Arizona Process Server Continuing Education: The 10-Hour Rule Explained
Checked against azcourts.gov and ACJA § 7-204 (amended effective Oct. 29, 2025) on October 27, 2026. This is educational information, not legal advice. Confirm with your county clerk.
Short answer: Every certified Arizona private process server must complete at least 10 hours of approved continuing education every 12 months, in subjects relevant to process serving. You keep your own certificates of attendance and submit the documentation on an approved form with your renewal application. Certificates expire every three years. (azcourts.gov Renewal & CE Information; ACJA § 7-204(F)(7), (G)(1), (L).)
The rule, in the court's words
The Arizona Supreme Court's Renewal & CE page says: "All certified private process servers shall complete at least ten hours of approved continuing education every twelve months. The private process server shall submit documentation of completion of the continuing education on an approved form, with the application for renewal of certification."
ACJA § 7-204(L)(2) adds that CE must be "in an area relevant to the work of a certified private process server, including subjects applicable to the Code of Conduct," and that you submit documentation "for the 3-year certification period" with your renewal. Hours you complete after filing a renewal application count toward your new period, not the old one.
The code states the requirement as 10 hours every 12 months and has you document it for the whole 3-year period at renewal. Plan on about 10 hours in each 12-month span, roughly 30 per term. The code does not spell out how a presiding judge treats uneven years, so if your hours are bunched, ask your clerk.
What topics count?
Under ACJA § 7-204(L)(4)(a), CE must build proficiency and understanding of service of process, the Arizona judiciary, and the legal process. Acceptable topics include:
- Ethics for process servers and court employees: cooperation with lawyers, judges, and other servers; professional attire; courtesy and impartiality; information vs. legal advice; public relations.
- The Arizona court system: constitutions, branches of government, court jurisdiction, the tribal court system, statutes, rules, case law, administrative orders, and current issues.
- Role and responsibilities of the certified private process server, including ACJA § 7-204 itself.
Where approved CE comes from
| Route | What the code says |
|---|---|
| Pre-approved entities | Programs offered or approved by the Arizona Process Servers Association (APSA), the Arizona Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Education and Training (COJET), the United States Private Process Servers Association (USCRA), the Arizona Courts Association (ACA), and the National Association of Court Management (NACM) are pre-approved (L)(4)(c). |
| Court's pre-approved course list | The Renewal & CE page links a "Pre-Approved Continuing Education Course List" (the version we checked is marked updated 10-21-26). It lists sponsors and specific classes with approved hours. |
| Sponsored activity not on the list | Sponsors must submit the activity to the AOC before holding it (L)(4)(d). An individual can also request credit for a sponsored activity that isn't on the list, using the court's form. |
| Self-study | You may earn all CE through self-study, including correspondence courses, procedure manuals, video, audio, and online seminars (L)(4)(n). The court has a "Request for CE Credit for Independent Study Activity" form. |
| Teaching | Presentation time plus up to 2 hours of prep per hour presented. Maximum 5 hours per renewal period (L)(4)(e). |
| Writing | A published article of at least 1,000 words on service of process in a recognized professional journal earns a maximum of 1 hour per renewal period (L)(4)(f). |
| College courses | Grade C or better, or "pass." Credit can be up to 2 times the institution's credit hours, capped at 50% of required hours (L)(4)(g). |
| Conferences | Up to 100% of your CE if the conference is directly related to process serving. You must document each session and its hours (L)(4)(j). |
Rules that trip people up
- 30-minute minimum. Each activity must be at least 30 minutes of actual clock time, which excludes intros, breaks, meals, and business meetings. After that, credit accrues in 15-minute increments (L)(4)(h).
- No carry-forward. Extra hours don't roll into the next renewal period (L)(4)(h).
- No partial attendance. You may not request credit if you attend only part of an activity (L)(4)(m).
- 50% cap on one activity that isn't directly related to process serving (L)(4)(i).
- Repeats generally don't earn credit within the same renewal period (L)(4)(k).
- These don't count: the initial certification exam, association business meetings or elections, committee or officer service, and discipline-ordered activities (L)(5).
- Unapproved activities are a risk. If a non-pre-approved activity is rejected at renewal, you are still responsible for meeting the requirement (L)(3)(c).
Documentation checklist
For each activity, get documentation from the sponsor that shows (L)(4)(l):
- Sponsor name
- Your name
- Topic
- Hours attended or credit hours awarded
- Date and place
- Sponsor signature or official document
- Your signature
The court's Forms page has the Certificate of Attendance form, the Continuing Education Allocation Form, and the independent-study and sponsored-activity request forms.
Maricopa County note
The court's page says that, as of July 1, 2016, Maricopa County servers no longer need Certification and Licensing Division staff to approve CE documentation first. All required CE documentation goes with your renewal application directly to the Maricopa County Superior Court Process Server Program staff.
What if I miss CE?
Failing to meet the CE requirement, falsifying CE documents, misrepresenting attendance, or trying to get around CE by filing a new initial application within 12 months of expiration can lead to denial of renewal, discipline, or both (L)(7)(b). If your certificate lapses and you reapply within 12 months, the judge considers your CE compliance, and you may not retake the exam instead of completing CE (G)(1)(e).
Where APSE fits (and where it doesn't)
Arizona Process Server Education (APSE) is an independent exam-prep provider. APSE does not currently offer court-approved CE courses and does not grant CE credit. The APSE Monthly Membership ($29/month) is built to help certified servers track their CE hours, follow rule-change updates, and use a resource library. For credit-bearing courses, use the court's pre-approved list. See pricing.
APSE is not affiliated with or approved by the Arizona Supreme Court.
Sources
- Arizona Supreme Court, Renewal & CE Information (checked Oct. 27, 2026).
- Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 7-204, subsections (F)(7), (G)(1), and (L) (amended by Admin. Order 2025-186, effective Oct. 29, 2025).
- Arizona Supreme Court, Pre-Approved Continuing Education Course List (PDF, updated 10-21-26).
- Arizona Supreme Court, Private Process Server Forms.