New Mexico General Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department Construction Industries Division (CID) licenses general contractors statewide under the Construction Industries Licensing Act (NMSA 1978 Chapter 60 Article 13). General building work is performed under the GB-98 classification (structures intended for human habitation) or the GB-2 (residential) and GA-98 (general, any structure) classifications. Every applicant must document qualifying experience, pass the PSI trade examination and the PSI New Mexico Business and Law examination, file a current financial statement, and post a license bond before CID issues the classification.

Governing Authority

This license is issued and enforced by New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department — Construction Industries Division (CID) pursuant to NMSA 1978 Chapter 60 Article 13 (Construction Industries Licensing Act); NMAC Title 14 Chapter 6. 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

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, an applicant must have reached age 18 and hold a valid Social Security Number. No New Mexico residency requirement. Out-of-state applicants must designate a registered agent for service of process.

Good moral character

CID reviews criminal history on each applicant. Unresolved construction judgments or prior CID discipline may bar issuance.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the CID application.

Experience & Education Matrix

Eligibility requires four years (at least two at a supervisory or journey level) of practical experience in the classification being applied for, documented on the CID Certification of Work Experience form, documented and independently verifiable. Payroll, tax, project, and supervisor records are the usual proof the board will accept.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

CID Certification of Work Experience (one form per supervising employer)
W-2, 1099, or payroll records covering the qualifying period
Completed apprenticeship certificate or accredited construction degree (where claimed as substitution)

Education substitution

An accredited construction-related degree may substitute for up to two of the four years under 14.6.6 NMAC.

Examination Structure

Examinations are administered by PSI Services LLC (under contract to CID). The applicant must pass the following examination parts before the license can issue:

New Mexico GB-98 Trade Examination — IBC, IRC, adopted building codes, plan reading, project management — 110 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%
New Mexico Business and Law Examination — NMSA 60-13, 14.6 NMAC, contracts, labor, tax, safety — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $87 per examination paid to PSI at the time of scheduling.

Retake policy: Either examination may be retaken by paying a new $87 fee. Application approval remains valid for one year.

Insurance & Financial Security

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

General liability

CID does not impose a state-level general liability minimum. Public works and commercial owners routinely require $1,000,000/$2,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory under NMSA 52-1 for construction employers with three or more workers (one or more for construction-services businesses).

Additional financial requirements

Current financial statement on the CID form demonstrating positive net worth is required with every initial application; CPA review is required for GA-98 and unlimited classifications.

Application and License Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$30
Examination	$174
Initial license	$360
Renewal (every 3 years)	$360

Maintenance & Renewal

Expect to renew the New Mexico GB-98 General Building Contractor every 3 years. Renewal currently costs $360. GB-98 licenses renew every three years. Current financial statement and bond must remain on file.

Continuing education: New Mexico does not impose statewide continuing education for GB-98. CID may require additional training for specialty bureaus.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and Endorsement

The NASCLA Accredited Examination is accepted by New Mexico for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Arizona	Trade exam waived	Bilateral CID–ROC reciprocity for qualifying parties in good standing for at least one year.
Nevada	Trade exam waived	Bilateral CID–NSCB reciprocity for qualifying parties in good standing for at least one year.
Utah	Trade exam waived	Bilateral CID–DOPL reciprocity for qualifying parties in good standing for at least one year.

New Mexico accepts the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building Contractor examination in lieu of the GB-98 trade exam. The Business and Law exam is still required.

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

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Document four years of experience. Collect CID Certification of Work Experience forms from each supervising employer; two years must be supervisory or journey level.
Prepare the financial statement. Complete the CID financial statement form demonstrating positive net worth.
Submit the CID application. File the application for contractor license with classification, fees, and experience documentation.
Schedule and pass both PSI examinations. Score 75% or better on the GB-98 trade exam and the New Mexico Business and Law exam.
Post the license bond. File a $10,000 license bond (or cash deposit) with CID.
Receive the CID license. CID issues the classification once exams, bond, and workers' compensation are on file. Licenses renew every three years.

Study and Reference Materials

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.

International Building Code (New Mexico-adopted edition) — International Code Council. Primary technical reference. Open-book at the PSI test center.
International Residential Code (New Mexico-adopted edition) — International Code Council. Required for residential scope work.
NMSA 1978 Chapter 60 Article 13 and 14.6 NMAC — State of New Mexico. Licensing law and rules for the Business and Law exam.

Common Filing Mistakes

Working from the cited board instructions, here are the snags most likely to trip up a New Mexico General Contractor filing.

Weak experience documentation

CID rejects unsigned or vague Certification of Work Experience forms. Every form must be signed by a supervisor with their own license number where applicable.

Financial statement errors

A financial statement that does not show positive net worth will be returned. GA-98 applicants need a CPA review.

Confusing classifications

GB-98 does not authorize commercial buildings above four stories — that requires GA-98.

Missing the bond

CID will not issue the license until the $10,000 bond or cash deposit is on file.

Letting the license lapse

A lapsed license may require re-examination if not renewed within the grace period.

Pre-Submission Checklist

The items below are the ones worth confirming before the application is filed with CID:

☐ Four years of documented experience on CID Certification of Work Experience forms
☐ Current financial statement on the CID form
☐ CID application with $30 fee and classification selection
☐ PSI GB-98 trade exam pass certificate at 75%+
☐ PSI New Mexico Business and Law exam pass certificate at 75%+
☐ $10,000 license bond or cash deposit
☐ Workers' compensation certificate (if applicable)

Other New Mexico Trade Licenses

If the General Contractor license is not the right fit, the following published New Mexico trade guides are also covered by CLR:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between GB-98, GB-2, and GA-98?

GB-98 covers general building (structures for human habitation up to four stories). GB-2 is limited to residential construction. GA-98 is a general contractor classification that permits any type of construction and requires a CPA-reviewed financial statement.

Does New Mexico accept the NASCLA exam?

Yes. CID accepts the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building Contractor examination in place of the GB-98 trade exam. The New Mexico Business and Law exam is still required.

What bond does New Mexico require?

CID requires a $10,000 license bond (or a cash deposit in the same amount) for each contractor classification.

How long is the New Mexico contractor license valid?

Three years. Renewal requires the current fee, a current financial statement, and proof of workers' compensation coverage if applicable.

Can an out-of-state contractor qualify in New Mexico?

Yes. Out-of-state applicants may use CID reciprocity with Arizona, Nevada, or Utah, or sit for the New Mexico exams directly.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-30 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-28