Arizona NASCLA vs ROC is a real choice: either electrical trade exam qualifies you for R-11, C-11 or CR-11, but the Registrar of Contractors (ROC) exam is graded on the 2017 NEC and the NASCLA Accredited exam on the 2020 or 2023 NEC. Take the ROC exam if Arizona is the only state you plan to license in. Take NASCLA if you expect to license in other NASCLA-participating states, because a NASCLA pass can be sent to them as a transcript.
Both choices are written into PSI's own outlines. The R-11 outline and the C-11/CR-11 outline say applicants "have a choice of trade exams" and should compare them to see which "best fits your business needs." This guide does that comparison. For the ROC exam's full rules, see JCR's Arizona R-11, C-11 and CR-11 exam guide. For NASCLA's format and the states that accept it, see the NASCLA electrical contractor exam guide, and for the ROC paperwork on either route, the Arizona electrical license guide.
Going the ROC route? PSI grades Arizona ROC code questions on the 2017 NEC only. JCR's 2017 NEC self-study package is built on that edition.
For $495: a 152-page printed 2017 NEC manual, 100 video lessons (21 hours), 300+ online mock questions with a pausable 100-question timed exam, a printed mock booklet and permanent tabs.
Not sure yet? Take the free 25-question 2017 NEC mock (pick Arizona) and see how you do on the ROC's edition.
Arizona NASCLA vs ROC electrical exam at a glance
From PSI's Arizona outlines (ROC: June 8, 2023; NASCLA: May 15, 2025):
| Item | ROC exam (R-11, C-11, CR-11) | NASCLA exam (Residential / Electrical Contractor) |
|---|---|---|
| Code book graded | 2017 NEC only | 2020 or 2023 NEC, or the NEC Handbook for either year |
| Scored questions | 110 | 100 |
| Time | 240 minutes | 270 minutes |
| Passing score | 70% on both R-11 and C-11 | 70 on Residential (for R-11). 75 on Electrical Contractor (for C-11 and CR-11). |
| Other books | NFPA 72 (2016) and OSHA 29 CFR 1926 | A longer list, including Ugly's (2023), which the ROC exam bans. See the book list below. |
| Solar | 10 photovoltaics questions | No separate solar area |
| Fire alarm | 5 questions, NFPA 72 (2016) | No separate area. The Residential list includes NFPA 72 (2022). |
| Project and business topics | None listed | 8 questions on each version (project design, management and estimating) |
| Counts outside Arizona? | No. It's Arizona's state exam. | Yes, by transcript, in states that accept the same NASCLA exam |
What each exam actually tests
The ROC exams stick to the NEC, fire alarm, solar and OSHA safety. The NASCLA exams add theory, tools, project management and energy rules.
- NASCLA Residential (R-11 option): wiring methods and practices 17; circuit protection and installation 16; grounding and bonding 14; equipment for general use 13; theory 9; personal jobsite safety (OSHA, NFPA 70E) 8; project design, estimating and measurement 8; special systems and special equipment 7; tools and equipment 7; energy efficiency and management 1.
- NASCLA Electrical Contractor (C-11 and CR-11 option): general code requirements 17; wiring and protection 17; wiring methods and materials 16; general equipment use 13; electrical theory and principles 11; safety 9; project design and management 8; special occupancies, equipment and conditions 8; communication systems 1.
On the ROC side, two areas have no NASCLA match, and they're worth 15 questions on both R-11 and C-11: photovoltaics (10) and fire detection and alarm (5). Solar installers already own those 10 PV points. Everyone else has to learn Article 690.
The NEC edition decides most of it
Both outlines carry the same warning: "For Code questions, the examinations will be based only on the edition of the Code book that is listed." For the ROC exam, that edition is the 2017 NEC. For the Arizona NASCLA exams, the list effective August 1, 2025 names the 2020 or 2023 NEC.
