Arizona Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Including Solar Residential Contractor (R-39) Highlighted & Tabbed Book Package

The Arizona Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Including Solar Residential Contractor (R-39) Highlighted & Tabbed Book Package is designed for contractors preparing for the Arizona R-39/C-79 Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Including Solar examination pathway. This package supports candidates pursuing the residential R-39 classification by bringing together the HVAC/R, mechanical, fuel gas, plumbing, boiler, duct, OSHA, and solar references used for organized exam preparation.

The R-39 classification is connected to residential air conditioning and refrigeration work, including solar-related systems. Candidates preparing for this license should be ready to study both residential HVAC/R and solar-connected topics. The exam pathway includes broad trade knowledge related to refrigeration, air conditioning, warm air heating, controls, motors, boilers, ventilation, evaporative cooling, fuel piping, water piping, hydronic systems, testing, balancing, inspection, sizing, estimating, solar collection loops, solar components, installation, maintenance, mounting, system principles, and solar piping.

This highlighted and tabbed book package helps make the preparation process more organized. Large technical references can be hard to use without a clear structure. Highlighted sections help guide review toward important material, while permanent tabs help candidates move through major topics, tables, code sections, definitions, and reference areas more efficiently. For an open book contractor exam, preparation is not only about owning the books. It is also about knowing how to use them under timed exam conditions.

This package is a strong fit for residential HVAC/R contractors, solar-mechanical contractors, service technicians, installers, qualifying parties, business owners, and tradespeople preparing for the Arizona R-39 Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Including Solar Residential Contractor license. It is especially useful for candidates who have hands-on experience but want organized references that support focused study and faster open book navigation.

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, tables, definitions, and reference areas.
• Residential HVAC/R study support: The package supports review across refrigeration, air conditioning, heating, ventilation, mechanical code, fuel gas, 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, system components, installation, mounting, maintenance, system 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.

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

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 R-39 residential classification is connected to this air conditioning and refrigeration, including solar, exam pathway.

The air conditioning and refrigeration portion of the exam contains 80 questions. The minimum passing score is 70%, and the time allowed is 210 minutes. The solar portion 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 listed reference materials, trade knowledge, and general industry practices. Code questions are based on the specific code editions listed for the examination. Candidates should study the correct editions and become familiar with where major subjects, tables, definitions, and requirements are located before test day.

Open Book Test

The Arizona R-39/C-79 Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Including Solar examination pathway 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 air conditioning and refrigeration portion 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. These materials are useful for building HVAC/R knowledge, reviewing boiler concepts, practicing duct sizing, and preparing for the solar portion of the exam, but they are not listed as exam-room-approved references for the air conditioning and refrigeration portion.

Candidates may use a silent, nonprinting, non-programmable calculator in the examination center. Because the air conditioning and refrigeration 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 R-39 classification is the residential air conditioning and refrigeration, including solar, contractor classification. Candidates pursuing this license should prepare for residential HVAC/R applications, related mechanical and fuel gas requirements, plumbing provisions connected to the exam outline, and solar-related 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 R-39 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 R-39 license is tied to residential air conditioning and refrigeration work, including solar. The residential scope includes installation and repair of comfort air conditioning systems, including refrigeration, evaporative cooling, ventilating, and heating with or without solar equipment. It also includes installation and repair of machinery, units, accessories, refrigerator rooms, insulated refrigerated spaces, and controls in refrigerators.

For the R-39 residential classification, a new circuit may be added to the existing service panel or sub-panel when necessary. Installation of a new service panel or sub-panel is excluded. Candidates should keep this residential scope in mind while studying and avoid confusing the R-39 residential classification with unrelated electrical or mechanical classifications.

The trade exam content reflects the wide scope of residential HVAC/R work. Candidates should be prepared for questions involving refrigeration equipment, comfort air conditioning, warm air heating, mechanical systems, fuel gas systems, hydronic systems, water piping, steam systems, chilled water, condensing water, ventilation, evaporative cooling, boiler systems, testing, balancing, inspection, sizing, and estimating.

The solar portion adds another layer of preparation. Candidates should be ready for questions involving collection loops, components, installation, maintenance, mounting, principles, and solar systems piping. These topics connect the HVAC/R classification to solar-related work and require candidates to think beyond standard air conditioning and refrigeration service tasks.

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.

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, service procedures, and applied HVAC/R 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 R-39 exam pathway rewards candidates who combine residential HVAC/R experience, solar-related knowledge, and 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. A candidate who mainly works in residential service may still need additional review in boilers, hydronic systems, water piping, testing and balancing, estimating, and solar system topics.

The OSHA reference should be reviewed for construction safety rules that apply to HVAC/R and solar-related 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. Residential HVAC work commonly involves gas-fired equipment, so fuel gas code navigation deserves careful study.

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 and supports better decision-making on code-based questions.

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. This reference helps connect hands-on trade experience to the technical language often used in exam questions.

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. These topics are useful for sizing, estimating, and system performance questions.

Solar Water and Pool Heating Design and Installation Manual supports the solar portion of the exam. Candidates should use it to study collection loops, components, mounting, installation, maintenance, principles, and solar system piping. Solar questions require candidates to understand system layout, component function, and the way solar water or pool heating systems are assembled and maintained.

A practical study method is to work through the references by topic. Candidates can begin with the largest HVAC/R content areas, including refrigeration, air conditioning, and warm air heating, then move into controls, motors, boilers, ventilation, evaporative cooling, fuel piping, water piping, hydronic systems, testing, balancing, inspection, sizing, estimating, and solar. Timed practice is important because the exam requires candidates to locate information, understand questions, and select answers efficiently.

During study sessions, candidates should practice using the highlighted and tabbed books under timed conditions. A helpful approach is to choose a content area, set a timer, and locate answers using only the prepared references. This builds familiarity with the books and helps candidates develop a repeatable process for finding information during the open book exam.

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 R-39 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-related 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 R-39 Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Including Solar exam open book?

Yes. The R-39/C-79 Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Including Solar exam pathway 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 R-39 exam pathway?

The air conditioning and refrigeration exam contains 80 questions and allows 210 minutes. The 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 air conditioning and refrigeration portion 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 the air conditioning and refrigeration portion.

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 R-39 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 residential 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.