What is a Nevada contractor license and who needs one?

A Nevada contractor license is issued by the Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB) under Chapter 624 of the Nevada Revised Statutes. Nevada requires a license for any person who builds, alters, repairs, adds to, moves, wrecks, or demolishes a structure, and the requirement applies regardless of contract value, so there is no minimum-dollar threshold below which unlicensed work is allowed. Licenses fall into three classes: Class A (General Engineering), Class B (General Building), and Class C (Specialty), which the Board divides into more than 40 trade subclassifications. To qualify, your designated qualified individual must show at least 4 years of journeyman, supervisor, or contractor experience in the classification requested within the preceding 15 years, pass two PSI exams (the Construction Management Survey business-and-law exam and a trade exam for the classification), and submit a financial statement that sets your monetary limit. The Board then sets a surety bond between $1,000 and $500,000 tied to that limit. The application fee is $300, the license is issued for a 2-year period with a $600 biennial license fee, and most applicants finish the full path in 3 to 6 months. The license renews every 2 years per NRS 624.283.

Every fact below traces to the Nevada State Contractors Board licensing pages, the PSI candidate bulletin, or Chapter 624 of the Nevada Revised Statutes. Verify any figure against the source before you pay a fee.

Who needs a Nevada contractor license

Per the Nevada State Contractors Board, a contractor is any person who undertakes or offers to construct, alter, repair, add to, subtract from, improve, move, wreck, or demolish a building or other structure, and every contractor must hold an active license before bidding or negotiating a price on a job. The requirement applies regardless of contract size. Nevada does not maintain a dollar threshold below which unlicensed contracting is permitted, unlike California’s $500 cutoff. Even small repair jobs for compensation fall under the licensing requirement if performed by someone holding themselves out as a contractor.

The qualified individual

Nevada licenses are tied to a qualified individual who carries the experience and passes the exams on behalf of the licensed business. A sole proprietor can be their own qualified individual, or a company can name a qualifying officer or qualified employee who meets the experience and exam standards. If that person leaves, the company must name a replacement who meets the same standards, or the license is at risk.

Residential vs commercial work

Unlike states that license only residential building, the Nevada classification system covers the full range of construction. Class A General Engineering covers infrastructure and heavy civil work, Class B General Building covers residential and commercial buildings, and Class C specialty licenses cover individual trades. A contractor selects the classification that matches the work performed rather than choosing between separate residential and commercial credentials.

Class A, B, and C: which Nevada contractor license you need

The first decision is which classification fits your work. Per the Nevada State Contractors Board classifications and Chapter 624 of the Nevada Administrative Code, the Board organizes licenses into three classes plus a combined AB credential. Choosing the wrong class is an expensive mistake, because correcting it means a new application, a new exam, and a new $300 application fee.

Class A: General Engineering

The Class A General Engineering license authorizes fixed works that require specialized engineering knowledge: highways, streets and paving, excavation and grading, sewers and drainage, water systems, and other heavy civil and infrastructure projects. The Board divides Class A into numbered subclassifications such as A-7 Excavating and Grading, A-15 Sewers, Drains and Pipes, and A-16 Paving of Streets, Driveways and Parking Lots.

Class B: General Building

The Class B General Building license is the broad building credential. It authorizes the construction of structures that require more than two unrelated trades, which covers both new residential and commercial buildings and acting as a general contractor coordinating subcontractors. Subclassifications include B-2 Residential and Small Commercial, B-6 Commercial Remodeling, and B-7 Residential Remodeling. Contractors who build homes or run a general-contracting business typically hold a Class B license.

Class C: Specialty

The Class C Specialty license covers a single trade. The Board recognizes more than 40 specialty subclassifications, each with its own scope and its own trade exam. A contractor who performs only one trade, such as plumbing and heating, electrical, masonry, painting, or roofing, holds the matching Class C subclassification rather than a broad Class B license.

The 4-year experience requirement

Per the Nevada State Contractors Board, the qualified individual must show at least 4 years of experience as a journeyman, foreman, supervising employee, or contractor in the specific classification requested, earned within the immediately preceding 15 years. Experience must be in the trade for the classification sought, so plumbing experience does not qualify you for an electrical license. Up to 3 of the 4 years may be satisfied through accredited college or university construction training or recognized military certifications, but at least 1 year of hands-on field experience in the classification is generally expected. The Board verifies experience through certifications of experience completed by past employers, supervisors, or clients, so line up those references early.

