Licensing Guides
State Contractor License: How to Become a General Contractor in Nevada
Contractor, NV
Table of Contents
Why Do You Need a Contractor License in Nevada?
How Can You Get a Contractor License in Nevada?
Types of General Contractor Licenses in Nevada
What Are the Requirements of a Nevada Contractor License?
How Long Does It Take to Get a Contractor License in Nevada?
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Contractor License in Nevada?
Nevada Contractor License Training Programs and Schools
Does Nevada Reciprocate Contractor Licenses?
Do I Need to Renew my Contractor License in Nevada?
Are There Any Penalties for Contracting Without a License in Nevada?
We all need a place to live and work, and those buildings require upkeep and repair. They’re often the biggest investments we make in our lives and keeping them in good condition is essential. We count on professionals to know how to fix damage to or wear and tear on our homes and businesses. General contractors in the construction industry are typically the experts we rely on to help us with these repairs, and we need these people to know what they’re doing.
Many states require contractors to be licensed. Others simply require solid insurance to back up the essential work they perform. There are 520,900 construction managers and 1,599,800 construction laborers and helpers nationwide, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Nevada employs 4,390 managers and 10,170 laborers and helpers. The national number for managers is projected to grow 9% from 2023 to 2033 and 8% for laborers and helpers. In Nevada, according to CareerOneStop, the U.S. Department of Labor’s job search website, the projected growth rate for laborers and managers is higher at 15% and 18%, respectively. If you’re thinking about becoming a contractor or you want a job in the field, you need to know the requirements in your state or local jurisdiction. This guide will help you determine what you need before you get started as a licensed contractor in Nevada.
Why Do You Need a Contractor License in Nevada?
According to the Nevada State Contractors Board, all construction businesses or individuals who construct or alter any building, highway, road, parking facility, railroad, excavation, or other structure in Nevada require a license. Licensing is overseen by the Board.
How Can You Get a Contractor License in Nevada?
The licensing process for becoming a contractor is all spelled out on the Nevada State Contractors Board website.
You have to register your business with the Nevada Secretary of State. The trade qualifying individual on the license, which is the person qualified to oversee the day-to-day business transactions and actual work being performed, must have at least four full years of experience within the last 15 years as a journeyman, supervising employee, or contractor in the specific license classification requested for license eligibility.
In addition to the experience requirements, an applicant must prove financial responsibility via a financial statement and bank verification form. They are also subject to a background check and fingerprinting.
The qualifying individual for a contractor’s license is required to pass the Business and Law and trade examination specific to the classification requested. Lastly, at license approval, they’ll be required to post a bond.
Types of Contractor Licenses in Nevada
There are three classes of contractor licenses in Nevada:
Class A — General Engineering Contractor: For fixed works requiring specialized engineering knowledge or skill, like bridges, tunnels, and water supply systems.
Class B — General Building Contractor: For the construction or remodeling of buildings or structures for the support, shelter, and enclosure of people, animals, or property of any kind, requiring the use of more than two unrelated building trades or crafts.
Class C — Specialty Contractor: For contractors whose principal contracting business and construction work involves the use of specialized building trades or crafts.
Each license has subclassifications, and multiple subclassifications can be combined under one license, as long as they fall within the same primary classification. A separate license is required for each primary classification.
Subclassifications include:
Class A
A-1: Airports
A-2: Highways
A-3: Dams and Reservoirs
A-4: Bridges
A-5: Diamond and Core Drilling
A-6: Drilling of Oil, Gas, and Exploratory Wells
A-7: Excavating and Grading
A-8: Sealing and Striping of Impermeable Paving Surfaces
A-9: Piers and Foundations
A-10: Commercial and Residential Pools (with sub-subclassifications)
A-11: Recycling Asphalt
A-12: Excavating, Grading, Trenching, and Surfacing
A-13: Wrecking Buildings
A-14: Steel Erection and Industrial Machinery
A-15: Sewers, Drains, and Pipes
A-16: Paving of Streets, Driveways, and Parking Lots
A-17: Lines to Transmit Electricity
A-18: Farm Irrigation
A-19: Pipeline and Conduits (with sub-subclassifications)
A-20: Industrial Piping
A-21: Fencing and Guardrails
A-22: Unclassified
A-23: Removal of Asbestos
A-24: Fountains and Other Water Features
A-25: Telecommunication Towers
Class B
B-1: Pre-manufactured Housing
B-2: Residential and Small Commercial
B-3: Speculative Building
B-4: Service Stations
B-5: Prefabricated Steel Structures
B-6: Commercial Remodeling
B-7: Residential Remodeling
Class C
C-1: Plumbing and Heating Contracting
C-2: Electrical Contracting
C-3: Carpentry, Maintenance and Minor Repairs
