Solar Contractor Licensing
Administered by Arizona Registrar of Contractors
If you're installing solar in Arizona, your contractor must hold the appropriate license from the Arizona Registrar of Contractors—R-11 or CR-11 for rooftop solar panels, R-37 or CR-77/CR-78 for solar water heating, R-39 or CR-79 for solar space heating, or B-6 or KA-6 for solar pool heating. Verify your contractor's current license before signing a contract to ensure they meet state requirements.
Arizona requires specific trade licenses for solar work: electrical (R-11, C-11, CR-11, A-17, K-11 for PV), plumbing (R-37, C-77, C-78, CR-77, CR-78 for solar water heat), HVAC (R-39, C-79, CR-79 for solar space heating), and pool (B-6, A-19, KA-6 for solar pool heating). To qualify, you need four years of relevant work experience and must pass the Registrar's exam, which covers solar applications in air conditioning, boilers, steam fitting, swimming pools, and general plumbing.
The Arizona Registrar of Contractors administers solar contractor licensing through existing trade classifications rather than a dedicated solar license. Applicants must document four years of relevant experience and pass an exam specific to their trade category; solar competency is assessed within the air conditioning, boiler, plumbing, and pool licensing exams. The program ensures market entry qualifications across residential, commercial, and mixed-use solar thermal and PV installations.
Program details
- Program ID
- 244
- Last updated
- 12/19/2024
Eligibility
- Sectors
- installers/contractors
- Technologies
- solar water heat solar space heat solar thermal electric solar thermal process heat solar photovoltaics solar pool heating
Program summary
Solar Photovoltaics
The Arizona Registrar of Contractors does not offer a general solar electric contractor license, but the state's R-11 and C-11 electrical licenses cover solar electric installations. R-11 licenses are required for electrical work on residential property and C-11 licenses apply to commercial installations. Contractors can also acquire a CR-11 license to work on both residential and commercial installations. A-17 and K-11 licenses are also applicable for PV installation.
Solar Water Heating
The Arizona Registrar of Contractors does have a specific plumbing license which includes solar water heaters. R-37 is required for contractors installing or performing maintenance on residential solar water heaters, and C-77 or C-78 are required for commercial solar water heaters. License classifications CR-77 and CR-78 cover both residential and commercial applications of solar water heating.
Solar Space Heating and Cooling
The Registrar of Contractors also has licenses for contractors who work on space heating and cooling systems, including solar thermal systems. R-39 is required for contractors installing or performing maintenance on residential solar space heating and cooling systems, and C-79 is required for commercial systems. License classification CR-79 covers both residential and commercial applications of solar space heating and cooling.
Solar Pool Heating
Lastly, the Registrar of Contractors has licenses for contractors installing or performing maintenance on pools which includes solar pool heating systems. B-6 is required for contractors working on residential pools, and A-19 is for commercial pools. KA-6 allows a contractor to work on both residential and commercial pools.
General Qualifications
All contractors who work with solar energy systems must have four years of relevant work experience and must pass an exam in order to receive a license in Arizona. The following licensing exams include sections on solar applications: air conditioning and refrigeration, boilers, steam fitting and process piping, swimming pools, and general plumbing.
More information can be found here.
Contact & resources
- Contact email
- solar-guy@msn.com
- Additional resources
Please verify current program details with the administering agency before making any financial decisions.
