Arizona Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Including Solar Commercial Contractor (C-79) Highlighted & Tabbed Book Package

The Arizona Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Including Solar Commercial Contractor (C-79) Highlighted & Tabbed Book Package is designed for contractors preparing for the Arizona R-39/C-79 Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Including Solar trade examinations. This package brings together the HVAC/R, mechanical, fuel gas, plumbing, boiler, duct, OSHA, and solar references used to support preparation for Arizona’s commercial air conditioning and refrigeration contractor licensing process with solar-related work included.

The C-79 classification covers commercial air conditioning and refrigeration work that may include solar. Candidates preparing for this license should be ready to study a broad range of technical subjects, including refrigeration, air conditioning, warm air heating, controls, motors, boilers, ventilation, evaporative cooling, fuel piping, water piping, hydronic systems, testing, balancing, inspection, sizing, estimating, solar water heating, solar pool heating, solar piping, mounting, components, collection loops, and maintenance.

This highlighted and tabbed book package is built to make preparation more organized. Large code books and technical references can be difficult to use without a clear study structure. Highlighting helps guide review toward important areas, while permanent tabs help candidates move through major subjects more efficiently. For an open book contractor exam, speed and familiarity with approved references can be just as important as trade knowledge.

This package is a strong fit for commercial HVAC/R contractors, refrigeration professionals, qualifying parties, business owners, technicians, installers, and tradespeople preparing for the Arizona C-79 commercial air conditioning and refrigeration, including solar, contractor license. It is especially useful for candidates who have field experience but want a more organized way to study the books connected to the exam outline.

What You Get

• Highlighted reference books: Key areas are highlighted to help candidates focus on important exam-related material during preparation.
• Permanent tabs: Tabs are placed to support faster movement through major topics, code sections, and reference areas.
• Commercial HVAC/R study support: The package supports review across refrigeration, air conditioning, heating, ventilation, fuel gas, mechanical code, plumbing code, boilers, duct sizing, and OSHA safety.
• Solar preparation support: The package includes solar study material connected to solar water heating, pool heating, collection loops, components, mounting, installation, maintenance, principles, and solar piping.
• Organized exam preparation structure: The books are prepared to help reduce search time, improve reference familiarity, and support more productive study sessions.

Exam Details

The Arizona R-39/C-79 Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Including Solar examination group is administered through PSI for the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. The C-79 commercial classification is connected to commercial air conditioning and refrigeration work, including solar. Candidates preparing for this classification should understand that the exam pathway includes the air conditioning and refrigeration trade examination and a solar-specific examination.

The R-39/C-79 Air Conditioning and Refrigeration examination contains 80 questions. The minimum passing score is 70%, and the time allowed is 210 minutes. The R-39/C-79 Solar examination contains 30 questions. The minimum passing score is 70%, and the time allowed is 75 minutes.

The content outline for the R-39/C-79 Air Conditioning and Refrigeration examination includes:

• Refrigeration: 12 items
• Air Conditioning: 12 items
• Warm Air Heating: 12 items
• Controls and Motors: 8 items
• Boilers: 4 items
• Ventilation: 4 items
• Evaporative Coolers: 4 items
• Fuel Piping Systems: 5 items
• Water Piping Systems: 5 items
• Steam, Hot, Chilled and Condensing Water: 5 items
• Testing, Balancing, and Inspection: 5 items
• Sizing and Estimating: 4 items

The content outline for the R-39/C-79 Solar examination includes:

• Collection Loops: 5 items
• Components: 4 items
• Installation: 5 items
• Maintenance: 2 items
• Mounting: 4 items
• Principles: 5 items
• Solar Systems Piping: 5 items

The examination may include questions based on the listed references, trade knowledge, and general industry practices. Code questions are based on the specific code editions listed for the examination. Candidates should study the correct code editions and become familiar with where major subjects, tables, definitions, and requirements are located before test day.

Please allow up to 15 business days for tabbed and highlighted book package orders.

Open Book Test

The Arizona R-39/C-79 Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Including Solar examination is an open book test using approved reference materials. Candidates are responsible for bringing their own approved references to the examination center.

The approved exam-room references listed for the R-39/C-79 Air Conditioning and Refrigeration examination include Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA), International Fuel Gas Code, 2018, International Mechanical Code, 2018, and International Plumbing Code, 2018. These approved references may be highlighted, underlined, annotated, and indexed before the examination session.

Candidates may not write, highlight, underline, or index references during the examination. Additional papers, whether loose or attached, are not permitted with approved references. References may be tabbed or indexed with permanent tabs only. Permanent tabs are tabs that would tear the page if removed. Temporary tabs, removable sticky tabs, and loose papers are not permitted in the examination center.

Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Low Pressure Boilers, the Ductulator, and Solar Water and Pool Heating Design and Installation Manual are study references connected to the examination content, but they are not listed as exam-room-approved references for this exam group. These materials are useful for building technical knowledge, reviewing HVAC/R systems, understanding boiler concepts, practicing duct sizing, and preparing for the solar portion of the examination.

