Contractor licensing by state
How to Get a Contractor License in New Mexico
New Mexico requires a state license for every trade we track. The main contractor license is the Contractor's license from the Construction Industries Division, which costs $30 to start and needs two exams, Business and Law plus Trade exam for each classification. All 10 trades we could rate score the same, 44 of 100.
The New Mexico contractor license
| License | Contractor's license from the Construction Industries Division (CID), issued by classification to a company with a certified Qualifying Party |
|---|---|
| Covers | Foundation repair, general contracting, roofing, plumbing, electrical work, HVAC work, landscape irrigation, concrete flatwork, drainage and detention work, and demolition |
| Fee | $30 (nonrefundable license application fee, plus $100 a year ($200 for two years) for each GB-2, GB-98, EE-98, MM-98, GA-98 or GF-98 classification, or $50 a year for other classifications) |
| Exam | Business and Law exam (or an approved Business and Law course); Trade exam for each classification. Given by PSI. |
| Experience | The Qualifying Party needs the experience set for the classification (two years for most GS specialties, two years foreman level for GB-2, four years for GB-98, MM and EE-98) within the 10 years before applying. |
| Insurance | Workers' compensation coverage is required for all licensed entities. Source |
| Bond | $10,000. Source |
| Renewal | License fees are charged per year or per two years for each classification; PSI handles CID renewals. |
How to apply
- Pick the classification that matches the work in 14.6.6 NMAC.
- File the Qualifying Party application and notarized experience affidavits with PSI.
- Pass the trade exam and the Business and Law exam at PSI (scores are good for one year).
- File the company application with PSI with the license fees, the $10,000 bond, a tax registration certificate and workers' compensation proof.
RLD's apply page lists a $36 fee paid to PSI for the Qualifying Party affidavit and again for the company application, while the fee rule sets the license application fee at $30; the difference is not explained. Exam fees are listed in PSI's candidate bulletin.
State license requirements for each trade in New Mexico
| Foundation repair | GB-2 Residential | $30 | Business and Law exam | 2 years | Moderate · 44 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General contracting | GB-2 Residential | $30 | Business and Law exam | 2 years | Moderate · 44 |
| Roofing | GS-21 Roofing | $30 | Business and Law exam | 2 years | Moderate · 44 |
| Plumbing | MM-1 Plumbing | $30 | Business and Law exam | 2 years | Moderate · 44 |
| Electrical | EE-98 Residential, commercial and industrial electrical wiring | $30 | Business and Law exam | 2 years | Moderate · 44 |
| HVAC | MM-3 Heating, ventilation and air conditioning | $30 | Business and Law exam | 2 years | Moderate · 44 |
| Irrigation | MS-6 Lawn sprinklers | $30 | Business and Law exam | 2 years | Moderate · 44 |
| Concrete flatwork | GS-4 Concrete, cement, walkways and driveways on private property | $30 | Business and Law exam | 2 years | Moderate · 44 |
| Drainage and detention | GF-4 Drainage or flood control systems | $30 | Business and Law exam | 2 years | Moderate · 44 |
| Demolition | GS-5 Demolition | $30 | Business and Law exam | 2 years | Moderate · 44 |
Tap a column to sort. Difficulty covers the state license only. Checked October 18, 2026.
Details for each trade
Foundation repair
| License | GB-2 Residential (houses up to four units, includes all GS specialty work on residences) or GS-15 Caissons, piers and pile driving |
|---|---|
| Board | Construction Industries Division |
GS-15 covers installing piers, caissons and pilings, the excavation for them, and soil stabilization. GB-2 lets a residential contractor erect, alter or repair houses and do any GS specialty work on residential jobs. Commercial foundation work falls under GB-98.
Permits come from CID or from the city or county building department where one exists, and structural repairs may need engineered plans.
- Choose GS-15 for pier and piling work or GB-2 to cover residential structural work generally.
- Qualify with two years of experience (foreman level for GB-2) and pass the trade and Business and Law exams.
- Post the $10,000 bond and license the company.
- Pull the permit from CID or the local building department.
Difficulty 44, moderate (exams 15, business and law exam 5, experience 10, fees 1, bond 8, insurance 5).
Checked October 18, 2026 against 14.6.6 NMAC, classifications and scopes.
General contracting (residential remodels, additions and home improvement)
| License | GB-2 Residential (or GB-98 General building for commercial work) |
|---|---|
| Board | Construction Industries Division |
GB-2 needs two years of foreman level experience; GB-98 needs four years, two of them commercial.
Building permits come from CID or the local building department.
- Qualify for GB-2 or GB-98.
- Pass the trade and Business and Law exams.
- Post the bond and license the company.
Difficulty 44, moderate (exams 15, business and law exam 5, experience 10, fees 1, bond 8, insurance 5).
Checked October 18, 2026 against 14.6.6 NMAC; 14.5.5 NMAC, fees.
Roofing
| License | GS-21 Roofing |
|---|---|
| Board | Construction Industries Division |
GS-21 requires two years of foreman level experience. GB-2 holders can also roof residences.
Reroof permits come from CID or the local building department.
- Qualify for GS-21 with two years of foreman level experience.
- Pass the exams, post the bond and license the company.
Difficulty 44, moderate (exams 15, business and law exam 5, experience 10, fees 1, bond 8, insurance 5).
Checked October 18, 2026 against 14.6.6 NMAC.
