Nevada Electrical Contractor (C-2) License Requirements (2026)

The Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB) licenses electrical contractors statewide under the Class C Specialty classification. The C-2 Electrical designation authorizes wiring, installation, maintenance, and repair of electrical systems for any structure and is required for any project valued at $1,000 or more under NRS 624. Unlike many states, Nevada licenses electricians at the business (contractor) level through NSCB rather than issuing individual journeyman credentials at the state level — journeyman certifications are handled locally by Clark County and other jurisdictions. The qualifying individual on the C-2 application must document four years of electrical experience at journeyman or above within the last ten years and pass both the PSI C-2 trade exam and the Nevada business and law exam.

Governing Authority

This license is issued and enforced by Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB) pursuant to Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) Chapter 624; Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) Chapter 624. NSCB licenses all contractors performing work in Nevada under NRS 624, sets monetary limits tied to financial capacity, administers trade and business-and-law examinations through PSI, investigates complaints, and conducts disciplinary proceedings statewide.

Official portal: https://www.nvcontractorsboard.com/
Address: 2310 Corporate Circle, Suite 200, Henderson, NV 89074 (Southern office); 5390 Kietzke Lane, Suite 102, Reno, NV 89511 (Northern office)
Phone: (702) 486-1100 (Southern); (775) 688-1141 (Northern)

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, an applicant must have reached age 18 and hold a valid Social Security Number. No Nevada residency requirement.

Good moral character

NSCB conducts a fitness review on every qualifying individual and every responsible managing officer, member, partner, or 25%+ shareholder.

Background investigation

Mandatory FBI and Nevada DPS fingerprint-based criminal history check for the qualifying individual and every officer or member.

Disqualifying conditions

Construction-related fraud convictions within the last ten years
Prior NSCB license revocation
Unsatisfied civil judgments arising out of electrical work

Experience & Education Matrix

The applicant must document and verify at least four years of practical electrical experience at the journeyman, foreman, supervising employee, or contractor level within the last ten years. Keep payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records to support the claim, as the board can request proof for any period within its lookback window.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

NSCB Certificate of Experience signed by each prior employing electrical contractor
W-2 statements, certified payroll, or 1099 records covering the qualifying period
Clark County or other local journeyman electrician card (where applicable)
Approved electrical apprenticeship completion certificate

Education substitution

Up to three of the four years may be substituted with accredited electrical engineering technology coursework or an approved electrical apprenticeship on a sliding scale set by NAC 624.190; at least one year of hands-on field experience is always required.

Examination Structure

The licensing examination is delivered by PSI Services LLC under contract to NSCB. All of the following parts must be cleared prior to issuance:

PSI Nevada C-2 Electrical Trade Examination — National Electrical Code, Nevada electrical rules, calculations — 110 questions, 270 minutes, passing score 70%
PSI Nevada Business and Law Examination — 75 questions, 180 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $95 per PSI exam part paid on the day of testing.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be retaken individually after a 30-day waiting period by paying a new $95 fee. The application remains valid for one year.

Insurance & Financial Security

A contractor license surety bond of $15,000, on the NSCB's prescribed form, is a precondition to issuance.

General liability

NSCB requires $300,000 bodily injury per occurrence, $300,000 property damage per occurrence, and $50,000 aggregate minimum before license issuance.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation coverage is mandatory under NRS 616B for any electrical contractor with one or more employees. Sole proprietors with no employees may file an affidavit of exemption.

Additional financial requirements

CPA-reviewed or audited financial statement required. Minimum monetary limit is $15,000 (with a $1,000 bond); unlimited monetary limit requires a $500,000 surety bond. Financial statements must be no more than 12 months old at submission.

Application and License Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$300
Examination	$190
Initial license	$600
Renewal (every 2 years)	$600

Maintenance & Renewal

Expect to renew the Nevada C-2 Electrical Contractor every 2 years. Renewal currently costs $600. Renewal requires confirmation that the qualifying individual is still actively associated with the licensee.

Continuing education: Nevada does not require continuing education for C-2 renewal, but bond, insurance, and financial standing must remain current.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Nevada Electrician License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and Endorsement

Nevada does not accept the NASCLA Accredited Examination for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Arizona	Trade exam waived	Bilateral NSCB–Arizona ROC reciprocity for matching C-2 or L-11 classifications held in good standing for at least four years.
California	Trade exam waived	Bilateral NSCB–CSLB reciprocity for C-10 Electrical held in good standing for at least four years.
Utah	Trade exam waived	Bilateral NSCB–Utah DOPL reciprocity for matching electrical classifications.

