New Mexico Masonry License Requirements

The New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID) issues the GS-16 Masonry classification—not GS-3—under 14.6.6 NMAC. GS-16 requires two years of experience and covers specified brick, stone, adobe, veneer, building-wall, freestanding-wall, and retaining-wall work. GB-2 may cover GS specialties on residential work and GB-98 includes GS classifications within its broader scope. CID licenses qualified business entities through a Qualifying Party who meets the experience requirement and passes the applicable trade and business-and-law examinations.

Regulatory Body

Licensing for this trade is governed by New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department — Construction Industries Division (CID), the agency that issues and regulates the credential under 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

Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Applicants must provide a Social Security Number. No New Mexico residency requirement; out-of-state qualifying parties accepted.

Good moral character

CID reviews prior license discipline. Felonies relating to fraud may bar issuance.

Background investigation

Self-disclosure of criminal history on the CID application.

Experience and Education

The experience bar is 2 years of journey-level masonry experience installing brick, CMU, stone, mortar, flashing, weeps, and anchored veneer, and it must be backed by verifiable records — typically payroll, tax, project, or supervisor documentation covering the claimed period.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

CID Certification of Work Experience signed by licensed contractors
W-2, 1099, or payroll records covering the qualifying period
Project list with addresses and dates

Exam Requirements

Testing provider or authority: PSI Services LLC under contract to NM CID. The following examination requirements cover the pathways described in this guide; follow each part's classification, waiver, and local-scope conditions. Unpublished format details do not remove an examination requirement:

New Mexico Business and Law Examination — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 75%
GS-3 Masonry Trade Examination — TMS 402/602, IBC Chapter 21, anchored veneer — 70 questions, 210 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $83 per PSI exam section ($166 total).

Retake policy: Failed sections may be retaken after 14 days with a new $83 fee.

Insurance and Bonds

Before the license is issued, the applicant must file a $10,000 contractor license surety bond in the form prescribed by the CID.

General liability

No CID minimum, but most owners require $1,000,000 per occurrence GL.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory under NMSA §52-1-2 for any New Mexico employer with three or more employees. Masonry NCCI 5022 carries one of the highest manual rates in New Mexico.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application	$30
Examination	$166
Initial license	$180
Renewal (every 3 years)	$180

To turn these board fees into a realistic year-one budget — bond premium, liability insurance, and exam prep included — open the cost calculator preloaded for New Mexico masonry.

Renewal and Continuing Education

The New Mexico GS-16 Masonry Contractor — CID must be renewed every 3 years. The fee to renew is presently $180. New Mexico CID licenses renew every three years. Maintain bond and insurance continuously.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity

New Mexico grants no NASCLA reciprocity for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Arizona	Trade exam waiver	Bilateral CID–AZ ROC waiver for active CR-9/B-9 holders.
Utah	Trade exam waiver	Bilateral CID–DOPL waiver for active masonry classifications.
Nevada	Trade exam waiver	Bilateral CID–NSCB waiver for active C-13 holders.

New Mexico waives the GS-3 trade exam (not the business and law exam) for qualifying parties with active reciprocal masonry licenses in AZ, UT, and NV.

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

Masonry Licensing in Neighboring States

Contractors working near a state line, or weighing where to qualify first, should compare New Mexico's requirements against the bordering jurisdictions before committing to an application:

Arizona Masonry License Requirements — Arizona Masonry Contractor (C-31, R-31, or CR-31)
Colorado Masonry License Requirements — Colorado Masonry Contractor Requirements — Local Rules
Oklahoma Masonry License Requirements — Oklahoma Masonry Contractor — Local Requirements; No State Trade License
Texas Masonry License Requirements — Texas Masonry Contractor Requirements — Local Registration and Permits
Utah Masonry License Requirements — Utah S230 Masonry, Siding, Stucco, Glass & Rain Gutter Contractor License

