Arizona Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Residential / Commercial Contractor (CR-39) Highlighted & Tabbed Book Package

Arizona Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Residential / Commercial Contractor (CR-39) Highlighted & Tabbed Book Package

The Arizona Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Residential / Commercial Contractor (CR-39) Highlighted & Tabbed Book Package is designed for contractors preparing for the Arizona R-39R/C-39 (CR-39) Air Conditioning and Refrigeration trade examination. This package brings together the HVAC, refrigeration, mechanical, fuel gas, boiler, duct design, and OSHA references used to support preparation for Arizona’s residential and commercial air conditioning and refrigeration contractor licensing process.

The CR-39 classification is connected to both residential and commercial HVAC/R work. Candidates preparing for this exam should be ready to study a wide range of subjects, including refrigeration, air conditioning, warm air heating, controls, motors, boilers, ventilation, evaporative cooling, fuel piping, water piping, hydronic systems, testing, balancing, inspections, sizing, and estimating. Because the exam covers both residential and commercial concepts, preparation should include practical trade knowledge and strong reference book navigation.

This highlighted and tabbed book package is built to make the study process more organized. Key sections are highlighted to help guide review, and permanent tabs are placed to support faster movement through important areas of the books. For an open book contractor exam, knowing where information is located can be just as important as understanding the subject matter. Large technical references are much easier to use when the candidate has practiced with them and understands how each book is organized.

This package is a strong fit for HVAC contractors, refrigeration professionals, qualifying parties, business owners, service technicians, installers, and tradespeople preparing to pursue the Arizona CR-39 residential/commercial license classification. It is especially useful for candidates who have hands-on experience but need organized references for exam-focused study.

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 help candidates move through major subjects and important reference sections more efficiently.
• Residential and commercial HVAC/R study support: The package supports review across air conditioning, refrigeration, heating, fuel gas, mechanical code, boilers, duct design, and OSHA safety topics.
• Organized exam preparation structure: The books are prepared to help reduce search time, build familiarity, and support more focused study sessions.

Exam Details

The Arizona R-39R/C-39 (CR-39) Air Conditioning and Refrigeration examination is administered through PSI for the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. This trade examination is used for residential, commercial, and residential/commercial air conditioning and refrigeration licensing classifications connected to this exam group.

The exam contains 80 questions. The minimum passing score is 70%, and the time allowed is 210 minutes. The exam may include questions based on the listed reference materials, trade knowledge, and general industry practices. Code questions are based on the specific code editions listed for the examination.

The exam content areas include:

• 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 Inspections: 5 items
• Sizing and Estimating: 4 items

The CR-39 exam is broad because air conditioning and refrigeration work can involve comfort cooling, refrigeration systems, heating systems, ventilation, mechanical equipment, fuel gas piping, hydronic piping, boilers, controls, motors, duct sizing, system balancing, and jobsite safety. Candidates should prepare across all listed categories rather than focusing only on the areas they work with most often in the field.

Code questions require attention to the exact editions listed for the exam. For non-code references, later editions may be used as they become available, but candidates should study from the materials included in this package and understand how those references support the current exam outline.

Open Book Test

The Arizona R-39R/C-39 (CR-39) Air Conditioning and Refrigeration trade 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 references allowed in the examination center for this trade exam include Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA), International Fuel Gas Code, 2018 Edition, and International Mechanical Code, 2018 Edition. 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, Manual D, and the Ductulator are study references connected to the examination content. These materials are useful for learning HVAC/R principles, system design, boiler concepts, duct sizing, and technical trade knowledge, but they are not listed as allowed in the examination center for this exam. Candidates should separate exam-room-approved references from study-only materials when preparing for test day.

Candidates may use a silent, nonprinting, non-programmable calculator in the examination center. Because the exam contains 80 questions and allows 210 minutes, candidates should practice locating information quickly before the exam instead of relying on long reading during the test.

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 connected to that classification. The person completing the required examination process must serve as the qualifying party for the license.

The CR-39 classification is a residential/commercial air conditioning and refrigeration contractor classification. Candidates pursuing this classification should prepare for both residential and commercial HVAC/R concepts. The trade examination is shared with the R-39R and C-39 exam group, which means the same trade exam supports the residential, commercial, and dual classification pathway connected to this exam.

