New Mexico Pool Contractor License Requirements (2026)

New Mexico licenses swimming-pool builders through a dedicated specialty classification, GS-25 (Swimming Pools, non-plumbing, mechanical or electrical), issued by the Regulation and Licensing Department's Construction Industries Division (CID) under the Construction Industries Licensing Act, NMSA 1978 ch. 60 art. 13. A qualifying party must demonstrate pool-trade experience, pass a PSI-administered state trade examination and a Contractor's Business and Law examination (or complete an approved Business & Law course in lieu of the exam) at a 75% passing score, and the licensed entity must post a $10,000 surety bond and carry workers' compensation coverage. Because GS-25 covers only the pool shell and structure, the plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and LP-gas work that a finished pool requires each fall under separate CID classifications, so most pool builders must hold additional licenses or engage properly licensed subcontractors.

Regulatory Oversight

Under Construction Industries Licensing Act, NMSA 1978 ch. 60 art. 13 (§60-13-1 et seq.); rules at 14.6.6 NMAC (classifications), 14.6.3 NMAC (license requirements), 14.5.5 NMAC (fees), New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division (CID) is the body that issues this license and enforces compliance with it. State contractor licensing authority that issues the GS-25 swimming pool specialty classification and enforces the Construction Industries Licensing Act and building codes.

Official portal: https://www.rld.nm.gov/construction-industries/
Address: 2550 Cerrillos Road, 3rd Floor, 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 state residency requirement is identified in the reviewed official sources; the qualifying party must be a bona fide employee or officer of the licensed entity. Applicants should confirm current requirements with CID.

Good moral character

No express statutory 'good moral character' standard applies. The director may deny or discipline a license for fraud, misrepresentation, or violations of the Act, and may deny or decline to renew based on a directly-related felony conviction (14.6.3.8(F) NMAC; NMSA 1978 §28-2-4).

Background investigation

No fingerprint-based criminal background check is required for standard initial contractor licensing. However, under 14.6.3.8(F) NMAC and NMSA 1978 §28-2-4, the division may refuse to grant or renew a license where an applicant has a felony conviction that directly relates to the contracting trade.

Disqualifying conditions

Felony conviction that directly relates to the contracting trade may be grounds for denial or non-renewal (14.6.3.8(F) NMAC; NMSA 1978 §28-2-4)

Required Experience and Education

The applicant must document and verify at least 2 years of The GS-25 classification table (14.6.6.9 NMAC) lists two years of practical swimming-pool trade experience. However, the qualifying-party exam-eligibility rule, 14.6.3.8(G)(2)(a) NMAC, requires four years of satisfactory work experience within the 10 years immediately prior to application before a qualifying party may sit the qualifying examination. These two figures conflict and this reference cannot resolve which controls; the applicant should confirm the operative experience requirement directly with CID before filing. The qualifying-exam passing score is 75%.. 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

Qualifying party (QP) work-experience affidavit/verification submitted with the CID license application
Employer or supervisor verification of the type and duration of pool-construction experience

Education substitution

Equivalent accredited training may substitute for experience at one-half year each, up to one-half of the total experience requirement (14.6.3.8(G) NMAC).

Examination Requirements

The cited state materials do not require a written state trade examination for this credential. The controlling process is: PSI

Examination fee: GS-25 trade-exam fee is paid directly to PSI and is not published in the NMAC fee schedule; confirm the current amount with PSI before scheduling.

Retake policy: The $25 (14.5.5.8.E NMAC) and $40-after-two-failures (14.5.5.8.F NMAC) failed-exam administrative review fees are enumerated for the GB-2, GB-98, EE-98, MM-98 and business/law exams; the rule does not state that they apply to a GS-25 trade-exam re-review. Confirm retake procedure and fees with CID and PSI.

Insurance and Financial Requirements

The CID requires a $10,000 contractor license surety bond to be on file before the license will issue.

General liability

Not required by the reviewed CID rules for licensure.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation coverage is required for all licensed entities (per CID application requirements).

Additional financial requirements

Not required for this classification under the reviewed rules.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$30
Initial license — sole owner	No separate state fee
Initial license — non-sole owner	No separate state fee
Renewal (every year)	$50

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the GS-25 Swimming Pools (non-plumbing, mechanical or electrical) contractor classification comes due every year. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $50. New Mexico issues and renews the GS-25 license for a one-year term at $50 or a two-year term at $100 (two years is the maximum term) under 14.5.5.8.C NMAC. Renewals are handled through CID's online licensing portal.

Continuing education: No continuing-education requirement for contractor license renewal was identified in the reviewed CID rules.

Reciprocity and License Transfer

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

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified.

The bureau chief may waive the state-specific written trade exam for a qualifying party who passed the NASCLA-accredited general construction, electrical, or electrical journeyman exam at passing score (14.6.3.8(G)(2)(f) NMAC). That waiver is directed at the general-building/electrical trade exams and is not established as an accepted substitute for the GS-25 swimming-pool trade exam. No specific state-to-state pool-contractor reciprocity partners were identified in official sources.

