New Mexico Electrician License Requirements

New Mexico licenses the electrician and the electrical business separately, so start by picking your path.

To work as an electrician: you need a journeyman certificate from the New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID). For residential and commercial work, that's the EE-98J: four years of verified experience within the last 10 years (PSI's current work-verification form lists this as 8,000 hours), then two written exams and a hands-on practical, each passed at 75%. (14.6.4.8 NMAC, amended effective Aug. 1, 2026; PSI Journeyman Certificate Application; PSI Electrical Work Verification Form)

To bid and contract electrical work: your business needs an EE-98 contractor license, qualified by someone who holds an EE-98 qualifying party certificate. An EE-98J by itself doesn't let you contract. (14.6.3.8 NMAC)

Last verified October 2, 2026, against CID rules and pages and the current PSI forms and candidate bulletins linked below.

Jump to: Which credential · EE-98J checklist · Hours that count · Exams · Costs · Reciprocity · Renewal · Contractor license

Which New Mexico electrical credential do you need?

New Mexico separates the person doing the wiring from the business that contracts the work. A journeyman may work in the trade only while employed by a contractor licensed for that type of work, or by a holder of a valid annual permit. An apprentice may work only under the direct supervision of a certified journeyman. (14.6.4.8(A) NMAC)

Sources: 14.6.4.8(E) NMAC; 14.6.6.10 NMAC; PSI journeyman bulletin; PSI contractor bulletin.

A few things that trip people up:

• There's no separate "master electrician" classification in CID's current electrical classification list. The business-level path is a contractor license supported by a qualifying party certificate. If you see "master electrician" in a New Mexico summary, check whether the source is using another state's terminology.
• A contractor license doesn't replace the journeyman certificate for the person performing covered trade work. PSI's journeyman instructions say that even a contractor must also be, or employ, a certified journeyman to perform the work. (PSI journeyman application)
• Not sure which class fits your work? PSI provides a Classification Determination Request process for applicants who need an official classification decision.

Your EE-98J application checklist

Work through these in order. Every item comes from CID's rule or PSI's current forms. (14.6.4.8(B)–(C) NMAC; PSI journeyman application; PSI work verification form)

Before you apply

• You're at least 18. CID won't issue a certificate to anyone younger.
• You have four years of qualifying experience; PSI's current electrical work-verification form expresses the EE-98J requirement as 8,000 hours.
• The experience you rely on is within the 10 years immediately before your application.
• Each employer, supervisor, foreman or other qualified verifier who can document your experience has agreed to complete the required verification form.
• If you're claiming training credit, you have transcripts or completion records.

Build the packet

• One signed and notarized Electrical Work Verification Form per verifier. You complete only the applicant portion; the verifier completes the rest and provides the supporting proof the form requests.
• The signed and notarized Journeyman Certificate Application.
• Transcripts if you're claiming education or technical-training credit.
• $75 per classification.
• A letter-size self-addressed stamped envelope, which PSI says it uses to return a rejected packet.

Submit and test

• Mail or hand-deliver the packet to PSI, 9550 San Mateo Blvd NE, Suite F, Albuquerque, NM 87113. The current form says applications may not be submitted by fax or email.
• Wait for PSI's approval email before scheduling the required exams.
• Once approved, pay for, schedule and take the required exam parts. PSI's live journeyman bulletin says candidates must test within 6 months of eligibility.
• Pass all required parts at 75%.
• Submit all passing score reports to PSI within 6 months of the date PSI approved the application. PSI says passing scores remain valid for one year, but an active approval is still required for certificate issuance.
• Watch for your certificate in the mail. PSI says it is active for three years, effective through the last day of the month of issuance.

Download the forms: Journeyman Certificate Application (PDF) · Electrical Work Verification Form (PDF)

PSI recommends having each experience verification completed and notarized in duplicate and keeping an original in your own files in case you need to reapply.

What experience counts toward the four years?

