NEVADA · hvac
Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Contractor (C-21)
Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB) →Scope
Nevada licenses HVAC contracting through the Nevada State Contractors Board under NRS Chapter 624. The C-21 classification covers refrigeration and air-conditioning systems, including the installation, alteration, repair, and connection of cooling equipment, ductwork associated with HVAC systems, and refrigerant lines. Sub-classifications include C-21A (refrigeration and air conditioning), C-21B (evaporative cooling), C-21C (commercial refrigeration), C-21D (insulation for HVAC) and others. Source: NSCB Classifications (https://www.nvcontractorsboard.com/become-a-contractor/license-classifications/).
Federal EPA Section 608
Independent of NSCB licensure, any technician who handles refrigerants in Nevada must hold a current EPA Section 608 Technician Certification (Type I, II, III, or Universal) under 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F. The federal certification is held by the individual technician, not the NSCB-licensed contracting entity.
No State Journey License
Nevada does not issue an individual journeyman or master HVAC technician license at the state level. NRS Chapter 624 licenses the contracting entity and its qualified individual. Some Nevada local jurisdictions, including Clark County and the City of Las Vegas, run separate technician registration or certification programs for permit-issuance purposes. Verify with the jurisdiction where work will be performed.
Qualified Individual
Every NSCB contractor license must designate a qualified individual responsible for supervising trade work. The qualified individual must pass the trade examination for the requested classification and the NASCLA-administered Nevada business and law examination, and must meet the experience requirement. NAC 624.130 requires the qualified individual to be an officer or full-time employee with day-to-day involvement.
Experience
Four years of journey-level or higher experience in the refrigeration and air-conditioning trade within the ten years preceding application is required, per NAC 624.250. Education or apprenticeship completion may credit toward the requirement.
Exam
Trade examination is administered by PSI Services or a contracted vendor on behalf of NSCB and covers the International Mechanical Code edition currently adopted in Nevada plus state-specific HVAC practice. The Nevada business and law exam is administered by NASCLA. Both must be passed within the application validity window.
Fees
Application fee is set under NAC 624.220. License-issuance and biennial-renewal fees vary by license-monetary-limit tier. Verify current schedules with NSCB before applying.
Bond
NRS 624.270 and NAC 624.250 require every NSCB licensee to file a license bond tied to the requested monetary limit. The bond range starts at $1,000 for the lowest tier and scales to $500,000 for the highest. A cash deposit or financial-instrument substitute may be filed in lieu of a surety bond. Source: NRS 624.270 (https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-624.html#NRS624Sec270).
Financial Statement
Applicants submit a current financial statement supporting the requested monetary limit. NAC 624.220 sets the tier thresholds for unaudited, reviewed, and audited statements.
Background Check
NRS 624.265 authorizes NSCB to require fingerprint submission and obtain state and federal criminal-history reports.
Unlicensed Contracting Penalty
NRS 624.700 and NRS 624.750 make unlicensed contracting a misdemeanor on the first offense and a felony on subsequent or aggravated offenses. NRS 624.320 bars unlicensed contractors from enforcing contracts in Nevada courts.
Renewal
Biennial renewal cycle. NSCB does not impose a statewide CE hour requirement for license renewal; renewal is conditioned on a current bond, current financial statement, current fees, and good standing. EPA Section 608 certification, separately, does not expire.
Reciprocity
NSCB has historic reciprocity agreements with Arizona, California, and Utah for the trade examination component for qualified individuals who hold an active comparable license in good standing. The Nevada business and law exam is generally not waived. Confirm current reciprocity status with NSCB.
Reciprocity
Accepts from: arizona, california, utah