The Nevada State Contractors Board defines a contractor as “Any business or individual who constructs, alters, repairs, improves, moves, wrecks or demolishes any building or other structure, highway, road, railroad, or performs excavation or specialty work in the State of Nevada.” This definition of a “contractor” includes electricians, and licenses must be issued to any individuals, partnerships, corporations, joint ventures, and limited liability companies who want to do electrical work in this state.
Under Nevada state law, electricians are considered specialty contractors and have their own classification, which determines the type of electrical work they’re legally allowed to do. To become an electrician in Nevada, you have to follow a fairly straightforward, but rather lengthy, training and licensure process. Overall, this process is similar to that of becoming a licensed plumber or a general contractor in Nevada, but there are some distinct differences to be aware of.
Generally, you have to complete an apprenticeship or receive several years of hands-on training under the supervision of a licensed electrician, take the licensure eligibility exam, and submit an application for your license to the State Contractors Board. Though the state actually issues electrician licenses, there are no statewide licensing regulations; each city, county, and jurisdiction has its own requirements you must meet before you can apply for your license. Familiarize yourself with the local policies and regulations to ensure you’re eligible for a state-issued electrical contractors license.
Nevada Electrical License Reciprocity
Currently, Nevada maintains limited reciprocity agreements with three states: Arizona, California, and Utah. Eligible contractors who are already licensed in these states may not be required to pass their respective trade examination in Nevada to work there, but this reciprocity agreement does not include electricians, plumbers, or fire protection contractors. Further, Nevada does not recognize any contractor licenses issued by other states. Even if you are exempt from the trade examination, you must have a Nevada license to work as a contractor in this state.
Because Nevada has no license reciprocity with other states, you must see what other states require in terms of licensing before you can work there as an electrician. If you are already a licensed electrician in Nevada and want to work in another state, you’ll have to check the licensing requirements for each state you want to work in.
Nevada Electrical Journeyman License Requirements
There are a few steps you must take to receive your electrical journeyman license in Nevada. These requirements vary based on where you live, train, and work. Some counties detail specific requirements for their contractors, while many simply require contractors to apply for a business license that’s valid in their jurisdiction; some counties in Nevada, such as Elko County and White Pine County, don’t have any licensure requirements at all. Please see each county or municipality’s website for more specific information on their policies regarding new businesses and contractors licenses.
- Carson City;
- Churchill County;
- Clark County;
- Douglas County;
- Elko County;
- Esmeralda County;
- Eureka County;
- Humboldt County;
- Lander County;
- Lincoln County;
- Lyon County;
- Mineral County;
- Nye County;
- Pershing County;
- Storey County;
- Washoe County;
- White Pine County.
No matter which county or city you work in, the state only issues journeyman licenses to contractors who have “at least four years experience as a journeyman, foreman, supervising employee or contractor in the field of work for which a license is being sought,” according to the overview of licensing requirements cited above. Those four years of experience must occur within 10 years of submitting your application. After completing those four years of experience, you can then apply for a license.
Your application must include the following items:
- A completed and accurate new license application form, which can be found online or at one of the two Nevada State Contractors Board offices;
- A nonrefundable $300 application fee;
- Four reference certificates completed by someone who has personal or first-hand knowledge of your experience as an electrician;
- A financial statement, showing that you are financially fit enough to conduct business;
- And a detailed Resume of Experience that outlines all of your relevant work and educational experience.
Applications can be sent to one of the two Nevada State Contractors Board offices:
- 2310 Corporate Circle, Suite 200
- Henderson, NV 89074
- Phone: (702) 486-1100
- 9670 Gateway Drive, Suite 100
- Reno, NV 89521
- Phone: (775) 688-1141
After submitting your application, it will be reviewed by an analyst at the Nevada State Contractors Board. Once your application is approved, you will need to pay a $600 biennial license fee before your license can be issued. Further, if you have never been licensed as an electrician before, you must pass a construction management exam, which covers general business practices and laws, as well as the electrical trade exam before your license can be issued. Upon successfully completing both of these exams, you will be officially licensed as an electrician in Nevada!
The state of Nevada only recognizes the level of journeyman electrician, though some municipalities, including Clark County, do issue master electrician certifications. Again, you will need to check the specific county you wish to be licensed in to ensure you follow the proper laws regarding advanced certifications and license renewals. You will have to continually renew your license — once every two years — to maintain your certification with the Nevada State Contractors Board.
