The 1 Package: All-Inclusive Arizona Solar Plumbing, Liquid System Only Commercial Contractor (C-78) Exam, Licensing & Business Setup Solution

Prepare for the Arizona Solar Plumbing, Liquid Systems Only Commercial Contractor C-78 exam while building the licensing and business foundation needed to operate professionally. The 1 Package combines solar-plumbing exam preparation, highlighted and tabbed reference materials, contractor application assistance, business formation, EIN filing, and contractor compliance guidance in one coordinated solution.

This all-inclusive Arizona C-78 contractor package is designed for experienced plumbers, pipefitters, solar water-heating installers, hydronic-system professionals, mechanical technicians, qualifying parties, project supervisors, estimators, and business owners pursuing authority to perform qualifying commercial solar-plumbing work involving liquid-based systems.

The C-78 classification is an Arizona commercial specialty contractor license for Solar Plumbing, Liquid Systems Only. Its scope includes the installation, alteration, and repair of qualifying solar water-heating systems that use liquid rather than air as the heat-transfer medium. The authorized work may include thermosyphon systems, direct open-loop systems, indirect closed-loop systems, and related solar-thermal components.

Commercial solar-plumbing work requires more than mounting collectors and connecting pipe. Contractors must understand heat transfer, system circulation, storage, expansion control, pressure relief, freeze protection, overheating protection, controls, valves, pumps, sensors, heat exchangers, piping materials, insulation, supports, penetrations, testing, and startup procedures.

The classification covers solar water-heating systems operating within the temperature limitations established for the license. Candidates should understand how system design, climate, collector orientation, shading, fluid selection, pipe sizing, storage capacity, and control strategies influence performance and safety.

The included International Plumbing Code, 2018 supports preparation involving water-distribution piping, approved materials, valves, backflow protection, water heaters, storage tanks, pressure relief, thermal expansion, supports, equipment connections, and system testing.

The International Mechanical Code, 2018 supports study involving mechanical equipment, hydronic piping, boilers, heat exchangers, pumps, expansion tanks, controls, insulation, equipment access, installation, testing, and related mechanical-system requirements.

Mathematics for Plumbers and Pipefitters, 8th Edition supports practical calculations involving measurements, pipe length, offsets, area, volume, pressure, flow, temperature, capacity, slope, and unit conversion. IPT’s Pipe Trades Handbook provides field-oriented information involving pipe dimensions, fittings, formulas, materials, conversions, and trade data.

The Solar Water and Pool Heating Design and Installation Manual provides focused preparation involving collector systems, storage tanks, heat exchangers, circulation arrangements, pumps, controllers, valves, freeze protection, roof mounting, piping, insulation, system filling, and solar pool-heating applications.

OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 supports safety preparation involving ladders, scaffolds, fall protection, roof access, electrical hazards, hand and power tools, material handling, personal protective equipment, hot work, and commercial construction-site responsibilities.

The package includes 1 year of course access, allowing candidates to prepare around active projects, service schedules, employment, and personal responsibilities. The course supports organized reference review, solar-system study, plumbing calculations, code navigation, safety preparation, and confidence-building exam practice.

The 1 Package also supports the licensing and business stages that follow examination preparation. Application Service helps organize the Arizona contractor licensing process. Business Formation establishes an LLC or corporation, EIN Filing supports banking and tax administration, and Contractor Compliance Guidance helps customers understand responsibilities associated with operating an Arizona commercial solar-plumbing business.

Exam Details

The Arizona Registrar of Contractors issues residential, commercial, and dual contractor licenses. The C-78 Solar Plumbing, Liquid Systems Only classification is the commercial specialty license for qualifying solar water-heating work using liquid as the heat-transfer medium.

The qualifying party is the individual whose experience, trade knowledge, and examination qualifications support the contractor license. This person must satisfy the applicable Arizona requirements and remain associated with the licensed business in the qualifying capacity recognized by the state.

C-78 preparation may include solar water heating, solar pool heating, thermosyphon systems, direct systems, indirect systems, collectors, storage tanks, expansion tanks, heat exchangers, pumps, valves, sensors, controls, piping, insulation, pressure relief, freeze protection, roof mounting, testing, maintenance, mathematics, and OSHA safety.

Direct open-loop systems circulate potable water through the solar collector. Candidates should understand the conditions that affect the suitability of these systems, including climate, water quality, freeze potential, stagnation, piping layout, controls, and protection of system components.

