Nevada has no state journeyman HVAC license. A company needs the NSCB C-21 license, qualified by a person with four years of experience in the last 15 who passes the CMS and C-21 exams at PSI. Fees start with $300 to apply and $600 for the license.
Nevada has no state journeyman HVAC license. To contract heating, air conditioning or refrigeration work, a company needs a C-21 Refrigeration and Air Conditioning license from the Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB), qualified by a person with four years of trade experience who passes two PSI exams. Technicians who maintain, service, repair or dispose of equipment that could release refrigerant also need the federal EPA Section 608 certification.
This page covers the HVAC side of Nevada licensing. For the board's rules across every trade, start with the Nevada contractor license requirements, and for other states see how to get a contractor license in each state.
At a glance Issued by: the Nevada State Contractors Board under NRS 624 and NAC 624. License: C-21 Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, with seven subclassifications (C-21a to C-21g). Experience: four years in the classification within the 15 years before you apply. Exams: the Construction Management Survey plus a C-21 trade exam, both at PSI. Board fees: $300 to apply and $600 for the two year license.
Who Licenses HVAC Work in Nevada
The NSCB licenses contracting businesses, not individual HVAC mechanics. The license is issued to the company and must be qualified by a named person, the qualified individual, for every classification it holds.
HVAC is a Classification C specialty; general building sits under Classification B in our Nevada general contractor license guide. For the parallel trades see the Nevada electrician license (C-2) and the Nevada plumbing license guide.
Do You Need a License? The $1,000 Rule
NRS 624.031(6) exempts repair or maintenance work worth less than $1,000, labor and materials combined. That exemption never covers work of a type performed by a plumbing, electrical, refrigeration, heating or air conditioning contractor. It also does not apply when a building permit is required, or when the job is part of a larger project worth $500 or more.
So an HVAC business needs the C-21 no matter how small the job. Under NRS 624.750, a first offense of unlicensed contracting is a misdemeanor with a fine of $1,000 to $4,000 and up to 6 months in county jail, a second is a gross misdemeanor with a fine of $4,000 to $10,000, and a third is a category E felony with a fine of $10,000 to $20,000.
The C-21 Classification and Its Subclassifications
NAC 624.380 creates the C-21 license and its subclassifications. The full C-21 covers every subclassification, and C-21 work is not incidental or supplemental to any other specialty.
| Class | Name | What it authorizes |
|---|---|---|
| C-21 | Refrigeration and air conditioning | All work in C-21a to C-21g |
| C-21a | Refrigeration | Units for air below 50 degrees F, refrigerated rooms |
| C-21b | Air conditioning | Install and service HVAC equipment and ductwork |
| C-21c | Sheet metal | Ducts, flues, gutters, flashing, metal roofs |
| C-21d | Maintenance | Repair and replace parts of existing systems |
| C-21e | Solar air conditioning | Solar collectors and piping for temperature control |
| C-21f | Chilled and hot water systems | Boilers, chillers, cooling towers, piping, pumps |
| C-21g | Industrial piping | Piping for water, steam, gas, chemicals, food |
Notes on the table (NAC 624.380):
- C-21a includes the gas line from the unit to the existing gas line and the electrical service from the unit's overcurrent device to the main panel, but no other gas or electric services.
- C-21b covers equipment that uses evaporation, refrigeration, boilers or combustion to control air temperature in structures, with its humidity and thermostatic controls.
- C-21d stops short of replacing complete condenser assemblies on remote systems, air handlers, or any work that may alter the design of an existing system.
A service company that only swaps parts can look at C-21d, but changing out a whole condenser or air handler needs more than C-21d allows.
Where C-1 Plumbing and Heating Overlaps
Some heating work sits under C-1 Plumbing and Heating instead (NAC 624.190). If you run hydronic heat, boilers, gas piping or evaporative cooling, check which subclassification fits before you apply.
| Class | Name | HVAC overlap |
|---|---|---|
| C-1a | Boilers | Hot water and steam boilers and piping |
| C-1c | Insulation of pipes and ducts | Pipe and duct insulation |
| C-1e | Sheet metal | Ducts and flues, no refrigeration equipment |
| C-1f | Heating, cooling, circulating air | Heating and evaporative cooling, no refrigeration |
| C-1g | Pipes and vents for gas | Gas piping into the building and vents |
| C-1i | Chilled water piping | Chilled water pipes and pumps, not the chiller |
Notes (NAC 624.190): C-1d Plumbing also covers hydronic heating systems up to 200,000 BTU. C-1f and C-1e exclude any system that uses refrigeration as an integral part, which is exactly the work that needs a C-21.