Plumbing
| License | MM-1 Plumbing (or MM-98 Mechanical) |
|---|---|
| Board | Construction Industries Division |
MM-1 requires four years of experience and covers plumbing, fixtures and piping, incidental excavation and hot water heating. Individual plumbers work under journeyman certificates.
Plumbing permits come from CID or the local building department.
- Qualify for MM-1 with four years of experience.
- Pass the exams, post the bond and license the company.
Difficulty 44, moderate (exams 15, business and law exam 5, experience 10, fees 1, bond 8, insurance 5).
Checked October 18, 2026 against 14.6.6 NMAC.
Electrical
| License | EE-98 Residential, commercial and industrial electrical wiring (5,000 volts nominal or less) |
|---|---|
| Board | Construction Industries Division |
EE-98 requires four years of experience. License fee is $100 a year.
Electrical permits come from CID or the local building department.
- Qualify for EE-98 with four years of experience.
- Pass the exams, post the bond and license the company.
Difficulty 44, moderate (exams 15, business and law exam 5, experience 10, fees 1, bond 8, insurance 5).
Checked October 18, 2026 against 14.6.6 NMAC; 14.5.5 NMAC, fees.
HVAC
| License | MM-3 Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) |
|---|---|
| Board | Construction Industries Division |
MM-3 requires four years of experience. MM-2 covers natural gas fitting.
Mechanical permits come from CID or the local building department.
- Qualify for MM-3 with four years of experience.
- Pass the exams, post the bond and license the company.
Difficulty 44, moderate (exams 15, business and law exam 5, experience 10, fees 1, bond 8, insurance 5).
Checked October 18, 2026 against 14.6.6 NMAC.
Irrigation
| License | MS-6 Lawn sprinklers |
|---|---|
| Board | Construction Industries Division |
MS-6 requires two years of experience and covers potable water sprinkler systems, trenching, incidental backflow devices and low voltage controls up to 24 volts.
Lawn sprinkler work needs a CID or local permit and the water utility's backflow rules.
- Qualify for MS-6 with two years of experience.
- Pass the exams, post the bond and license the company.
Difficulty 44, moderate (exams 15, business and law exam 5, experience 10, fees 1, bond 8, insurance 5).
Checked October 18, 2026 against 14.6.6 NMAC.
Concrete flatwork (driveways, sidewalks and work in the public right-of-way)
| License | GS-4 Concrete, cement, walkways and driveways on private property; GA-3 Curbs, gutters and driveway culverts for public sidewalks and curbs |
|---|---|
| Board | Construction Industries Division |
GS-4 may not work in the public right of way unless subcontracted to a GA licensee. GA-3 covers public sidewalks, curbs, gutters and driveway culverts.
Ask the city, county or road owner what permit work at the street needs.
- Pick GS-4 for private property or GA-3 for public curb and sidewalk work.
- Qualify, pass the exams, post the bond and license the company.
Difficulty 44, moderate (exams 15, business and law exam 5, experience 10, fees 1, bond 8, insurance 5).
Checked October 18, 2026 against 14.6.6 NMAC.
Drainage and detention (grading, drainage, stormwater and detention ponds)
| License | GF-4 Drainage or flood control systems; GS-8 Earthmoving, excavating and ditching |
|---|---|
| Board | Construction Industries Division |
GF-4 covers building and repairing drainage or flood control systems and storm sewers. GS-8 covers grading and excavation tied to CID regulated projects. Both need two years of experience.
Grading and drainage plans are reviewed by the city or county.
- Qualify for GF-4 or GS-8 with two years of experience.
- Pass the exams, post the bond and license the company.
Difficulty 44, moderate (exams 15, business and law exam 5, experience 10, fees 1, bond 8, insurance 5).
Checked October 18, 2026 against 14.6.6 NMAC.
Demolition
| License | GS-5 Demolition |
|---|---|
| Board | Construction Industries Division |
GS-5 requires two years of experience. GB-2 also allows demolition of residences. Asbestos notice rules are not covered here.
Demolition permits come from CID or the local building department.
- Qualify for GS-5 with two years of experience.
- Pass the exams, post the bond and license the company.
Difficulty 44, moderate (exams 15, business and law exam 5, experience 10, fees 1, bond 8, insurance 5).
Checked October 18, 2026 against 14.6.6 NMAC.
Exams for a New Mexico license
| New Mexico Business and Law | PSI, for the Construction Industries Division | $68.88 | $68.88 | Open book | 50 | 130 minutes | 75% (38 points) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico trade exam (GB-2 Residential Building shown) | PSI, for the Construction Industries Division | $134.53 (GB-2) | $134.53 | Open book | 80 (GB-2) | 225 minutes (GB-2) | 75% (60 points) |
Tap a column to sort. Each exam name opens the provider's bulletin or exam page. A blank cell is a fact not confirmed from the provider, and the linked bulletin has the full rules.
- Study references for New Mexico trade exam (GB-2 Residential Building shown) are International Residential Code, New Mexico Residential Building Code and the other listed references. Each classification has its own trade exam.
Checked October 18, 2026 against PSI New Mexico Construction Industries Candidate Information Bulletin; PSI New Mexico GB-2 and GB-98 Candidate Information Bulletin.
Official sources
- NM RLD Construction Industries Division, apply for a license
- 14.6.6 NMAC, classifications and scopes
- 14.5.5 NMAC, fees
- 14.6.3 NMAC, license requirements and bond
Licensing pages for nearby states cover Arizona, Oklahoma, Utah, and Texas.
Rules and fees change, and this is not legal advice. Confirm with the licensing board before you apply or bid.