Source: ROC Licensing Fees; exam policy in A.R.S. §32‑1122 and A.A.C. R4‑9‑106.
Experience (Qualifying Party)	Minimum 4 years practical/management experience (at least 2 within last 10 years) in the trade or equivalent training. Source: A.R.S. §32‑1122(E).
Classification	Plumbing is C‑37 (Commercial), R‑37 (Residential), or CR‑37 (Dual). Scopes and classification list: ROC License Classifications and ROC Statute & Rules Book.
Bond (surety or cash)	Based on license type and estimated annual volume. Specialty Residential: $4,250 (<$375k) or $7,500 (≥$375k). Specialty Commercial: $2,500 to $50,000 (tiered). Dual = sum of residential + commercial amounts. Sources: ROC Bond Schedule (RC‑L‑220/I); A.A.C. R4‑9‑112; Recovery Fund overview at ROC Recovery Fund.
Minimum age	No explicit age in statute; licenses are issued to business entities with a Qualifying Party able to contract and meet ROC requirements. See Applying for a License.
Insurance	General liability not mandated by ROC; workers’ compensation required if you have employees; provide policy info during application. See ROC Applying for a License.
Renewal	Biennial. Renewal fees: C‑37 $480; R‑37 $540 ($270 license + $270 Recovery Fund); CR‑37 $650 ($380 license + $270 Recovery Fund). $50 late fee may apply. Sources: ROC Licensing Fees; ROC Renew a License Checklist and Renewing a License (PDF).
Key forms	Applications, bond forms, and checklists: ROC Licensing Forms.

How to calculate your plumbing contractor license cost in Arizona

1. Choose your classification (C‑37, R‑37, or CR‑37). Your total depends on whether you’ll do commercial, residential, or both. See ROC classifications.
2. Add state application and license fees. Use the ROC’s current table: C‑37 $580; R‑37 $720; CR‑37 $850. Reference: ROC Licensing Fees.
3. Budget exam costs. Statutes & Rules Exam $61 (Gmetrix) and, when required, trade exam $66 (PSI). Source: ROC.
4. Determine your bond amount. Match your expected annual volume to the ROC bond schedule (e.g., R‑37 $4,250 or $7,500; C‑37 $2,500–$50,000). Sources: ROC Bond Schedule; R4‑9‑112.
5. Account for Recovery Fund. Residential and Dual licenses include a Recovery Fund assessment in the totals; commercial‑only does not. Source: ROC Fees; Recovery Fund.
6. Include insurance and other startup costs. Workers’ comp if you have employees and any optional liability coverage. See ROC guidance.
7. Plan renewal costs. Renew every two years (e.g., R‑37 $540; CR‑37 $650; C‑37 $480) plus a possible $50 late fee. Sources: ROC Fees; Renewal Checklist.

Arizona plumbing contractor license costs explained

The ROC charges different amounts depending on whether you hold the commercial C‑37, residential R‑37, or dual CR‑37 license. The official ROC fee schedule details application, license and Recovery Fund assessments, while exam fees are paid directly to Gmetrix ($61) and PSI ($66). Bond amounts vary by your anticipated volume per the ROC bond schedule.

What it costs to get the C‑37, R‑37, or CR‑37 plumbing license in Arizona

C‑37 Specialty Commercial (Plumbing) costs

State total $580 (no Recovery Fund). Add $61 SRE + $66 trade exam if required, and a bond between $2,500 and $50,000 based on revenue tiers in RC‑L‑220/I. See experience and exam rules in A.R.S. §32‑1122 and R4‑9‑106.

R‑37 Specialty Residential (Plumbing) costs

State total $720 (includes $370 Recovery Fund). Add $61 SRE + $66 trade exam if required, and a $4,250 or $7,500 bond depending on residential volume (ROC bond schedule; overview at Recovery Fund).

CR‑37 Specialty Dual (Plumbing) costs

State total $850 (includes $370 Recovery Fund). Add $61 SRE + $66 trade exam if required, and a dual bond that combines the applicable residential and commercial amounts (see RC‑L‑220/I and R4‑9‑112).

How to get an Arizona plumbing contractor license (cost-focused)

1. Form your business and register with the Arizona Corporation Commission if applicable, then review ROC application steps.
2. Designate a Qualifying Party with at least four years’ verifiable plumbing experience and schedule the required SRE and plumbing trade exam via Gmetrix/PSI (fee details; A.R.S. §32‑1122).
3. Choose license type (C‑37, R‑37, or CR‑37) and use the ROC fee table to budget state costs.
4. Secure the required contractor’s bond in the correct amount using the ROC schedule (RC‑L‑220/I; R4‑9‑112).
5. Complete and submit the application with fees and supporting documents using the forms at ROC Licensing Forms.
6. Maintain workers’ compensation if you have employees and any optional liability coverage (ROC guidance).
7. After approval, track your biennial renewal and set reminders; late renewals can incur a $50 fee (ROC Renewal Checklist; Renewing a License).

Comparing Arizona trade license costs

Costs differ by trade. If you’re also pricing mechanical work, see our detailed breakdown of Arizona HVAC contractor license costs. For electrical, compare the electrical contractor license cost in Arizona and, if you may pursue electrical contracting later, our step-by-step Arizona Electrical Contractor License guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest Arizona plumbing contractor license?

The lowest state total is the C‑37 Specialty Commercial license at $580 (no Recovery Fund). R‑37 costs $720 and CR‑37 costs $850. All figures are from the official ROC Licensing Fees page; remember to add exams and your required bond premium.

How much is the Arizona ROC plumbing exam?

The Statutes & Rules Exam (SRE) is $61 via Gmetrix, and the plumbing trade exam, when required for your classification, is $66 via PSI. These are paid to the testing providers, not to ROC. Source: ROC Licensing Fees.

What bond amount do Arizona plumbing contractors need?

It depends on classification and projected annual volume. R‑37: $4,250 or $7,500. C‑37: $2,500 to $50,000 across revenue tiers. CR‑37 combines the residential and commercial amounts. See the official bond schedule (form RC‑L‑220/I) at ROC and rule R4‑9‑112.

How often do I renew and what does renewal cost?

Every two years. Current renewal totals: C‑37 $480; R‑37 $540; CR‑37 $650, with a possible $50 late fee. Sources: ROC Licensing Fees and ROC Renewal Checklist.

Is general liability insurance required by ROC?

ROC does not mandate general liability, but workers’ compensation is required if you have employees, and policy information is provided during application. Many contractors still carry liability insurance for risk management. Source: ROC Applying for a License.

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