Indirect closed-loop systems use a separate heat-transfer fluid that circulates between the collectors and a heat exchanger. Preparation may include heat-transfer fluids, heat exchangers, expansion control, pumps, air elimination, pressure, fill procedures, flushing, freeze protection, and separation from the potable-water system.

Thermosyphon systems rely on natural circulation created by temperature and density differences. Candidates should understand the relationship between the collector and storage tank, pipe routing, flow resistance, system mounting, supports, and proper component placement.

Collector preparation may include flat-plate collectors, evacuated-tube collectors, absorber surfaces, glazing, headers, risers, insulation, enclosures, mounting hardware, orientation, tilt, spacing, shading, roof attachment, weather protection, and access for service.

Storage preparation may include solar storage tanks, auxiliary tanks, tank placement, insulation, connections, temperature control, pressure relief, thermal expansion, heat exchangers, stratification, and coordination with backup water-heating equipment.

Pump and control preparation may involve circulators, differential-temperature controllers, sensors, relays, switches, check valves, isolation valves, balancing valves, flow meters, and control sequences. Candidates should understand how controls start, stop, and protect a solar-thermal system.

Freeze-protection study may include drainback systems, antifreeze systems, recirculation methods, pipe drainage, insulation, control strategies, heat tracing, fluid concentration, and climate-related installation decisions.

Overheat and stagnation preparation may include pressure relief, expansion tanks, heat rejection, collector covers, control logic, fluid selection, system sizing, storage capacity, and procedures used when solar energy exceeds the available load.

Piping preparation may include approved materials, sizing, supports, insulation, expansion, valves, unions, drains, vents, penetrations, routing, slope, compatibility, corrosion protection, pressure testing, flushing, and identification.

Solar pool-heating preparation may involve collector arrays, pumps, filters, valves, bypass arrangements, check valves, sensors, controllers, roof mounting, piping layout, drainage, flow balancing, system startup, and seasonal shutdown.

Roof-mounted system preparation may include ladders, fall protection, attachment points, structural coordination, collector supports, roof penetrations, flashing, wind exposure, lifting, material handling, and safe access for installation and maintenance.

Trade mathematics may involve fractions, decimals, percentages, area, volume, flow, pressure, temperature difference, capacity, pipe length, offsets, heat transfer, collector area, storage volume, and unit conversion.

Passing the required examination does not automatically issue the C-78 contractor license. The Arizona Registrar of Contractors must review and approve the complete application before the business may advertise, bid, contract for, or perform work requiring the classification.

Open Book Test

The Arizona C-78 Solar Plumbing, Liquid Systems Only examination is an open-book test using approved reference materials. Candidates are responsible for bringing the permitted books and following the testing provider’s current requirements for editions, highlighting, annotations, indexing, permanent tabs, attachments, and book inspection.

An open-book format does not eliminate the need for technical preparation. Candidates must identify the system or component described, select the correct reference, locate the relevant provision, interpret the information, and apply it within the available examination time.

All books are highlighted and Tabbed. Highlighting draws attention to important plumbing provisions, mechanical-system requirements, solar-system concepts, formulas, pipe-trade data, installation details, and OSHA safety rules. Permanent tabs support faster navigation among major chapters and frequently researched subjects.

The references should be used throughout the course rather than opened for the first time on examination day. Repeated navigation practice helps candidates become familiar with each book’s index, tables, diagrams, formulas, illustrations, definitions, and permanent tab locations.

Questions involving potable water, piping materials, backflow protection, storage tanks, water heaters, valves, thermal expansion, pressure relief, equipment connections, or testing may require the International Plumbing Code.

Questions involving heat exchangers, pumps, hydronic piping, mechanical equipment, insulation, controls, expansion tanks, access, or installation may require the International Mechanical Code.

Questions involving collector configurations, solar storage, circulation, freeze protection, controls, mounting, solar pool heating, and system operation may require the Solar Water and Pool Heating Design and Installation Manual.

Mathematics for Plumbers and Pipefitters and IPT’s Pipe Trades Handbook support questions involving measurements, offsets, pipe dimensions, pressure, flow, formulas, fittings, and practical field calculations.

Questions involving ladders, roof access, fall protection, tools, electrical hazards, lifting, material handling, personal protective equipment, or commercial construction safety may require OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926.

Candidates should bring only the references authorized for the examination they schedule. Loose pages, removable notes, temporary tabs, electronic resources, and unauthorized attachments are not permitted.

