Arizona's R-11 residential and C-11 commercial electrical trade exams are 110 questions in 240 minutes each, and you need 70% to pass. Both are open book on the 2017 NEC and given by PSI for the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC). The CR-11 dual license uses the C-11 exam. You also pass the ROC's online Statutes and Rules Exam (SRE).
The rules below come from PSI's Arizona contractor bulletin (February 18, 2026) and the R-11 and C-11/CR-11 content outlines.
| Quick facts | Arizona electrical contractor exams |
|---|---|
| Test company | PSI, at a test center or online with a remote proctor (bulletin, February 18, 2026) |
| R-11 Residential | 110 questions, 240 minutes, 70% to pass (R-11 outline) |
| C-11 Commercial and CR-11 Dual | 110 questions, 240 minutes, 70% to pass (C-11/CR-11 outline) |
| Books | 2017 NEC, NFPA 72 (2016) and OSHA 29 CFR 1926. Permanent tabs only. |
| Statutes and Rules Exam | Open-book online course and exam through Gmetrix, $61 |
| PSI fees | $66 for one exam, $116 for two |
| Who tests | The qualifying party: the person who answers to the ROC for the company's license |
Who takes the Arizona electrical exam?
Arizona has no statewide journeyman or master electrician license. The ROC licenses electrical contracting businesses (A.R.S. 32-1122), and electricians paid only wages don't need a contractor license (A.R.S. 32-1121).
- The qualifying party takes the exams. This is an owner, officer or regular employee who supervises the company's electrical work (ROC).
- Experience: 4 years of hands-on or management experience in the trade, with at least 2 inside the last 10 years. College or manufacturer training can count for up to 2 of the 4 years.
- Time limit: send your license application and score report within 2 years of passing.
Full steps, bonds and license fees are in JCR's Arizona electrical license guide.
Booked for R-11 or C-11? PSI grades Arizona code questions on the 2017 NEC only, and JCR's 2017 NEC package is built on that edition.
What you get for $495: step-by-step video lessons, JCR's study manual (2017 NEC edition) with a six-week plan, a printed mock exam booklet, digital practice exams and permanent code tabs, which the ROC outlines allow.
What's on the Arizona R-11 and C-11 electrical exams?
Both exams have 110 scored questions across the same subject list. The residential exam leans on services and grounding. The commercial exam adds more special occupancies.
| Topic | R-11 | C-11 / CR-11 |
|---|---|---|
| Services, feeders and branch circuits | 18 | 13 |
| Grounding and bonding | 16 | 13 |
| Raceways and boxes | 15 | 10 |
| Conductors and cables | 12 | 12 |
| Photovoltaics | 10 | 10 |
| Special occupancies and equipment | 3 | 13 |
| Overcurrent protection | 7 | 8 |
| General electrical knowledge | 6 | 5 |
| Lighting | 6 | 3 |
| Fire detection and alarm systems | 5 | 5 |
| Safety | 5 | 5 |
| Motors | 3 | 5 |
| Low voltage | 2 | 5 |
| Electrical devices | 2 | 2 |
| Illuminated signs | Not listed | 1 |
What books can you bring to the Arizona electrical exam?
Bring your own copies of these:
- The 2017 NEC (NFPA 70). Code questions are graded on this edition only.
- NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code, 2016 edition
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926, either the federal text or PSI's selections
Book rules from the outlines:
- Highlight, underline, annotate and index your books before exam day. Writing in them during the exam gets you reported to the ROC.
- Permanent tabs only, meaning tabs that would tear the page if pulled. Sticky notes must come out before you start.
- No loose or attached papers. A printout must be spiral-bound or hole-punched in a binder.
- Ugly's Electrical References and the two solar textbooks on the study list stay out of the room.
- A basic, silent, nonprinting, non-programmable calculator is allowed. Scientific calculators are not.
Scheduling, fees and retakes
- Book through PSI's Arizona contractor page or at (855) 744-0310.
- Test centers: Phoenix, Tempe, Glendale, Tucson and Flagstaff, plus PSI centers in other states.
- Fees: $66 for one exam, $116 for two. They're non-refundable and good for 1 year.
- Cancel at least 2 days ahead to keep your fee. A Monday exam must be canceled by Saturday.