The Qualified Individual Who Qualifies the Company
Under NRS 624.260(2), a business qualifies through a person: the owner, a partner, an officer, a member or manager, or an employee. That person must be a bona fide member or employee of the company. NRS 624.260(3) requires the qualified individual to make technical and administrative decisions, to hire, supervise and discipline employees or effectively recommend it, and to devote himself or herself solely to the company's business.
On the NSCB New License Application, the qualified individual accepts responsibility for all work performed while qualifying the license and for the company's financial decisions. The board may also review the qualifier's business history, lawsuits, liens and judgments (NRS 624.260(4)).
A person may qualify more than one active license only if one person owns at least 25 percent of each licensee, or one licensee owns at least 25 percent of the other, or one licensee is a corporation for public benefit (NRS 624.260(5)). There is no limit on the number of qualified individuals on one license.
If the qualifier leaves, the company must notify the board in writing within 10 days. The license stays in force for no more than 30 days while the company replaces the qualifier with another approved person; missing the notice suspends the license automatically (NRS 624.285).
What If No One in Your Company Qualifies?
Many growing HVAC companies hit this wall: no owner or employee has four years of C-21 experience or the exam scores. Nevada allows the qualifier to be an employee, and that is the lawful path. A qualifying agent qualifies the company as a full time W-2 employee who holds real authority over the mechanical work and meets every duty in NRS 624.260(3). Learn what a qualifying agent is, read what an HVAC contractor qualifying agent does, and see how to hire a qualifying agent.
Experience You Need for the C-21
NRS 624.260(6) requires at least four years of experience as a journeyman, foreman, supervising employee or contractor in the specific classification, earned within the 15 years before you file. An applicant who has already qualified for a license in the same classification does not need to fit the experience inside that 15 year window (NRS 624.260(7)).
A journeyman, for this rule, is someone fully qualified to do the work without supervision, or who has finished an apprenticeship approved by the State Apprenticeship Council or an equivalent program the board accepts (NRS 624.260(8)). Training at an accredited college, university or board accepted program can count for up to three of the four years.
The board accepts these forms of proof (NAC 624.590 and the New License Application):
- Four Certification of Work Experience forms for each trade qualifier, from employers, general contractors, subcontractors or customers, one per company.
- A current master certification from a government agency in a discipline substantially similar to the classification.
- Proof of transferable military experience and training.
- Proof of eligibility for licensure by endorsement from a state on the board's equivalency chart.
The certificates together must add up to at least four full years, which the application counts as 1,460 days, and every qualifier also completes a Resume of Experience.
The Two PSI Exams
The qualified individual passes the business and law exam, called the Construction Management Survey (CMS), and a trade exam for the classification. PSI Services LLC runs both under contract with the board. You can schedule only after the board verifies your experience and sends an Examination Eligibility form with your candidate ID.
| Exam | Questions | Time | Passing score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Management Survey | 63 (60 scored) | 126 minutes | 45 of 60 (75 percent) |
| C-21 Refrigeration and Air Conditioning | 85 | 3 hours | 60 correct |
| C-21b Air Conditioning | 60 | 2 hours | 42 correct |
| C-21d Maintenance | 60 | 2 hours | 42 correct |
| C-21a Refrigeration | 50 | 2 hours | 35 correct |
Notes on the table (PSI "C" Classification bulletin, updated 3/25/2026):
- Open book rules. The CMS allows the Construction Business and Law Manual for Nevada. The C-21 trade exam allows two code books in the room: the 2018 Uniform Mechanical Code and NFPA 54, the National Fuel Gas Code (2012). The other references on its list are study material and are not allowed in the room.
- What the C-21 covers. Fuel systems carry the most items (10), followed by refrigerants and refrigeration (7) and piping, load calculations and ducts (6 each).
- Retakes. You have three attempts at each exam, with a two week wait between tries. A third failure voids the application, and you may reapply 30 days or more after the last exam. The qualifier must pass within six months after the application is filed (NAC 624.600).
