New Mexico HVAC License Requirements (2026)

The New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID) Mechanical Bureau licenses HVAC contractors under the MM-3 (heating, cooling, and process piping) and MM-4 (refrigeration) classifications and certifies individual HVAC technicians as JM-1 Journeyman Mechanical under NMSA 1978 Chapter 60 Article 13 and 14.6 NMAC. Every JM-1 applicant must document four years of qualifying experience and pass the PSI Uniform Mechanical Code examination. Contractor applicants must also pass the New Mexico Business and Law exam, file a financial statement, post a license bond, and hold federal EPA Section 608 certification for any work involving refrigerants.

Regulatory Oversight

New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department — Construction Industries Division (CID) administers and enforces this credential under the authority of 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

Who May Apply

An applicant qualifies only after meeting the age floor of 18 and producing a valid Social Security Number. No New Mexico residency requirement.

Good moral character

CID Mechanical Bureau reviews criminal history on each applicant.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the CID application.

Required Experience and Education

Eligibility requires four years (8,000 hours) of practical HVAC / mechanical experience under a licensed MM-3, MM-4, or JM-1 journeyman, documented on CID Certification of Work Experience forms, 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 signed by each supervising MM-3, MM-4, or JM-1 supervisor
W-2, 1099, or payroll records covering the qualifying period
Approved HVAC apprenticeship completion certificate (where applicable)

Education substitution

Completion of a U.S. Department of Labor-approved HVAC apprenticeship satisfies the experience requirement. Accredited HVAC trade school may substitute for up to two years.

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 JM-1 Journeyman Mechanical Examination — Uniform Mechanical Code (NM-adopted edition) — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%
New Mexico MM-3 / MM-4 Trade Examination — UMC, refrigeration, load calculations, duct sizing, gas piping — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%
New Mexico Business and Law Examination (MM-3 / MM-4 only) — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 75%

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

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

Insurance and Financial Requirements

A contractor license surety bond of $10,000, on the CID's prescribed form, is a precondition to issuance.

General liability

CID does not impose a state-level general liability minimum. Most commercial owners contractually 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

MM-3 and MM-4 contractors must file a current financial statement on the CID form demonstrating positive net worth. JM-1 journeyman applicants do not need a financial statement.

Licensing Fees

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

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the New Mexico MM-3 / MM-4 HVAC Contractor (and JM-1 Journeyman Mechanical) comes due every 3 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $360. MM-3, MM-4, and JM-1 renew every three years. Lapsed credentials may require re-examination.

Continuing education: Continuing education in the adopted UMC edition each renewal cycle under 14.6 NMAC.

Downloadable Asset

2026 New Mexico HVAC 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	Bilateral CID–ROC reciprocity for mechanical contractors in good standing for at least one year.
Nevada	Trade exam waived	Bilateral CID–NSCB reciprocity for mechanical contractors in good standing for at least one year.
Utah	Trade exam waived	Bilateral CID–DOPL reciprocity for mechanical contractors in good standing for at least one year.

Reciprocity is limited to applicants who passed an equivalent UMC-based examination and hold an active credential in good standing.

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

Application Process, Step by Step

Document four years of HVAC experience. Collect CID Certification of Work Experience forms totaling at least 8,000 hours under licensed supervision.
Obtain EPA Section 608 certification. Federal refrigerant handling certification is required for any work involving refrigerants.
Apply for the JM-1 Journeyman Mechanical examination. File the CID JM-1 application and pay the PSI exam fee.
Pass the PSI UMC examination at 75%. The JM-1 exam is based on the New Mexico-adopted edition of the UMC.
Apply for the MM-3 or MM-4 contractor classification. File the CID application with classification, financial statement, and Business and Law exam pass certificate.
Pass the MM-3 / MM-4 trade and Business and Law exams. Both at 75% or better.
Post the license bond. File a $10,000 license bond or cash deposit with CID.

Document Checklist

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

☐ Four years (8,000 hours) documented on CID Certification of Work Experience forms
☐ EPA Section 608 certification
☐ CID JM-1 application with $30 fee
☐ PSI UMC exam pass certificate at 75%+
☐ Financial statement (MM-3 / MM-4 only)
☐ PSI Business and Law exam pass certificate at 75%+ (MM-3 / MM-4 only)
☐ $10,000 license bond or cash deposit (MM-3 / MM-4 only)
☐ Workers' compensation certificate (if applicable)

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.

Uniform Mechanical Code (NM-adopted edition) — IAPMO. Primary technical reference. Open-book at the PSI test center.
NMSA 1978 Chapter 60 Article 13 and 14.6 NMAC — State of New Mexico. Licensing law and rules.
EPA Section 608 Technician Certification Study Guide — EPA. Required federal refrigerant handling certification.

Frequent Application Errors

Drawn from the board instructions and sources cited on this page, the pitfalls below are the ones most likely to slow down or sink a New Mexico HVAC application.

Skipping EPA 608

EPA Section 608 is federal and required before touching any refrigerant. CID will reject incomplete applications.

Wrong classification

MM-3 does not authorize stand-alone refrigeration. Full HVAC-R scope requires both MM-3 and MM-4.

Insufficient hour documentation

Every hour must be signed off by a licensed supervisor. Self-reported hours are rejected.

Missing the bond

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

Letting the credential lapse

A lapsed JM-1 suspends any MM-3 or MM-4 license it qualifies.

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 MM-3 and MM-4?

MM-3 covers heating, cooling, and process piping. MM-4 is the refrigeration classification. A full-scope HVAC contractor typically holds both.

Is EPA Section 608 required?

Yes. Federal Section 608 certification is required for any work involving refrigerants regardless of CID license status.

How many hours are required for the JM-1?

Four years and 8,000 hours of qualifying HVAC experience under licensed supervision, or completion of an approved apprenticeship.

Does New Mexico reciprocate HVAC credentials?

Yes. CID maintains bilateral reciprocity agreements with Arizona, Nevada, and Utah for mechanical contractors in good standing.

How often do HVAC licenses renew?

Every three years. JM-1 renewal requires continuing education in the adopted UMC.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-06-14 · Next scheduled review 2026-09-12