Nevada C-13 Masonry Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB) issues a dedicated C-13 Masonry classification under NRS 624. C-13 covers brick, concrete block, stone, structural and veneer masonry. Any masonry contracting in Nevada at any project value requires an active C-13 (or A General Engineering / B General Building) license. The qualifying individual must document four years of journey-level masonry experience, pass the PSI Trade and Business and Law exams, submit a financial statement showing the bid limit, post a license bond sized to the bid limit bracket, and provide proof of GL and workers compensation. This page documents the verified path including bid limit financial statements, NV OSHA silica enforcement, and TMS 402 / IBC Chapter 21 compliance.

Regulatory Oversight

Under Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) Chapter 624; Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) Chapter 624, Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB) is the body that issues this license and enforces compliance with it. 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)

Who May Apply

At a minimum the applicant has to be 18 years old and supply a valid Social Security Number. No Nevada residency requirement; out-of-state qualifying individuals accepted.

Good moral character

NSCB reviews prior license discipline and criminal history. Felonies relating to fraud or contracting may bar issuance.

Background investigation

Mandatory FBI fingerprint Live Scan for the qualifying individual under NRS 624.265.

Required Experience and Education

Eligibility requires 4 years of journey-level (or supervisory) masonry experience within the last 10 years installing brick, CMU, stone, structural masonry, mortar, flashing, weeps, and seismic anchored veneer, documented and independently verifiable. Payroll, tax, project, and supervisor records are the usual proof the board will accept.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

NSCB Statement of Experience signed by licensed contractors
W-2, 1099, or payroll records covering the qualifying period
Project list with addresses, owner contacts, and dates

Examination Requirements

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

Nevada Business and Law Examination — 75 questions, 180 minutes, passing score 70%
C-13 Masonry Trade Examination — TMS 402/602, IBC Chapter 21, anchored veneer, seismic detailing — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $80 per PSI exam section ($160 total).

Retake policy: Failed sections may be retaken after 30 days with a new $80 fee. Application remains valid for one year.

Insurance and Financial Requirements

A contractor license surety bond of $5,000, on the NSCB's prescribed form, is a precondition to issuance.

General liability

NSCB requires GL on the application. Most owners require $1,000,000 per occurrence.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory under NRS 616B for any Nevada employer with one or more employees. Sole proprietors must file a NSCB exemption. Masonry NCCI 5022 carries one of the highest manual rates in Nevada.

Additional financial requirements

NSCB requires a CPA-prepared financial statement to set the bid limit (monetary cap on individual project value). Bond sizing scales with the bid limit ($5,000 minimum to $500,000+).

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$300
Examination	$160
Initial license	$600
Renewal (every 2 years)	$600

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the Nevada C-13 Masonry Contractor — Nevada State Contractors Board comes due every 2 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $600. Nevada NSCB licenses renew every two years. Late renewal incurs significant reinstatement fees and possible re-exam.

Continuing education: No CE required for C-13, but bond and insurance must remain current and the qualifying individual must remain affiliated.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and License Transfer

The NASCLA Accredited Examination is not accepted by Nevada for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
California	Trade exam waiver	Bilateral NSCB–CSLB waiver for active C-29 holders with 5+ years.
Arizona	Trade exam waiver	Bilateral NSCB–AZ ROC waiver for active CR-9/B-9 holders.
Utah	Trade exam waiver	Bilateral NSCB–DOPL waiver for active masonry classifications.

Nevada waives the C-13 trade exam (not the business and law exam) for qualifying individuals with active reciprocal masonry licenses in CA, AZ, and UT.

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

Application Process, Step by Step

Document four years of masonry experience. Compile signed Statements of Experience and a project list within the last 10 years.
Complete Live Scan fingerprinting. NSCB requires FBI Live Scan for the qualifying individual.
Pass the PSI Nevada Business and Law exam. Score 70% or better on the 75-question business and law exam.
Pass the PSI C-13 Masonry trade exam. Score 70% or better on the 80-question trade exam covering TMS 402 and IBC Chapter 21.
Prepare CPA financial statement and request bid limit. CPA-prepared financial statement determines the bid limit (project value cap).
Post license bond sized to bid limit. Bond sizing $5,000 minimum, scaling with bid limit up to $500,000+ for unlimited bid.
Submit NSCB C-13 application. File the application with $300 fee, financial statement, bond, GL/workers comp certificates, and exam scores.
Implement NV OSHA silica program. Nevada OSHA (state plan) enforces 29 CFR 1926.1153 with state-specific recordkeeping; written exposure control plan and Table 1 controls are mandatory.

Document Checklist

The most critical documents or confirmations the applicant should have in hand before filing with NSCB:

☐ Nevada Secretary of State entity registration
☐ FBI Live Scan fingerprinting for qualifying individual
☐ Statement of Experience signed by licensed contractors
☐ PSI Nevada Business and Law exam pass certificate (70%+)
☐ PSI C-13 Masonry trade exam pass certificate (70%+)
☐ CPA financial statement with bid limit request
☐ License bond sized to bid limit
☐ GL and workers compensation certificates
☐ NV OSHA silica written exposure control plan

Recommended References

What follows are the regulator-cited and commonly used preparation references for this trade. They appear here for convenience only; CLR takes no compensation for them.

NSCB Reference Manual for Contractors — Nevada State Contractors Board. Required reference for the Nevada business and law exam.
TMS 402/602 Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures — The Masonry Society. Adopted by reference under IBC Chapter 21.
International Building Code Chapter 21 — Masonry (Nevada-adopted edition) — International Code Council. Nevada adopts IBC at local jurisdictions including Clark County and Washoe County.

Frequent Application Errors

Drawn from the board instructions and sources cited on this page, the pitfalls below are the ones most likely to slow down or sink a Nevada Masonry application.

Exceeding the bid limit

Taking a project above the NSCB-set bid limit triggers immediate license discipline and possible suspension. Request bid limit increases via amended financial statement.

CPA financial statement rejected

NSCB rejects self-prepared and compiled statements. Only CPA-prepared statements satisfy the bid limit requirement.

Workers comp exemption misuse

Sole proprietors who file NSCB exemption then hire any helper trigger automatic license suspension and back-assessment.

Anchored veneer ties wrong gauge

Nevada seismic and high-wind exposure requires corrosion-resistant ties at TMS 402 spacing; Las Vegas and Reno inspectors fail jobs with undersized ties.

Silica plan absent

NV OSHA targets Las Vegas and Reno masonry sites; missing 29 CFR 1926.1153(g) plans draw immediate citations with Nevada recordkeeping penalties.

Other Nevada Trade Licenses

Should the Masonry path not apply, these other Nevada trade guides from CLR may help:

Questions Applicants Ask

Does Nevada have a dedicated masonry license?

Yes. C-13 Masonry classification issued by the Nevada State Contractors Board.

What is the bid limit?

A monetary cap on individual project value set by NSCB based on the CPA financial statement and bond. Exceeding the bid limit triggers immediate license discipline.

How big is the bond?

Bond sizing scales with the bid limit — $5,000 minimum for limited bid up to $500,000+ for unlimited bid limit.

Is workers comp required for sole proprietor C-13 holders?

Sole proprietors with no employees may file an NSCB workers comp exemption. Hiring any employee triggers immediate workers comp requirement.

Does Nevada enforce OSHA silica?

Yes. Nevada OSHA (state plan) enforces 29 CFR 1926.1153 with stricter recordkeeping than federal OSHA. Las Vegas and Reno are heavily targeted.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-06-10 · Next scheduled review 2026-09-08