Arizona Solar Plumbing, Liquid Systems Only Residential / Commercial Contractor (CR-78) Exam - Online Exam Prep

The Arizona Solar Plumbing, Liquid Systems Only Residential / Commercial Contractor (CR-78) Exam - Online Exam Prep course is designed for candidates preparing for the Arizona dual residential and commercial solar plumbing, liquid systems only contractor trade exam. This online course helps students study the major knowledge areas connected to solar water heating systems, solar pool heating systems, liquid-based solar thermal systems, plumbing code requirements, mechanical code requirements, pipe trade calculations, pumps, valves, collectors, piping layouts, system controls, heat transfer, equipment installation, jobsite safety, and OSHA construction standards.

The Arizona CR-78 Solar Plumbing, Liquid Systems Only classification focuses on liquid-based solar plumbing systems in both residential and commercial settings. Candidates preparing for this exam should understand how solar thermal systems collect, move, transfer, store, and deliver heat through liquid piping systems. Solar plumbing work may involve collectors, pumps, valves, piping, controls, storage tanks, heat exchangers, pool heating equipment, water heating equipment, mechanical system coordination, plumbing code compliance, and safe installation practices.

This online exam prep course gives candidates a structured way to prepare for the Arizona CR-78 Solar Plumbing, Liquid Systems Only exam without trying to organize the entire study process alone. The exam is open book, which means students should prepare in two important ways: by learning the solar plumbing and pipe trade material, and by becoming familiar with the approved references used during testing. Strong preparation includes reviewing solar water and pool heating concepts, studying key plumbing and mechanical code sections, learning book organization, and practicing how to locate information efficiently during a timed exam.

The Arizona Solar Plumbing, Liquid Systems Only Residential / Commercial Contractor (CR-78) Exam - Online Exam Prep course is a strong fit for qualifying parties, solar plumbing contractors, solar water heating installers, solar pool heating professionals, plumbing contractors, pipefitters, hydronic system installers, mechanical piping professionals, project managers, supervisors, business owners, and experienced tradespeople preparing for Arizona contractor licensing. The course helps students review the exam subjects, connect those subjects to the listed references, and approach the test with a more organized preparation routine.

Solar plumbing exam preparation requires attention to both technical understanding and reference navigation. Candidates may need to understand solar collector operation, fluid circulation, system layout, pipe sizing concepts, pumps, valves, storage tanks, heat exchangers, freeze protection, pool heating, water heating, mechanical equipment, plumbing code requirements, and safety practices. This course helps candidates study those areas in a focused, exam-oriented format that supports open book test readiness.

Exam Details

The Arizona CR-78 Solar Plumbing, Liquid Systems Only residential / commercial contractor exam is administered through PSI for the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. The exam focuses on solar plumbing systems that use liquid-based circulation and related plumbing or mechanical components. Candidates should prepare for trade knowledge, code navigation, system design awareness, installation practices, pipe trade calculations, and OSHA safety.

The exam content is connected to the approved code references and the solar plumbing study materials used for preparation. Key study areas include solar water heating systems, solar pool heating systems, plumbing systems, mechanical systems, pipe materials, pumps, valves, collectors, storage tanks, heat exchangers, controls, water circulation, piping layouts, equipment access, pressure and temperature concepts, construction safety, and basic pipe trade mathematics.

Solar water heating questions may involve the purpose of collectors, circulation methods, storage tanks, heat transfer, temperature control, system layout, maintenance awareness, and installation practices. Candidates should understand how liquid-based solar systems use the sun’s energy to heat water or transfer heat through a piping system. System performance depends on proper design, correct component selection, reliable piping, safe equipment installation, and careful attention to operating conditions.

Solar pool heating questions may involve collector placement, pool circulation, pumps, valves, controls, system bypasses, flow requirements, freeze protection awareness, and maintenance considerations. Solar pool heating systems often connect to existing pool circulation equipment, so candidates should understand how solar heating components are integrated into liquid piping systems.

Plumbing and mechanical code questions may involve pipe installation, water supply concepts, equipment connections, pressure limitations, system materials, clearances, safety, hydronic-style piping, and code organization. OSHA safety questions may involve ladders, scaffolds, fall protection, personal protective equipment, tools, material handling, roof work awareness, hazard communication, and general construction jobsite safety.

