Check a Nevada License or Start Your Application
Use the Nevada State Contractors Board search to confirm a contractor’s status, classification, qualified individual and monetary limit before you sign a bid or release payment.
Applicants can use this guide to prepare experience records, financial statements, background forms, exams, fees and bonds—including Nevada’s new restricted B-7 pathway.
New for 2026: Restricted B-7 Residential Remodeling License
Nevada is accepting applications for a restricted B-7 pathway. It uses a two-year experience requirement, a minimum $2,000 bond, required business counseling and the CMS examination, but limits covered projects to $7,000 including labor and materials and excludes life-safety trades.
Nevada Contractor License Lookup: Search the Official NSCB Record
The official Nevada State Contractors Board search accepts a license number, company name, or the name of a principal or qualified individual. Use the exact business written on the proposal whenever possible.
License number
Use the number printed on the bid, contract, vehicle, website or advertisement. A license number alone is not enough; confirm that the business name and classification also match.
Company name
Search the legal or licensed business name. A shortened advertising name can produce the wrong company or an incomplete result.
Principal or qualified individual
This search route is useful when a salesperson provides a personal name or when you need to confirm the person qualifying the license.
After searching the license, separately review public disciplinary actions. A business may appear in the license database while still having past disciplinary records that deserve context.
For broader state-by-state comparisons, review the state contractors license board directory and the site’s contractors license board lookup directory.
How to Read a Nevada Contractor License Result
Do not stop after seeing the word “active.” The project must also fit the license classification and remain within the monetary limit shown on the record.
| Result item | What it means | What to compare | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|---|
| License status | Shows whether the license is active, inactive, suspended, revoked or otherwise unavailable for current contracting. | Check status on the day you sign and again before work or a major payment begins. | The contractor says a suspended or inactive license is “good enough.” |
| Licensed business name | Identifies the business legally authorized to contract. | Match the record to the contract, invoice and payment recipient. | Payment is requested to an unrelated person or company. |
| Classification | Defines the construction work the contractor may perform. | Confirm the classification covers the exact project scope. | A contractor proposes work outside the listed classification. |
| Monetary limit | Sets the maximum contract value the license may undertake for a single client at one site or subdivision site. | Include labor, materials and the complete project price—not only the first payment. | The bid exceeds the displayed monetary limit. |
| Qualified individual | Identifies the person whose experience and examinations qualify the business for that classification. | Use this field when checking a person represented as the license qualifier. | The salesperson claims a qualifier relationship not reflected in the record. |
| Bond information | Shows required license-bond details and may indicate special residential protection. | Confirm the bond remains current and belongs to the licensed business. | The contractor uses another company’s bond or license. |
Tool 1: Nevada License Result Checker
Open the official record first, then answer each question. This is planning help only and does not replace the NSCB record or legal advice.
Before Hiring a Nevada Contractor
Nevada generally requires an active contractor license when construction, alteration, repair or improvement work reaches $1,000 in combined labor and materials. Some work requires a license even below $1,000, including permit-required work and regulated plumbing, electrical, refrigeration, heating or air-conditioning work.
Check five items before signing
- The license is active and belongs to the exact business on the contract.
- The classification covers the complete project scope.
- The total contract price is within the monetary limit.
- The license number and monetary limit appear on the bid or contract.
- Public disciplinary actions and references have been reviewed.
Nevada residential down-payment rule
For covered residential improvement work, the initial down payment generally cannot exceed $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less. A larger deposit may be allowed when the contractor has filed a $100,000 Consumer Protection Bond or qualifies for another statutory exception.
What the written contract should contain
| Contract item | What it should explain |
|---|---|
| Contractor identity | Licensed business name, license number, classification and monetary limit. |
| Project scope | Specific labor, materials, models, finishes and exclusions. |
| Project price | One price covering labor and materials, plus a clear written change-order process. |
| Schedule | Start date, estimated completion date and payment milestones. |
| Permits | Who obtains permits, schedules inspections and corrects failed inspections. |
| Consumer notices | Applicable lien, insurance and Residential Recovery Fund notices. |
Nevada Handyman Exemption: When a License May Still Be Required
Nevada’s small-job exemption is narrow. Repair or maintenance work valued at less than $1,000 in total labor and materials may qualify only when none of the statutory exclusions apply.