Experience must be within the 10 years immediately before you apply, and the current PSI form says it must have been gained while employed by a contractor licensed in the trade or otherwise have been legal work in the state where it was performed. Your experience must be verified by someone other than you. (14.6.4.8(C) NMAC; PSI work verification form)

• Last 10 years only. Experience outside the most recent 10 years is not accepted on the ordinary application route.
• Legal work only. If the state where the work was performed did not regulate the trade or did not require a license for that scope, PSI asks for proof that the company was an active, valid business.
• No self-verification. Employers, supervisors, foremen and other contractors may verify qualifying experience; the verifier must provide proof of their position, and out-of-state contractors must also provide a copy of their current state license.
• Track the details the form asks for. The electrical affidavit asks for dates, hours and work information used to evaluate the claimed experience.
• Special cases such as military, out-of-country or homeowner experience may be considered in some circumstances. PSI directs applicants to contact it for details.
• No blanks. The current verification form says incomplete or illegible forms will not be processed.

Four years or 8,000 hours? CID's current rule states the EE-98J requirement as four years. PSI's current journeyman application and electrical work-verification form express that as 8,000 hours. Use the current PSI forms to document the experience in the format the agency requests. (14.6.4.8(E)(1) NMAC; PSI work verification form)

Does trade school or an apprenticeship count?

Yes, up to a limit. Accredited technical training counts at one-half year of experience for each year of equivalent training, and it can never cover more than half of the total work-experience requirement. The rule lists accredited colleges, universities, manufacturers' accredited training programs, technical-vocational institutes and accredited apprenticeship programs. (14.6.4.8(C)(1) NMAC)

Here's how that works for EE-98J:

PSI's current work-verification form adds an administrative example: 12 relevant credit hours can typically be credited as 500 hours of experience. That is PSI's example, not a statutory conversion formula, and PSI evaluates the documentation. (PSI Electrical Work Verification Form)

The New Mexico journeyman electrical exams

EE-98J candidates take three PSI exam parts: an open-book Code exam, a closed-book Theory exam and a hands-on practical. Each requires 75%. PSI's live journeyman bulletin currently lists the 2020 NEC and the 2020 New Mexico Electrical Code for the Code exam. (PSI journeyman bulletin)

What the practical covers: motor control project (20 points), transformer project (20), complex conduit bending (20), doorbell project (10), lighting project (10), simple conduit bending (10), materials identification (10).

Part 1 topics, by number of questions: services, feeders and branch circuits (7); grounding and bonding (6); conductors and cables (5); raceways and boxes (5); motors, transformers and generators (5); general knowledge and installation requirements (4); overcurrent protection (4); hazardous locations and special occupancies (4); New Mexico state code (4); lighting, signs and general-use equipment (3); low voltage (3).

Part 2 topics: general knowledge and installation requirements (18); low voltage, including alarms (8); services, feeders and branch circuits (5); grounding and bonding (5); overcurrent protection (4); conductors and cables (3); raceways and boxes (3); hazardous locations and special occupancies (2); lighting, signs and general-use equipment (2).

The live PSI bulletin also says up to 10 unscored experimental questions may appear on computer-administered exams; PSI adds time for those questions.

Test-day rules worth knowing early

• Use the listed code edition for code questions. PSI says code questions are based only on the code-book edition listed in the bulletin; for EE-98J Part 1, that includes the 2020 NEC and 2020 New Mexico Electrical Code.
• Prepare your books in advance. PSI says approved references must be bound, may be highlighted, underlined and indexed before the exam, and may use permanent tabs. Temporary tabs such as Post-it notes and writing in reference materials are not allowed.
• Calculator: PSI allows a silent, non-printing, non-programmable calculator.
• ID: the current PSI journeyman bulletin requires one valid, unexpired form of identification containing your signature and photo, and the name must match the name used to schedule.
• Scores: the computer-delivered written score appears at the end of the exam. PSI says practical score reports are mailed within 7 business days.
• Retakes: you may not take the same examination more than twice within a 30-day period. After two failures within that period, PSI says you must wait 30 days from the first attempt before testing again.
• Cancellation: cancel or reschedule at least 2 days before the appointment to avoid forfeiting the exam fee.
• Sites: PSI's current bulletin lists New Mexico sites in Albuquerque, Farmington, Las Cruces, Roswell and Santa Fe, plus listed locations in Colorado and Texas; PSI also says written exams may be available at other PSI centers through its out-of-state process.

Before scheduling, check the live PSI New Mexico journeyman bulletin, because exam logistics can change before the licensing rule does.

How much a New Mexico electrician license costs

For EE-98J, the current fixed PSI/CID fees total $281.64 if you pass all three exam parts on the first attempt: $75 for the journeyman application/certificate plus three exam parts at $68.88 each.

