How To Get A Nevada Contractor License!

Who Needs a Contractor License in Nevada?

• Anyone bidding on construction projects over $500 in labor or materials
• Anyone offering services involving: Construct, Alter, Repair, Add to, Subtract from, Improve, Move, Wreck, or demolish any building, highway, road, railroad
• Anyone engaging in excavation, structural work, development or improvement including erecting scaffolding
• In Nevada the term “Contractor” is synonymous with “Builder”

Required Experience – To get a contractor’s license in Nevada you must hold at least 4 years of journeyman level experience. Meaning experience gained either as a: Foreman, Supervisor, Contractor, or Journeyman. To learn more about the differences between these job titles, read below.

Qualifying Person – You will need to have at least 4 references confirming your level of experience. The individuals you choose must have first-hand knowledge of your level of experience. They can either be an employer, fellow employee, journeyman, foreman, building inspector, union-representative supervisor or client. This person cannot be a family member unless that family member was your employer.

Description of Work Experience- The Nevada state contractors board requires all applicants to also provide a detailed description of your daily duties, tasks, responsibilities, and work experience associated with the license you are applying for. You will need to include dates, current address, and contact numbers of your current and former employers. If self-employed include documentation detailing projects and the contact number of your clients

Exam – There are two exams you will need to pass in order to get a contractor license in Nevada. Trade and Construction Management. Contractor examinations in Nevada are facilitated by a third-party company named PSI. Read below for more information on testing.

Criminal Background Check – All applicants must complete a criminal background check prior to getting a license. Nevada Contractors Board Fingerprinting can be done at any approved location. 

Form a Legal Entity – You must form a legal entity before applying for a contractor license in Nevada. You can choose between Sole Proprietor, Partnership, Corporation, or LLC. To learn more about which entity is best for the construction industry, read below. 

Contractor Bond – All licensed contractors in Nevada must be bonded. The amount of your bond is determined by the Nevada State Contractors Board. It can be anywhere between $1,000 – $500,000 depending on a variety of factors. To learn more about the bonding process in Nevada, Continue reading.

Pay License Fees – 

• The Application Fee is currently ———$300 
• License Activation ———– $680 (every two years)
• Bond Fee for Cash Bond ————- $200
• Residential Recovery Fund ———— $200 – $1000 (for residential contractors only)

Submit Application – You can find an application here

Send to:

2310 CORPORATE CIRCLE, SUITE 200, 

HENDERSON, NEVADA, 89074

Nevada Contractor License Requirements

You must meet the following basic requirements:

• Be at least 18 years of Age
• Form of USA Issued Identification
• Social Security Number
• Not Currently On Probation or Parole

You Must also have

• 4 Years of Journeyman Level Experience
• Be able to document your experience if the Nevada Contractors Board request
• A Business Entity

What is Journeyman level experience?

Journeyman-level experience means that you have reached a certain level of mastery and knowledge of your trade. Credit for experience in Nevada is only issued at the journeyman or supervisory level.

You must be aware of every aspect of your trade as well as maintain a certain level of safety and quality control.

• Journeyman can perform all of the duties associated with their trade un-supervised. This person has either completed an apprenticeship or is an experienced worker
• Foreman is a supervising employee on a job-site and has full knowledge of all of the duties and skills that a journeyman would have
• Contractor is an independent tradesman who manages and supervises several phases of a construction job

The Contractors Board in Nevada may request to see the documentation of your experience.

It is important that you have some way to prove your claim of being a journeyman.

Proving Your Construction Experience

You may document your 4 years of experience in the following ways:

• W2’s
• Tax Returns
• Check Stubs
• Contracts
• Letter from a licensed contractor

Who can sign off on your construction experience?

The Nevada State Contractors Board will require you to submit 4 notarized references verifying your construction experience.

These references must be from people who have first-hand knowledge of your experience and who have witnessed your work. 

You may use any of the following people to sign off on your experience:

Description of work experience

In addition to references. You must also include a detailed description of your experience. 

Each reference must include

• Name
• Current Address
• Phone Number
• Dates of Employment

Your description must go into a certain level of detail:

“Jim is a great guy and built our house” – Is not descriptive enough

“Jim has installed rafters, girders and engaged in formwork. He has experience with framing, pouring concrete, mixing mortar, and stacking. Jim has overseen construction job sites, maintained worker safety, and overseen electrical wiring, plumbing, and roof installations” – This is an example of a much more descriptive explanation

You will want to talk about the:

• Types of construction projects
• Trades
• Crafts
• Task and Duties

Forming a Business Entity in Nevada

You will have to form a legal entity. You can learn more about setting up a business entity on the Nevada Secretary of State Website.