A small repair may qualify when
- The total labor and material value remains below $1,000.
- No building permit is required.
- The work is genuinely repair or maintenance rather than part of a larger project.
- The work is not within a specially regulated trade or safety-sensitive classification.
A license may still be required when
- A building permit is required.
- The work involves plumbing, electrical, refrigeration, heating or air conditioning.
- The work significantly affects public health, safety or welfare.
- The small job is part of a larger project that should not be divided.
Nevada Contractor Classifications and Monetary Limits
Nevada licenses contractors by classification and monetary limit. The contractor must satisfy both conditions for the project—not merely hold any active license.
Classification A
General engineering classifications generally cover infrastructure and projects requiring specialized engineering knowledge and skill.
Classification B
General building classifications include categories such as residential and small commercial, commercial remodeling and residential remodeling.
Classification C
Specialty classifications cover defined trades such as electrical, plumbing, concrete, roofing, landscaping, HVAC and many other specialties.
What the monetary limit controls
The monetary limit is the maximum value a contractor may undertake on one or more construction contracts for one client at a single construction site or subdivision site. The Board evaluates financial responsibility before approving the requested limit.
Nevada Contractor License Fees, Bonds and Financial Statements
The $300 application fee is only the first cost. Approved applicants must also budget for the biennial license fee, examinations, fingerprints, the assigned license bond and any Residential Recovery Fund assessment.
| Cost or requirement | Current official amount or rule | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $300, nonrefundable | Submitted with the new-license application. |
| License fee | $600 | Due after approval for a two-year license and again at renewal. |
| Examination fees | Set by the examination provider | After the Board verifies eligibility and issues the examination notice. |
| License bond | $1,000 to $500,000 | Amount is assigned after the Board reviews the application and financial responsibility. |
| Recovery Fund assessment | Based on the approved monetary limit | Residential contractors providing qualified services pay at issuance and renewal. |
Financial statement level depends on the requested limit
| Requested monetary limit | Financial statement planning |
|---|---|
| $25,000 or less | A qualifying self-prepared or compiled statement may be used and generally must be current within six months. |
| Over $25,000 but below $500,000 | Generally requires a CPA-compiled statement current within six months, or a reviewed or audited statement current within one year. |
| $500,000 to below $1,000,000 | Generally requires a CPA compilation with full disclosures within six months, or a reviewed or audited statement within one year. |
| $1,000,000 or more | Requires a financial statement reviewed or audited by an independent CPA and current within one year. |
How to Apply for a Nevada Contractor License
A complete application connects the business, qualifying individual, experience evidence, financial statement, background disclosures and requested classification. Incomplete or inconsistent packets delay review.
Create the Nevada business record
Obtain the Nevada Business ID, establish the legal entity and register any fictitious business name before completing the contractor application.
Select the classification and monetary limit
Choose the classification that matches the actual work and request a monetary limit supported by the company’s financial information.
Identify the qualifying individual
The standard pathway generally requires four years of relevant journeyman, foreman, supervising employee or contractor experience within the previous 15 years.
Prepare experience documentation
Include the required Certification of Work Experience forms, detailed resume and supporting documents for each trade qualifier. Experience descriptions should match the requested classification.
Complete background and identity forms
Provide the Background Disclosure Statement, fingerprint waiver and government-issued identification for every person required by the application.
Prepare the correct financial statement
Use the financial statement format and currency rules that correspond to the requested monetary limit. Involve an independent CPA when the threshold requires one.
Submit the application and $300 fee
Applications may be submitted through the current online route or delivered with payment to an NSCB office. The Board states that applications cannot be accepted by ordinary email.
Complete required examinations
After application and experience review, the Board issues examination eligibility. Most applicants complete the Business and Law or CMS exam and the applicable trade exam.
Provide the bond and issuance fees
After approval, obtain the bond amount assigned by the Board and pay the $600 biennial license fee plus any required Residential Recovery Fund assessment.
Tool 2: Nevada Application Packet Checker
Select every item already prepared. This tool identifies missing preparation items; it does not determine license eligibility.
Nevada Contractor Exams and Licensure by Endorsement
Nevada generally requires the Business and Law or CMS examination and a trade examination corresponding to the requested classification.