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 and refrigeration 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 required supporting documentation to the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. Examination requirements must be completed before the application can be accepted for processing. Original score reports must be submitted within the required time period after passing the examination.

A practical path includes confirming the CR-39 classification, studying the approved trade references, learning open book exam rules, completing the Arizona statutes and rules requirement when applicable, scheduling and taking the PSI trade exam, 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 CR-39 license is tied to residential and commercial air conditioning and refrigeration work. This means candidates should prepare for both residential applications and commercial mechanical system concepts when studying for the exam.

The trade exam content reflects the wide scope of HVAC/R contracting. 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, inspections, sizing, and estimating.

Arizona licensing involves more than passing the trade 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 exam 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 CR-39 exam content outline. HVAC/R field experience is valuable, but the examination also measures the ability to use approved references, apply code requirements, understand safety rules, and answer technical questions under timed conditions.

Reference Books

• 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, and related mechanical requirements.
• Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, 22nd edition
  This HVAC/R textbook supports review of refrigeration principles, air conditioning systems, service concepts, equipment operation, components, troubleshooting, and applied refrigeration and cooling 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.
• Manual D, 2016, 3rd Ed
  This duct design reference supports study of duct system design, airflow, friction rate, duct sizing, layout, and air distribution concepts used in HVAC system planning.
• 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.

Test Information and Study Materials

The Arizona CR-39 exam rewards candidates who combine hands-on HVAC/R experience with organized reference use. Since the test covers residential and commercial concepts, candidates should not study only the systems they see most often in daily work. A candidate who mainly performs residential service may need extra review in boilers, hydronic systems, commercial ventilation, fuel gas provisions, and mechanical code. A candidate who mainly works on commercial systems may still need to review warm air heating, evaporative cooling, duct sizing, and residential-style system design concepts.

The OSHA reference should be reviewed for construction safety rules that apply to HVAC/R 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 how the OSHA reference is organized and where major safety topics are located.

The International Fuel Gas Code is important for fuel gas piping and fuel-burning appliances. Candidates should study the organization of the book and learn how to locate tables, sizing information, 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 requirements related to 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.

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. Boiler questions represent a smaller part of the exam outline, but preparation in this area can still help protect the overall score.

Manual D and the Ductulator support airflow and duct design review. Candidates should practice duct sizing, friction rate, airflow, velocity, equivalent length, pressure loss, and distribution concepts. These subjects can support sizing and estimating questions and help candidates understand how duct systems affect HVAC performance.

A practical study method is to work through the references by topic. Candidates can begin with the largest content areas, including refrigeration, air conditioning, and warm air heating, then move into controls, motors, fuel gas, water piping, hydronic systems, boilers, ventilation, evaporative cooling, testing, balancing, inspections, sizing, and estimating. 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 CR-39 candidates study the approved code references and supporting HVAC/R materials with a clearer structure.

For many candidates, the challenge is not only learning HVAC/R 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, mechanical code, duct sizing, and estimating 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 CR-39 Air Conditioning and Refrigeration exam open book?

Yes. The Arizona R-39R/C-39 (CR-39) Air Conditioning and Refrigeration trade exam is open book using approved reference materials. Candidates must bring their own approved references and follow the examination center rules for highlighting, annotations, indexing, and tabs.

How many questions are on the Arizona CR-39 exam?

The exam contains 80 questions. The minimum passing score is 70%, and the time allowed is 210 minutes.

What topics are covered on the CR-39 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, inspections, sizing, and estimating.

Which books are allowed in the examination center?

The approved exam-room references listed for this exam include Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA), International Fuel Gas Code, 2018 Edition, and International Mechanical Code, 2018 Edition.

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

No. Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Low Pressure Boilers, Manual D, and the Ductulator are study references connected to exam preparation, but they are not listed as allowed in the examination center for this exam.

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 CR-39 trade exam?

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

Does this package include the Arizona Statutes and Rules Exam?

This product is a highlighted and tabbed book package for the Arizona CR-39 Air Conditioning and Refrigeration trade exam. The Arizona Statutes and Rules Exam is a separate requirement for many new Arizona contractor license applicants.

Is this package helpful for experienced HVAC/R technicians?

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.