These totals do not include notary fees, postage, code books, travel or continuing-education tuition. PSI says exam fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable, and exam fees remain valid for one year from payment. (CID fee page; PSI licensing fee schedule; PSI journeyman bulletin)

Does New Mexico have electrician reciprocity?

Yes, but CID currently limits journeyman reciprocity to the EE-98J classification and these 10 states: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming. (CID Electrical Bureau; CID Continuing Education and Reciprocity)

CID and PSI say the reciprocal credential must be current, active and in good standing. PSI's current journeyman application also requires the applicant to have held the qualifying credential for at least one year in the state where they tested.

For the reciprocal route:

• use the regular Journeyman Certificate Application;
• attach a copy of the qualifying current credential;
• submit the $75 fee;
• a work-verification form is not required for the reciprocal EE-98J route.

CID's reciprocity page also says the qualifying license must have been obtained through a mandatory examination after a four-year apprenticeship or four years of equivalent experience as determined by the licensing state.

New Mexico does not list reciprocity for ER-1J, EL-1J, specialty journeyman certificates or contractor licenses on its current reciprocal-jurisdiction notice. Electricians from states not on the list use the standard New Mexico application route unless another current CID provision applies.

Renewing a New Mexico journeyman certificate

PSI's current application states that a New Mexico journeyman certificate is active for three years, effective through the last day of the month of issuance. Renew through the current PSI process and pay the current renewal fee. (PSI journeyman application; PSI licensing fee schedule)

• Continuing education: EE-98J and EL-1J holders need at least 16 hours of approved coursework before renewal or reinstatement, with at least 8 hours covering the current CID code. Proof must be submitted with the renewal application. (14.6.4.8(H) NMAC)
• If you renew late: the current PSI licensing fee schedule lists a $25 late fee for up to six months and says the certificate is cancelled after six months.
• Missing notice? CID's rule says renewal is still the certificate holder's responsibility even if the renewal notice is not received.
• Current renewal fee: $75 per classification.

How to get an EE-98 electrical contractor license

To contract electrical work, your business needs a CID contractor license, qualified by someone who holds an EE-98 qualifying party (QP) certificate. CID's current application guidance says the EE-98 QP needs four years of relevant experience within the 10 years immediately before application; PSI's QP form expresses that as 8,000 hours. The QP must satisfy the EE-98 trade-exam requirement and the Business & Law requirement. (CID: Apply for a Construction Industries License; PSI QP application)

• Apply as a qualifying party. Submit the current PSI QP application and required work-verification documentation. The current QP fee is $30 per submission plus a $6 certificate fee per classification.
• Pass the EE-98 trade exam once approved. PSI's current contractor bulletin lists Part 1 Commercial/Industrial at 80 questions in 200 minutes, Part 2 Residential at 40 questions in 100 minutes, and Part 3 Specialties at 50 questions in 135 minutes. Each part requires 75%. The three-part combination fee is $269.06; a failed part is $89.69 to retake.
• Complete Business & Law. A new QP must either pass PSI's Business & Law exam or complete an approved Business & Law course. PSI's exam is 50 questions, 130 minutes, open book, with a 75% passing score and a current $68.88 fee. PSI says the trade and Business & Law examinations must be passed within one year of each other when the exam route is used.
• Clear the company name with PSI before registering it with the Secretary of State or applying for a New Mexico tax ID.
• Submit the contractor license application. The current packet requires the contractor application, QP evidence, a code bond, current New Mexico Taxation and Revenue registration, applicable business-entity registration, and fees.
• Maintain the bond. 14.6.3.8(C) NMAC requires a $10,000 bond covering the entire license period.
• Stay compliant with workers' compensation law. CID and PSI state that workers' compensation coverage is required for licensed entities; PSI notes that a sole proprietor with no employees may be exempt.

Current first-time EE-98 fixed fees

If the QP passes the three-part EE-98 trade exam and Business & Law exam on the first attempt:

The $709.94 total is the arithmetic sum of the currently listed fixed fees. It does not include the premium charged by the surety for the required $10,000 bond, tax/business filing costs, notary costs, books, travel or any approved Business & Law course fee if the course route is used instead of the exam.

