New Mexico Carpentry License Requirements (2026)

New Mexico regulates carpentry through the Construction Industries Division (CID) of the Regulation and Licensing Department under NMSA 1978 §60-13-1 et seq. (Construction Industries Licensing Act). Carpentry can be licensed under the GB-2 General Building Contractor classification (broad authority for residential and commercial buildings) or under the GS-3 Specialty Carpentry classification (narrow scope limited to carpentry, framing, finish, decks, stairs and cabinetry). Both require a Qualifying Party with at least four years of journey-level construction experience within the last ten years, passing the PSI New Mexico Business and Law plus the trade exam, a $10,000 license bond, and a CPA-prepared financial statement.

Federal requirement: EPA Lead RRP Rule

Whether or not New Mexico licenses this trade, any work that disturbs paint in pre-1978 housing falls under the federal EPA Lead RRP Rule nationwide. See our complete EPA RRP Lead Certification guide for who needs firm and renovator certification, what it costs, and how renewal works.

Regulatory Oversight

Under NMSA 1978 Chapter 60 Article 13 (Construction Industries Licensing Act); NMAC Title 14 Chapter 6, New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department — Construction Industries Division (CID) is the body that issues this license and enforces compliance with it. CID licenses construction contractors and tradespeople statewide through its General Construction Bureau, Electrical Bureau, and Mechanical Bureau, enforces adopted building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical codes, and conducts inspections and disciplinary proceedings.

Official portal: https://www.rld.nm.gov/construction/
Address: 2550 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, NM 87505
Phone: (505) 476-4700

Who May Apply

To qualify, an applicant must have reached age 18 and hold a valid Social Security Number. No New Mexico residency requirement.

Good moral character

Criminal history is reviewed case-by-case by the licensing authority.

Background investigation

Criminal history disclosure required on the application.

Required Experience and Education

The applicant must document and verify at least Four years of journey-level construction experience within the last ten years for the Qualifying Party under NMSA §60-13-12.. Keep payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records to support the claim, as the board can request proof for any period within its lookback window.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Notarized experience affidavits from licensed supervising contractors
W-2s, 1099s, or payroll records covering the qualifying period
Apprenticeship completion certificate where applicable

Education substitution

Approved carpentry apprenticeship or accredited trade school coursework may substitute for part of the experience requirement.

Examination Requirements

The licensing examination is delivered by PSI Services LLC under contract to CID. All of the following parts must be cleared prior to issuance:

New Mexico Business and Law — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 75%
GB-2 General Building or GS-3 Carpentry trade exam — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $30 application fee plus $85 per PSI exam part.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be retaken after paying a new exam fee. Applications remain valid for one year.

Insurance and Financial Requirements

Licensure is conditioned on filing a $10,000 contractor license surety bond with the CID.

General liability

CID does not impose a state GL minimum. Most owners require $1,000,000/$2,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Workers compensation is mandatory under NMSA §52-1-6 for any contractor with three or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

CID requires a CPA-prepared financial statement showing net worth proportional to the requested monetary limit.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$30
Examination	$170
Initial license	$360
Renewal (every 3 years)	$360

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the New Mexico GB-2 General Building Contractor or GS-3 Carpentry Specialty comes due every 3 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $360. Triennial renewal with $360 fee. Late renewal incurs a $25 reinstatement fee.

Continuing education: No statutory continuing education for the GB-2 or GS-3 classifications.

Downloadable Asset

2026 New Mexico Carpentry License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and License Transfer

The NASCLA Accredited Examination is not accepted by New Mexico for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Arizona	Trade exam waived	Reciprocal agreement with ROC for active GB-2 holders.
Utah	Trade exam waived	Reciprocal agreement with DOPL for B100 holders.
Nevada	Trade exam waived	Reciprocal agreement with NSCB.

CID maintains bilateral reciprocity with Arizona, Nevada, and Utah for the GB-2 General Building classification.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Carpentry license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

Application Process, Step by Step

Designate the Qualifying Party. Four years of journey-level construction experience required.
Prepare a CPA-prepared financial statement. Showing net worth at the requested monetary limit.
Submit the CID application with $30 fee. Online via rld.nm.gov/cid.
Pass the PSI New Mexico Business and Law and trade exams at 75%. Schedule with PSI.
Post the $10,000 license bond. Required at issuance.
File proof of GL insurance and workers compensation. Per CID requirements.
Receive the GB-2 or GS-3 license number. Display on every contract.
Renew every three years with $360 fee. Submit current bond, insurance and financial statement.

Document Checklist

These are the pieces to lock down before filing with CID:

☐ CID application with $30 fee
☐ Designated Qualifying Party
☐ Four years of construction experience documentation
☐ CPA-prepared financial statement
☐ PSI New Mexico Business and Law and trade exam pass certificates
☐ $10,000 license bond
☐ Certificate of general liability insurance
☐ Workers compensation certificate (if 3+ employees)
☐ New Mexico CRS-1 gross receipts tax registration

Recommended References

What follows are the regulator-cited and commonly used preparation references for this trade. They appear here for convenience only; CLR takes no compensation for them.

NMSA Chapter 60 Article 13 and 14.6 NMAC — State of New Mexico. Construction industry licensing law and rules.
International Building Code (New Mexico-adopted edition) — International Code Council. Open-book at PSI for the trade exam.
CID Carpentry Contractor Candidate Information Bulletin — PSI Services. Free PDF.

Frequent Application Errors

Based on the board's own instructions and the sources cited here, the problems below are what most often stall a New Mexico Carpentry application.

Wrong classification

Performing electrical or plumbing under a GS-3 carpentry license is unlicensed contracting under NMSA §60-13-12.

Letting the Qualifying Party leave

CID allows 90 days to designate a replacement Qualifying Party before suspending the license.

Lead RRP for pre-1978 trim

EPA RRP certification is federally required.

Local privilege license

Albuquerque and Santa Fe require additional contractor registration and gross receipts tax.

Gross Receipts Tax

New Mexico gross receipts tax applies to construction services. CRS-1 registration with the Taxation and Revenue Department is mandatory.

Other New Mexico Trade Licenses

CLR covers other New Mexico trades as well — the published guides below may be more relevant:

Questions Applicants Ask

What is the difference between GB-2 and GS-3?

GB-2 is a general building contractor classification with broad scope. GS-3 is a specialty carpentry classification limited to carpentry, framing, finish and cabinetry.

What is the project value threshold?

New Mexico licensing applies to any construction project of $7,200 or more under NMSA §60-13-3.1.

Does New Mexico accept the NASCLA exam?

No. CID requires the New Mexico Business and Law and trade exams through PSI.

What is the bond amount?

$10,000 contractor bond payable to the State of New Mexico.

How often does the license renew?

Every three years with the $360 renewal fee and current bond, insurance and financial statement.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-04-14 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-13