C-4: Painting and Decorating
C-5: Concrete Contracting
C-6: Erecting Signs
C-7: Elevation and Conveyance
C-8: Glass and Glazing Contracting
C-9: Movement of Buildings
C-10: Landscape Contracting
C-11: Spraying Mixtures Containing Cement
C-13: Using Sheet Metal
C-14: Steel Reinforcing and Erection
C-15: Roofing and Siding
C-16: Finishing Floors
C-17: Lathing and Plastering
C-18: Masonry
C-19: Installing Terrazzo and Marble
C-20: Tiling
C-21: Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning
C-23: Drilling Wells and Installing Pumps, Pressure Tanks and Storage Tanks
C-24: Erecting Scaffolds and Bleachers
C-25: Fencing and Equipping Playgrounds
C-26: Institutional Contracting
C-27: Individual Sewerage
C-28: Fabricating Tanks
C-30: Installing Equipment to Treat Water
C-31: Wrecking
C-33: Installing Industrial Machinery
C-36: Installing and Applying Polyurethane or Other Similar Products and Coatings
C-37: Solar Contracting
C-38: Installing Equipment Used with Liquefied Petroleum and Natural Gas
C-39: Installing Heaters
C-40: Specialties not Authorized by Other Classifications
C-41: Fire Protection Contracting
C-42: Constructing, Altering or Improving Video Service Networks
Getting a general contractor license
The bottom line is that you need to be licensed to do any kind of initial residential or commercial construction, repair, or maintenance in Nevada. The Board offers a free business assistance program every third Friday of the month in its Reno and Henderson offices from 9 to 11 a.m. to provide information and tips on obtaining a Nevada contractor license.
Here’s how you go about getting licensed:
OBTAIN BUSINESS LICENSE: Visit the Nevada Secretary of State’s office or website to register your business and receive a Nevada Business ID.
APPLY FOR LICENSE: Once you’ve fulfilled the work experience requirements, you may apply for a Contractors License. You can apply online or print an application and return it to either NSCB office. A $300 application processing fee applies. Applications are not accepted via email. The license application requires a current (completed in last six months) financial statement based on the contract monetary limit desired:
$25,000 or less: Self-prepared or CPA-prepared financial statement
$25,000 - $500,000: CPA-prepared financial statement
$500,000 - $1,000,000: CPA-prepared financial statement with disclosures
$1,000,000 or more: CPA-prepared, reviewed, and audited financial statement with disclosures
TAKE LICENSING EXAMS: Once the application is processed, a Candidate ID Number for testing will be mailed to the business address provided on the application. You will be required to take a Nevada Business and Law exam and a trade exam based on your classification. Exams are administered by PSI. The Board provides Candidate Information Bulletins with information regarding scheduling, exam prep, and taking Class A, B, and C exams on its website. The cost for a Business and Law and trade exam is $140.
COMPLETE CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK: All applicants must complete a criminal background check and disclose any criminal pleas or convictions. You must also submit to fingerprinting in accordance with Nevada law. For individuals with criminal backgrounds, Nevada decides whether to approve or deny the application on a case-by-case basis, which may include an interview with the applicant.
OBTAIN REQUIRED INSURANCE: Workers’ compensation insurance is required if you have employees. If not, you must submit an exemption affidavit to the Board.
PAY LICENSE FEES AND OBTAIN BOND: Once a license is approved, you must submit proof of insurance or exemption and a $600 license fee to the Board. You are also required to put up a bond. The exact amount (anywhere between $1,000 to $500,000) will be listed on the application approval letter, and is determined by type of license, monetary limit, past, present or future financial responsibility, experience, and character of the applicant.
Residential contractors are also required to pay into a residential recovery fund:
For monetary limits up to $1,000,000: $200
For monetary limits over $1,000,000 but limited: $500
For unlimited licenses: $1,000
Getting a Class C specialty license
The process is roughly the same no matter what Class license you obtain. You can also consult our guides to getting your HVAC technician license, journeyman plumber or master plumber license, or electrician license in the state of West Virginia.
What Are the Requirements of a Nevada Contractor License?
The requirements for licensure as a contractor in California are all intended to demonstrate that an individual who will be serving the public is properly prepared to do the job right. To that end, there are knowledge/experience and financial licensing requirements:
You must register the business with the Nevada Secretary of State.
Must show proof of four years of experience within the last 15 years as a journeyman, supervising employee, or contractor in the specific classification requested. Training received in a program offered at an accredited college, university, or equivalent program can be used for up to three years of experience.
Take and pass all parts of the licensing examinations.
Pay all fees.
Pass criminal background check, including fingerprinting.
File evidence of workers' compensation insurance or an exemption from the requirements.
Secure contractor’s surety bond.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Contractor License in Nevada?
