The 1 Package: All-Inclusive Arizona Swimming Pools Commercial Contractor (A-9) Exam, Licensing & Business Setup Solution

Prepare for the Arizona Swimming Pools Commercial Contractor A-9 exam while building the licensing and business foundation needed to operate professionally. The 1 Package combines commercial swimming pool 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 A-9 contractor package is designed for experienced swimming pool builders, commercial pool supervisors, excavation professionals, concrete and shotcrete specialists, reinforcing-steel installers, pool-equipment technicians, qualifying parties, estimators, project managers, and business owners pursuing authority to perform qualifying commercial swimming pool and spa work in Arizona.

The Arizona A-9 Swimming Pools classification allows a licensee to construct, service, and repair swimming pools and spas. Its scope includes water and gas service lines from the point of service to pool equipment, wiring from pool equipment to the first readily accessible disconnect, pool piping, fittings, backflow-prevention devices, waste lines, and other integral parts of a swimming pool or spa.

The classification also includes swimming pool accessories, covers, safety devices, and protective fencing when those items are included in the original contract. This broad commercial scope requires preparation across sitework, excavation, forming, reinforcing steel, concrete, shotcrete, circulation equipment, safety, estimating, and plan reading.

Commercial swimming pool construction involves more than creating a shell and filling it with water. Contractors must coordinate excavation, drainage, structural preparation, steel placement, concrete or shotcrete application, underground piping, filtration, circulation, equipment installation, safety features, inspections, and protection of surrounding improvements.

Projects may include pools and spas at hotels, apartment communities, schools, fitness facilities, recreational centers, clubs, resorts, institutions, and other commercial properties. Each project can present different conditions involving access, soil, excavation, equipment capacity, circulation, structural details, public use, safety, scheduling, and coordination with other contractors.

The included International Building Code, 2018 supports preparation involving commercial construction, structural materials, concrete, means of egress, safety, accessibility-related provisions, building systems, and inspection requirements. The International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, 2018 is also an approved reference for the shared A-9, B-5, and KA-5 trade examination.

The Pool and Spa Operator Handbook supports broader study of circulation, filtration, disinfection, water chemistry, equipment operation, maintenance, and pool-water quality. Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th Edition supports technical review of concrete ingredients, proportioning, placement, curing, durability, strength, and quality control.

Placing Reinforcing Bars supports study of reinforcing-steel identification, layout, spacing, bends, laps, supports, tying, and clearances. Guide to Shotcrete supports preparation involving dry-mix and wet-mix processes, materials, equipment, placement, rebound, curing, finishing, testing, and construction quality.

Pipe and Excavation Contracting supports preparation involving trenches, underground piping, bedding, backfill, dewatering, equipment, and field coordination. OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 supports safety preparation involving excavations, heavy equipment, ladders, electrical hazards, tools, silica exposure, personal protective equipment, material handling, and commercial construction responsibilities.

The package includes 1 year of course access, allowing candidates to prepare around active projects, employment, customer appointments, and personal responsibilities. The course supports organized trade review, reference navigation, pool calculations, plan-reading practice, estimating, and confidence-building preparation.

Exam Details

The Arizona A-9 Swimming Pools commercial examination uses the same trade test as the B-5 General Swimming Pool Contractor residential classification and the KA-5 Dual Swimming Pool Contractor classification. After satisfying the applicable licensing requirements, the qualifying party may use the shared trade examination for the appropriate classification.

The trade exam contains 50 scored questions. Candidates are allowed 120 minutes, and the minimum passing score is 70 percent. A small number of unscored experimental questions may also appear and count against the examination time.

The official content outline assigns three questions to plan reading and estimating, nine to sitework and excavating, nine to forming and reinforcing, eight to concrete, eight to shotcrete, eight to pool equipment, and five to safety.

Plan-reading preparation may include site plans, pool plans, sections, structural details, equipment layouts, piping diagrams, elevations, dimensions, schedules, symbols, specifications, material notes, and construction sequencing.

Estimating may involve excavation quantities, soil removal, reinforcing steel, concrete or shotcrete volume, piping, fittings, pumps, filters, accessories, safety devices, labor, equipment, delivery, waste, access, and project duration.

Sitework preparation may involve property conditions, access, existing improvements, elevations, drainage, utilities, soil conditions, excavation limits, equipment placement, spoil removal, dewatering, and protection of adjacent construction.

Excavation preparation may include machine selection, excavation sequence, over-excavation, soil stability, underground utilities, water control, slope conditions, access, and preparation for pool piping and reinforcing steel.

Forming and reinforcing preparation may involve pool dimensions, walls, floors, steps, benches, beams, bar size, spacing, bends, laps, supports, ties, clearances, penetrations, and maintaining reinforcing placement during shotcrete work.

