Nevada Revised Statutes
Chapter 649 - Collection Agencies
NRS 649.196 - Qualifications of applicant; requirements for issuance; notice of refusal to issue certificate; request for hearing; withdrawal of application. [Effective until the date on which the Commissioner of Financial Institutions notifies the G...


1. Each applicant for a manager’s certificate must submit proof satisfactory to the Commissioner that the applicant:
(a) Is at least 21 years of age.
(b) Has a good reputation for honesty, trustworthiness and integrity and is competent to transact the business of a collection agency in a manner which protects the interests of the general public.
(c) Has not committed any of the acts specified in NRS 649.215.
(d) Has not had a collection agency license or manager’s certificate suspended or revoked within the 10 years immediately preceding the date of filing the application.
(e) Has not been convicted of, or entered a plea of nolo contendere to, a felony or any crime involving fraud, misrepresentation or moral turpitude.
(f) Has had not less than 2 years’ full-time experience with a collection agency in the collection of accounts assigned by creditors who were not affiliated with the collection agency except as assignors of accounts. At least 1 year of the 2 years of experience must have been within the 18-month period preceding the date of filing the application.
2. Each applicant must:
(a) Pass the examination or reexamination provided for in NRS 649.205.
(b) Pay the required fees.
(c) Submit, in such form as the Commissioner prescribes:
(1) Three recent photographs; and
(2) Three complete sets of fingerprints which the Commissioner may forward to the Central Repository for Nevada Records of Criminal History for submission to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for its report.
(d) Submit such other information reasonably related to his or her qualifications for the manager’s certificate as the Commissioner determines to be necessary.
3. The Commissioner may refuse to issue a manager’s certificate if the applicant does not meet the requirements of subsections 1 and 2.
4. If the Commissioner refuses to issue a manager’s certificate pursuant to this section, the Commissioner shall notify the applicant in writing by certified mail stating the reasons for the refusal. The applicant may submit a written request for a hearing within 20 days after receiving the notice. If the applicant fails to submit a written request within the prescribed period, the Commissioner shall enter a final order.
5. The Commissioner shall consider an application to be withdrawn if the Commissioner has not received all information and fees required to complete the application within 6 months after the date the application is first submitted to the Commissioner or within such later period as the Commissioner determines in accordance with any existing policies of joint regulatory partners. If an application is deemed to be withdrawn pursuant to this subsection or if an applicant otherwise withdraws an application, the Commissioner may not issue a license to the applicant unless the applicant submits a new application and pays any required fees.
(Added to NRS by 1969, 831; A 1977, 1568; 1983, 680, 1715; 1987, 1891; 1995, 1000; 2003, 2865; 2005, 1870; 2019, 4332)

1. Each applicant for a manager’s certificate must submit proof satisfactory to the Commissioner that the applicant:
(a) Is at least 21 years of age.
(b) Has a good reputation for honesty, trustworthiness and integrity and is competent to transact the business of a collection agency in a manner which protects the interests of the general public.
(c) Has not committed any of the acts specified in NRS 649.215.
(d) Has not had a collection agency license or manager’s certificate suspended or revoked within the 10 years immediately preceding the date of filing the application.
(e) Has not been convicted of, or entered a plea of nolo contendere to, a felony or any crime involving fraud, misrepresentation or moral turpitude.
(f) Has had not less than 2 years’ full-time experience with a collection agency in the collection of accounts assigned by creditors who were not affiliated with the collection agency except as assignors of accounts. At least 1 year of the 2 years of experience must have been within the 18-month period preceding the date of filing the application.
2. Each applicant must:
(a) Pass the examination or reexamination provided for in NRS 649.205.
(b) Pay the required fees.
(c) Submit, in such form as the Commissioner prescribes, three recent photographs.
(d) Submit such other information reasonably related to his or her qualifications for the manager’s certificate as the Commissioner determines to be necessary.
3. The Commissioner may refuse to issue a manager’s certificate if the applicant does not meet the requirements of subsections 1 and 2.
4. If the Commissioner refuses to issue a manager’s certificate pursuant to this section, the Commissioner shall notify the applicant in writing by certified mail stating the reasons for the refusal. The applicant may submit a written request for a hearing within 20 days after receiving the notice. If the applicant fails to submit a written request within the prescribed period, the Commissioner shall enter a final order.
5. The Commissioner shall consider an application to be withdrawn if the Commissioner has not received all information and fees required to complete the application within 6 months after the date the application is first submitted to the Commissioner or within such later period as the Commissioner determines in accordance with any existing policies of joint regulatory partners. If an application is deemed to be withdrawn pursuant to this subsection or if an applicant otherwise withdraws an application, the Commissioner may not issue a license to the applicant unless the applicant submits a new application and pays any required fees.
(Added to NRS by 1969, 831; A 1977, 1568; 1983, 680, 1715; 1987, 1891; 1995, 1000; 2003, 2865; 2005, 1870; 2019, 4332; 2021, 2069, effective on the date on which the Commissioner of Financial Institutions notifies the Governor and the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau that the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry has sufficient capabilities to allow the Commissioner to carry out the provisions of chapter 347, Statutes of Nevada 2021, at page 2030)

