Becoming a plumber in Arizona involves a combination of hands-on training, documented experience, and licensing through both local municipalities and the state’s Registrar of Contractors. The path typically takes four to five years from your first day as an apprentice to earning journeyman status, with additional licensing needed if you want to run your own contracting business. Here’s how the process works at each stage.
Start as an Apprentice
Most aspiring plumbers in Arizona begin through a formal apprenticeship program or by working under a licensed journeyman. The largest union program in the state is run by U.A. Local 469 through the Arizona Pipe Trades Apprenticeship. It’s a five-year paid program that combines on-the-job training with classroom instruction at a dedicated training center. To apply, you need a valid photo ID, a high school diploma or GED, and a passing score on the program’s entrance exam.
Non-union apprenticeships are also available through independent contractors and trade schools. These programs vary in structure, but the core idea is the same: you work alongside experienced plumbers while learning the trade. If you’re working in a city that requires an apprentice license, like Phoenix, your employer will need to provide a notarized letter on company letterhead confirming you’re employed to perform apprentice-level plumbing duties.
Apprentice plumbers in Arizona currently earn an average of about $20.90 per hour, so you’re getting paid while you learn. That rate typically increases as you gain experience and move through the program.
Earn Your Journeyman License
After accumulating at least four years of plumbing experience, you’re eligible to apply for a journeyman plumber license. This is a municipal-level credential, meaning it’s issued by cities rather than by the state. Phoenix is one of the larger cities that requires journeyman licensing, and many other Arizona municipalities follow similar requirements.
To prove your experience, you’ll need one of two forms of documentation. The first option is a United Association Journeyman Plumber union card, which confirms your training through a union apprenticeship. The second option is a notarized letter on company letterhead from a company official stating you have at least four years of trade experience. Either one satisfies the requirement.
You’ll also need to pass a journeyman exam specific to your trade. Once licensed, journeyman plumbers in Arizona earn an average of about $62,137 per year, with hourly rates in major metro areas ranging from roughly $31 to over $48 depending on the city and employer.
Arizona Contractor License Classifications
If you want to go beyond working as an employee and start bidding on your own plumbing jobs, you’ll need a contractor’s license from the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC). Arizona uses a classification system that separates licenses by the type of work and the type of property.
- R-37 (Residential Plumbing, Including Solar): Covers installation and repair of water and gas piping, fire sprinkler systems, sewage treatment systems, fixtures, vents, and solar applications in residential settings.
- C-37 (Commercial Plumbing): Covers a broader scope including water supply, sanitary drainage, septic systems, gas piping, compressed air systems, hot water heating, and water cooling system piping for commercial properties.
- CR-37 (Dual Plumbing): Combines the scopes of both the commercial C-37 and residential R-37 licenses, letting you work on either type of property.
- CR-77 (Plumbing Including Solar, Dual): The broadest classification, combining commercial and residential plumbing scopes with solar applications.
Choose the classification that matches the type of work you plan to do. If you’re unsure, the CR-37 or CR-77 dual licenses give you the most flexibility to take on both residential and commercial projects.
Passing the Contractor Exams
Getting your ROC contractor license requires passing two separate exams. The first is the Arizona Statutes and Rules Exam (SRE), which tests your knowledge of state contracting laws and regulations. This is an online course and exam administered by Gmetrix, costing $61. The second is a trade-specific exam covering plumbing knowledge, administered by PSI either online or at a testing center for $66.
Both exams must be completed before the ROC will process your license application. Study materials for the statutes exam are built into the online course itself. For the trade exam, PSI provides content outlines so you know what topics to prepare for. Most candidates with solid journeyman-level experience find the trade exam manageable, though reviewing code requirements and sizing calculations beforehand is worth your time.
Additional Licensing Requirements
Beyond passing the exams, the ROC requires contractor applicants to meet several business-related requirements. You’ll need to designate a qualifying party for the license (this is often you, the business owner), obtain a contractor’s bond, and carry the required insurance. License and renewal fees are separate from the exam fees and are paid directly to the ROC.
Keep in mind that some Arizona cities also have their own permit and registration requirements on top of the state contractor license. Before you start pulling permits on jobs, check with the local building department in the municipality where you’ll be working.
What You Can Expect to Earn
Plumbing pays well in Arizona, and your earnings grow significantly as you advance. Apprentice plumbers average around $20.90 per hour. Journeyman plumbers average about $62,137 annually, while senior plumbers earn roughly $32.47 per hour or more. Licensed contractors who run their own businesses can earn considerably more, though income at that level depends heavily on the volume and type of work you take on.
Hourly rates also vary by location within the state. Plumbers in the Phoenix metro area typically earn around $31 per hour, while rates in some cities run significantly higher. Specializing in commercial work, solar plumbing, or service and repair can also push your earnings above average.
Timeline From Start to Contractor
Here’s a realistic timeline for the full path. Years one through four (or five, if you’re in the Local 469 program) are spent as an apprentice, earning while you learn. After four years of documented experience, you can test for your journeyman license and work independently under a licensed contractor. Once you’re ready to run your own business, you’ll apply for your ROC contractor license, pass both exams, secure bonding and insurance, and start taking on your own projects. Most plumbers who follow this path from day one are fully licensed contractors within six to eight years.