The two PSI exams: trade plus Construction Management Survey

Nevada contracts with PSI to deliver two exams: the Construction Management Survey (CMS), the business and law exam required of every applicant, and a trade exam specific to the classification requested. A Class B applicant takes the general building trade exam; a Class C applicant takes the trade exam for the specialty. Candidates have three attempts to pass each exam, with a waiting period between attempts. After a failed third attempt, the application becomes void and the applicant must reapply with a new fee.

The Construction Management Survey (business and law)

The CMS exam covers the business and legal side of running a licensed contracting business in Nevada: contracts, business organization, project management, accounting and finance, liens, insurance, bonds, and Nevada licensing law. Every applicant takes it once, regardless of classification, and applicants with strong field experience but limited business background tend to need the most preparation here.

The trade exam

The trade exam tests the technical knowledge for the specific classification requested. A Class C specialty applicant sits the exam matched to the subclassification, while a Class B applicant sits the general building trade exam. The Board may waive the trade exam under limited endorsement conditions, including for applicants who have actively served as a qualified employee on another license in the same classification within the last 4 years. Confirm any waiver against the Board’s State Equivalency Chart before assuming it applies.

Exam fees

Per the PSI candidate bulletin, the examination fee is $95 for one examination portion and $140 for two examination portions, so an applicant who sits the trade exam and the CMS exam together pays $140 (two trade exams sat together are $95 each). Fees are paid directly to PSI at registration and are not refundable if you fail to cancel within the required window. Confirm the current PSI fee in the candidate bulletin before you register.

The financial statement and your monetary limit

Nevada is unusual in tying your license to a monetary limit, the maximum value of any one construction contract you may undertake on a single construction site. A financial statement is required regardless of the size of the limit requested, and the type of statement required scales with the limit.

• Lower limits: a current financial statement (balance sheet) on the Board’s form, prepared by the applicant using accounting software in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or prepared by an independent certified public accountant.
• Mid-range limits: a compiled, reviewed, or audited financial statement prepared by an independent certified public accountant, current within the Board’s timeframe.
• Limits of $1,000,000 or more: a financial statement that is prepared and reviewed or audited by an independent certified public accountant.

The Board reviews your working capital and net worth against the limit you request. A higher requested limit requires a stronger statement and a larger bond, so request a limit that matches the size of jobs you actually plan to bid rather than the largest number you can imagine.

Surety bond requirements

Every Nevada contractor must post a bond, but the amount is set per license. Per the Nevada State Contractors Board bond requirements, the bond can range from $1,000 to $500,000. The Board sets the exact amount at the time of license approval based on the type of license, the monetary limit granted, your financial responsibility, your experience, and your character. Larger monetary limits draw larger bonds.

Surety bond vs cash deposit

You can satisfy the requirement with a surety bond from a Nevada-authorized surety company rated A or better, or by posting a cash deposit such as a cashier’s check in lieu of a bond. A cash deposit carries a $200 biennial administrative fee and is held for an additional 2 years after the license terminates. Most contractors use a surety bond, where the annual premium is a fraction of the bond face value and depends on credit.

Consumer protection bonds for residential work

Residential improvement contractors who accept down payments over $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price must post a $100,000 consumer protection bond on top of the standard license bond. Pool and spa contractors post a consumer protection bond between $10,000 and $400,000, set by the Board. Budget for this added bond if your work model collects deposits from homeowners.

How to apply for a Nevada contractor license: the 8-step process

Most applicants finish the full path in 3 to 6 months. The experience documentation, exam prep, and financial statement are the longest phases. Every step below references the Nevada State Contractors Board process, with statute citations inline so you can verify any requirement directly.

1. Pick your classification: A, B, or C

   Choose Class A General Engineering for civil and infrastructure work, Class B General Building if you build homes or coordinate subcontractors across multiple trades, or the matching Class C specialty if you perform a single trade. This single decision sets every downstream step, from which trade exam you sit to how the Board scopes your license. Map every scope you intend to perform before you commit, because adding a class later means another application and another $300 fee.

