Nevada Solar Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB) issues the C-2 Electrical Contractor license with a C-2g Photovoltaic subclass specifically for solar PV installation under NRS 624 and NAC 624. Contractors can also hold the broader C-2 Electrical Contractor classification, which includes PV. Nevada issues residential and commercial scopes with bond amounts scaled by monetary limit. Solar thermal water heating requires a Nevada C-1 Plumbing Contractor license. NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification is the industry standard but is voluntary in Nevada.

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

An applicant qualifies only after meeting the age floor of 18 and producing a valid Social Security Number. No Nevada residency requirement.

Good moral character

NSCB reviews criminal history under NRS 624.263.

Background investigation

Mandatory fingerprint background check.

Experience & Education Matrix

Plan to substantiate four years of practical solar or electrical experience as a journey worker, foreman, supervisor, or contractor within the past ten years with hard records. Payroll, tax, project logs, and supervisor verification are what the board relies on when it reviews the claim.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

NSCB Application for Contractors License experience section with qualified verifier signatures
Certified payroll covering the qualifying period
NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification (counts toward experience)

Education substitution

Electrical engineering degree and approved technical training count toward experience.

Examination Structure

Examinations are administered by PSI Services LLC (under contract to NSCB). The applicant must pass the following examination parts before the license can issue:

Nevada C-2g Photovoltaic Trade Examination — 80 questions, 200 minutes, passing score 70%
Nevada Business and Law Examination — 80 questions, 200 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $85 per part.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be retaken individually.

Insurance & Financial Security

Licensure is conditioned on filing a $10,000 contractor license surety bond with the NSCB.

General liability

NSCB does not set a statewide CGL minimum, but $1M CGL is the de facto industry standard.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory under NRS 616A for any business with employees.

Additional financial requirements

NSCB requires a financial statement to set the monetary limit on the license. Bond ranges from $1,000 to $500,000 depending on monetary limit.

Application and License Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$300
Examination	$170
Initial license	$600
Renewal (every 2 years)	$600

Maintenance & Renewal

Expect to renew the Nevada NSCB C-2 Electrical Contractor with Solar Subclass (C-2g Photovoltaic) every 2 years. Renewal currently costs $600. NSCB licenses renew every two years.

Continuing education: No state CE requirement for C-2g.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Nevada Solar 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
California	Trade exam waived	NSCB exam-waiver–CSLB reciprocity.
Arizona	Trade exam waived	NSCB exam-waiver–ROC reciprocity.
Utah	Trade exam waived	NSCB exam-waiver–DOPL reciprocity.

NSCB maintains limited reciprocity (verify directly with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare) with California, Arizona, and Utah for several classifications.

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

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Document four years of solar or electrical experience. Compile NSCB experience verification with qualified signatures.
Prepare a financial statement. NSCB uses this to set the monetary limit on the license.
Submit the NSCB C-2g application. File with the $300 application fee.
Pass the trade and business and law exams at 70%. Both administered by PSI.
Post the surety bond. Bond amount scales by monetary limit ($1K minimum, $500K maximum).
Receive the C-2g license. NSCB issues the credential after bond and insurance are filed.
Pull local building and electrical permits per project. Each Nevada jurisdiction requires local permits.

Common Filing Mistakes

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 Solar application.

Underestimating the monetary limit

NSCB will not approve a bid over your monetary limit. Set it high enough upfront.

Skipping the financial statement

Required to set the monetary limit.

Letting the bond lapse

NSCB will suspend the license immediately upon bond cancellation.

Confusing C-2 with C-2g

C-2g is restricted to solar. If you want broader scope, apply for C-2.

Forgetting solar thermal is plumbing

Solar hot water requires a C-1 Plumbing Contractor license.

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.

NEC Article 690 — Solar Photovoltaic Systems — NFPA. Primary technical reference.
NRS 624 and NAC 624 — State of Nevada. Statutory framework.
PSI Nevada C-2 Candidate Information Bulletin — PSI. Free PDF outlining exam content.

Pre-Submission Checklist

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

☐ Four years of documented solar or electrical experience
☐ Certified financial statement
☐ NSCB C-2g application + $300 fee
☐ Pass trade and business and law exams at 70%+
☐ Surety bond (scaled by monetary limit)
☐ Workers' compensation coverage
☐ Local building and electrical permits per project

Other Nevada Trade Licenses

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Nevada have a solar license?

Yes. The C-2g Photovoltaic subclass under the C-2 Electrical Contractor classification is dedicated to solar PV.

C-2 or C-2g?

C-2 is unlimited electrical (includes solar). C-2g is restricted to solar PV. Pick based on business scope.

Is NABCEP required?

No. NABCEP is voluntary in Nevada.

How big is the bond?

Bond scales by monetary limit — from $1,000 (under $1,000 monetary limit) to $500,000 (unlimited monetary limit).

Does Nevada reciprocate?

Yes. NSCB maintains limited reciprocity (verify directly with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare) with California, Arizona, and Utah.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-06-18 · Next scheduled review 2026-09-16