- Where. PSI tests in Las Vegas, Reno and Elko and at PSI sites in other states; the CMS and C-21b are also offered in Spanish.
- Waivers. A qualifier who recently served on another Nevada license in the same classification, or who holds a license in a state on the board's equivalency chart, may be excused from the trade exam. The New License Application lists the current conditions.
For booking, ID rules and rescheduling, see our guide to scheduling a contractor exam with PSI, Prov or Pearson VUE.
EPA Section 608: The Federal Technician Credential
Separate from the state license, federal law requires EPA Section 608 certification for technicians who maintain, service, repair or dispose of equipment that could release refrigerants. There are four types: Type I for small appliances, Type II for high and very high pressure appliances, Type III for low pressure appliances, and Universal for all equipment.
Section 608 credentials do not expire, and EPA approved certifying organizations, not EPA, give the tests and cards. An apprentice may work without it only while closely and continually supervised by a certified technician. Neither credential replaces the other; see EPA 608 certification vs an HVAC license.
Financial Statement and Monetary Limit
Every Nevada license carries a monetary limit: the maximum contract the company may undertake on one or more contracts on a single construction site or subdivision site for a single client (NRS 624.220(2)). The board sets it from your financial responsibility, and you name the exact limit you want on the application. Ask for too little and you cap the size of jobs you can legally take.
| Requested limit | Financial statement required |
|---|---|
| $25,000 or less | CPA prepared, or board form or software with affidavit |
| More than $25,000, less than $500,000 | CPA compiled within 6 months, or reviewed or audited |
| $500,000 to less than $1,000,000 | CPA compiled with full disclosures, or reviewed or audited |
| $1,000,000 or more | CPA reviewed or audited within 1 year |
Notes (NAC 624.593): a reviewed or audited statement must be prepared within one year before filing. Financial responsibility is judged on the company itself, without relying on the assets or guarantees of its owners or qualifier (NRS 624.263).
Once licensed, you can ask for a higher limit for a single project; the request must reach the board at least 5 working days before you bid and be approved before the bid goes in (NRS 624.220(3)).
Bond, Workers' Compensation and the Recovery Fund
License bond. The board sets the bond after approval, from $1,000 to $500,000, based on license type, monetary limit, finances, experience and character (NRS 624.270). A cash deposit may replace it, with a biennial administrative fee of $200, and is held two years after the license ends. After five consecutive licensed years the board may relieve you of the bond; see contractor bond requirements by state.
Workers' compensation. Every contractor shows proof of coverage or signs an exemption affidavit before licensing and at each renewal; if an employee qualifies the license, coverage is required. See contractor insurance requirements by state.
Residential Recovery Fund. A contractor doing residential work on owner occupied single family homes pays an assessment based on the monetary limit: $200 for limits up to $1,000,000, $500 above that, and $1,000 for unlimited licenses, every two years. Others complete a certificate of exemption.
What It Costs to Get Licensed
| Fee | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Application processing | $300 | NSCB, nonrefundable |
| License, issued or renewed | $600 | NSCB, every two years |
| One exam portion | $95 | PSI |
| CMS plus one trade exam | $140 | PSI |
| Application for an added classification | $300 | NSCB |
| Broaden to the full classification | $250 | NSCB |
| Change the qualified individual | $250 | NSCB |
| Permanent monetary limit change | $250 | NSCB |
| Single project limit increase | $75 | NSCB |
| Late renewal, active license | $150 | NSCB |
Notes: board fees come from NAC 624.130 and the NSCB General Requirements FAQ. The PSI $140 rate applies only when the second exam is the CMS; two trade exams are $95 each. An expedited license costs twice the regular application fee plus the board's actual processing costs (NRS 624.281), and the board has posted a survey on proposed amendments to NAC 624.130, so confirm fees before you pay.
The financial statement, bond premium and insurance depend on your business, so there is no single all in number.
The Licensing Steps in Order
- Pick the classification: the full C-21, a subclassification, or a C-1 subclassification for heating work.
- Name the qualified individual and confirm four years in that classification within the last 15.
- Gather four Certification of Work Experience forms and the Resume of Experience.
- Have the financial statement prepared for the monetary limit you will request.
- File the New License Application and the $300 fee at either NSCB office, with background disclosure and fingerprint waiver forms for every person listed.
- Complete fingerprints after the board receives the waiver forms.