Concrete preparation may include cementitious materials, aggregates, water, admixtures, mixing, workability, placement, consolidation, finishing, curing, temperature conditions, strength, durability, and quality control.

Shotcrete preparation may include dry-mix and wet-mix methods, equipment, delivery hoses, air supply, nozzle operation, surface preparation, reinforcing-steel encasement, placement sequence, rebound, overspray, thickness, finishing, curing, testing, and repair.

Pool-equipment preparation may include circulation piping, suction lines, return lines, drains, skimmers, pumps, filters, heaters, valves, backflow-prevention devices, waste lines, pressure testing, equipment connections, and safe system operation.

Safety preparation may involve open excavations, trench protection, underground utilities, heavy equipment, ladders, electrical exposure, tools, silica, cement products, lifting, material storage, personal protective equipment, and jobsite housekeeping.

Passing the A-9 trade examination does not automatically issue the contractor license. The Arizona Registrar of Contractors must review and approve the complete application before the business may operate under the classification.

Open Book Test

The Arizona A-9 Swimming Pools trade examination is an open-book test using approved references. Candidates are responsible for bringing the permitted materials and following the testing provider’s rules for highlighting, annotations, indexing, binding, permanent tabs, calculators, and book inspection.

Approved references may be highlighted, underlined, annotated, or indexed before the examination. Candidates may not write in, highlight, underline, or index their books during the testing session.

Permanent tabs are allowed. Temporary tabs that can be removed without tearing the page are not allowed. Additional loose or attached papers may not be placed in the approved references.

A silent, nonprinting, non-programmable, nonscientific calculator may be used. Candidates should practice calculations and reference navigation under timed conditions before their scheduled exam.

All books are highlighted and Tabbed. The preparation helps candidates locate important construction provisions, excavation information, concrete topics, safety requirements, tables, diagrams, and frequently researched subjects.

An open-book exam still requires trade knowledge. Candidates must identify the subject of each question, determine which approved reference applies, locate the relevant information, and reach an answer efficiently within the 120-minute time limit.

Licensing Steps

1. Confirm the A-9 classification. Review the commercial swimming pool scope and make sure it matches the work the business intends to offer.
2. Select the qualifying party. Identify the individual who will satisfy the experience, knowledge, and examination requirements.
3. Review examination requirements. Determine which trade and Arizona Statutes and Rules requirements apply to the qualifying party.
4. Prepare for the A-9 trade exam. Use the included course, prepared references, calculations, plan-reading exercises, and timed practice.
5. Complete required examinations. Pass the applicable trade examination and complete the Arizona Statutes and Rules requirement unless an authorized waiver applies.
6. Form the business entity. Use the included Business Formation service to establish an LLC or corporation.
7. Obtain an EIN. Complete EIN Filing with the IRS for banking, tax administration, payroll, and professional business operations.
8. Complete background requirements. All persons listed on the license application must complete the applicable criminal background-check process.
9. Prepare the application. Organize the qualifying party’s records, experience documentation, examination results, business information, and required disclosures.
10. Obtain the contractor license bond. Arrange the bond required for the commercial general engineering classification and anticipated gross volume of work.
11. Submit the application. Provide the completed application and supporting materials to the Arizona Registrar of Contractors.
12. Wait for license issuance. Do not advertise, bid, contract for, or perform work requiring the A-9 license until the active license is issued.

State Requirements

The A-9 classification is an Arizona commercial contractor license for swimming pool and spa work. It does not provide residential swimming pool contracting authority.

The proposed qualifying party must have the experience, knowledge, and skills needed to supervise or perform the authorized work. Experience documentation may describe commercial pool excavation, reinforcing, shotcrete, concrete, plumbing, equipment, accessories, safety systems, estimating, and project supervision.

The qualifying party must be an owner or regularly employed person associated with the applicant business in the capacity recognized by Arizona. Examination records, experience information, and the person’s role in the company should remain consistent throughout the application process.

The applicant’s legal business entity must be properly formed and identified. Business formation documents, ownership information, EIN records, qualifying-party information, bond documentation, and the contractor application should use consistent names and details.

All persons listed on the license application must complete the applicable criminal background check. The business must also obtain the required contractor license bond based on its license category and anticipated Arizona gross volume.

Because A-9 is a commercial classification, Arizona’s Residential Contractors’ Recovery Fund requirements do not apply. The contractor must nevertheless maintain its required commercial license bond and comply with all continuing licensing responsibilities.

After the license is issued, the contractor must remain within the A-9 scope, maintain the bond, renew the license, and keep ownership, address, business, and qualifying-party records current.

