Nevada Contractor License Requirements
verifiedState-Level License RequiredNevada requires licensing for all construction work regardless of value. Financial requirements and bond amounts vary based on license monetary limit. Reciprocity exists with Arizona for some classifications.
gavelHow Contractor Licensing Works in Nevada
Nevada sits at the strict end of American contractor regulation. The Nevada State Contractors Board licenses every dollar of construction work — there is no small-job exemption, and subcontractors need licenses too. Work falls under General Engineering (A), General Building (B), or one of more than 30 C-series specialty classifications, and each license carries a monetary limit tied to your demonstrated financial capacity. Compared with its neighbors, Nevada matches the all-work rigor of Utah and Oregon while adding a financial-limit system that caps the contract sizes you can legally accept. A contractor arriving from a threshold state like Oklahoma has no dollar floor to work under here.
The path runs through documentation and testing: prove four years of qualifying experience, pass the PSI trade exam and the separate business and law exam, submit a financial statement, post a surety bond scaled to your requested monetary limit, and carry workers compensation. The most common self-inflicted delay is requesting a monetary limit your financial statement cannot support — the Board will push back, and the application stalls while you restructure. Thin or poorly documented experience records cause the same problem. Renewal is annual from your issue date. Arizona license holders get limited reciprocity for some classifications, which can shorten the exam step.
account_balanceLicensing Board
Board Name
Nevada State Contractors Board
Website
https://www.nscb.nv.gov/Phone
(775) 688-1141
descriptionLicense Types
| Type | Threshold | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General Building (B) | All work | General building contractor — unlimited scope |
| General Engineering (A) | All work | Engineering and heavy construction |
| Specialty (C-series) | All work | Over 30 specialty classifications |
| Subcontractor | All work | Required for all subcontractor work |
checklistRequirements
- check_circlePass trade exam (PSI)
- check_circlePass business/law exam
- check_circleFinancial statement
- check_circleSurety bond
- check_circleWorkers compensation
- check_circle4 years experience
paymentsFee Schedule
Application
$300
Annual Renewal
$600
Exam Fee
$175
event_repeatRenewal Period
Annual — license issue date
shieldInsurance Minimums
General Liability
$100,000–$1,000,000 based on license limit
Workers Compensation
Required
swap_horizReciprocity
- arrow_forwardArizona (limited reciprocity for some classifications)
helpFrequently Asked Questions
Do I need a contractor license in Nevada?
Yes, for all construction work regardless of contract value. The Nevada State Contractors Board licenses general engineering (A), general building (B), and over 30 specialty (C) classifications, and subcontractors must be licensed as well. There is no dollar threshold below which unlicensed contracting is legal in Nevada.
What are the penalties for unlicensed contracting in Nevada?
Nevada treats unlicensed contracting as a criminal matter, and the State Contractors Board actively runs enforcement stings. Beyond prosecution and fines, unlicensed contractors typically cannot sue to collect payment for their work, which means a nonpaying client can often keep the money. The Board also publicizes actions, which follows your name.
Does Nevada have reciprocity with other states?
Limited reciprocity exists with Arizona for some license classifications, which can waive part of the examination requirement. Everyone else starts fresh: experience proof, both exams, financial review, and bonding. Even with reciprocity, you still complete Nevada's application, financial statement, and bond requirements — reciprocity shortens the exam step, not the whole process.
How long does it take to get a Nevada contractor license?
Expect a multi-month process. You need to document four years of experience, schedule and pass two PSI exams, then clear the Board's financial review, which sets your monetary limit and bond amount. Applications with clean financials and complete experience records move fastest; requesting a limit beyond what your statement supports adds weeks.
infoData sourced from state licensing board websites. Requirements change frequently — verify with your state board before applying. Last updated April 2026.