Structure Nevada Revised Statutes

Nevada Revised Statutes

Chapter 649 - Collection Agencies

NRS 649.005 - Definitions.

NRS 649.010 - "Claim" defined.

NRS 649.020 - "Collection agency" defined.

NRS 649.025 - "Collection agent" defined.

NRS 649.026 - "Commissioner" defined.

NRS 649.030 - "Customer" defined.

NRS 649.035 - "Manager" defined.

NRS 649.036 - "Medical debt" defined.

NRS 649.037 - "Medical debtor" defined.

NRS 649.038 - "Medical facility" defined.

NRS 649.039 - "Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry" or "Registry" defined. [Effective on the date on which the Commissioner of Financial Institutions notifies the Governor and the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau that the Na...

NRS 649.041 - "Provider of emergency medical services" defined.

NRS 649.042 - "Provider of health care" defined.

NRS 649.045 - Legislative finding and declaration.

NRS 649.051 - Administration and enforcement of chapter.

NRS 649.053 - Regulations.

NRS 649.054 - Regulations authorizing collection from location outside of Nevada; standards for trust accounts.

NRS 649.056 - Regulations prescribing methods of conducting business; investigations and examinations.

NRS 649.057 - Investigations and hearings.

NRS 649.059 - Approval of printed forms.

NRS 649.061 - Notification of results of examination; retention and destruction of examination papers.

NRS 649.065 - Records: Maintenance by Commissioner; contents; general provisions governing confidentiality and public inspection.

NRS 649.067 - Records: Certain records relating to complaint or investigation deemed confidential; certain records relating to disciplinary action deemed public records.

NRS 649.075 - License required; exception.

NRS 649.085 - Qualifications of applicant for license.

NRS 649.095 - Application for license: Contents; submission of fingerprints and financial statement; examination of applicant; withdrawal of application. [Effective until the date on which the Commissioner of Financial Institutions notifies the Gover...

NRS 649.105 - Bond or substitute security required; amount and conditions; adjustments in amount.

NRS 649.115 - Form of bond; matters covered by bond; statute of limitations for bringing action on bond.

NRS 649.119 - Deposit as substitute for bond.

NRS 649.125 - Investigation by Commissioner.

NRS 649.135 - Order approving application; findings.

NRS 649.145 - Conditions for issuance of license; contents of license.

NRS 649.155 - Order denying application; notice of denial.

NRS 649.165 - Rights of licensee.

NRS 649.167 - Branch office: Application for permit; examination of principal office; manager required on premises; regulations.

NRS 649.171 - Certificate of registration; limitations on business practices; fees; disciplinary action; regulations. [Effective until the date on which the Commissioner of Financial Institutions notifies the Governor and the Director of the Legislat...

NRS 649.175 - Manager’s certificate required.

NRS 649.185 - Application.

NRS 649.196 - Qualifications of applicant; requirements for issuance; notice of refusal to issue certificate; request for hearing; withdrawal of application. [Effective until the date on which the Commissioner of Financial Institutions notifies the G...

NRS 649.205 - Examination; reexamination; regulations.

NRS 649.215 - Grounds for refusing examination or suspending or revoking certificate.

NRS 649.225 - Issuance of certificate; notice of manager’s change of residence address.