It takes a minimum of four years to meet the experience requirements. Processing time for an application varies. While no estimate is provided on the Board’s website, you can contact them to be assigned a License Analyst, who can assist you with the application process and provide more information regarding the current processing time.
What Business Owners Need to Know
Being efficient in the contracting world, no matter where you are in your licensing journey, takes work. ServiceTitan’s cloud-based, all-in-one contracting software gives workers and business owners in residential field service, commercial contracting, or new construction the technology they need to do the work efficiently and the data they need to do it effectively.
ServiceTitan features:
SMS communications that keep customers informed about the technician’s visit.
Location-specific service history, including recorded calls, accessible from the mobile app.
Required forms that ensure every job is done right, driving consistency.
The ability to build multi-option proposals with photos, on-site, in minutes.
Sales presentations that make conversations with customers easier and drive the average ticket.
Mobile payment acceptance, eliminating lost checks and increasing cash flow.
To learn more, schedule a demo with a product expert today.
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Contractor License in Nevada?
There is a $300 application fee and a $600 license fee. In addition, the required trade and Business and Law exam costs $140 for one classification. Residential licensees are also required to pay into a residential recovery fee:
For monetary limits up to $1,000,000: $200
For monetary limits over $1,000,000 but limited: $500
For unlimited licenses: $1,000
Lastly, there’s a cost associated with insurance and license bond requirements.
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Nevada Contractor License Training Programs and Schools
Education at an accredited college or university can count for up to three years of the four-year experience requirement to become a licensed contractor. If you choose to start your career path at a college or university, you can pursue a degree in construction management or construction engineering. There are many higher education options throughout The Silver State that offer these types of programs. They include:
If you don’t attend any formal schooling or training, but want to learn on the job, you may want to consider an apprenticeship. Through an apprenticeship, you work, accumulate necessary experience, and can earn money all at the same time. The length of time to complete an apprenticeship depends on the trade and program. The State of Nevada Department of Business & Industry Office of the Labor Commissioner maintains a list of registered apprenticeship programs.
Does Nevada Reciprocate Contractor Licenses?
The NSCB will waive the trade examination and experience requirement for applicants who qualify for licensure by endorsement. These waivers are granted for applicants who are licensed in states determined by Nevada to have substantially equivalent requirements. Applicants are still required to take the Business and Law exam.
To apply for licensure by endorsement, you need to have been actively licensed in the endorsing state for the past four years and not have any disciplinary actions, suspension, or sanctions against your license.
Reciprocity agreements vary by the type of license. For example, a California General Building Contractor qualifies for licensure by endorsement for the B General Building and B-2 Residential and Small Commercial licenses. Nevada also offers General Contractor license and General Engineering Contractor license reciprocity with Arizona.
Do I Need to Renew my Contractor License in Nevada?
Licenses must be renewed every two years for a $600 license fee.
Are There Any Penalties for Contracting Without a License in Nevada?
Yes, unlicensed contracting is a crime in the state of Nevada. The first offense is a misdemeanor and subject to a fine up to $1,000 and six months of jail time.
A second offense qualifies as a gross misdemeanor and is subject to a fine between $2,000 and $4,000, and may be further punished by imprisonment in the county jail for up to one year.
A third or subsequent offense is a category E felony and subject to a fine of between $5,000 and $10,000, and may be further punished by imprisonment in the state prison for at least a year and up to four years.
National Certifications
Other certifications can help you demonstrate your proficiency to potential employers and clients. There are many professional organizations that offer certification. These certifications are not required but can add to your marketability and therefore increase your opportunity to make more money.
Some of the top construction certifications are:
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Safety Certificate
Construction Management Association of America Certified Construction Manager (CCM)
National Association of Safety Professionals (NASP) Certified Safety Manager (CSM) certification
National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER)
Continuing Education
Though Nevada does not require continuing education to renew your license, you will want to stay informed about emerging technology in the industry. There are many ways to keep yourself current in regard to the technology put to use in construction, roofing, energy and environmental designs, efficiency standards and more. For example, distributors want you to know about their company’s latest offerings and will often hold training sessions about new and changing equipment and parts. Another option is the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) which provides continuing education courses.
Resources
You can stay up to date on contracting industry news several ways:
Check top blogs, including ServiceTitan’s blog.
Read about the latest industry trends, and discover ideas on how to grow your business.
Listen to top podcasts like ServiceTitan’s “Toolbox for the Trades” podcast.
ServiceTitan is a comprehensive business software solution built specifically to help service companies streamline their operations, boost revenue, and achieve growth. Our award-winning, cloud-based platform is trusted by more than 100,000 contractors across the country.
Ready to learn more about what ServiceTitan can do for your business? Contact our team to schedule a demo today.