- When the Examination Eligibility form arrives, pass the CMS and the C-21 trade exam at PSI.
- After the contingent approval letter, pay the $600 license fee, post the bond, file workers' compensation proof or the exemption, and settle the Residential Recovery Fund.
- Make sure technicians who service equipment that could release refrigerant hold EPA Section 608 certification.
Local Permits: Clark County and Other Building Departments
The state license lets you contract; the building department issues the permit. Clark County's Building Administrative Code (section 22.02.245) issues mechanical permits only to contractors holding an active C-1, C-2 or C-21 license covering the work, plus an active Clark County business license. The county also requires every contractor and subcontractor to hold an active Multi-Jurisdictional Business License.
Section 22.02.250 requires the contractor to employ at least one master or qualified individual of the right category for mechanical permits. On residential or light frame jobs with permitted mechanical work, a mechanical qualified individual or a journeyman HVAC mechanic must be on site in a supervisory role during work hours. Clark County adopted the 2024 Uniform Mechanical Code effective January 11, 2026.
Cities such as Las Vegas, Henderson and Reno run their own building departments; ask each which certification cards it accepts before you pull a permit.
Renewal and Keeping the License Active
A Nevada contractor license runs two years from the last day of the month it was issued and renews for $600. An active license must keep its bond, a qualified individual and workers' compensation coverage. An inactive license costs $300 to issue or renew; the holder may not bid or contract, and needs no bond or qualifier while inactive.
Display your name and license number on every commercial vehicle registered to the company, in letters about 1 1/2 inches high (NRS 624.288).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Nevada have a journeyman HVAC license? Not at the state level. The state credential is the C-21 contractor license issued by the NSCB, qualified by a person with four years of journeyman level or higher experience. Clark County requires a mechanical qualified individual or a journeyman HVAC mechanic on site for permitted residential and light frame mechanical work, so check local rules where you work.
How many years of experience do I need for a Nevada C-21? Four years as a journeyman, foreman, supervising employee or contractor in the classification, within the 15 years before you apply. Training can count for up to three.
What is the passing score on the C-21 exam? The PSI bulletin sets the minimum passing score at 60 on the 85 question C-21 exam, with three hours to finish. The CMS requires 45 of 60 scored questions, which is 75 percent.
Do I need EPA 608 on top of the C-21? Yes, for anyone who services or disposes of equipment that could release refrigerant. It is a federal technician certification and does not replace the state license.
Who can qualify my company for the C-21? An owner, officer, member, manager or bona fide employee who has the experience, passes the exams and actually directs the company's HVAC work. If no one in your company qualifies, a qualifying agent can qualify it as a full time W-2 employee; start with what a qualifying agent is.
Talk With a Nevada HVAC Licensing Specialist
The Licensing Company is led by its founders, Marshall Schofield and Jeremiah Jaskulski, who work with contracting companies across the country on qualifier and licensing questions like these. If your HVAC company needs a qualified individual for its Nevada C-21, or you want a second set of eyes on your application, call us at 615-219-2110 or start at hire a qualifying agent.
Sources
Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 624, Contractors (NRS 624.031, 624.220, 624.260, 624.263, 624.270, 624.280, 624.281, 624.285, 624.288)
- Nevada Administrative Code Chapter 624, Contractors, revised April 2026 (NAC 624.130, 624.190, 624.380, 624.590, 624.593, 624.600)
- Nevada State Contractors Board: License Requirements
- Nevada State Contractors Board: License Examinations
- Nevada State Contractors Board: License Classifications
- Nevada State Contractors Board: Qualifying Party FAQ
- Nevada State Contractors Board: General Requirements FAQ
- Nevada State Contractors Board: Bonds
- Nevada State Contractors Board: New License Application, revised 03/2026
- PSI: State of Nevada Contractors "C" Classification Candidate Information Bulletin, updated 3/25/2026
- US EPA: Section 608 Technician Certification Requirements
- Clark County: Building Administrative Code, 2018 edition (sections 22.02.245 and 22.02.250)
- Clark County Building and Fire Prevention: Building Codes
- Clark County Building and Fire Prevention: Contractor Licensing Requirements
Disclaimer: This article is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, licensing guidance, or an offer of services. Licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction. For specific compliance questions, contact The Licensing Company for a confidential consultation.