Plumbing careers

How to become a plumber in Nevada

The license steps in Nevada, from apprentice to master or contractor, taken from the official licensing pages – plus pay, apprenticeships and where to apply.

The short answer

Nevada has no statewide apprentice or journeyman plumber license; to contract for plumbing work you need a Nevada State Contractors Board C-1 license, which requires a qualifier with at least 4 years of journeyman-level or higher experience in the last 15 years plus passing the trade and Business and Law exams, renewed every two years.

The steps in Nevada

1
Start as an apprentice
The official pages we checked do not set out a separate apprentice registration in Nevada. Most plumbers still start in an apprenticeship – see below. Ask the licensing office for the current rule.
2
Earn your journeyman (first independent) license
Nevada does not issue a statewide journeyman plumber license; some cities do, for example Reno requires a valid journeyman certificate for anyone installing or altering plumbing in the city, with the exam handled through the Nevada Board of Plumbing Examiners.
3
Master or contractor license
To get a plumbing contractor license (C-1 classification) from the Nevada State Contractors Board, the qualifying individual needs at least 4 years of experience as a journeyman, foreman, supervisor or contractor within the past 15 years and must pass the Business and Law (CMS) exam and the trade exam, given by PSI.
4
Keep your license current
Nevada contractor licenses are issued for two years and renewed every two years; no continuing education requirement was stated.

Who licenses plumbers in Nevada

Nevada State Contractors Board. License types we found: C-1 Plumbing and Heating (contractor classification), C-1d Plumbing (subclassification).

Official application page

Already licensed? Anyone can check a license on app.nvcontractorsboard.com.

Licensed in another state?

Contractors licensed for the past four years in a state with substantially equivalent requirements may apply for licensure by endorsement, but must take Nevada's trade exam if their state has no equivalent one.

Finding an apprenticeship

Most plumbers learn the trade through a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship, with about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training each year plus classroom instruction, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeships are paid jobs with progressive wage increases, classroom instruction and a portable, nationally recognized credential; programs are approved by the Department of Labor or a State Apprenticeship Agency. Search programs at apprenticeship.gov, or ask local plumbing contractors and union locals.

Pay and job outlook

$63,800

Median yearly pay for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, May 2025 (BLS).

Projected job growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 42,000 openings a year (BLS).

4-5 years

Typical apprenticeship, with about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training a year (BLS).

National figures from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook; pay varies by state and city.

Already a plumber in Nevada?

55 plumbing businesses are listed on Plumbers Pages so far. Add your business free, or see plumbers in Nevada.

Sources

Requirements come from Nevada’s official licensing pages and statutes, checked October 2026. Rules change – confirm with the licensing office before you apply.

General information, not legal advice. All states · How we write our guides

How to become a plumber in Nevada

The steps in Nevada

Start as an apprentice

Earn your journeyman (first independent) license

Master or contractor license