Electrical Journeyman Exam
In Nevada, you must take a general business exam and an electrician trade exam offered by Psychological Services Inc (PSI). The exam is offered at three different locations throughout the state:
- Elko
225 Silver Street Ste 102
Elko, Nevada 89801
- Las Vegas
3210 East Tropicana Avenue
Las Vegas, Nevada 89121
- Reno
Airport Plaza Office Building
1755 E Plumb Lane Ste 108
Reno, Nevada 89502
It costs $140 to take both exams, or only $95 for the trade exam, and you can use a cashier’s check, company check, money order, or personal check to pay for it. Checks of all types can be made payable to PSI.
The contractor management survey exam is 63 questions and there are 126 minutes allotted for this test. 60 of the questions are scored, and you have 120 minutes to complete them; while you only have six minutes for the remaining three questions, they are non-scored. You must get 45 questions correct to pass. The general electrical contractor test has 80 multiple choice questions, and you must get at least 56 of them correct in order to pass. There are 4 hours allotted for the exam. Both are open-book exams, but certain reference manuals and materials are not permitted in the testing room.
You are free to retake the exams if you do not pass the first time, though you will have to pay the fee again. If you fail after taking it for the third time, you must make arrangements with the Nevada State Contractors Board directly to sit the exam again. The exams are administered on computers at the testing location, so you will know immediately after finishing whether or not you passed. For more information on Nevada contractors examinations and other types of exams offered, see the PSI “C” Classification Examinations Candidate Information Bulletin.
Nevada Electrical Insurance Requirements
As one of the final steps to obtaining your electrical license, the state of Nevada requires applicants to provide proof of industrial insurance.
Use the tool below to request a FREE insurance quote from our partner’s:
Electrician Apprenticeship Requirements
Though some counties may have them, there are no statewide apprenticeship requirements in Nevada. However, apprenticeships are a great way to learn about the trade, study electrical theory and the electrical code, and get practical hands-on experience. What you learn as an electrical apprentice will be highly valuable and relevant to your daily work as an electrician, making it well worth your while. In some cases, you may even be able to put some of your time spent as an electrical apprentice toward the required four years of experience needed to get an electrician’s license at the state level. Once you complete your apprenticeship, you can then go through the Nevada state licensure application and examination process.
Nevada Electrical Apprentice Jobs
There are several different ways to find an electrical apprentice job in Nevada. You can always look on job-search websites, such as Indeed or Monster, to find an apprenticeship. Trade schools or community colleges may also offer apprenticeships. Here are a list of organizations that can help you find an electrician apprenticeship in Nevada:
- Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Nevada Chapter;
- Electrical JATC for Southern Nevada;
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers;
- National Electrical Contractors Association;
- Northern Nevada Electrical JATC.
Electrical Trade Schools in Nevada
Similar to apprenticeships, there are no statewide educational requirements to become an electrician in Nevada. Though formal education at a trade school or vocational program isn’t required, it can be highly beneficial for your development as an electrical contractor. Currently, there are three electrical trade programs in the state of Nevada:
- College of Southern Nevada
-
- Institution: Public
- Locations: Main campuses in Charleston, Henderson, and North Las Vegas, with eight additional learning centers throughout Nevada
- Tuition: About $20,000 per semester for full-time enrollment
- Contact Information
- Great Basin College
- Institution: Public
- Location: Elko
- Tuition: About $10,000 per year for full-time enrollment
- Contact Information: By phone at 775-738-8493
- Truckee Meadows Community College
- Institution: Public
- Location: Reno
- Tuition: About $10,000 per semester for full-time enrollment
- Contact Information
Nevada Professional License Search
To search for electricians in Nevada and verify their credentials, use the License Search feature on the Nevada State Contractors Board website.
For More License and Career Guides
To find out how to become an Electrical Contractor in another state, start here.
For information on other trades in Nevada, click on a link below to learn more about the licensing requirements:
- Nevada General Contractor License Requirements
- How to Become a Plumber in Nevada
- Nevada Handyman License Guide
- Nevada Welding Schools and Career Guide
- How to Get an HVAC License in Nevada
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