By Shauna Krause, President, Capitol Services, Inc.
I will take contractors on a side trip today into the Silver State but first stop in our journey ‘won’t’ take us to Arizona. Please keep your seat upright and your hands inside the vehicle…
Q: I am a licensed contractor in California and I’m interested in obtaining the equivalent Arizona license. The problem is I’m extremely busy and I don’t have the time to travel to Arizona in order to accomplish this. How many trips do you anticipate I need to plan for?
A: Actually, I have good news! You will not need to make any trips to Arizona to obtain your license. Based on your California license, you will qualify for a waiver of the trade exam. You will be required to take the Statutes and Rules training course/exam, however it’s an online course so no need to travel anywhere. We can help you with the process including all of the paperwork which can be signed online as well.
Q: We are a General Contractor licensed in several states. We do work on all types of structures. I called the NSCB (Nevada State Contractors Board) to inquire about the type of license we would be required to have to do work there and was told we need a “B” (General Building) license. When I asked whether our General license in other States would work for reciprocity, they said that it would grant a Waiver of the Trade exam if our Qualifying Individual had been licensed for the previous four years, BUT the individual would need to document at least four years of experience doing ground up construction on structures over three stories in height.
No one in our company has that and when I informed the NSCB representative of that, she said we would only qualify for a “B-2” license, which doesn’t allow us to even work on structures over three stories in height. I’m confused by this. We do all kinds of tenant improvement projects on high rise structures, hundreds a year. But we’ve never done ground up construction. We need the General license as we are prime contractor and sub-contract out work to properly licensed contractors. We have many opportunities in Nevada but have hit this roadblock. Is there any way you can help?
A: Yes, but hold on tight! This requirement is certainly frustrating but what the NSCB told you is accurate. In order to qualify for the full “B” license and act as a General contractor in Nevada, you are required to have someone from your company who can document at least four years of experience doing ground-up construction, from foundation to finish, of structures over three stories in height.
It’s frustrating because reading the NSCB’s definition of a “B” contractor, there is no language which specifies the building work needs to be “ground up construction”. The definition reads “The principal business is in connection with the construction or remodeling of buildings or structures for the support, shelter and enclosure of persons, animals, chattels or movable property of any kind, requiring in their construction the use of more than two unrelated building trades or crafts, upon which he or she is a prime contractor and where the construction or remodeling of a building is the primary purpose.” Yet, the NSCB still has an internal requirement for “B” applicants to show ground up construction of high rises experience. Therefore, your only choice is to hire someone with the qualification or the prior experience.
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While knowledge is power, knowing where to go for the answers is half the battle. Get expert assistance immediately when you call 866-443-0657, email info@cutredtape.com, or write us at Capitol Services, Inc., 3609 Bradshaw Rd, Ste H, #343, Sacramento, CA 95827. Search past columns at www.cutredtape.com