City/county license

Journeyman Electrician License in Nevada

✓Written by a licensed IBEW journeyman electrician

Last updated: October 24, 2026

Nevada has no state journeyman license that we found. Cities and counties, including Clark County, Las Vegas, Henderson and Reno, require at least a journeyman Nevada Electrical Qualifications Card. A non-profit, Electrical Safety Professionals (ESP), issues the card. New applicants need 4,000 hours of experience and an ICC exam pass letter.

The facts, from the source

Who issues

Electrical Safety Professionals (ESP), a non-profit that runs the Nevada Electrical Qualifications Card program. It is not a government licensing board. ESP says its cards are different from Nevada State Contractor Licenses. (electricalsafetypro.org)

Exam vendor

ICC owns the exam. It is delivered by Pearson VUE in-person test centers only. (iccsafe.org)

Exam (questions/time)

ICC R17 Journeyman Electrician: 80 multiple-choice questions, 4-hour time limit, single exam, computer-based (iccsafe.org)

Open book / references

Open book. ICC lists the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) and Ugly's Electrical Reference (any edition) as references for R17. ICC says the exact approved references are in its Exam Catalog. (iccsafe.org)

NEC edition

The NEC is adopted locally in Nevada. For card issuance, ESP accepts 2020 and 2023 NEC-based exams from April 1, 2026 (2017-based exams were accepted through March 31, 2026). ICC R17 is based on the 2023 NEC. (electricalsafetypro.org)

Experience required

Per ESP, effective July 1, 2025: new card applicants need a minimum of 4,000 hours of electrical work experience or electrical apprenticeship hours AND the ICC exam pass letter. Individual cities may set their own requirements. (electricalsafetypro.org)

Fees

ICC R17 exam $120 through Pearson VUE (ICC bulletin of June 30, 2026). $85.00 for a new or renewal Journeyman, Residential or Low Voltage card (3-year card), paid to ESP. (electricalsafetypro.org)

Where the license comes from in Nevada

In Nevada, journeyman licensing is handled locally. Examples we verified:

• Clark County, Building Department: journeyman card through ESP

  ICC national electrician exams through Pearson VUE: R17 Journeyman (2023 NEC). T17Y (2020 NEC) is also accepted. G17Y (2017 NEC) was accepted only through 2026-03-31.

  electricalsafetypro.org

• City of Las Vegas: journeyman card through ESP

  ESP says it uses the same ICC exams (R17 and T17Y). ESP's notice says the city requires at least a journeyman card.

  electricalsafetypro.org

• City of Henderson: journeyman card through ESP

  ESP says it uses the same ICC exams (R17 and T17Y). ESP's notice says the city requires at least a journeyman card.

  electricalsafetypro.org

• City of Reno (Washoe County area): journeyman card through ESP

  ICC national journeyman exam (G17 series per a 1/2/2020 ICC bulletin). Confirm the current exam with the city.

  iccsafe.org

Requirements differ city to city. Check with the building or licensing department where you’ll work.

What’s on the exam

ICC R17 outline (percent of exam): General Knowledge 6%; Services and Service Equipment 11%; Feeders 4%; Branch Circuits and Conductors 19%; Wiring Methods and Materials 26%; Equipment and Devices 13%; Control Devices 4%; Motors and Generators 6%; Special Occupancies, Equipment, and Conditions 11%.

Confirm these with the board

• Passing score: published in the ICC Exam Catalog; confirm with ICC
• North Las Vegas and unincorporated Washoe County card rules: confirm locally
• Whether Reno or Henderson add hours beyond ESP's 4,000: confirm locally
• Reciprocity: not published in the materials we checked

Electrical Safety Professionals (ESP) - Nevada Electrical Qualifications Card Program (not a state licensing board) ↗

Partly verified October 24, 2026: some items couldn’t be confirmed from official sources and are listed above

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Facts on this page trace to primary sources or first-hand IBEW Local 134 experience — see sources & methodology.