Candidates may use a silent, nonprinting, non-programmable calculator in the examination center. Because the trade exam contains 80 questions and the solar exam contains 30 questions, candidates should practice locating information quickly and answering questions under timed conditions.

Licensing Steps

Arizona contractor licensing is handled by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. Applicants should begin by identifying the correct license classification and reviewing the examination requirements tied to that classification. The person completing the required examination process must serve as the qualifying party for the license.

The C-79 classification is the commercial air conditioning and refrigeration, including solar, contractor classification. Candidates pursuing this license should prepare for commercial HVAC/R work, related mechanical and fuel gas requirements, plumbing provisions tied to the exam outline, and solar water or pool heating system concepts.

For many new Arizona contractor license applicants, the licensing process also includes the Arizona Statutes and Rules Exam, also known as the SRE. The SRE is separate from the trade examination. The trade exam focuses on air conditioning, refrigeration, and solar trade knowledge, while the statutes and rules requirement covers Arizona contractor law, rules, and regulatory responsibilities.

After the required examinations are completed, the applicant submits the completed contractor license application and supporting documentation to the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. Examination requirements must be completed before the application can be accepted for processing. Score reports must be submitted within the required period after passing the examination.

A practical licensing path includes confirming the C-79 classification, studying the trade and solar references, learning the open book testing rules, completing the Arizona statutes and rules requirement when applicable, scheduling and taking the required PSI examinations, and submitting the completed license application package to the Arizona Registrar of Contractors.

State Requirements

The Arizona Registrar of Contractors issues contractor licenses by classification. The C-79 license is tied to commercial air conditioning and refrigeration work, including solar. The scope includes installation, alteration, and repair of refrigeration and evaporative cooling systems, including solar. It also includes installation, alteration, and repair of heating systems of wet, dry, or radiant type within the scope described for the classification.

The commercial C-79 scope includes ventilation systems, duct work, air filtering devices, water treatment devices, pneumatic or electrical controls, control piping, thermal and acoustical insulation of refrigerant pipes and ductwork, vibration isolation materials and devices, liquid fuel piping and tanks, and water and gas piping from the service connection to the equipment served. It also includes testing and balancing of refrigerant, cooling, heating circuits, and air handling systems.

Arizona licensing involves more than passing an examination. Applicants may also need to satisfy business, entity, bonding, experience, background, application, and qualifying party requirements depending on the applicant’s structure and license type. The trade examination is one major step in the process, but the license is issued only after the Arizona Registrar of Contractors reviews and processes the completed application.

Candidates should keep their study focused on the official C-79 examination content. Field experience is valuable, but the exam also measures the ability to use references, apply code requirements, understand safety rules, and answer technical questions under timed conditions.

Reference Books

Please allow up to 15 business days for tabbed and highlighted book package orders.

• Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA)
  This construction safety reference supports OSHA-related exam content and covers federal construction standards used to address jobsite hazards, worker protection, safe work practices, and construction safety requirements.
• International Fuel Gas Code, 2018
  This code reference supports questions involving fuel gas systems, gas piping, combustion air, appliance installation, venting, inspection, testing, and fuel gas safety provisions.
• International Mechanical Code, 2018
  This mechanical code reference supports HVAC and mechanical system questions involving equipment installation, ventilation, duct systems, exhaust systems, refrigeration, combustion air, boilers, hydronic systems, and related mechanical requirements.
• International Plumbing Code, 2018
  This plumbing code reference supports water piping, system connections, piping requirements, installation rules, and plumbing-related provisions connected to the air conditioning, refrigeration, and solar exam outline.
• Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, 22nd edition
  This HVAC/R textbook supports review of refrigeration principles, air conditioning systems, equipment operation, components, troubleshooting, controls, motors, and applied service knowledge.
• Low Pressure Boilers 5th Edition
  This boiler reference supports study of boiler operation, safety devices, controls, fuel systems, steam systems, hot water systems, maintenance, and boiler-related concepts connected to the exam outline.
• Ductulator
  This duct sizing tool supports practice with airflow, duct size selection, friction loss, velocity, and quick duct design calculations used in HVAC preparation and field applications.
• Solar Water and Pool Heating Design and Installation Manual
  This solar reference supports preparation for solar water heating and pool heating topics, including collection loops, solar components, system principles, installation, mounting, maintenance, and solar system piping.

Test Information and Study Materials

The Arizona C-79 exam pathway rewards candidates who combine commercial HVAC/R experience with organized reference use. Because this classification includes solar, candidates should prepare for both the core air conditioning and refrigeration examination and the solar-specific examination. The strongest preparation plan includes code navigation, safety review, HVAC/R theory, boiler review, duct sizing practice, and solar system study.

The OSHA reference should be reviewed for construction safety rules that apply to commercial mechanical work. Safety questions may involve hazard recognition, personal protective equipment, ladders, scaffolds, electrical hazards, equipment handling, fall protection, and other construction-related requirements. Candidates should become familiar with the layout of the OSHA reference and where major safety topics are located.