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Document two years of masonry experience. Compile signed CID Certification of Work Experience forms.
Pass the PSI New Mexico Business and Law exam. Score 75% or better on the 50-question business and law exam.
Pass the PSI GS-3 Masonry trade exam. Score 75% or better on the 70-question trade exam covering TMS 402 and IBC Chapter 21.
Post $10,000 contractor bond. Bind the New Mexico contractor bond required by NMAC 14.6.6.
Bind GL and workers compensation. Bind GL ($1M+ practical) and workers comp for any employees.
Submit CID GS-3 application. File the application with $30 fee plus $6/$1,000 of license value, exam scores, bond, and insurance certificates.
Register for NM gross receipts tax. Register with the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department for the gross receipts tax (GRT) — applies to construction services.
Implement OSHA silica program. Federal OSHA enforces 29 CFR 1926.1153 in New Mexico private sector; NM OSHB covers public sector. Written exposure control plan and Table 1 controls are mandatory.

Application Checklist

Ahead of submission to CID, confirm every item on this short list:

New Mexico Secretary of State entity registration
NM Taxation and Revenue GRT registration
Two years documented masonry experience
PSI Business and Law exam pass certificate (75%+)
PSI GS-3 Masonry trade exam pass certificate (75%+)
$10,000 New Mexico contractor bond
GL and workers compensation certificates
CID GS-3 license application
OSHA silica written exposure control plan

Common Filing Mistakes

These are the recurring mistakes that most often delay or reject a New Mexico Masonry application, based on the official instructions cited here.

GRT not collected

Construction contractors who fail to collect and remit New Mexico gross receipts tax face Tax and Revenue audits and back-assessments with interest.

Adobe and earthen masonry compliance

New Mexico traditional adobe and rammed-earth construction has dedicated CID rules under NMAC 14.7.4; standard CMU contractors miss these on Santa Fe and Taos projects.

Anchored veneer ties undersized

New Mexico high-wind exposure requires corrosion-resistant ties at TMS 402 spacing; Albuquerque and Santa Fe inspectors fail jobs with undersized ties.

Severe freeze-thaw at elevation

Northern New Mexico high-elevation freeze-thaw cycles cause spalling; Santa Fe and Taos inspectors require proper flashing and weeps.

Silica plan absent

OSHA targets Albuquerque and Las Cruces masonry sites; missing 29 CFR 1926.1153(g) plans draw immediate citations.

Study and Reference Materials

These materials are drawn from the regulator's own citations and the references applicants commonly use to prepare. CLR receives no compensation for listing them.

NM CID Reference Manual for Contractors — New Mexico Construction Industries Division. Required reference for the New Mexico business and law exam.
TMS 402/602 Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures — The Masonry Society. Adopted by reference under IBC Chapter 21.
New Mexico Building Code (NMAC 14.7.2 — IBC adoption) — New Mexico CID. New Mexico adopts IBC including Chapter 21 masonry provisions.

Other New Mexico Trade Licenses

CLR maintains guides for additional New Mexico trades; the published ones are listed here:

Frequently Asked Questions

Does New Mexico have a dedicated masonry license?

Yes. CID’s specialty classification is GS-16 Masonry.

What is the project threshold?

$7,200 on commercial projects triggers the license requirement; residential work of any value requires the license under NMAC 14.6.6.

How much is the bond?

$10,000 contractor bond per NMAC 14.6.6 — required at application.

Do I need GRT registration?

Yes. Construction services are subject to New Mexico gross receipts tax. Register with NM Taxation and Revenue before invoicing.

Does New Mexico enforce OSHA silica?

Federal OSHA enforces 29 CFR 1926.1153 in private sector. NM Occupational Health and Safety Bureau covers public sector. Written exposure control plan is mandatory.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-09-04 · Next scheduled review 2026-12-03

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Corrections and presentation updates

2026-09-30: Corrected examination detection when format details are unpublished and updated the summary layout and requirements score. Source-check dates are unchanged.
2026-09-08: Shared template updated to distinguish unspecified eligibility requirements, retain cost qualifications, and use consistent headings. Source-check dates are unchanged by presentation updates.
2026-09-21: Local-only guides now use a compliance-focused structure and terminology instead of implying a statewide license application. Source-check dates are unchanged by this presentation update.