Nevada General Contractor License Requirements
Official classification: B General Building Contractor (A General Engineering also available) · Issued by the Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB).
🏗️ General ContractorNV ✔ Verified 2026-06-18
License types
- B General Building — General building contractor classification (subclasses B-1 through B-7, including B-2 Residential and Small Commercial), for structures requiring in part more than two unrelated building trades.
- A General Engineering — General engineering contractor classification (subclasses A-1 through A-25, e.g. A-7 Excavating and Grading) for fixed-works engineering projects.
Requirements at a glance
| Experience required | At least 4 full years of experience as a journeyman, foreman, supervising employee, or contractor in the classification, within the 15 years immediately before filing the application. Up to 3 years may be substituted with accredited training or education. |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $300 (non-refundable) |
| License fee | $600 (two-year license), plus a Residential Recovery Fund fee scaled to the license's monetary limit |
| Renewal fee | $600 every 2 years, plus a Residential Recovery Fund fee scaled to the license's monetary limit |
| Renewal period | Every 2 years (Nevada does not issue 1-year licenses) |
| Continuing education | None required by NSCB |
| Bond required | Surety bond required, set case-by-case from $1,000 to $500,000 based on the license type, the monetary limit requested, and the applicant's financial responsibility, experience and character. Residential improvement contractors who take more than a $1,000 down payment must post an additional $100,000 consumer-protection bond. A cashier's check may be deposited in lieu of a bond, with a $200 biennial administrative fee for cash deposits. |
| Liability insurance | Not mandated by NSCB for licensure |
| Property damage | Not mandated by NSCB for licensure |
| Workers' comp | Required if you have employees (NRS 616B.627); proof of coverage or an affidavit of exemption must be submitted at application and each renewal |
| Background check | Required; applicants submit a Background Disclosure Statement and Fingerprint Authorization (fingerprinting) as part of the application. |
| Credit requirement | A financial statement is required regardless of the monetary limit requested and sets the license's monetary limit (the maximum single-contract value the contractor may undertake). Documentation rigor scales with the limit under NRS 624.260-624.265. A Bank Verification Form is also required. |
| Reciprocity | Alabama; Arizona; California; Connecticut; Florida; Hawaii; Louisiana; New Mexico; North Carolina; South Carolina; Tennessee; West Virginia |
| Processing time | Application is processed after a waiting period (1 business day if delivered in person, 5 business days if mailed); total review time varies. |
Exams
| Class B (or Class A) trade/management exam | Provider: PSI Passing: Not publicly disclosed by NSCB Fee: Approximately $95, or $140 when scheduled with the law exam (paid to PSI) |
| Business & Law / Construction Management Survey (CMS) exam | Provider: PSI Passing: Not publicly disclosed by NSCB Fee: Approximately $95 (paid to PSI) |
Local / municipal notes
Choose B (General Building) for buildings/structures or A (General Engineering) for fixed-works/engineering projects. California reciprocity explicitly lists General Building (B).
Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-06-18 — always confirm current requirements directly with the Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB) before applying. This is not legal advice.
Official sources
https://www.nvcontractorsboard.com/licensing/license-requirements/
https://www.nvcontractorsboard.com/licensing/bonds/
https://www.nvcontractorsboard.com/resources/faq-central/
https://www.nvcontractorsboard.com/licensing/license-classifications/
https://www.nvcontractorsboard.com/licensing/licensure-by-endorsement/
Other Nevada contractor licenses
⚡ Electrician
C-2 Electrical Contractor
🔧 Plumber
C-1 Plumbing and Heating Contractor
❄️ HVAC
C-21 Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractor
🏠 Roofer
C-15a Roofing Contractor
General Contractor licensing in other states
Arizona
B-1 General Commercial / B General Residential / KB-1 Dual Building Contractor
California
B General Building Contractor
Florida
General / Building / Residential Contractor (CILB)
North Carolina
North Carolina General Contractor License (Limited / Intermediate / Unlimited limitation, by classification)
South Carolina
General Contractor (commercial, Group 1-5 bid limits); Residential Builder (residential homes)
Tennessee
Contractor License, BC (Building Construction) classification
Texas
No statewide license — set by municipality
Utah
B100 General Building Contractor (also E100 General Engineering Contractor and R100 Residential and Small Commercial Contractor)
Virginia
Contractor License (Class A/B/C) with a building classification: Residential Building (RBC), Commercial Building (CBC), or Building (BLD)