- Scores show on screen and arrive by email. A fail comes with a weak-area report.
- Retakes: wait 30 days after a fail. After 3 fails, the wait is 90 days.
- Unscored questions: PSI may add 5 to 10 trial questions, and they use your time.
Testing online with a remote proctor
- Run PSI's computer check before exam day.
- Launch within 30 minutes of your booked time. If you haven't started 15 minutes after it, you lose the fee.
- No breaks and no scratch paper. Test centers hand out scratch paper and a pencil.
The Arizona Statutes and Rules Exam (SRE)
The SRE is the ROC's own open-book course and exam, taken online through Gmetrix for $61. The ROC requires at least 70% on every required exam.
The SRE can't be waived for an out-of-state license. The only skip is for someone who was a qualifying party on an Arizona license in the past 5 years (ROC classification requirements).
ROC exam or NASCLA exam?
R-11, C-11 and CR-11 applicants may take the NASCLA electrical exam instead of the ROC trade exam (ROC fees page). NASCLA is a national exam that several states accept. It's built differently:
- 100 questions in 270 minutes, $116
- Code book: the 2020 or 2023 NEC, not the 2017 (NASCLA electrical outline)
- Passing score: 75 on the electrical contractors exam, 70 on the residential version
Going the NASCLA route? Read JCR's NASCLA exam guide. JCR's NASCLA prep course is built on the 2020 NEC.
Other ROC electrical exams
- CR-67 Low Voltage Communication Systems: 60 questions, 120 minutes, 70% to pass, with the 2017 NEC and NFPA 72 (2016) (outline).
- A-17 Electrical and Transmission Lines: 90 questions, 225 minutes, 70% to pass, with the 2017 NEC and the 2017 National Electrical Safety Code (outline).
Arizona electrical exam prep: how to pass
- Pace at about 2 minutes a question. 240 minutes for 110 questions leaves little time for long searches.
- Don't skip solar. Photovoltaics is 10 questions on both exams. Tab Article 690.
- Residential? Drill grounding and services. Those two areas are 34 of the 110 R-11 questions.
- Plan 6–8 weeks, about an hour a night, and finish with timed practice exams.
Already licensed in another state? Check Arizona's trade exam waiver before you pay for a PSI exam.
Arizona electrical exam FAQ
What NEC edition is on the Arizona electrical exam?
The 2017 NEC for the ROC's R-11, C-11 and CR-11 exams. Code questions are graded on that edition only. The NASCLA alternative uses the 2020 or 2023 NEC.
How many questions are on the Arizona C-11 exam?
110 questions in 240 minutes, and you need 70% to pass. CR-11 applicants take the same exam.
Is the Arizona R-11 exam open book?
Yes. Bring the 2017 NEC, NFPA 72 (2016) and OSHA 29 CFR 1926. Tabs must be permanent, and you can't write in the books during the exam.
Can I take the Arizona contractor trade exam online?
Yes. PSI offers remote proctoring as well as test centers. Remote testing allows no breaks and no scratch paper.
How soon can I retake a failed ROC trade exam?
After 30 days. After 3 failed attempts, you wait 90 days between tries.
Study the 2017 NEC the way PSI tests it
Most of the R-11 and C-11 exams are timed NEC lookups and calculations. JCR's 2017 NEC self-study package drills them on the same edition PSI grades.
It costs $495. Videos and digital practice exams open right after checkout, and printed materials ship the same business day.
Get the 2017 NEC package — $495
Want a baseline first? Try 25 free NEC practice questions.
More Arizona guides
Sources JCR checked
- PSI Arizona contractor bulletin (February 18, 2026)
- PSI R-11 Electrical (Residential) outline
- PSI C-11/CR-11 Electrical (Commercial) outline
- PSI NASCLA electrical outline (Arizona)
- PSI CR-67 outline
- PSI A-17 outline
- Arizona ROC: Applying for a license
- Arizona ROC: License and exam fees
- Arizona ROC: Classification requirements
- A.R.S. 32-1122: Qualifications
- A.R.S. 32-1121: Who is exempt
JCR checked these exam details against PSI's Arizona bulletin and outlines and the ROC's pages on October 21, 2026. If your experience doesn't fit the 4-year rule, confirm with the ROC licensing department before you apply.