The state has a determined process to gain a license in Arizona which requires plumbers to register themselves as a business due to their contractor status.
There are also two possible plumbing licenses one may obtain in Arizona: either a commercial plumbing license (L-37) or a residential plumbing license (C-37R).
No matter which of the two license type you choose, you are required to train under a licensed professional as an apprentice, or attend a licensed trade school in order to gain experience and expertise.
Once the apprenticeship or trade school has been completed which usually takes four years to be completed, prospective plumbers are then required to pass a business management exam, as well as an exam related to their preferred plumbing career trajectory.
After passing these steps, plumbers can then apply for their state license to become a master plumber.
The main reasons why the state requires licensure are that it allows the state to monitor and provide a public database of all contractors in Arizona and what is even more important, to prevent fraud.
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Arizona Plumbing License Reciprocity
Unlike some other states in which there is no license reciprocity agreement, we would have to mention that Arizona does not allow license reciprocity for the majority of contract licenses unless the person seeking reciprocity is married to an active duty member of the armed forces.
This law is specific for military spouses that agree to move with their spouse to a changing station within Arizona.
However, those who seek reciprocity will be required to pay all applicable fees for obtaining a license in Arizona, and there are the requirements that they must have been licensed for at least a full year prior to moving to the state with no records of disciplinary action against the license holder.
In the future, it can be expected that the reciprocity agreement will be made, due to the importance of increasing opportunities for those moving to Arizona by allowing universal acceptance for licensed reciprocity for certain trades, including plumbing.
This will mean that more out-of-state plumbers will feel welcome to come and work within the state of Arizona without having to worry about passing another exam.
Arizona Plumbing Journeyman License Requirements
In the state of Arizona, which is not the case in other states, the terms journeyman and master plumber are not used in a legal sense to designate plumbing licenses at a state level.
Actually, a journeyman is anyone that has completed an apprenticeship program but has yet to complete the required exams needed to obtain a plumbing license.
You can achieve a journeymen status by completing four years of experience with an apprentice or trade school program.
Furthermore, there are also specialized plumbing licenses that combine the addition of solar, which may require an additional test to be taken in order to gain the license as well as a few additional years of work.
Our suggestion is to take a close look at license requirements and the appropriate exams that must be taken at the Arizona ROC License Classification Requirements.
To get a Contractor License in Arizona you must meet the following basic requirements:
- Be at least 18 years of Age
- Form of USA Issued Identification
- Social Security Number
- Not Currently On Probation or Parole
- 4 Years of Journeyman Level Experience
- Be able to verify work experience in at least 7 recent plumbing projects
- Be able to verify work experience in at least 8 maintenance projects
- Be able to document your experience at the request of the ROC
- A Business entity
Phoenix Plumbing Journeyman Requirements
It is worth noting that even though the state of Arizona does not have a process to license a journeyman plumber, the city of Phoenix does offer a journeyman license.
In Phoenix, prospective journeyman plumbers can take an exam to earn their journeyman license, which is valid for three years, but only if applicants are able to prove the following information prior to taking the exam:
- Proof of apprenticeship or four years of experience in the trade;
- A current picture ID;
- A completed City of Phoenix Application.
Furthermore, applicants must pay $100, payable to the testing location, and contact one of the following testing sites in order to schedule an exam date.
- Arizona Sheet Metal JATC: 2534 E. Adams Street Phoenix, AZ 85034; Phone: 602-275-6511.
- Metro Phoenix PHCC: 7635 W. Hope Drive Peoria, AZ 85345; Phone: 623-486-3324.
- P.I.P.E.: 125 S. 52nd Street Tempe, AZ 85281; Phone: 480-966-0377.
- Southwest Safety Training Alliance: 125 S. 52nd Street Tempe, AZ 85281; Phone: 480-966-037.
Applicants must gain a grade of 75 percent or higher in order to obtain their journeyman license.
After three years, licensed plumbers will need to renew the license and complete another exam on which they will be required to gain a 70 percent or higher grade.
Plumbing Apprenticeship Requirements
Getting the contractor licensing exams with the state of Arizona is possible only after plumbers have dedicated four years of work — both in a classroom setting (144 hours), and on the job (2,000 hours) — to a plumbing apprenticeship program.
To start with an apprenticeship, you must be over the age of 18 in order to apply and plumbing apprenticeships typically take place under the supervision and guidance of a journeyman or licensed plumber.
After graduating and completing the program and necessary hours, apprentices will receive a certificate that is nationally recognized.
Plumbing Trade Schools in Arizona
The Arizona Apprenticeship Office has to offer the following trade programs that exist in the state which are designed for applicants interested in pursuing a future in plumbing:
- Katerra: Located in Phoenix, AZ; Phone: (480) 417-2328.
- Maricopa County Community College District c/o Scottsdale Community College: Located in Tempe, AZ; Contact: Richard Gonzales at Richard.gonzales@gccaz.edu.
- Tohono O’odham Community College: Located in Sells, AZ, Tohono O’odham Reservation; Phone: (520) 383-0013.
- University of Arizona; Located in Tucson, AZ; Phone: (520) 621-1024.
- UA Plumbers and Pipefitters Training Center: Located in Phoenix, AZ; Phone: (602) 956 – 9350.
Salary
In Arizona, anyone charging over $1000 for plumbing services has to have a contractor license.
The average Plumber salary in Arizona is $56732.
The amount of money earned will depend on numerous factors and will vary among the cities in Arizona, as it is shown in the table below.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Plumbers in Arizona
City Name Salary Phoenix $56,859 Tucson $53,916 Mesa $55,775 Glendale $56,859 Scottsdale $55,775 Chandler $55,775 Tempe $55,775 Gilbert $55,775 Peoria $56,744 Yuma $58,818 Regional Salary
Region Employed Avg. Annual Salary Avg. Hourly Pay Top 10% Annual Salary Bottom 10% Annual Salary Flagstaff, AZ 90 $53,360 $25.65 $76,540 $38,560 Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ 190 $53,150 $25.55 $70,490 $38,280 Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 7,790 $62,470 $30.03 $92,670 $41,120 Prescott, AZ 210 $52,050 $25.02 $64,620 $38,140 Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ 70 $50,500 $24.28 $61,360 $37,560 Tucson, AZ 940 $54,660 $26.28 $78,350 $38,620 Yuma, AZ 120 $49,810 $23.95 $61,260 $36,690
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Plumber Schools by City
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