Reference Books

• Included Book: Code of Federal Regulations – 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA)
  Covers excavation, trenching, heavy equipment, ladders, electrical hazards, hand and power tools, silica exposure, personal protective equipment, material handling, and construction safety.
• Included Book: International Building Code, 2018
  Supports preparation involving commercial construction, structural materials, concrete, safety, building systems, means of egress, accessibility-related provisions, and inspections.
• Included Book: International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, 2018
  Supports preparation involving residential construction principles, structural provisions, safety requirements, property conditions, and building assemblies included in the shared examination reference list.
• Included Book: Pool and Spa Operator Handbook
  Supports study of circulation, filtration, disinfection, water chemistry, equipment operation, maintenance practices, and pool-water quality.
• Included Book: Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th Edition
  Supports study of concrete ingredients, proportioning, mixing, placement, curing, strength, durability, testing, and quality control.
• Included Book: Placing Reinforcing Bars
  Supports preparation involving reinforcing-bar identification, spacing, bends, laps, supports, ties, clearances, placement, and construction coordination.
• Included Book: Guide to Shotcrete, 2016 or 2022
  Supports preparation involving shotcrete materials, equipment, placement, reinforcement, rebound, finishing, curing, testing, and quality considerations.
• Included Book: Pipe and Excavation Contracting
  Supports study of excavation, trenches, underground piping, bedding, backfill, dewatering, equipment, safety, and field procedures.

All books are highlighted and Tabbed.

The package includes a $650 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.

Exam Room Approved Books

• Code of Federal Regulations – 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA)
  The approved construction-safety reference for the A-9 trade examination.
• International Building Code, 2018
  An approved code reference for the shared A-9, B-5, and KA-5 examination.
• International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, 2018
  An approved code reference for the shared A-9, B-5, and KA-5 examination.

The Pool and Spa Operator Handbook, Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, Placing Reinforcing Bars, Guide to Shotcrete, and Pipe and Excavation Contracting are study references and are not approved for use inside the examination center under the current A-9 content outline.

Test Information and Study Materials

Effective A-9 preparation should combine plan reading, estimating, excavation, forming, reinforcing steel, concrete, shotcrete, pool equipment, and construction safety.

Candidates should practice calculating pool area, perimeter, excavation volume, concrete or shotcrete volume, reinforcing quantities, pipe length, equipment requirements, material coverage, waste, and unit conversions.

Field-focused study should address excavation sequence, soil removal, steel placement, piping coordination, shell construction, curing, equipment installation, pressure testing, circulation, filtration, safety devices, and project closeout.

Reference-navigation practice should focus on the three exam-room-approved books. The remaining study materials help build the trade knowledge needed to answer questions that may be based on industry practices rather than information found directly in an approved code book.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep supports Arizona A-9 candidates through organized study guidance, trade-focused review, practice-oriented preparation, reference navigation, and confidence-building study structure.

The course divides commercial swimming pool preparation into manageable subjects, including plan reading, estimating, sitework, excavation, reinforcing steel, concrete, shotcrete, circulation equipment, construction safety, and project coordination.

Reference-navigation exercises help candidates locate relevant information in the approved examination books. Trade-focused review uses the additional pool, concrete, reinforcing, shotcrete, and excavation references to strengthen practical knowledge.

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

Application Service supports the licensing stage by helping organize qualifying-party information, examination records, experience documentation, business records, and application materials. Business Formation establishes an LLC or corporation so the customer has a legally structured 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 license, bond, qualifying party, company information, and authorized scope of work.

No preparation program or business service guarantees an examination result, licensing approval, earnings, or business success. The package provides organized preparation, references, course access, application assistance, and business setup services for pursuing the Arizona A-9 licensing path.

What is included in The 1 Package?

The package includes eight code, pool-operation, concrete, reinforcing, shotcrete, excavation, 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 $2,665. A $650 refundable book deposit brings the total due to $3,315. The package is all-inclusive with no hidden fees.

How does the refundable book deposit work?

The $650 deposit is refundable when the books are returned within one year in similar condition.

Is the Arizona A-9 examination open book?

Yes. The A-9 trade examination is open book, but only the approved OSHA, International Building Code, and International Residential Code references may be taken into the exam room.

How many questions are on the A-9 exam?

The examination contains 50 scored questions. Candidates have 120 minutes to complete the test, and the minimum passing score is 70 percent.

What work is covered by the A-9 classification?

The classification covers qualifying commercial construction, service, and repair of swimming pools and spas, including specified utility connections, pool piping, equipment, accessories, covers, safety devices, and protective fencing included in the original contract.

Does A-9 cover residential swimming pool work?

No. A-9 is the commercial Swimming Pools classification. Residential work requires the appropriate residential or dual swimming pool classification.

Are all books highlighted and tabbed?

Yes. All books are highlighted and Tabbed to support organized preparation and efficient reference navigation.

How long should I allow for the book order?

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

Does passing the exam automatically issue the license?

No. The Arizona Registrar of Contractors must approve the complete application and issue an active A-9 license before the business may operate under the classification.