Open Book Test

The Arizona CR-78 Solar Plumbing, Liquid Systems Only exam is an open book test. Candidates are responsible for bringing their own approved references to the examination center. Approved reference materials may be highlighted, underlined, annotated, and indexed before the exam session begins. Candidates may not write, highlight, underline, or index inside the references during the examination session.

Reference books may be tabbed or indexed with permanent tabs only. Permanent tabs are tabs that would tear the page if removed. Temporary tabs, removable sticky notes, and other removable tabs are not allowed and must be removed before the exam begins. Candidates may not bring loose papers or attached papers with the approved references.

If a candidate uses a permitted reference downloaded from the internet, the material must be bound before being brought into the testing center. A bound reference may be spiral bound or hole-punched and placed in a binder when allowed by the exam instructions. Candidates may use a silent, nonprinting, non-programmable calculator in the examination center.

The exam-room-approved references include Code of Federal Regulations – 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA), International Plumbing Code (IPC), 2018, and International Mechanical Code (IMC), 2018. Mathematics for Plumbers and Pipefitters, IPT’s Pipe Trades Handbook, and Solar Water and Pool Heating Design and Installation Manual are important study references, but they are not allowed in the examination center for this exam.

Open book testing rewards candidates who study with the references before test day. Simply bringing the books into the testing center is not enough. Candidates should know where plumbing code provisions are located, where mechanical system requirements appear, where OSHA construction safety rules are found, and how the solar plumbing study material connects to exam topics. The study-only references help candidates build technical knowledge before the exam, even though they are not brought into the testing room.

Licensing Steps

Arizona contractor licensing is handled by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. A candidate pursuing the Arizona Solar Plumbing, Liquid Systems Only Residential / Commercial Contractor (CR-78) license should begin by confirming that the CR-78 dual classification matches the type of solar plumbing and liquid system work the business intends to perform. The qualifying party must complete the examination requirements connected to the license classification.

Many Arizona contractor license applicants must complete the applicable trade exam and the Arizona Statutes and Rules Training Course and Exam. The trade exam measures solar plumbing, liquid system, plumbing code, mechanical code, and construction safety knowledge for the license classification, while the statutes and rules requirement covers Arizona contractor law and regulatory responsibilities. Candidates should follow the Arizona Registrar of Contractors application process for the business structure, qualifying party, experience, bonding, and supporting documents that apply to the license being pursued.

A practical preparation path begins with identifying the correct classification, reviewing the exam subject areas, gathering the approved references, and setting a realistic study schedule. After preparation, the candidate schedules the trade exam through PSI and follows testing center rules for identification, reference materials, calculators, personal items, and exam-room conduct.

After the required examination steps are completed, the applicant continues through the Arizona Registrar of Contractors licensing process. This may include submitting the license application, identifying the qualifying party, providing required business information, meeting bonding requirements, and satisfying other state requirements connected to the applicant and classification.

State Requirements

The Arizona CR-78 Solar Plumbing, Liquid Systems Only classification is a dual residential / commercial classification. It is intended for contractors who perform solar plumbing work involving liquid-based systems in both residential and commercial settings within the allowed license scope.

This classification is focused on solar plumbing systems that use liquids for heat collection, transfer, circulation, storage, or delivery. Work may involve solar water heating systems, solar pool heating systems, liquid solar thermal piping, pumps, valves, collectors, controls, heat exchangers, storage tanks, and related plumbing or mechanical connections. Candidates should understand the practical tasks connected to installation, repair, maintenance awareness, layout, testing, and safe operation of these systems.

Arizona issues separate contractor license classifications for commercial work, residential work, and dual residential/commercial work. The CR-78 classification is the dual residential / commercial solar plumbing, liquid systems only contractor classification. Applicants should make sure the classification fits the type of contracting work they plan to offer before moving forward with exam preparation and licensing paperwork.

Solar plumbing systems can affect water heating performance, energy use, pool heating efficiency, piping reliability, equipment protection, and customer satisfaction. Poor layout, incorrect pipe installation, improper pump selection, weak control setup, inadequate freeze protection awareness, unsafe roof work, or poor code navigation can create serious problems. Exam preparation should reflect this responsibility by reviewing solar thermal system concepts, plumbing code requirements, mechanical code requirements, pipe trade math, pipefitting knowledge, and OSHA safety.

