Nevada Contractor Licensing Guide

Nevada contractor's licenses are governed by the Nevada State Contractor's Board (NSCB). Almost everyone who is performing construction work in Nevada needs a license, including general contractors and specialty contractors. Some exceptions are made for individuals who only work on contracts under $1,000 — but these exceptions don't apply to most contractors.

If you're getting your construction business started in Nevada, this article will provide you with a quick guide to everything you need to know about applying for a Nevada contractor license.

How to get a Nevada contractor license

Since nearly everyone working in construction in Nevada is required to get a license, you'll want to take some time to familiarize yourself with the process. And remember: Nevada doesn't recognize out-of-state contractor licenses, so if you're moving to Nevada from another state, this process applies to you as well.

1. Get a business license

First, you'll need to register your business and get a business license through the Nevada Secretary of State's website. No one can conduct business in the state of Nevada without first obtaining a business license. This is a relatively straightforward process, and the website will give you step-by-step guidance on how to accomplish this — including filing your business name and setting up a company, like a sole proprietorship, LLC, or corporation.

2. Submit a license application for your classification

Before filling out the application, you must determine what type of license you actually want. For contractors, there are three different license classifications that are available:

• General Engineering Contractor: Class A (Technical Skills)
• General Building Contractor: Class B (General Contractors)
• General Building and General Engineering: Class AB (General Contractors and Technical Skills)
• Specialty Contractor: Class C (Specialized Trades)

You can check out the full description of each classification on the NSCB website.

Once you've determined which type of license you want to apply for, it's time to fill out the application itself. If you need any assistance filling out the application form, the Board does offer a free business assistance program monthly at the Reno and Henderson offices. The application must be submitted along with a $300 non-refundable application fee. The application itself can be found here: Nevada State Contractors Board License Application.

Requirements for eligibility include:

• Work experience: The applicant must have at least four years of experience in the classification being applied. All four years must have occurred within the last 10 years preceding the application. College or university training may satisfy a portion of the required experience.
• A full criminal background check
• Good financial standing as proven by a financial statement (the type of financial statement required depends on the monetary limit you request in the application).

3. Pass the licensing exams

When your application is reviewed and accepted, you'll receive a letter informing you of your eligibility to sit for the exams. Nevada contractors are required to pass two of them. The first being a business and law exam and a trade exam based on whichever specialty the license is for. The exam fees are $140 if both exams are taken at the same time or $95 for each individual exam. Contractor exams are administered by PSI, Inc., and all fees will be paid directly to them.

Exams can be taken in either Reno, Las Vegas, or Elko. The results of the exam are available immediately afterward. If you didn't pass the exam, then you'll have to wait two weeks before trying again. If, after three tries, you still can't pass the exams, the application will be voided; and you'll have to wait 30 days to submit a new one.

4. Final requirements

After passing the exam, there are a few last things that you'll need to do to have your license granted. Of course, there's another fee. The final fee is $600 and the license will last two years before it needs to get renewed.

In addition to the license fee, all new Nevada contractor's licenses require the posting of a bond. In Nevada, contractors of all trades are required to hold a bond. If working on pools and spas, a residential pool and spa license bond must be filed in addition to the contractor license bond.

This can be done using a surety bond or making a cash deposit. The amount required ranges from $1,000 to $500,000 depending on the type of license, monetary limit, financial standing, and experience. Also, if you have or plan to hire any employees, worker's compensation insurance is also required.

Lastly, for residential contractors, you'll be required to pay into the Residential Recovery Fund. The amount will be based on the monetary limit of the applied-for license.

Penalties for unlicensed contracting

The state of Nevada takes unlicensed contracting very seriously, violations of these requirements can lead to administrative penalties from the NCSB and criminal penalties as well. The contractor board can impose a fine for each violation, and which can be $1,000 to $50,000 depending on the situation. In addition, the board can impose investigation costs and any damages caused as a result of the violation.

Unlicensed contracting in Nevada is a crime, plain and simple. For a first offense, an individual can be charged with a misdemeanor. This includes a fine that ranges from $1,000 to $4,000 and time in the county jail for up to six months. As for a second offense, this is a gross misdemeanor. If found guilty, this comes with a fine of $4,000 to $10,000, and as long as 364 days in county jail. Lastly, a third offense is a category E felony. The contractor could end up spending up to four years in state prison and be fined anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000.

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