Do not schedule before receiving eligibility
The Board reviews the application and experience first. Applicants receive an examination-eligibility notice after the experience requirements have been verified. The March 2026 application gives qualifiers six months from application submission to complete required testing.
Exam attempt limit
NSCB currently allows three attempts to pass an examination. If an applicant fails on the third attempt, the application becomes void and the applicant must wait at least 30 days before reapplying.
When endorsement may waive part of the process
Under qualifying circumstances, licensure by endorsement may waive the Nevada trade examination and experience-certification requirement. The applicant generally must hold an active equivalent license with the same qualified individual for the previous four years and have no disqualifying discipline or pending proceedings.
Nevada Restricted B-7 Residential Remodeling License
The restricted B-7 pathway is designed for limited residential-remodeling work. It should not be confused with an unrestricted general-building license.
| Restricted B-7 item | Current rule |
|---|---|
| Experience | At least two years of experience in an applicable trade. |
| Project limit | No work exceeding $7,000 including labor and materials. |
| Property type | Limited remodeling or improvement of qualifying existing residential structures. |
| Life-safety trades | The restricted license does not authorize life-safety trades. |
| Bond | A surety or cash bond of at least $2,000, or a higher amount assigned by the Board. |
| Education | Required business counseling or similar coursework must be completed before applying. |
| Examination | The Business and Law or CMS exam is required. |
| License term | Valid for two years and may be renewed or replaced with a non-restricted license after meeting standard requirements. |
The restricted scope allows remodeling and improvement of an existing detached single-family residence or qualifying residential unit, but it does not authorize increasing the structure’s existing enclosed space.
Renew a Nevada Contractor License or Raise Its Monetary Limit
Nevada contractor licenses are issued for two years. Renewal requires current business information, applicable fees, bond compliance and any required Residential Recovery Fund assessment.
Online renewal preparation
- Confirm the Nevada Business ID is connected with the contractor record.
- Check the current license status and expiration date.
- Keep the required bond in force with no lapse in coverage.
- Review principals, addresses and qualified-individual information.
- Prepare the $600 renewal fee and applicable Recovery Fund assessment.
- Confirm active status after the renewal is processed.
Raising the monetary limit
A contractor may request a permanent increase or, in qualifying situations, a temporary increase for a specific bid. Updated financial statements must support the requested limit.
Nevada Contractor Complaints and Unlicensed Work
Use the licensed-contractor complaint route for defective, incomplete or out-of-scope work. Use the unlicensed-contractor route when a person bids or performs covered work without an active Nevada contractor license.
| Problem | Correct starting route | Evidence to include |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed contractor performed defective or incomplete work | Licensed Contractor Complaint | Contract, invoices, payment proof, change orders, correspondence and photographs. |
| Contractor exceeded classification or monetary limit | Licensed Contractor Complaint | Official license result, bid, contract and description of the work. |
| Person is contracting without a license | Unlicensed Contractor Criminal Complaint | Advertisement, contract, messages, payment records and front and back of checks. |
| Permit or inspection failure | Local building department plus NSCB when contractor conduct is involved | Permit record, inspection report, correction notice and project photographs. |
| Residential loss caused by licensed contractor | Consumer complaint followed by Recovery Fund eligibility review | Full complaint packet, actual-damage records and recovery attempts. |
Tool 3: Nevada Contractor Problem Route Finder
Select the situation closest to your problem. This tool identifies a starting route and does not submit a complaint or claim.
Licensed contractor complaint packet
Before filing, contact the contractor in writing and describe the requested corrections. If the issue remains unresolved, assemble a complete complaint packet so the Board can review the project without returning the filing for missing documents.
- Signed consumer complaint form and itemized statement of facts.
- Signed contract, proposal or bid.
- Invoices, receipts and proof of every payment.
- Signed change orders.
- Emails, letters, text messages and dated conversation notes.
- Photographs, inspection reports and documentation of incomplete work.
Unlicensed contractor complaint
Contracting without an active Nevada license is unlawful. NSCB asks complainants to include the agreement, supporting documents, a detailed incident description and copies of both sides of checks or other payment records.
Nevada Residential Recovery Fund
The Residential Recovery Fund may assist eligible owner-occupants who suffer actual losses because a properly licensed residential contractor failed to perform qualified services adequately.