Reference Books

• Code of Federal Regulations – 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA)
  This construction safety reference supports study of OSHA standards used on solar plumbing jobsites, including safety rules related to ladders, scaffolds, fall protection, roof work awareness, personal protective equipment, tools, equipment, material handling, and general construction hazard recognition.
• International Plumbing Code (IPC), 2018
  This plumbing code reference supports study of plumbing system requirements, water supply concepts, piping installation, pipe materials, valves, fittings, equipment connections, drainage awareness, backflow prevention concepts, and code organization.
• International Mechanical Code (IMC), 2018
  This mechanical code reference supports study of mechanical system requirements connected to solar liquid systems, including hydronic-style piping concepts, equipment installation, access, clearances, heating equipment, mechanical piping, and system safety provisions.
• Mathematics for Plumbers and Pipefitters, 8th Edition
  This study reference supports review of plumbing and pipefitting calculations, measurements, conversions, fractions, decimals, percentages, area, volume, slopes, offsets, and practical field math used in piping work.
• IPT’s Pipe Trades Handbook, Robert A. Lee, 2016
  This study reference supports review of pipe trade formulas, pipe data, fittings, layout, measurements, conversions, materials, valves, flanges, and practical pipefitting information.
• Solar Water and Pool Heating Design and Installation Manual
  This study reference supports review of solar water heating, solar pool heating, liquid-based solar thermal systems, collectors, pumps, valves, controls, storage tanks, heat exchangers, circulation systems, system layout, installation practices, maintenance awareness, and solar thermal design concepts.

Exam Room Approved Books

• Code of Federal Regulations – 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA)
  Approved for use in the exam room as the construction safety reference for OSHA-related exam topics.
• International Plumbing Code (IPC), 2018
  Approved for use in the exam room as the plumbing code reference for plumbing system requirements, pipe installation, water supply concepts, valves, fittings, and related code topics.
• International Mechanical Code (IMC), 2018
  Approved for use in the exam room as the mechanical code reference for mechanical piping, hydronic-style system concepts, equipment installation, and mechanical system requirements.

Test Information and Study Materials

The Arizona CR-78 Solar Plumbing, Liquid Systems Only exam is focused on solar plumbing systems, code awareness, pipe trade knowledge, and safety. A strong study routine includes reviewing the approved references, reading the solar water and pool heating study material, practicing pipe trade math, learning book organization, building approved permanent tabs for exam-room references, and answering exam-style questions under timed conditions.

Solar water heating preparation should include collector types, system circulation, storage tanks, pumps, heat exchangers, valves, controls, sensors, piping layout, system startup, maintenance awareness, and heat transfer. Candidates should understand how liquid solar systems move heat from collectors to water or other system components.

Solar pool heating preparation should include pool circulation systems, collector placement, flow control, valves, bypass piping, pumps, system controls, seasonal operation, maintenance, and performance considerations. Pool heating systems often require coordination with existing pool equipment, so candidates should understand how solar components are added to liquid circulation systems.

Plumbing code preparation should include pipe materials, fittings, valves, water supply concepts, equipment connections, protection from contamination, pressure considerations, installation requirements, and code navigation. Candidates should become comfortable using the IPC index, chapter structure, definitions, and tables.

Mechanical code preparation should include mechanical equipment installation, access, clearances, hydronic-style piping concepts, heating equipment awareness, mechanical system coordination, and safety requirements. The IMC supports questions related to mechanical aspects of liquid solar thermal systems and connected equipment.

Pipe trade math preparation should include fractions, decimals, measurements, conversions, offsets, area, volume, pipe length calculations, slope, pressure concepts, and layout math. Solar plumbing installers often work with piping layouts, equipment locations, fittings, and measurements, so math practice supports both exam preparation and field work.

Pipefitting preparation should include pipe materials, joining methods, fittings, valves, flanges, supports, layout, measurements, and field reference data. Candidates should understand the practical pipe trade information that supports solar liquid system installation and repair.