A few more rules that catch new contractors:

• ER-1 is a separate residential contractor classification. It requires two years of experience under 14.6.6.10.
• One QP generally cannot qualify unrelated businesses at the same time. PSI's contractor application requires at least 30% common ownership if one QP intends to qualify two or more licenses simultaneously.
• QP certificates can lapse when detached. PSI says a QP certificate that is not attached to an active license automatically cancels after two consecutive years.
• NASCLA waiver: PSI's current QP materials provide a waiver route for certain applicants who passed the NASCLA Accredited Electrical Examination and meet New Mexico's listed conditions. The waiver affects the trade-exam requirement, not the rest of New Mexico's licensing requirements.
• Late contractor renewal: PSI's current fee schedule lists $1 per day for 1–30 days late, the equivalent of one year's fee for 30–90 days late, and cancellation at 90+ days.

Apprentices and supervision

An apprentice may do electrical work only under the direct supervision of a certified journeyman who is employed by a licensed contractor or a holder of a valid annual permit. CID currently states these electrician-to-apprentice ratios:

• commercial work: one journeyman to two apprentices;
• residential work: one journeyman to three apprentices.

CID's apprenticeship page says most apprenticeship programs require applicants to be 18 and have a high school diploma or GED, while individual sponsors may impose additional requirements. Apprenticeships combine paid work with classroom instruction and can produce a nationally recognized completion certificate. (CID Construction Industries Apprenticeships; CID FAQ)

Which electrical code does New Mexico use?

New Mexico currently lists the 2020 New Mexico Electrical Code (14.10.4 NMAC), which adopts the 2020 NEC with state amendments. CID's current rules-and-codes page and FAQ still identify the 2020 New Mexico Electrical Code/National Electrical Code as the adopted electrical code. (CID rules and codes; CID FAQ)

PSI's current journeyman bulletin likewise lists the 2020 NEC and 2020 New Mexico Electrical Code for the EE-98J Code exam. That is why New Mexico candidates should prepare from the edition listed in the live PSI bulletin rather than assuming the newest NEC edition is the tested edition.

What changed on August 1, 2026?

CID amended 14.6.4 and 14.6.6 NMAC effective August 1, 2026. For the electrical path covered on this page, the amendment retained the EE-98J four-year experience requirement, 10-year experience window, training-credit rule, 75% passing standard, EE-98J classification language and the 16-hour continuing-education requirement. Most substantive edits in these two amendments affected mechanical, plumbing, medical-gas and fire-protection classifications rather than the EE-98J path. (14.6.4 amendment; 14.6.6 amendment)

If an older summary conflicts with the current NMAC text or PSI's live forms and bulletins, use the current official source.

Official sources and contacts

• CID Electrical Bureau: Electrical Bureau
• Applying and exam routing: CID: Apply for a Construction Industries License
• CID fees: Construction Industries fees
• PSI journeyman application: Journeyman Certificate Application
• PSI electrical work verification: Electrical Work Verification Form
• PSI licensing fees: New Mexico Licensing Fees
• Exam bulletins: PSI journeyman bulletin · PSI contractor bulletin
• Continuing education and reciprocity: CID continuing education
• Rules: 14.6.4 amendment, effective Aug. 1, 2026 · 14.6.6 amendment, effective Aug. 1, 2026 · 14.6.3 NMAC
• Electrical code: CID rules and building codes
• PSI licensing phone: 877-663-9267
• CID Santa Fe: 505-476-4700
• CID Albuquerque: 505-222-9800
• CID Las Cruces: 575-524-6320

By Castleport Test Prep Editorial Team. Last verified October 2, 2026: CID's journeyman, classification and contractor rules; the August 1, 2026 amendments; CID's current electrical-code listing, Electrical Bureau, fee, continuing-education, reciprocity, apprenticeship and application pages; and PSI's live journeyman and contractor bulletins, journeyman application, electrical work-verification form, qualifying-party application, contractor application and licensing fee schedule. This is a source check, not legal advice or professional review. We did not contact CID or PSI.

AI assistance was used in researching and drafting this page. See our editorial standards and methodology.

Castleport Test Prep is an independent exam prep publisher. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, its Construction Industries Division, PSI, or the other organizations whose materials are referenced here. Credential, exam and code names identify their subjects; trademarks belong to their respective owners. CID and PSI decide eligibility and licensing status, so confirm your classification and current instructions with them before submitting an application.