Core eligibility signals
- The claimant is a natural person who owns and occupies the single-family residence.
- The contract was with a properly licensed residential contractor.
- The homeowner suffered actual damages.
- Other available recovery sources have been pursued or exhausted.
- The work involved qualified construction, remodeling, repair or improvement services.
Common exclusions or reductions
- The contractor was unlicensed.
- The claimant does not occupy a qualifying single-family residence.
- The claim seeks upgrades beyond the original contract.
- Amounts were already recovered from bonds, judgments or other sources.
- The request includes attorney fees or court costs.
Deadlines and current claim limits
Claimants generally must apply within four years after completion of the qualified services. A claimant who has received a Nevada court judgment may apply within two years after the judgment was granted.
A single approved claim cannot exceed $40,000. Claims connected with one contractor are also subject to an aggregate limit of $750,000 or 20% of the Fund balance, whichever is less.
Nevada State Contractors Board Phone Numbers, Offices and Forms
Nevada has northern and southern offices. Current listed office hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Check the official contact page before visiting.
Southern Nevada — Las Vegas
8400 West Sunset Road, Suite 150
Las Vegas, NV 89113
Licensing and customer service: 702-486-1100
Investigations: 702-486-1160
Northern Nevada — Reno
5390 Kietzke Lane, Suite 102
Reno, NV 89511
Licensing and customer service: 775-688-1141
Investigations: 775-688-1150
Useful official forms and services
| Resource | Best for | Official link |
|---|---|---|
| New License Application | Standard and restricted B-7 applicants | Open PDF |
| Forms and Applications | License changes, certificates, bonds and supporting forms | Open forms page |
| License Search | Checking a company, license number, principal or qualifier | Open search |
| Application Assistance | Free help understanding application requirements | Open assistance page |
| Consumer Complaint Form | Defective, incomplete or improper licensed-contractor work | Open complaint PDF |
| Residential Recovery Fund Claim | Eligible owner-occupants seeking reimbursement | Open claim PDF |
Nevada State Contractors Board FAQs
How do I check a Nevada contractor license?
Use the official Nevada State Contractors Board License Search. You can search by license number, company name, or the name of a principal or qualified individual.
What should I check in a Nevada contractor license result?
Confirm active status, the exact licensed business name, classification, qualified individual, monetary limit and bond information. Search public disciplinary actions separately.
How much does a Nevada contractor license application cost in 2026?
The current nonrefundable application fee is $300. After approval, the biennial license fee is $600, plus examination, bonding and any applicable Residential Recovery Fund costs.
How long is a Nevada contractor license valid?
A Nevada contractor license is issued for two years. The license fee and applicable Residential Recovery Fund assessment are due again at renewal.
How much experience is required for a Nevada contractor license?
The standard pathway generally requires four years of relevant journeyman, foreman, supervising employee or contractor experience within the previous 15 years. Restricted B-7 applicants generally need two years.
What exams are required for a Nevada contractor license?
Applicants generally must pass the Business and Law or CMS examination and a trade examination for the requested classification. The Board issues examination eligibility after reviewing the application and experience.
What is a Nevada contractor monetary limit?
The monetary limit is the maximum value the contractor may undertake for one client at a single construction or subdivision site. The complete contract must remain within that limit.
Does a Nevada handyman need a contractor license?
Repair or maintenance work below $1,000 in combined labor and materials may qualify for a narrow exemption, but a license can still be required when a permit is needed, the work involves a regulated trade, public safety is affected or the work is part of a larger project.
What is Nevada’s restricted B-7 license?
The restricted B-7 pathway covers limited residential-remodeling work. It requires two years of experience, business counseling, the CMS exam and at least a $2,000 bond, while limiting projects to $7,000 and excluding life-safety trades.
Who may qualify for the Nevada Residential Recovery Fund?
The Fund may assist eligible owners who occupy a single-family residence, hired a properly licensed residential contractor, suffered actual damages and exhausted other available recovery sources. A single claim cannot exceed $40,000.
Use the License Record Before You Sign
Homeowners: match the official business to the contract, confirm the classification and monetary limit, review disciplinary actions and keep payments tied to completed work.
Applicants: prepare the business record, experience evidence, financial statement, background forms and requested classification before submitting the nonrefundable application fee.