You must first choose a name and then you can choose the type of entity you want.

Typically, construction companies choose either:

• Sole Proprietor
• Partnership
• LLC
• S-Corporation

For a complete explanation of the difference between these types of entities and which one makes the most sense for someone applying for a contractor license, check out this free guide!

Types of Contractor License Classifications in Nevada

Nevada A – General Engineering

Nevada B – General Building

Nevada C – Specialty Classifications

Nevada Contractor License Law Exam

Nevada State Contractors Board

All Contractors looking to get licensed and bonded in Nevada must pass a LAW & Business exam, also known as the Contractor management survey examination.

Not all licenses require a trade exam. 

The exam covers the following topics:

• Licensing
• Estimating and Bidding
• Lien Law
• Financial Management
• Tax Laws
• Labor Laws
• Project Management
• Contracts
• Risk Management
• Environmental Safety and Health Department Regulations
• Occupational Safety
• Construction Regulations

If you are unfamiliar with the contractor license laws, it could be helpful for you to enroll in a Nevada contractor license school. 

However, make sure you understand the scope of what contractor classes actually teach you.

To learn more about the difference between a trade school and a contractor license school, check out this article!

Testing Information

• 120 Minutes
• 60 Questions
• 75% Passing Score
• You will get 3 chances to pass the exam (2 weeks between each exam date)

You must first register for an examination at the Nevada State Contractors Board website.

Once the board accepts your application packet, they will mail you a candidate eligibility letter that will include a PSI Registration Form with instructions on how to select an exam date. 

• One Examination $95
• Two Examinations $140
• Computerized Test
• Bring 2 forms of Identification
• Open Book
• Arrive 30 minutes before scheduled exam time
• You will have to forfeit your exam fee if you cancel less than 2 days before your date, are late or fail to bring identification

Exam Locations

There are three available testing locations:

• LAS VEGAS

3210 East Tropicana Avenue

Las Vegas, Nevada 89121

• RENO

Airport Plaza Office Building

1755 E Plumb Lane Ste 108

Reno, Nevada 89502

• ELKO 

225 Silver Street Ste 102

Elko, Nevada 89801

Nevada Contractor License Lookup Page

For consumers looking for a licensed and bonded contractor in the state of Nevada, you can check out this page

You may be also required to register and get a Nevada state business license. The Nevada department of business and Industry has information about this process.

Nevada Contractor License Reciprocity

Can I use my California Contractor license in Nevada? 

Contractor License reciprocity is an agreement between the Contractor licensing boards of two different states.

It can mean that they have similar building standards, allowing contractors to work freely between states.

In the context of licensing, it means that a contractor who is licensed in one state, may not need to retake an exam to get licensed in another state.

Learn more about Nevada's reciprocity agreement with California, Arizona and Utah!

Nevada Apprenticeships

One of the best ways to build a solid foundation in your career is by looking into an apprenticeship program school.

If you are new to the world of construction and have heard the term “journeyman” or “apprentice” and are not sure what these terms mean, or perhaps where to even start.

Learn more about the step-by-step path from an Apprentice to Journeyman!

Blueprint Reading Course

Those looking to do pursue a career in construction should be able to read construction blueprints and identify basic lines and symbols.

Construction blueprints communicate important information about the way in which a structure is built as well as what materials are necessary or have been used for its construction.

Being comfortable with construction blueprints is an invaluable skill for those looking to get a contractor license.

See our Free Blueprint Reading Course!

Nevada OSHA Training

Statistically, 21% of all work-related fatalities are in construction.

That equals about 1 and 5 worker deaths on average.

In the construction industry, the leading cause of worker deaths is reported as falls, struck by an object, electrocution, and caught-in/between.

If you or your workers are not properly trained, it can place unnecessary risk to not only your personal safety but your bottom line as a business. 

For employment with a licensed contractor in Nevada, you may be asked to complete some level of Nevada OSHA Safety Training.

Conclusion

Getting a Nevada state contractor license can be a huge step up in your career if you are looking to start your own business or become an RMO for an existing company!

The Construction industry is highly lucrative, including those looking to start their handyman business.

The key is to take action and follow these steps from beginning to end.

If you have found this article, be sure to let us know! and check back for more updates in the future.