To hold a Nevada contractor license, you generally have to show the State Contractors Board proof of workers compensation coverage, unless you have no employees and sign a workers comp exemption affidavit. Nevada is one of the states that makes comp a condition of getting and keeping your license, so a lapse can put the license itself at risk. On top of comp, the Board requires a surety bond or cash deposit and a showing of financial responsibility.
Who this is for: Nevada general and specialty contractors applying for, renewing, or reactivating a license through the State Contractors Board.
The short version
- Nevada licenses contractors through the State Contractors Board under its contractor law.
- Workers comp is a license condition; you show proof at issuance, renewal, and reactivation.
- A contractor with no employees can sign a workers comp exemption affidavit instead.
- The Board also requires a surety bond or cash deposit and financial responsibility.
- Let coverage lapse and you risk discipline or suspension of the license.
What the Contractors Board wants to see
Nevada ties several kinds of proof to your license, and workers comp is central among them.
| Requirement | What it is | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Workers comp coverage | Proof of a policy, often a certificate naming the Board | Any licensee with employees |
| Exemption affidavit | A signed statement that you have no employees | A licensee working truly solo |
| Surety bond or cash deposit | A bond in an amount the Board sets by your license limit | All licensees |
| Financial responsibility | Evidence you can meet your obligations | All licensees |
The no-employee affidavit, and its limits
If you truly work alone, you can sign the exemption affidavit and hold your license without a comp policy. But the exemption is only good while you have no employees. The moment you hire anyone, part time or seasonal, coverage becomes mandatory and you need a real policy on file, not the affidavit. And remember the statutory-employer rule: as a general contractor you can be treated as the employer of an uninsured subcontractor's injured workers, so the safe practice is to collect a current certificate from every sub before they start, even when your own crew is just you.
A Henderson example
Illustrative, not a quote. A Henderson general contractor holds a license and worked solo under an exemption affidavit for his first year. When he wins a bigger job and hires two carpenters, the exemption no longer fits, so he buys a policy and files proof with the Board before the crew starts. He also starts collecting certificates from his subs, because an uninsured sub's injury could otherwise land on his policy. See our workers comp for general contractors page.
Real questions Nevada owners ask
Do I need workers comp for a Nevada contractor license?
Generally yes, if you have employees. Nevada makes comp a license condition, so you show proof to the State Contractors Board at issuance, renewal, and reactivation.
What if I have no employees?
You can sign a workers comp exemption affidavit and hold the license without a policy. The exemption only lasts while you truly have no employees.
What happens to the exemption when I hire someone?
It no longer applies. The moment you hire anyone, even part time, coverage becomes mandatory and you must file proof of a real policy with the Board.
What other insurance does the Contractors Board require?
Besides workers comp, the Board requires a surety bond or cash deposit in an amount set by your license limit, plus a showing of financial responsibility.
Can I lose my license over a coverage lapse?
Yes. Because comp is a condition of licensure, letting it lapse is grounds for discipline or suspension of your Nevada contractor license.
Am I responsible for my subcontractors' coverage?
In effect, yes. Nevada treats a general contractor as the employer of an uninsured sub's injured workers, so collect a current certificate from every sub before they start.
Does the certificate need to name the Contractors Board?
Often yes. The Board typically wants proof of coverage naming it as the certificate holder, which a broker can issue quickly once your policy is in place.
Related Nevada guides
Every Nevada business is set up a little differently. These companion guides answer the same question for other situations, plus the national explainers behind the terms used here.
- Business insurance in Nevada (start here)
- Workers comp: the owner's overview
- I own an LLC: do I need workers comp?
- I'm a sole proprietor: do I need workers comp?
- I own a corporation (C-corp or S-corp): do I need it?
- We're a partnership: do we need workers comp?
- We're a nonprofit: do we need workers comp?
- My workers are 1099: do I still need it?
- Only part-time or seasonal staff: do I need it?
- I only employ family: do I need workers comp?
- Remote or out-of-state staff: do I need coverage?
- What happens if I don't carry workers comp?
- How much does workers comp cost?
- How do I get workers comp (even if turned down)?
- Workers compensation insurance, explained
- What workers comp costs (national guide)
- Do I need workers comp for 1099 contractors?
- What workers comp does not cover
- Nevada contractor workers comp
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Nevada rules and penalty amounts can change, so verify current requirements with the Nevada Division of Industrial Relations or a licensed advisor before you rely on them. Last updated: July 2026.