Plumber License Requirements in Nevada
- Training hours
- 8000 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $340
- Exam
- Journeyman Plumber Exam - Part 1 (Open Book), Journeyman Plumber Exam - Part 2 (Closed Book)
- Renewal cycle
- Every 3 years
- Issuing board
- Nevada Board of Plumbing Examiners (NBOPE)
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. No minimum age or background-check requirement was found in NBOPE's testing information or the NITC application/affidavit-of-experience form reviewed; the only qualification documented is the 4-year apprenticeship or 8,000-hour experience affidavit, so minAge is left null and backgroundCheck recorded as false rather than assumed. [2]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 8000 hours of training. Per NBOPE's Journeyman/Master Plumber application, a Journeyman applicant must complete either (a) a minimum of 4 years in a state-registered, accredited apprenticeship, or (b) 8,000 hours of substantiated experience in the plumbing trade, verified via NBOPE's Affidavit of Experience form (proof of employment, letters from a plumbing contractor on company letterhead, or W-2s). Since the substantiated-experience path does not require completion of a formal apprenticeship program, approvedProgramRequired is false. [1]
- 3
Journeyman Plumber Exam - Part 1 (Open Book)
Pass the Journeyman Plumber Exam - Part 1 (Open Book). Open book (current Uniform Plumbing Code), 50 multiple-choice questions, 2-hour time limit. The $340 fee covers the full Journeyman application/exam (both Part 1 and Part 2, taken together) paid to NITC for a computer-lab exam; an additional $90 processing fee applies if testing at a Prometric Test Center instead. A combined minimum score of 75% (113 cumulative points) across both parts is required to pass. Fee recorded as null here to avoid double-counting the same charge twice in this record's upfront-cost total: the $340 is a combined application/examination fee and is already counted under the application fee. [2]
- 4
Journeyman Plumber Exam - Part 2 (Closed Book)
Pass the Journeyman Plumber Exam - Part 2 (Closed Book). Closed book, 100 multiple-choice questions, 2-hour time limit, covering DWV sizing, gas pipe sizing, storm drainage, and water pipe sizing. Fee is left null here to avoid double-counting; the single $340 application fee recorded on Part 1 covers both parts of the exam. [1]
- 5
Submit your application
Submit your application to Nevada Board of Plumbing Examiners (NBOPE) with the $340 application fee. [2]
- 6
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Nevada Board of Plumbing Examiners (NBOPE) issues your Journeyman Plumber Certification for Nevada.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [2] | $340 |
| License fee [2] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [2] | None specified |
| Journeyman Plumber Exam - Part 1 (Open Book) [2] | None specified |
| Journeyman Plumber Exam - Part 2 (Closed Book) [1] | None specified |
| Additional processing fee for Prometric Test Center exam [2] | $90 |
The $340 fee submitted with the NBOPE application covers both the application and the computer-lab exam sitting (Prometric testing adds $90); no separate license-issuance fee was found, so 'license' is left null. NBOPE's own site states renewal fees are 'Applicable Fees (see application)' without publishing a dollar amount, so 'renewal' is left null rather than guessed.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 3 years. 8 continuing education hours required per cycle.
NBOPE Journeyman certificates must be renewed every 3 years, expiring on the date printed on the ID card with 'absolutely no grace period.' Recertification can be completed via 8 hours of continuing education through an NBOPE-approved training seminar, OR by passing a 40-question, non-proctored, open-book online exam with a minimum score of 75% (30 cumulative points) instead of the CE hours.
Reciprocity
No reciprocity or endorsement route was found.
No interstate compact covers plumbing licensure. No reciprocity, endorsement, or out-of-state license-recognition policy was found published on NBOPE's own site (testing information, recertification information, or downloads/links pages); an out-of-state plumber appears to need to apply and sit for Nevada's own Journeyman exam like any other candidate, though out-of-state work experience can potentially be documented toward the 8,000-hour Affidavit of Experience. Applicants should contact NBOPE directly to confirm current policy.
Cost calculator
- $340
Frequently asked questions
What experience does Nevada require for a Journeyman Plumber certification?
Either 4 years in a state-registered, accredited apprenticeship, or 8,000 hours of substantiated plumbing trade experience documented via NBOPE's Affidavit of Experience form.
What does the NBOPE Journeyman Plumber exam cover?
Two parts taken together: an open-book Part 1 (50 questions, Uniform Plumbing Code, 2 hours) and a closed-book Part 2 (100 questions on DWV/gas/storm-drainage/water pipe sizing, 2 hours), requiring a combined 75% (113 cumulative points) to pass.
What does it cost to get a Journeyman Plumber certification in Nevada?
A $340 fee covers the application and computer-lab exam sitting for both parts; testing at a Prometric Test Center instead adds a $90 processing fee. No separate license-issuance fee was found.
How often does a Nevada Journeyman Plumber certification need to be renewed?
Every 3 years, with no grace period. Renewal requires either 8 hours of NBOPE-approved continuing education or passing a 40-question open-book online exam (75% minimum).
Does Nevada offer reciprocity for plumbers licensed in other states?
No published reciprocity or endorsement policy was found on NBOPE's own site; out-of-state plumbers generally need to apply and pass Nevada's own Journeyman exam, though prior work experience can potentially count toward the 8,000-hour experience requirement.
Sources
- [1] nbope.org/testing_information — accessed 2026-07-12
- [2] nitc.com/NBOPE-Journeyman-and-Master-Plumber-Application-form — accessed 2026-07-12
- [3] nbope.org/renewal_information — accessed 2026-07-12
- [4] nbope.org — accessed 2026-07-12