New Mexico Painting Contractor License Requirements (2026)

New Mexico regulates painting through the Construction Industries Division (CID) of the Regulation and Licensing Department under NMSA 1978, §60-13 and NMAC §14.6. Painting is a General Specialty classification — GS-3 Painting — and any contract of $7,200 or more (including labor and materials) requires a CID license before performing the work. Contracts under $7,200 are exempt from CID licensing. The qualifying party must show two years of experience as a journeyman or foreman and pass a trade exam and Business and Law exam. EPA Lead RRP applies federally.

Federal requirement: EPA Lead RRP Rule

Pre-1978 housing triggers the federal EPA Lead RRP Rule for any paint-disturbing renovation, repair, or painting work — a requirement that stands apart from whatever New Mexico does or does not license. See our complete EPA RRP Lead Certification guide for who needs firm and renovator certification, what it costs, and how renewal works.

Governing Authority

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

Eligibility Requirements

At a minimum the applicant has to be 18 years old and supply a valid Social Security Number. No New Mexico residency requirement.

Good moral character

CID reviews criminal and license history.

Background investigation

Disclosure of prior license actions required.

Experience & Education Matrix

Plan to substantiate two years of journey-level or foreman experience in painting within the last ten years, verifiable by a licensed contractor or supervisor with hard records. Payroll, tax, project logs, and supervisor verification are what the board relies on when it reviews the claim.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

CID Experience Verification Form signed by former employers
W-2 or 1099 records covering the qualifying period
Project list with scope and addresses

Examination Structure

PSI Services LLC (under contract to CID) runs the examination for this credential. Issuance is contingent on passing every part below:

New Mexico Business and Law Examination — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 75%
GS-3 Painting Trade Examination — 60 questions, 180 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $85 per PSI section plus $30 CID application fee.

Retake policy: Each exam may be retaken after re-registration; application valid one year.

Insurance & Financial Security

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

General liability

No statutory GL minimum; market standard $1,000,000 / $2,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation mandatory under NMSA 1978 §52-1-6 for any construction employer (three or more employees generally, but construction is immediate).

Additional financial requirements

CID does not require a financial statement for GS-3.

Application and License Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$30
Examination	$170
Initial license	$180
Renewal (every year)	$180

Maintenance & Renewal

Expect to renew the New Mexico Construction Industries Division — GS-3 (Specialty: Painting) every year. Renewal currently costs $180. Annual renewal on the anniversary date. Bond and insurance must remain current.

Continuing education: No CE required for GS-3 renewal.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and Endorsement

New Mexico does not accept the NASCLA Accredited Examination for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
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New Mexico has limited reciprocity for the Business and Law exam with Arizona, Louisiana, Nevada, and Utah; the GS-3 trade exam is still required.

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

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Document two years of journey-level painting experience. Signed CID Experience Verification Forms from former employers.
Register for PSI Business and Law and GS-3 trade exams. Score 75% or higher on both exams.
Submit CID application. $30 application fee; include experience documentation and exam scores.
Post the surety bond. $10,000 bond required for General Specialty classifications.
Procure general liability and workers compensation. $1M/$2M GL standard; WC mandatory for construction employers.
Complete EPA Lead-Safe Firm Certification. Required for pre-1978 housing.
Register with NM Taxation and Revenue for Gross Receipts Tax. NM Gross Receipts Tax applies to construction services.
Renew annually. CID GS-3 license renews on the anniversary date.

Study and Reference Materials

These are the preparation and reference materials tied to this credential — cited by the regulator or widely used by applicants. CLR earns nothing from listing them.

NMAC Title 14 Chapter 6 (Construction Industries General Provisions) — NM Regulation and Licensing. Governing regulations.
NASCLA Contractor's Guide to Business, Law and Project Management — NASCLA. Business and Law exam reference.
PDCA Painting and Decorating Craftsman's Manual — PDCA. Trade reference.

Common Filing Mistakes

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

Splitting contracts to stay under $7,200

CID treats related invoices as a single contract; splitting is a disciplinary offense.

Missing Gross Receipts Tax registration

NM GRT applies to all construction services; unregistered contractors accrue back tax and penalties.

Ignoring the federal EPA Lead RRP rule

EPA RRP applies nationwide.

Desert UV coating failures

High UV exposure in NM causes rapid exterior coating failure; document UV-rated manufacturer specifications.

No workers comp for construction

Construction is an immediate-coverage industry — no three-employee exemption applies.

Pre-Submission Checklist

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

☐ Two years documented painting experience
☐ CID application with experience verification
☐ PSI Business and Law exam pass at 75%
☐ PSI GS-3 Painting trade exam pass at 75%
☐ $10,000 surety bond
☐ General liability insurance
☐ Workers compensation (construction industry)
☐ EPA Lead-Safe Firm Certification
☐ NM Gross Receipts Tax registration

Other New Mexico Trade Licenses

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

Frequently Asked Questions

When does New Mexico require a state painting license?

Any painting contract of $7,200 or more (labor and materials combined) requires a CID GS-3 Painting license. Contracts under $7,200 are exempt but still subject to EPA RRP and NM Gross Receipts Tax.

What experience is required?

Two years of journey-level or foreman painting experience within the last ten years.

What is Gross Receipts Tax?

New Mexico taxes construction services through Gross Receipts Tax (combined state and local rates commonly 6-8%). Contractors must register with NM Taxation and Revenue.

Is EPA Lead RRP required?

Yes. The federal RRP Rule applies in New Mexico for any pre-1978 housing.

Does NM reciprocate the Business and Law exam?

Yes — with Arizona, Louisiana, Nevada, and Utah. The GS-3 trade exam is still required.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-04-17 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-16