Overview & Benefits
Arizona Construction Licensing Options
When applying for a contractor's license in Arizona, you may have multiple options regarding your trade knowledge licensing exam. Arizona accepts the National NASCLA Commercial Building Contractor Accredited Exam as an alternative to the state-administered exam for B-1 and B-2 General Commercial Contracting Classifications. The content and reciprocity of these exams have distinct differences, including the number of books allowed into the exam, time allowed to complete the test, exam content areas, and acceptable testing locations. However, each trade exam option has its own benefits depending on your business plan and career aspirations.
The Arizona B-1/B-2/KB-1/KB-2 Combined Contractor Exam is only administered for Arizona contractor license applicants. If you take and pass this exam to obtain an Arizona General Contractor license, you may need to take another technical exam if you choose to move to another state for work. Arizona currently has reciprocity agreements with California, Nevada, and Utah, meaning you may be eligible to waive testing requirements if applying for an equivalent license in one of those states.
The National NASCLA Commercial Builder Exam is currently accepted as a commercial trade licensing exam in over 17 states, with more states considering accepting the exam soon. If you plan on obtaining a license in multiple states, you may benefit from taking the Nationally-Accredited exam option to later waive trade exam requirements in those accepting jurisdictions.
If you're not sure which licensing exam option is best for you, book a 30-minute Start-Up Consultation with one of our licensing experts to discuss your unique business needs, and get started building your path to success as a licensed contractor in Arizona today!