Many heavily tested rules changed numbers between 2017 and 2020, so pick a route first, then buy and tab that one book.
| Rule | 2017 NEC (ROC exam) | 2020 NEC (NASCLA option) |
|---|---|---|
| Conductor ampacity table | Table 310.15(B)(16) | Table 310.16 |
| Ambient temperature correction | Table 310.15(B)(2)(a) | Table 310.15(B)(1) |
| More than 3 current-carrying conductors | Table 310.15(B)(3)(a) | Table 310.15(C)(1) |
| Dwelling service and feeder 83% rule | 310.15(B)(7) | 310.12 |
| Ground rod, 8 ft in contact with soil | 250.53(G) | 250.53(A)(4) |
| Dwelling GFCI, 210.8(A) | 125 V, 15 and 20 A receptacles. Unfinished basements only. | Adds 250 V receptacles and all basements. Outdoor outlets move to 210.8(F). |
Example: a 200 A dwelling service sized at 83% needs 166 A, so 2/0 copper or 4/0 aluminum. In 2017 that rule is 310.15(B)(7). Look for it there in a 2020 book and it's gone, moved to 310.12. Testing NASCLA on the 2023 NEC? Confirm these numbers in that book.
What NASCLA's portability really means
NASCLA built the program for contractors licensed in more than one state. Here's how it works, per NASCLA and PSI:
- Your pass goes into NASCLA's National Examination Database (NED). From there you buy a transcript for each accepting agency. NASCLA's FAQ lists $45 per transcript, and an agency can view it for 2 years after you buy it. Your results themselves don't expire.
- It replaces the trade exam only. NASCLA says the exam "is not a license or certification." You still apply to each state, and many also require their own business and law exam.
- Each state picks which NASCLA exams it accepts. NASCLA lists 19 participating agencies. Its Arizona page lists the Electrical Contractor/Master Electrician and Residential Electrical Contractor exams. Check each target state's entry, and contact its agency if you're unsure, as the outlines advise.
The ROC exam doesn't produce a NASCLA transcript. If you pass it, it counts for your Arizona license. For the state-by-state list and how to apply through NASCLA directly, see JCR's NASCLA electrical contractor exam guide.
Worked example: the pass mark and the clock
Fewer questions, more time and a different pass line change the arithmetic:
- ROC R-11 or C-11: 77 of 110 correct (70%), so you can miss 33. 240 ÷ 110 = about 2 minutes 11 seconds a question, or 2 minutes flat if PSI adds the maximum 10 unscored tryouts its Arizona bulletin allows.
- NASCLA: 70 of 100 on Residential (miss 30) and 75 of 100 on Electrical Contractor (miss only 25). PSI's NASCLA bulletin adds 10 unscored questions, so 270 ÷ 110 = about 2 minutes 27 seconds a question.
The upshot: NASCLA gives you 16 to 27 more seconds a question, but for C-11 and CR-11 its pass line is higher, 75% instead of 70%.
NASCLA or ROC: which exam should you take for R-11, C-11 or CR-11?
Take the ROC exam if:
- You plan to license in Arizona only.
- You already own or have studied the 2017 NEC.
- You do solar work. Ten photovoltaics questions reward that.
- You're going for C-11 or CR-11 and want the 70% pass line instead of 75.
- You'd rather bring three books than NASCLA's longer list.
Take the NASCLA exam if:
- You expect to license in other states that accept the same NASCLA exam, and you want to test once.
- You already study on the 2020 or 2023 NEC.
- You're comfortable with project management, estimating and the blueprint packet PSI hands out.
- You want Ugly's in the room. It's on the NASCLA list and banned on the ROC exam.
Either way, the ROC's Statutes and Rules Exam (SRE) still applies. PSI's bulletin lists it as an online course and exam for $61. It's required unless you were a qualifying party on an Arizona contractor license in the last 5 years. License steps are in JCR's Arizona electrical license guide.
Books for each route
- ROC R-11 and C-11/CR-11: 2017 NEC, NFPA 72 (2016) and OSHA 29 CFR 1926 (the full text or PSI's selections). Ugly's and the two listed solar textbooks are not allowed in the room.
- NASCLA Electrical Contractor: 2020 or 2023 NEC (or NEC Handbook), OSHA 1926 and 1910 (2024), the PMBOK Guide (7th edition), ASHRAE 90.1-2022, the NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management (Basic 14th edition), NFPA 70E (2024), Ugly's (2023) and Mike Holt's Understanding Electrical Theory for NEC Applications.