2. Document 4 years of qualifying experience

   Assemble certifications of experience from past employers, supervisors, or clients showing at least 4 years as a journeyman, foreman, supervising employee, or contractor in the classification requested, within the preceding 15 years. Up to 3 years may come from accredited construction education or military certifications. Strong, specific references move the application through faster than vague ones.

3. Prepare your financial statement

   Decide the monetary limit you want and prepare the financial statement that supports it, from a balance sheet on the Board’s form at lower limits to a CPA-reviewed or audited statement at $1,000,000 and above. The statement is required regardless of limit size and sets both your bid limit and the size of the bond the Board will require.

4. File the application with the $300 fee

   Submit the contractor’s license application to the Nevada State Contractors Board with the $300 application fee, your financial statement, your certifications of experience, and the designation of your qualified individual. The application identifies the classification and monetary limit you are requesting.

5. Pass the Construction Management Survey exam

   Register with PSI and sit the CMS business and law exam, required for every applicant. The fee is $95 for one examination portion or $140 for both portions taken together. You have three attempts; after a failed third attempt the application becomes void and you reapply with a new fee.

6. Pass the trade exam for your classification

   Sit the trade exam matched to your classification, either the general building exam for Class B or the specialty exam for your Class C subclassification. The Board may waive the trade exam under limited endorsement or qualified-employee conditions. Plan focused prep using PSI’s reference list for your classification.

7. Post your bond and pay the license fee

   Once the Board approves the application and sets your monetary limit, it sets your bond between $1,000 and $500,000. Post a surety bond or a cash deposit, pay the $600 biennial license fee, and pay the Residential Recovery Fund assessment if you perform qualified residential work. Add the $100,000 consumer protection bond if you collect residential down payments.

8. Receive your license

   The Board issues the license for a 2-year period and records it on the public NSCB license-lookup tool, where homeowners, general contractors, and building departments confirm a license is active. The license number must appear on contracts, advertising, and vehicle signage per NSCB rules. From issuance you can bid, sign contracts, and pull permits within your classification and monetary limit.

Insurance and workers’ compensation

Beyond the state bond, Nevada contractors carry insurance to protect their business and to satisfy workers’ compensation law. General liability is handled in practice rather than by a statewide license mandate, while workers’ compensation is legally required the moment you have employees.

General liability insurance

General liability insurance is not a separate condition of the state license, but virtually every Nevada contractor pulling permits, signing contracts, or working as a sub on a larger project carries it. A $1,000,000 per-occurrence policy is the practical market minimum on most jobs of any meaningful size. General liability premiums for solo Nevada residential contractors typically run $800 to $2,500 per year, depending on revenue and trade specialty.

Workers’ compensation: mandatory with employees

Nevada requires every employer with one or more employees to carry workers’ compensation coverage through a licensed insurer. Coverage must be bound before the first employee starts work, because a gap exposes the business owner to state penalties and personal liability for any work-related injury. Sole proprietors with no employees are generally not required to carry coverage on themselves, though many carry it to satisfy general contractors who require proof of coverage from their subs.

Setting up your contracting business in Nevada

An individual can hold a Nevada license as a sole proprietor, but most contractors operate through an LLC or corporation that holds the license with a named qualified individual. Entity formation is a prerequisite, not an afterthought.

Entity choice and Secretary of State registration

Most Nevada residential contractors run as a single-member LLC or a Nevada corporation. The LLC is popular because it gives liability protection with pass-through taxation. Both register with the Nevada Secretary of State. A Nevada LLC files Articles of Organization and, alongside the initial filing, an Initial List of Managers or Members and a State Business License. Nevada does not levy a state income tax, but it does require an annual State Business License renewal and an annual list filing, so budget for those recurring state fees.

Federal EIN and state registration

Pull a free EIN from the IRS. Register for the Nevada modified business tax and any sales-and-use tax obligations through the Nevada Department of Taxation if your work involves the retail sale of materials. Bind workers’ compensation coverage before your first employee starts. The qualified individual named on the contractor license must remain associated with the entity for the license to stay valid.

Local business licenses

On top of the state contractor license, most Nevada cities and counties require a separate local business license before you operate or pull permits. Las Vegas, unincorporated Clark County, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Reno, and Sparks each issue their own business licenses with their own fees and renewal cycles. Map the local business licenses for every jurisdiction you work in as part of the initial timeline, not as an afterthought.