NRS 649.233 - Payment of child support: Submission of certain information by applicant; grounds for denial of license or manager’s certificate; duty of Commissioner. [Effective until the date of the repeal of 42 U.S.C. § 666, the federal law requirin...

NRS 649.235 - License or manager’s certificate: Expiration; not transferable. [Effective until the date on which the Commissioner of Financial Institutions notifies the Governor and the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau that the Nationwide M...

NRS 649.245 - icense or manager’s certificate: Renewal. [Effective until the date on which the Commissioner of Financial Institutions notifies the Governor and the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau that the Nationwide Multistate Licensing Sy...

NRS 649.271 - Commissioner authorized to take action to participate; charges for use; regulations; provisions do not replace or affect authority of Commissioner regarding licensing and certification. [Effective on the date on which the Commissioner o...

NRS 649.273 - Submission and processing of fingerprints. [Effective on the date on which the Commissioner of Financial Institutions notifies the Governor and the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau that the Nationwide Multistate Licensing Syst...

NRS 649.277 - Commissioner required to report certain information or material; confidentiality of information or material provided; Commissioner authorized to enter into certain agreements and arrangements. [Effective on the date on which the Commiss...

NRS 649.279 - Additional materials required to be submitted. [Effective on the date on which the Commissioner of Financial Institutions notifies the Governor and the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau that the Nationwide Multistate Licensing...

NRS 649.281 - Holder of license or certificate required to register and maintain unique identifier; Commissioner authorized to issue license or certificate through Registry; references to Commissioner deemed references to Registry. [Effective on the...

NRS 649.295 - Amounts; deposit; regulations.

NRS 649.297 - Fee for failure to submit reports; regulations.

NRS 649.300 - Payment of assessment; cooperation with audits and examinations.

NRS 649.305 - Collection agency not to operate without manager.

NRS 649.315 - Display of license or certificate.

NRS 649.325 - Change of location of business.

NRS 649.330 - Notification of change in management or ownership of voting stock; application for licensure of replacement; investigation; costs; waiver.

NRS 649.331 - Recording of telephone conversations.

NRS 649.332 - Verification of debt.

NRS 649.334 - Written agreement required to be specific, intelligible and unambiguous; money collected required to be credited first to principal; partial collection of claim prohibited; accounting of money collected on behalf of customer.

NRS 649.3345 - Withdrawal of claim by customer.

NRS 649.335 - Retention and examinations of records and accounts.

NRS 649.345 - Annual report to Commissioner: Contents; suspension of license or manager’s certificate for false information. [Effective until the date on which the Commissioner of Financial Institutions notifies the Governor and the Director of the L...

NRS 649.347 - Additional annual report to Commissioner concerning collection of debts for unit-owners’ association.

NRS 649.355 - Business ethics and practices; trust accounts.

NRS 649.365 - Approval of business name required; prohibition against use of certain names, terms and forms.

NRS 649.366 - Collection of medical debt: Notification to medical debtor required before taking action to collect.

NRS 649.367 - Collection of medical debt: Conditions for acceptance of voluntary payment from medical debtor during notification period; protections for medical debtor who initiates contact with or makes voluntary payment to collection agency during...

NRS 649.368 - Collection of medical debt: Prohibited practices.

NRS 649.369 - Collection of medical debt: Protections may not be waived.

NRS 649.370 - Violation of federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

NRS 649.375 - Prohibited practices generally.

NRS 649.385 - Investigation of verified complaint; verified answer; action by Commissioner after informal hearing.

NRS 649.390 - Investigation of verified complaint concerning unlicensed person; order to cease and desist; administrative fines; suit to recover fine; cumulative penalties.

NRS 649.395 - Authorized disciplinary action; grounds for disciplinary action; effect of revocation of license; orders imposing discipline deemed public records.

NRS 649.398 - Suspension of license or manager’s certificate for failure to pay child support or comply with certain subpoenas or warrants; reinstatement of license or manager’s certificate. [Effective until 2 years after the date of the repeal of 42...

NRS 649.400 - Injunctive relief.

NRS 649.435 - Criminal penalty for violations; each day of unlawful operation constitutes separate offense.

NRS 649.440 - Administrative fine for violations.