- NASCLA Residential: 2020 or 2023 NEC (or NEC Handbook), OSHA 1926 (2024), the NASCLA Contractors Guide (Basic 14th edition), NFPA 70E (2024), Ugly's (2023), NFPA 72 (2022), the Mike Holt theory book, ANSI Z535.4-2023 and the 2024 IRC.
- Both routes: mark and index books before exam day, permanent tabs only, no writing during the exam, and only a silent, non-programmable calculator.
Traps that cost Arizona candidates
- Reading an old NASCLA reference list. The Arizona NASCLA outlines still show a list "thru 7/31/25" with the 2017 or 2020 NEC. The current list, effective August 1, 2025, is the 2020 or 2023 NEC.
- Expecting NASCLA to cover business and law. It's a trade exam. Arizona still requires the SRE, and other states have their own business exams.
Fees, booking and retakes
- ROC trade exam: PSI's Arizona bulletin (February 18, 2026) lists $66 for one exam and $116 for two. Fees aren't refundable and are good for 1 year. Book at PSI's Arizona contractor page or (855) 744-0310.
- Retakes on the Arizona PSI program: wait 30 days after a fail. After 3 failed attempts, you wait 90 days.
- NASCLA through NASCLA itself: apply on NED ($65 application). Approval is good for 1 year with up to 3 attempts. Then you pay and schedule with PSI.
- NASCLA via Arizona: PSI's Arizona contractor catalog lists both AZ NASCLA electrical exams with no NASCLA pre-approval step, and its Arizona bulletin, which carries the NASCLA outlines, sets one fee table for the program: $66 for one exam, $116 for two. There's no separate NASCLA rate, so $116 is the two-exam price, not a NASCLA fee. PSI shows the final price when you schedule.
Arizona NASCLA vs. ROC FAQ
Can I take the NASCLA exam instead of the Arizona ROC electrical exam?
Yes. PSI's R-11 and C-11/CR-11 outlines say Arizona applicants may take either the NASCLA Accredited trade exam or the ROC exam. R-11 uses the NASCLA Residential exam. C-11 and CR-11 use the NASCLA Electrical Contractor exam.
What NEC edition does the Arizona NASCLA exam use?
The 2020 or 2023 NEC, or the NEC Handbook for either year, under the reference list effective August 1, 2025. The ROC exam uses the 2017 NEC only.
Is the NASCLA exam easier than the ROC exam?
It's different, not easier. NASCLA gives 270 minutes for 100 questions instead of 240 for 110, but the Electrical Contractor version needs 75% and both add project management and a longer book list.
Does the Arizona ROC electrical exam count in other states?
Not through NASCLA. The ROC exam is Arizona's own trade exam, so it doesn't create a NASCLA transcript. A NASCLA pass can be sent to accepting states through NED.
Do I still need the Statutes and Rules Exam if I take NASCLA?
Yes, unless you were a qualifying party on an Arizona contractor license in the last 5 years. The SRE is the ROC's own online course and exam, and PSI's bulletin lists it at $61.
Pick your route, then prep on the right edition
ROC exam (2017 NEC): start with the free 25-question 2017 NEC mock. Then work JCR's 2017 NEC package, with its lessons, the full timed mock and permanent tabs, all on the edition PSI grades.
Take the free 2017 NEC mockGet the Arizona package: $495
NASCLA exam (2020 or 2023 NEC): JCR's NASCLA Electrical Contractor self-study course ($495) follows the 2020 NEC, one of the two editions the Arizona NASCLA outlines allow. It's built around the Electrical Contractor exam's code and theory questions, so it fits the C-11 and CR-11 option most closely. For project management, OSHA, NFPA 70E and the IRC, study those references directly.
More Arizona and NASCLA guides
Sources
- PSI Arizona contractor bulletin (February 18, 2026)
- PSI/ROC R-11 outline
- PSI/ROC C-11 (CR-11) outline
- PSI AZ NASCLA Electrical outline
- PSI AZ NASCLA Residential outline
- PSI NASCLA candidate bulletin (July 7, 2026)
- NASCLA electrical exams: participating agencies
- NASCLA: Arizona Registrar of Contractors
- NASCLA accredited exams FAQ
- NASCLA: apply for exams
Reviewed November 6, 2026. NEC references are to the 2017 edition unless marked 2020.
