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How to pass the Nevada Class B General Building Contractor exam

A business and law exam that needs 75%, a trade exam with only a few books allowed, and a financial statement that sets your job size limit. Here’s how the Nevada B license works and how to study for it, checked against the state’s own documents.

At a glance

The exams

Question counts, passing scores and times are from PSI’s Nevada B classification candidate bulletin (updated March 25, 2026). All questions are multiple choice. PSI may add one to ten unscored questions, and they count against your time. The NSCB says trade exams are closed book except for certain code references.

Before you apply

• Experience, 4 years: the qualified individual needs at least four full years of experience as a journeyman, foreman, supervising employee or contractor in the classification, within the 15 years before you apply.
• Proof of experience: four Certification of Work Experience forms per trade qualifier, a government-issued master’s certification, or proof of military training. College or approved training can count for up to three years.
• Financial statement: required no matter what monetary limit you ask for. For a limit of $1,000,000 or more, it must be reviewed or audited by an independent CPA and current within one year.
• Bank verification: a Bank Verification Form completed by your bank goes in with the application.
• Bond: the Board sets your license bond at approval, from $1,000 to $500,000, based on license type, monetary limit, finances, experience and character.
• Workers’ comp: proof of industrial insurance (workers’ comp) or a signed exemption affidavit before the license is issued and to keep it active.

Step by step

1. Apply to the NSCB firstSubmit the application with your experience forms, resume of experience, financial statement, fingerprints and the $300 application fee. Don’t send the bond or license fee yet.
2. Get your exam eligibility letterAfter staff verify your experience, you receive an eligibility letter with your candidate ID. You can’t schedule until then.
3. Schedule with PSIPSI charges $95 for one exam, or $140 for the CMS plus one trade exam. Fees are not refundable and expire with your eligibility.
4. Pass both examsYou get three attempts at each exam and must wait two weeks after a failed attempt. A third failure voids the application, and you can reapply after 30 days.
5. Use NASCLA if you have itIf you passed the NASCLA commercial general building exam, send your transcript from NASCLA and check the NASCLA box on the application to waive the B trade exam.
6. Finish your licenseAfter approval, pay the $600 license fee (good for two years), post the bond the Board sets and file workers’ comp proof or an exemption.

The reference books

The CMS exam allows one book: the Construction Business and Law Manual for Nevada, sold by PSI. Its 60 questions cover licensing, estimating and bidding, lien law, financial management, tax and labor laws, project management, contracts, risk management, and environmental and safety rules.

The B trade exam allows three code books in the room: the 2018 International Building Code, ACI 318 (2011 or 2014) and ACI 530/530.1 (2011 or 2013). Code questions are based only on the listed edition.

Other books were used to write the B exam but are not allowed in the room: OSHA 29 CFR 1926, the steel joist digest, Pipe and Excavation Contracting, the Gypsum Construction Handbook, the Nevada One Call law guidelines, the post-tensioning field manual, Modern Masonry and the Contractors Guide to Quality Concrete Construction. Study them ahead of time.

Book rules: you can highlight, underline and index before the exam, but you can’t write in your books before or during it. Permanent tabs only. No loose papers.

A 6-week study plan

On test day

• Arrive at least 30 minutes early. Bring one valid government photo ID that matches the name you registered with.
• Bring only the allowed books, with permanent tabs and no writing in them.
• Calculators must be silent, non-printing and non-programmable.
• The CMS gives you 120 minutes for 60 scored questions. That’s 2 minutes each, so don’t look up what you already know.
• Unscored questions look like real ones and use your time. Answer every question.
• Your score shows on screen when you finish. If you fail, the report shows your weak areas.

Quick answers