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Plumber
Total cost: $425
Governing Authority
Nevada Board of Plumbing Examiners (NBOPE) for individual J/M licenses + Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB) for contractor business licenses
Official website →Yes
State Licensed?
8,000
Apprentice Hours
5
License Levels
$425
Total Fees
4 hrs
CE Hours
Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) — specifically the 2018 edition per test day instructions
Code Version
Get the Nevada Plumber Roadmap — every step, fee, and deadline mapped out. — every step mapped out.
Get the Roadmap — $20Journeyman License Fee
$300
Application/license fee (NBOPE); biennial renewal: $600
Master Plumber License Fee
$300
Application/license fee (NBOPE); biennial renewal: $600
Exam Fee
$125 (in-person) / $215 (online) / $140 (combined trade + CMS)
Plumbing exam fee
Renewal Fee
$600
Biennial renewal for both journeyman and master
Regulation Status
VerifiedState Licensed
Yes
Regulation Level
state
License Types Available
State-Level Licensing Required
Regulated by the Nevada Board of Plumbing Examiners (NBOPE) for individual J/M licenses + Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB) for contractor business licenses
Apprenticeship Program
8,000
Total Hours
4 yrs
Duration
576
Classroom Hours
7,424
OJT Hours
Registered Apprenticeship Program Required
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Experience Required
Registration required; no prior experience
No exam required
Additional Requirements
Experience Required
4 years / 8,000 hours in state-registered apprenticeship program (within 15 years preceding application)
Exam required
Additional Requirements
Experience Required
Must hold NBOPE Journeyman license for at least 2,000 hours
Exam required
Additional Requirements
Exam Information
VerifiedJourneyman Exam
RequiredMaster Exam
RequiredExam Provider
NITC (National Inspection Testing Certification) / PSI
Plumbing Code Version
Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) — specifically the 2018 edition per test day instructions
Open Book Exam
Passing Score
75%
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Overall licensing difficulty: 25/100
Study recommendation: 1–2 weeks of focused review is usually sufficient
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Plumber Licensing Exam
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Difficulty rating based on education, exam, and experience requirements. Individual experience may vary.
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Minimum Age
Education
Background Check
Insurance Required
Bonding Required
Not sure if you need a plumber license? Check whether your state requires one.
Nevada has 18% above average — nationally the ratio is 1 per 746 residents.
Nevada has above-average plumbers density — competitive market.
Nevada ranks #17 out of 51 states by plumbers per capita.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Journeyman License Application/license fee (NBOPE); biennial renewal: $600 | $300 |
Master License Application/license fee (NBOPE); biennial renewal: $600 | $300 |
Exam Fee Plumbing exam fee | $125 (in-person) / $215 (online) / $140 (combined trade + CMS) |
Renewal Fee Biennial renewal for both journeyman and master | $600 |
Total Initial Fees Journeyman: application ($300) + exam ($125 in-person) = $425 | $425 |
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Renewal & CE Requirements
Verified2 years
Renewal Period
4
CE Hours Required
$75
Renewal Fee
Continuing Education Required
Renewal fee per 2 years
Out-of-State Reciprocity
VerifiedDoes Not Accept Out-of-State Licenses
Transfer Type
Endorsement
Additional Requirements for Transfer
Most states require plumbers to pass the local exam or apply for endorsement when transferring an out-of-state license. Requirements vary by state.
Moving to another state? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare Nevada with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
Nevada has a DUAL BOARD SYSTEM: NBOPE for individual journeyman/master certifications and NSCB for contractor business licenses. Exam has unusual two-part structure (open + closed book in same sitting) with 75% passing score. Biennial renewal is $600 — among the highest in the nation. Plumbing code varies by jurisdiction (Las Vegas uses IPC; some areas use UPC).
DUAL BOARD SYSTEM: NBOPE for individual journeyman/master certifications; NSCB for plumbing contractor business licenses (C-1 or C-1D)
No state apprentice license
Exam has unusual structure: Open-book section (50 questions, 2 hrs) + Closed-book section (100 questions, 1:45) — in same sitting
Passing score: 75% (113 cumulative points) — higher than most states
Can retry exam indefinitely if failed
C-1D Contractor exam: 80 questions, 3 hours, open book, passing score of 56
Contractor requires 4 years experience, 4 references, background check, Business & Law exam + Trade exam
Biennial renewal: $600 for both J/M (among the highest in the nation)
CE: 4 hours per cycle — IAPMO course OR 25-question online test
Plumbing code varies by jurisdiction (Las Vegas uses IPC; some areas use UPC)
NSCB contractor reciprocity with CA/AZ/UT does NOT cover plumbing
Renewal cycle: verify biennial vs triennial against current NBOPE rules — conflicting data across sources
Plumber Schools in Nevada
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Official Sources
Plumber requirements in Nevada verified against Nevada Board of Plumbing Examiners (NBOPE) for individual J/M licenses + Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB) for contractor business licenses, April 2026.
Official regulatory agency — added during plumber audit
Accessed 2026-03-22
Accessed 2026-03-06
Accessed 2026-03-06