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

Application Process, Step by Step

Confirm the operative experience requirement with CID. Contact CID at 505-476-4700 to resolve the conflict between the 2-year figure in the GS-25 classification table (14.6.6.9 NMAC) and the 4-year QP exam-eligibility rule (14.6.3.8(G)(2)(a) NMAC) before relying on either.
Accumulate and document pool-trade experience. Gather employer or supervisor verification of the type and duration of swimming-pool construction experience; accredited training may substitute at one-half year each up to half the total requirement (14.6.3.8(G) NMAC).
Register and pass the PSI examinations. Schedule the GS-25 trade exam through PSI (in-state centers include Las Cruces, Roswell, and Farmington) and pass at 75%; pass the Contractor's Business and Law exam or complete an approved Business & Law course in lieu of it.
Secure the $10,000 surety bond and workers' compensation. Obtain a $10,000 surety bond ('proof of responsibility') from a corporate surety authorized in New Mexico (14.6.3.8(C)(1) NMAC) and put workers' compensation coverage in place for the licensed entity.
File the CID license application and pay fees. Submit the license application with the QP experience verification, exam/course proof, bond, and workers' comp documentation, and pay the $30 non-refundable application fee plus the GS-25 license fee ($50/one year or $100/two years).
Add companion classifications or subcontract excluded trades. Because GS-25 excludes plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and LP-gas work, obtain the separate CID classifications (e.g., MM, EE, LP) or engage properly licensed subcontractors for those scopes.

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 Pool Contractor application.

Conflicting experience requirements in the rules

The GS-25 classification table lists 2 years while the QP exam-eligibility rule requires 4 years within the prior 10 years; relying on the wrong figure can delay exam eligibility. Confirm with CID before applying.

Assuming GS-25 covers the entire pool build

GS-25 is limited to the shell and structure and excludes plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and LP-gas work, each of which needs a separate CID classification or a licensed subcontractor. Planning a full build under one license is a compliance error.

Expecting a NASCLA waiver for the pool trade exam

The NASCLA-based exam waiver applies to the general-construction/electrical trade exams, not the GS-25 swimming-pool trade exam, so an applicant cannot assume a prior NASCLA pass substitutes for the pool trade test.

Budgeting from unconfirmed fee figures

The GS-25 PSI exam fee is not published in NMAC and a '~$36' online application figure could not be verified; only the $30 application fee and $50/$100 license fee are officially supported. Confirm all other amounts before filing.

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.

PSI New Mexico Contractor Examinations Candidate Information Bulletin — PSI. Lists in-state test centers (Las Cruces, Roswell, Farmington) plus out-of-state CO/TX sites and describes the trade and Business & Law examinations; question counts and per-part time limits for GS-25 are not confirmed in the record.
14.6.6 NMAC — Contractor Classifications and Scopes — New Mexico State Records Center and Archives. Defines the GS-25 swimming-pool classification scope and the practical-experience figure in the classification table.
14.6.3 NMAC — Contractor License and Qualifying Party Requirements — New Mexico State Records Center and Archives. Sets the age-18 minimum, $10,000 bond, experience and 75% exam rules, exam-waiver provisions, and disqualifying-conviction grounds.

Document Checklist

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

☐ Confirm the operative experience requirement (2 vs 4 years) directly with CID before applying
☐ Document pool-trade experience with QP affidavit and employer/supervisor verification
☐ Pass the PSI GS-25 trade examination at 75%
☐ Pass the Contractor's Business and Law exam or complete an approved Business & Law course in lieu
☐ Obtain a $10,000 surety bond from a corporate surety authorized in New Mexico
☐ Put workers' compensation coverage in place for the licensed entity
☐ Submit the CID license application with the $30 application fee and the $50/$100 GS-25 license fee
☐ Arrange separate CID classifications or licensed subcontractors for plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and LP-gas work

Other New Mexico Trade Licenses

Should the Pool Contractor path not apply, these other New Mexico trade guides from CLR may help:

Questions Applicants Ask

Does New Mexico have a dedicated pool contractor license?

Yes. The Construction Industries Division issues the GS-25 (Swimming Pools, non-plumbing, mechanical or electrical) specialty classification under 14.6.6 NMAC. It is a standard classification covering the pool shell and structure, and it is issued and renewed for a one-year or two-year term.

How much pool-trade experience is required for GS-25?

There is a documented conflict in the rules. The GS-25 classification table (14.6.6.9 NMAC) lists two years of practical experience, while the qualifying-party exam-eligibility rule (14.6.3.8(G)(2)(a) NMAC) requires four years within the 10 years before application. This reference cannot resolve which controls, so an applicant should confirm the operative requirement with CID before filing.

What exams must a GS-25 applicant pass?

A qualifying party must pass a PSI-administered state trade examination for the GS-25 classification and a Contractor's Business and Law examination (or complete an approved Business & Law course in lieu of that exam). The passing score for the qualifying examination is 75% (14.6.3.8(G)(2)(c) NMAC). In-state PSI centers include Las Cruces, Roswell, and Farmington.

Is a surety bond required for a New Mexico pool contractor?

Yes. Under 14.6.3.8(C)(1) NMAC, the licensed entity must post a $10,000 surety bond as 'proof of responsibility,' underwritten by a corporate surety authorized to transact business in New Mexico. Workers' compensation coverage is also required for all licensed entities per CID application requirements.

Does GS-25 cover the plumbing, electrical, and gas work on a pool?

No. The GS-25 classification is limited to the pool shell and structure and explicitly excludes plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and LP-gas work. Each of those scopes requires its own CID classification (for example MM plumbing, EE electrical, LP gas), so most pool builders hold additional licenses or use properly licensed subcontractors.

Does New Mexico accept the NASCLA exam for the GS-25 pool license?

Not for the pool trade exam. The bureau chief may waive the state-specific written trade exam for a qualifying party who passed the NASCLA-accredited general construction, electrical, or electrical journeyman exam at passing score (14.6.3.8(G)(2)(f) NMAC), but that waiver is tied to the general-construction/electrical exams and is not established as a substitute for the GS-25 swimming-pool trade exam.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-07-10 · Next scheduled review 2026-10-08