Nevada plumber license requirements
By Mountain West Trades editors · Updated
Last verified
What license do you need to work as a plumber in Nevada?
Plumbing contractors in Nevada are licensed by the Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB). (source) NSCB licenses contracting businesses by classification; the license belongs to the business, not to its qualifying individual. (source)
This guide summarizes what Nevada requires to work as a plumber, with a link to the state's own source for every requirement. Rules change; check the linked source before you apply.
Journeyman level: experience and exam
NSCB requires a contractor's trade-qualified individual to have at least four full years of experience as a journeyman, supervising employee or contractor in the classification, within the 15 years before applying. (source)
The contractor's qualifying individual must pass the Business and Law (CMS) exam and a trade exam for the classification requested (e.g. C-1); PSI conducts the testing. (source)
Contractor license
Plumbing contracting requires an NSCB classification C-1 (plumbing and heating contracting) license; plumbing itself is subclassification C-1d. (source)
Renewal, continuing education and fees
Nevada contractor licenses expire 2 years after issue (staggered biennial renewal). (source)
$300 non-refundable application processing fee; a $600 biennial license fee is due after approval. (source)
Licensed in another state
Through licensure by endorsement, NSCB may waive the trade exam and experience certification for applicants licensed in states Nevada deems to have substantially equivalent requirements. (source)
Check a license
Nevada's public license lookup: https://app.nvcontractorsboard.com/Clients/NVSCB/Public/ContractorLicenseSearch/ContractorLicenseSearch.aspx
Pay for plumbers in Nevada
Statewide figures for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152), all employers, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS):
- Median hourly wage: $29.62 (BLS OEWS)
- Median annual wage: $61,610 (BLS OEWS)
- 10th percentile: $20.29 (BLS OEWS)
- 90th percentile: $56.94 (BLS OEWS)
- Estimated employment: 5,370 (BLS OEWS)
Release: May 2025 (source)
These are benchmarks, not job offers. A listing on Mountain West Trades shows the pay that employer posted.
Sources
- BLS OEWS via BLS Public Data API, series OEUS320000000000047215201 — last verified
- BLS OEWS via BLS Public Data API, series OEUS320000000000047215206 — last verified
- BLS OEWS via BLS Public Data API, series OEUS320000000000047215208 — last verified
- BLS OEWS via BLS Public Data API, series OEUS320000000000047215210 — last verified
- BLS OEWS via BLS Public Data API, series OEUS320000000000047215213 — last verified
- General Requirements – Nevada State Contractors Board — last verified
- License Requirements – Nevada State Contractors Board — last verified
- Licensure by Endorsement – Nevada State Contractors Board — last verified
- May 2025 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — last verified
- NAC: CHAPTER 624 - CONTRACTORS — last verified
- NRS: CHAPTER 624 - CONTRACTORS — last verified
- Nevada State Contractors Board – Measure up…use licensed contractors. — last verified