Licensing Steps

1. Confirm the C-78 classification. Review the commercial solar-plumbing scope to make sure it matches the liquid-based solar systems the business intends to install, alter, or repair.
2. Select the qualifying party. Identify the individual who will satisfy the applicable solar-plumbing experience and examination requirements.
3. Review the examination requirements. Determine which solar, trade, and Arizona Statutes and Rules requirements apply to the proposed qualifying party.
4. Prepare for the C-78 exam. Use the included course, highlighted and tabbed references, solar-system review, code-navigation exercises, and plumbing calculations.
5. Complete the required examination process. Pass the applicable examination requirements and complete Arizona’s Statutes and Rules requirement unless an authorized waiver applies.
6. Prepare the solar warranty. Include the solar warranty documentation required for an Arizona contractor license involving a solar classification.
7. Form the business entity. Use the included Business Formation service to establish an LLC or corporation for the commercial solar-plumbing business.
8. Obtain an EIN. Complete the included EIN Filing with the IRS for banking, tax administration, payroll, employee hiring, and professional business operations.
9. Complete applicable background requirements. Follow Arizona’s process for the individuals required to appear on the contractor license application.
10. Prepare the contractor application. Organize qualifying-party information, experience records, examination documentation, solar warranty materials, business documents, and required disclosures.
11. Obtain the commercial contractor license bond. Arrange the bond required for the commercial specialty classification and anticipated gross volume of work.
12. Submit the application. Provide the complete application and supporting materials to the Arizona Registrar of Contractors.
13. Wait for license issuance. Do not advertise, bid, contract for, or perform work requiring the C-78 license until Arizona approves the application and issues an active contractor license.

State Requirements

The C-78 classification is an Arizona commercial specialty contractor license for qualifying solar-plumbing systems that use liquid as the heat-transfer medium. It does not provide residential contracting authority.

The authorized scope includes qualifying installation, alteration, and repair of solar water-heating systems operating within the temperature limitation established for the classification. Covered systems may include thermosyphon, direct open-loop, and indirect closed-loop arrangements.

The classification may include collectors, storage tanks, expansion tanks, heat exchangers, piping, valves, pumps, sensors, and low-voltage controls associated with the solar-plumbing system. Air-based solar heating is excluded because the classification is limited to liquid systems.

The proposed qualifying party must demonstrate the experience, knowledge, and skills needed to supervise or perform the covered work. Experience documentation may need to describe collectors, storage, heat exchangers, pumps, piping, valves, controls, freeze protection, commercial installations, service work, and field supervision.

The legal business entity applying for the license must be properly established and identified. The company name, ownership information, qualifying-party records, EIN documentation, contractor bond, solar warranty, and application should remain consistent.

Arizona contractor applicants must complete applicable background requirements and provide the identity, experience, examination, business, and disclosure information required for state review.

A commercial contractor license bond is required. The applicable bond amount depends on the anticipated gross volume of commercial work and the license category.

Arizona license applications involving a solar classification require solar warranty documentation. The warranty should address the solar installation in the manner required by Arizona law and the licensing application process.

Because C-78 is a commercial-only classification, the residential financial-protection requirements associated with Arizona residential and dual licenses do not apply.

After licensing, the contractor must remain within the authorized C-78 scope, maintain the required bond, renew the license, follow applicable solar-warranty responsibilities, and keep business and qualifying-party information current.

Reference Books

• Included Book: Code of Federal Regulations – 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA)
  Covers ladders, scaffolds, roof access, fall protection, electrical hazards, tools, personal protective equipment, material handling, hot work, and commercial construction-site safety.
• Included Book: International Plumbing Code, 2018
  Covers water-distribution piping, approved materials, valves, backflow protection, water heaters, storage tanks, pressure relief, thermal expansion, equipment connections, supports, and testing.
• Included Book: International Mechanical Code, 2018
  Supports study of mechanical equipment, hydronic piping, pumps, heat exchangers, expansion tanks, controls, insulation, access, installation, and inspection.
• Included Book: Mathematics for Plumbers and Pipefitters, 8th Edition
  Supports calculations involving measurements, pipe length, offsets, area, volume, pressure, flow, temperature, capacity, slope, and unit conversion.
• Included Book: IPT’s Pipe Trades Handbook, Robert A. Lee, 2016
  Provides pipe dimensions, fitting data, formulas, conversions, materials, and practical field information for pipe-trade work.
• Included Book: Solar Water and Pool Heating Design and Installation Manual
  Supports study of solar collectors, storage tanks, heat exchangers, pumps, controls, valves, freeze protection, mounting, piping, insulation, solar water heating, and solar pool heating.