OSHA Safety should be studied throughout the preparation process. Candidates should review ladder safety, scaffold safety, fall protection, roof work awareness, personal protective equipment, tool safety, material handling, hazard communication, housekeeping, and jobsite hazard recognition. Solar plumbing work may involve roof-mounted collectors, elevated work, hot surfaces, pressurized systems, pipe cutting, heavy equipment, and active construction sites, so safety knowledge is essential for both the exam and field performance.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps students prepare for the Arizona Solar Plumbing, Liquid Systems Only Residential / Commercial Contractor (CR-78) Exam with organized study guidance, trade-focused review, code navigation support, and practice-oriented preparation. The course is designed to help candidates move through solar plumbing, plumbing code, mechanical code, pipe trade, and safety topics with structure, so preparation feels more manageable and targeted.

For this exam, students need to understand solar water heating, solar pool heating, liquid solar thermal systems, piping layouts, collectors, pumps, valves, controls, heat exchangers, IPC requirements, IMC requirements, pipe trade math, pipefitting concepts, and OSHA safety. 1 Exam Prep helps organize these areas into a clear preparation path that supports exam readiness.

Open book contractor exams require more than owning the correct references. Students need to know how the approved books are arranged, how the exam topics connect to the references, and how to locate important information under time pressure. 1 Exam Prep supports this process through reference navigation guidance when applicable and an exam-focused study structure.

The course also helps students build confidence through repeated review and a more practical study routine. It does not replace hands-on solar plumbing experience, and it does not guarantee a passing score, license approval, or any specific outcome. It is built to help students prepare with better organization, stronger topic awareness, and more confidence as they approach the Arizona CR-78 trade exam.

FAQ Section

What is the Arizona CR-78 Solar Plumbing, Liquid Systems Only exam?

The Arizona CR-78 exam is the trade exam for candidates pursuing the Arizona residential / commercial solar plumbing, liquid systems only contractor classification. It covers solar water heating, solar pool heating, plumbing code, mechanical code, pipe trade knowledge, and OSHA safety.

Is the Arizona CR-78 exam open book?

Yes. The Arizona CR-78 Solar Plumbing, Liquid Systems Only exam is an open book test. Candidates may bring approved references into the testing center, but the books must follow exam-room rules for highlighting, annotations, indexing, permanent tabs, and permitted materials.

Which books are approved for the CR-78 exam room?

The exam-room-approved references include Code of Federal Regulations – 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA), International Plumbing Code (IPC), 2018, and International Mechanical Code (IMC), 2018.

Are all listed references allowed in the exam room?

No. Mathematics for Plumbers and Pipefitters, IPT’s Pipe Trades Handbook, and Solar Water and Pool Heating Design and Installation Manual are study references and are not allowed in the examination center.

What subjects should I study for the CR-78 exam?

Candidates should study solar water heating, solar pool heating, liquid solar thermal systems, plumbing code requirements, mechanical code requirements, pumps, valves, piping, collectors, heat exchangers, pipe trade math, pipefitting concepts, and OSHA safety.

What work is included in the CR-78 classification?

The CR-78 classification is for residential and commercial solar plumbing work involving liquid-based systems. It is focused on solar water heating, solar pool heating, liquid circulation systems, and related plumbing or mechanical components within the allowed license scope.

What does “Liquid Systems Only” mean?

“Liquid Systems Only” means the classification is focused on solar systems that use liquid circulation for heat collection, transfer, storage, or delivery. This includes solar water heating and solar pool heating systems rather than photovoltaic electrical systems.

Can I use temporary tabs in my books during the exam?

No. Temporary tabs are not allowed. Approved references may be tabbed or indexed with permanent tabs only, and removable notes or tabs must be removed before the exam begins.

Who should take this online exam prep course?

This course is intended for candidates preparing for the Arizona Solar Plumbing, Liquid Systems Only Residential / Commercial Contractor (CR-78) Exam, including qualifying parties, solar plumbing contractors, solar water heating installers, solar pool heating professionals, plumbers, pipefitters, supervisors, project managers, and business owners.

Does this course guarantee that I will pass the exam?

No. This course does not guarantee a passing score, license approval, or any specific exam outcome. It is designed to help students prepare through organized review, trade-focused study, code navigation, and open book practice.

Why is online exam prep helpful for this solar plumbing exam?

Online exam prep helps students study with structure. It supports review of solar water heating, solar pool heating, IPC, IMC, OSHA safety, pipe trade math, and exam-style preparation so candidates can approach the open book test with better organization.