License path
Nevada Contractor License Exam Prep
Nevada contractors are licensed by the Nevada State Contractors Board. Most classifications sit a trade paper plus Business and Law (CMS). Need only the business paper? It is sold standalone. If you buy a Nevada classification that sits that exam, that paper is 75% off where we offer it.
Confirm question count, time, open-book rules, and passing score on the live board bulletin before you sit. We do not publish a single Q-count for every classification on this page, and we do not guarantee a passing result.
Getting your Nevada contractor license? Contractor Pathway offers an original, exam-focused study guide and four full-length practice exams for every Nevada classification that requires a state board exam — currently 5 courses across Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC / Mechanical and Building / General Contractor. Choose your classification below and study with 30-, 60-, or 90-day access at $99, $129, and $169. Many Nevada classifications also require passing a separate Business & Law exam — and that course is 75% off with any trade course in your cart for the matching term.
Who licenses contractors in Nevada
These are the Nevada classifications we build exam prep for, each licensed by its responsible board:
| Trade area | Licensing authority | Exam basis |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical | Nevada State Contractors Board | National Electrical Code (NEC) |
| Plumbing | Nevada State Contractors Board | Adopted plumbing & fuel-gas codes |
| HVAC / Mechanical | Nevada State Contractors Board | Mechanical & fuel-gas codes, EPA 608 |
| Building / General Contractor | the responsible Nevada state licensing authority | Adopted building code (IBC / IRC) |
Always confirm the current code edition, experience requirements, fees, and passing score with the board and testing vendor before you schedule. Contractor Pathway is an independent exam-prep provider and is not affiliated with any Nevada board or testing vendor.
How to get licensed in Nevada
Nevada licenses through the State Contractors Board under NRS and NAC chapter 624. Nevada ties the licence to a qualifying individual and to a monetary limit, which makes the financial side unusually central.
- Four years at journeyman level, within the last fifteen. The qualifying individual must have, within the fifteen years immediately before the application, at least four full years of experience at journeyman level or as a foreman, supervisor or contractor in the classification applied for. Old experience alone will not carry you.
- Two examinations. The qualifying individual sits the Business and Law (CMS) examination plus the trade examination for the classification requested, unless they qualify for a waiver.
- Submit a current financial statement. Nevada requires a current financial statement on the Board’s own form, submitted online, as part of the application.
- The bond is set individually. The Board fixes the bond amount at licence approval, and the range is wide: from $1,000 to $500,000, based on the licence type, the monetary limit sought, your financial responsibility, experience and character. A surety bond or cash deposit is required for whatever amount is set.
- Understand the monetary limit. Nevada caps the value of work you may undertake at your licence’s monetary limit, which is bound up with the bond and the financial statement — so the financial side determines the size of jobs you can legally take, not just whether you are licensed.
Sources: Nevada State Contractors Board licence requirements and general requirements FAQ; governing law NRS ch. 624 and NAC ch. 624. Contractor Pathway is an independent exam-preparation provider and is not affiliated with the Board.
Choose your Nevada classification
Each course includes a comprehensive study guide — often 10,000 words or more — worked calculations, code-section breakdowns, common exam traps, a glossary, and a 30/60/90-day study plan — plus four full-length practice exams matched to the topic weightings of the Nevada test.
Nevada contractor licensing — FAQ
Who licenses contractors in Nevada?
The Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB). Nevada requires a state license to bid or perform construction work, and the NSCB issues both general classifications (A – General Engineering, B – General Building) and specialty (C) trade classifications.
What exams does Nevada require?
Two exams administered by PSI: a Business and Law / Construction Management Survey (CMS) exam, plus a trade exam specific to the classification you are applying for. You receive a pass/fail score report the same day you test.
How many times can I retake a Nevada exam?
You get three attempts per exam, with a two-week wait between attempts. If you fail the third attempt, the application is voided and you must wait 30 days to reapply – which is exactly why first-attempt preparation matters.
Are the Nevada trade exams open book?
Trade exams are generally open book against the adopted code, so fast reference navigation is the key skill. Confirm the current format, reference list, fees, and passing score in the PSI candidate information bulletin for your classification before you test.
How long should I study for the Nevada exam?
Most candidates do well on a 30-, 60-, or 90-day plan depending on experience, which is why we offer access at all three terms ($99 / $129 / $169). Each guide includes a day-by-day study plan.