All books are highlighted and Tabbed.

The package includes a $350 refundable book deposit. The deposit is refundable when the books are returned within one year in similar condition.

Please allow up to 15 business days for The 1 Package book orders.

Test Information and Study Materials

Effective C-78 preparation should combine solar-thermal principles, plumbing-code navigation, mechanical systems, collectors, storage, circulation, heat exchangers, controls, safety, and trade mathematics.

Solar water-heating study may include direct systems, indirect systems, thermosyphon systems, drainback systems, collector types, storage arrangements, backup heating, pumps, valves, controllers, sensors, piping, and insulation.

Freeze-protection preparation may involve antifreeze solutions, drainback arrangements, recirculation, pipe slope, insulation, controls, and system shutdown procedures.

Calculation practice may include collector area, storage capacity, pipe dimensions, pressure, flow, temperature difference, heat transfer, expansion, offsets, material quantities, and unit conversions.

Installation preparation may involve collector placement, roof attachment, penetrations, flashing, pipe support, insulation, equipment access, pressure testing, flushing, filling, startup, balancing, and system documentation.

Safety preparation should address ladders, fall protection, lifting collectors, roof access, sharp materials, hot fluids, pressure, electrical controls, tools, personal protective equipment, and safe startup procedures.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep supports Arizona C-78 candidates through organized study guidance, trade-focused review, practice-oriented preparation, reference navigation, and confidence-building study structure.

The course divides solar-plumbing preparation into manageable subjects, including solar-thermal principles, system types, collectors, storage, heat exchangers, pumps, piping, controls, freeze protection, pressure relief, roof mounting, testing, mathematics, and OSHA safety.

Reference-navigation exercises help candidates identify the correct book, locate useful index terms, find relevant tables and formulas, and interpret technical requirements. Practice-oriented preparation connects code provisions and solar-system concepts with realistic installation conditions.

The highlighted and tabbed books support efficient navigation, but repeated use remains essential. Working with the references throughout the course helps candidates become familiar with their organization and reduces unnecessary searching during the examination.

Application Service supports the Arizona licensing stage by helping organize qualifying-party information, examination records, solar warranty materials, business documents, and required application components. Business Formation establishes an LLC or corporation so the customer has a legally structured commercial business entity.

EIN Filing with the IRS provides the federal identification number used to open business bank accounts, manage taxes properly, hire employees, and operate professionally. Contractor Compliance Guidance supports a clearer understanding of responsibilities associated with maintaining the contractor license, bond, qualifying party, solar warranty, business records, and approved scope of work.

No preparation program or business service can guarantee an examination result, licensing approval, earnings, or business success. The package provides the references, course access, application support, and business setup services needed to pursue the Arizona C-78 licensing path with stronger organization and confidence.

What is included in The 1 Package?

The package includes six solar, plumbing, mechanical, mathematics, pipe-trade, and safety references, 1 year of course access, Application Service, LLC or corporation formation, EIN Filing with the IRS, and Contractor Compliance Guidance.

What is the total cost?

The package cost is $2,365. A $350 refundable book deposit brings the total due to $2,715. The package is all-inclusive with no hidden fees.

How does the refundable book deposit work?

The $350 deposit is refundable when the books are returned within one year in similar condition.

Are all books highlighted and tabbed?

Yes. All books are highlighted and Tabbed to support organized study and faster reference navigation.

How long should I allow for the book order?

Please allow up to 15 business days for The 1 Package book orders.

Is the Arizona C-78 examination open book?

Yes. The Arizona C-78 Solar Plumbing, Liquid Systems Only examination is open book using approved reference materials under the testing provider’s current rules.

Does C-78 cover air-based solar heating?

No. The C-78 classification is limited to qualifying liquid-based solar-plumbing systems and excludes air as the heat-transfer medium.

Does C-78 cover residential solar-plumbing work?

No. C-78 is the commercial Solar Plumbing, Liquid Systems Only classification. Residential work requires the appropriate residential or dual contractor license.

Does the package include solar pool-heating preparation?

Yes. The included solar manual supports preparation involving solar pool collectors, pumps, filters, valves, bypass arrangements, controls, piping, mounting, drainage, and system operation.

Does the package include licensing and business setup?

Yes. The package includes Application Service, LLC or corporation formation, EIN Filing with the IRS, and Contractor Compliance Guidance.

Does passing the examination automatically issue the license?

No. The Arizona Registrar of Contractors must review and approve the complete application before issuing the C-78 commercial contractor license.