Reciprocity waives only the trade exam. The Nevada business and law exam, fingerprinting, financial statement, and bond are required from every applicant.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Electrician license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Document four years of electrical experience. Four years at journeyman level or above within the last ten years, verified on the NSCB Certificate of Experience.
Prepare a CPA-reviewed financial statement. NSCB assigns the monetary limit based on working capital and net worth. The statement must be no more than 12 months old.
Submit the NSCB C-2 application. File with the $300 application fee, qualifying individual designation, financial statement, fingerprint cards, and exam requests.
Pass FBI and Nevada DPS background checks. Submit fingerprints for the qualifying individual and every responsible managing officer or member.
Pass both PSI exams at 70%. C-2 Electrical trade exam plus the Nevada Business and Law exam. Both must be passed within one year of application approval.
Post the surety bond and proof of insurance. Bond amount scales with the monetary limit. File the liability certificate and workers compensation certificate.
Receive the C-2 license. NSCB issues the license after all requirements are met. The license must be renewed every two years.

Study and Reference Materials

These are the preparation and reference materials tied to this credential — cited by the regulator or widely used by applicants. CLR earns nothing from listing them.

National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), Nevada-adopted edition — National Fire Protection Association. Primary technical reference. Open-book at the PSI test center.
NSCB Contractor Reference Manual (current edition) — Nevada State Contractors Board. Official statute, regulation, and policy reference.
Tom Henry Electrical Exam Prep — Calculations and Code Questions — Tom Henry Books. Widely used by Nevada applicants for NEC calculation practice.

Common Filing Mistakes

Working from the cited board instructions, here are the snags most likely to trip up a Nevada Electrician filing.

Assuming a Clark County journeyman card is enough

A local journeyman card authorizes the individual but does not allow you to bid or contract. The C-2 contractor license is a separate NSCB credential.

Submitting a self-prepared financial statement

NSCB rejects self-prepared statements. A CPA review or audit is mandatory and directly sets the monetary limit on the license.

Bidding above the monetary limit

Exceeding the assigned dollar cap on any single project triggers discipline under NRS 624.320 and can void the contract.

Forgetting fingerprints for every officer

Every officer, member, partner, and 25%+ shareholder must submit fingerprints, not just the qualifying individual. Missing prints stall the application for months.

Letting the bond or insurance lapse

Insurers notify NSCB directly on any lapse of surety bond, liability, or workers compensation coverage — the license is suspended automatically.

Pre-Submission Checklist

These are the pieces to lock down before filing with NSCB:

☐ NSCB C-2 application with $300 fee and qualifying individual designation
☐ Certificate of Experience covering four years of electrical work at journeyman or above
☐ CPA-reviewed financial statement no more than 12 months old
☐ FBI and Nevada DPS fingerprint cards for every officer, member, and qualifier
☐ PSI Nevada C-2 Electrical trade exam pass certificate at 70%+
☐ PSI Nevada business and law exam pass certificate at 70%+
☐ Surety bond, $300k/$300k/$50k liability insurance, and workers compensation certificate

Other Nevada Trade Licenses

CLR covers other Nevada trades as well — the published guides below may be more relevant:

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Nevada issue a statewide journeyman electrician license?

No. Nevada licenses electrical contractors at the business level through NSCB under the C-2 classification. Individual journeyman electrician certifications are issued by local jurisdictions such as Clark County, not by the state.

What does the C-2 Electrical classification authorize?

C-2 authorizes installation, maintenance, and repair of electrical wiring, fixtures, and equipment for light, heat, power, signal, and communication systems in any structure, subject to the monetary limit assigned to the license.

How is my C-2 monetary limit determined?

NSCB assigns a monetary limit based on the working capital and net worth shown on your CPA-reviewed financial statement. The minimum is $15,000; the maximum is unlimited and requires a $500,000 surety bond.

Does Nevada reciprocate electrical contractor licenses?

Yes. NSCB has bilateral agreements with Arizona (C-2/L-11), California (C-10), and Utah electrical classifications. Reciprocity waives the trade exam only — the Nevada business and law exam is still required.

How often does the C-2 license renew?

Every two years. Renewal requires the $600 fee, a current bond and insurance certificate, and confirmation that the qualifying individual is still actively associated with the licensee.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-05-28 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-26