The International Fuel Gas Code is important for fuel gas piping and fuel-burning appliances. Candidates should learn how to locate sizing tables, shutoff requirements, venting provisions, combustion air rules, appliance installation requirements, inspection requirements, and testing provisions.

The International Mechanical Code is one of the most important references for this exam. Candidates should review ventilation, ducts, exhaust systems, mechanical equipment, appliances, combustion air, refrigeration, boilers, hydronic systems, and other mechanical installations. Strong code navigation helps reduce the amount of time spent searching during the exam.

The International Plumbing Code supports water piping and related system requirements. Candidates should be comfortable locating provisions that connect to water piping, equipment connections, drainage, system installation, and related plumbing rules used in mechanical and solar-connected work.

Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning supports broader HVAC/R theory and technical knowledge. Candidates should use it to review refrigeration cycles, compressors, condensers, evaporators, metering devices, refrigerants, controls, motors, electrical components, heat pumps, service procedures, troubleshooting, and system operation.

Low Pressure Boilers supports review of boiler construction, operation, controls, safety devices, steam systems, hot water systems, fuel systems, maintenance, and inspection-related topics. The Ductulator supports practice with airflow, duct sizing, friction rate, velocity, and pressure loss. Solar Water and Pool Heating Design and Installation Manual supports solar-specific preparation, especially collection loops, mounting, components, installation, maintenance, system principles, and solar piping.

A practical study method is to work through the references by topic. Candidates can begin with the largest HVAC/R content areas, then move into controls, boilers, fuel gas, water piping, hydronic systems, ventilation, testing, balancing, sizing, estimating, and solar. Timed practice is important because the exams require candidates to locate information, understand questions, and select answers efficiently.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps contractor candidates prepare with organized study materials, trade-focused review, and reference navigation support. This highlighted and tabbed book package is designed to help Arizona C-79 candidates study the approved code references and supporting HVAC/R and solar materials with a clearer structure.

For many candidates, the challenge is not only learning HVAC/R and solar concepts. The challenge is knowing where to find information quickly inside large technical books. 1 Exam Prep helps simplify that process by preparing books with highlights and tabs that support focused review and faster navigation.

The highlighted sections help direct attention to important material, while the tabs make it easier to move between major subjects during study sessions. Candidates can use the package to review refrigeration, air conditioning, heating, controls, motors, boilers, ventilation, fuel gas systems, water piping, hydronic systems, OSHA safety, plumbing code, mechanical code, duct sizing, estimating, and solar system topics in a more organized way.

1 Exam Prep’s approach is practical and exam-focused. The goal is to help candidates study with less confusion, use their references more effectively, and build confidence through consistent preparation. No book package can guarantee a passing score or license approval, but organized references can make the preparation process clearer, more efficient, and easier to manage.

FAQ Section

Is the Arizona C-79 Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Including Solar exam open book?

Yes. The R-39/C-79 Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Including Solar exam group uses approved references. Candidates must bring their own approved references and follow the testing center rules for highlighting, annotations, indexing, and tabs.

How many questions are on the Arizona C-79 exam?

The R-39/C-79 Air Conditioning and Refrigeration exam contains 80 questions and allows 210 minutes. The R-39/C-79 Solar exam contains 30 questions and allows 75 minutes. Each exam requires a minimum passing score of 70%.

What topics are covered on the air conditioning and refrigeration exam?

The exam covers refrigeration, air conditioning, warm air heating, controls and motors, boilers, ventilation, evaporative coolers, fuel piping systems, water piping systems, steam, hot, chilled and condensing water, testing, balancing, inspection, sizing, and estimating.

What topics are covered on the solar exam?

The solar exam covers collection loops, components, installation, maintenance, mounting, principles, and solar systems piping.

Which books are allowed in the examination center?

The approved exam-room references listed for the R-39/C-79 Air Conditioning and Refrigeration examination include Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA), International Fuel Gas Code, 2018, International Mechanical Code, 2018, and International Plumbing Code, 2018.

Are all books in this package allowed in the exam room?

No. Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Low Pressure Boilers, the Ductulator, and Solar Water and Pool Heating Design and Installation Manual are study references connected to preparation, but they are not listed as exam-room-approved references for this exam group.

Can I write in my books during the exam?

No. References may be highlighted, underlined, annotated, and indexed before the exam, but candidates may not write, highlight, underline, or index references during the examination session.

Are removable tabs allowed?

No. Tabs must be permanent. Permanent tabs are tabs that would tear the page if removed. Temporary sticky tabs and removable tabs are not permitted.

Who administers the Arizona C-79 trade exams?

The Arizona Registrar of Contractors has contracted with PSI to conduct the trade examination program for Arizona contractor licensing.

Is this package helpful for experienced commercial HVAC/R contractors?

Yes. Field experience is valuable, but the exam also requires candidates to use code books and technical references efficiently. Highlighted and tabbed books help experienced tradespeople connect practical knowledge with the references used for the exam.