2-year renewal and keeping the license active

A Nevada contractor license expires 2 years after the date it is issued per NRS 624.283, and any license not renewed on or before its renewal date is automatically suspended. The biennial renewal fee is $600, the same as the original license fee. Nevada does not impose a statewide continuing education requirement for license renewal, but you must keep your bond active and continue to demonstrate financial responsibility at renewal.

Residential Recovery Fund assessment

Contractors who perform qualified residential work pay a Residential Recovery Fund assessment before the license is issued and again every 2 years at renewal. The assessment is $200 for monetary limits up to $1,000,000, $500 for limits over $1,000,000, and $1,000 for unlimited licenses. The fund reimburses homeowners harmed by a licensed residential contractor, and the assessment is a condition of holding a qualifying residential license.

Late renewal and suspension

Because a license that is not renewed on time is automatically suspended under NRS 624.283, working on a suspended license is treated the same as unlicensed contracting. Set a calendar reminder ahead of the 2-year expiration and confirm your address of record with the Board so the renewal notice arrives on time. Reinstatement after suspension requires bringing the renewal, bond, and financial responsibility current.

Total cost of a Nevada contractor license in 2026

Most Nevada applicants complete the licensing process for a total state-and-exam cost in the range of $1,030 to $1,300, with another $1,000 to $3,500 for bond premium, the first year of insurance, optional exam prep, and local business licenses. The timeline depends on how quickly you document experience, prepare your financial statement, and pass both exams.

Mandatory state and exam fees

Other initial and ongoing costs

Beyond NSCB and PSI fees, budget for the surety bond premium (a fraction of the $1,000 to $500,000 bond the Board sets, depending on credit), optional exam prep ($200 to $700), general liability insurance ($800 to $2,500 per year), workers’ compensation (required once you have employees), the $100,000 consumer protection bond if you collect residential down payments, and local business licenses in each city or county where you work. Total estimated initial cost: roughly $1,030 to $1,300 in state and exam fees, plus $1,000 to $3,500 in bond premium, first-year insurance, prep, and local licensing.

Penalties for unlicensed contracting in Nevada

Nevada treats unlicensed contracting as a crime with escalating penalties. Per NRS 624.700, it is unlawful to act as a contractor or submit a bid on a Nevada job without an active license, and per NRS 624.750 the penalties rise with each offense.

A bid submitted in violation of NRS 624.700 is void, and an unlicensed contractor cannot use Nevada courts to collect for work that required a license. The Nevada State Contractors Board investigates unlicensed activity, runs sting operations, and refers cases for criminal prosecution, so the risk is real rather than theoretical. Get the license first.

Local jurisdiction rules across Nevada

The NSCB license is the statewide qualification, but Nevada cities and counties layer their own business licenses and permits on top. No Nevada city issues a separate contractor competency license that competes with the state credential, but local governments require a business license, charge their own fees, and run their own permit and inspection processes.

Plan local business licenses as part of the initial license timeline. Contractors working across the Las Vegas valley often hold business licenses in the City of Las Vegas, Clark County, Henderson, and North Las Vegas at once because the metro spans multiple jurisdictions. Northern Nevada contractors split between Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County in the same way.

Bottom line

Most Nevada contractors land on a Class B General Building license for homebuilding and full general-contractor scope, while single-trade specialists use the matching Class C subclassification and civil contractors use Class A. Either way the path is the same: 4 years of qualifying experience, two PSI exams (the Construction Management Survey and a trade exam), a financial statement that sets your monetary limit, and a Board-set surety bond between $1,000 and $500,000. Budget $300 for the application, $600 for the biennial license, and the Residential Recovery Fund assessment for residential work. Plan 3 to 6 months, renew every 2 years for $600, and keep your bond and financial responsibility current. Get the classification and monetary limit right the first time and you hold a license that works statewide.

Resources and next steps

Bookmark these for the application, renewal, or compliance questions:

• NSCB license requirements — eligibility, experience, financials
• NSCB license classifications — Class A, B, and C scopes
• NSCB license application — forms and the application package
• NSCB bond requirements — surety bond and cash deposit rules
• NSCB license renewals — 2-year renewal portal
• NRS Chapter 624 — the governing statute

For a state-by-state overview, see our national general contractor license guide. For a license-model comparison, see our California contractor license guide.