New Mexico Roofing License Requirements (2026)

The New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID) of the Regulation and Licensing Department licenses roofing contractors under NMSA Chapter 60 Article 13. Roofing falls under the General Building (GB) and General Specialty (GS) trade designations. The most common roofing-specific classifications are GS-3 (Built-up, modified bitumen, single-ply roofing), GS-4 (Shingle, tile, metal), and GB-2 (General Building specialty including roofing). Every CID license requires a Qualifying Party with at least two years of relevant experience, the PSI trade exam, a $5,000 surety bond, and a personal financial statement. New Mexico's arid climate enforces UV-rated coatings and hot-asphalt fire safety.

Regulatory Oversight

Under NMSA 1978 Chapter 60 Article 13 (Construction Industries Licensing Act); NMAC Title 14 Chapter 6, New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department — Construction Industries Division (CID) is the body that issues this license and enforces compliance with it. 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

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

Good moral character

CID reviews fraud and construction-related felonies.

Background investigation

Criminal disclosure on application.

Required Experience and Education

Eligibility requires two years of qualifying experience under a New Mexico licensed contractor or equivalent, documented for the Qualifying Party, 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 Verification of Experience signed by previous employers
Project list with addresses and roles
W-2 or 1099 corroboration

Education substitution

Trade school or apprenticeship may substitute for one year.

Examination Requirements

PSI Services LLC runs the examination for this credential. Issuance is contingent on passing every part below:

New Mexico GS-3 / GS-4 / GB-2 Trade Exam — BUR, modified bitumen, single-ply, foam, metal, shingle, tile, IBC Chapter 15 — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%
New Mexico Business and Law Exam — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $83 per exam paid to PSI.

Retake policy: Failed exams retaken at $83; application valid one year.

Insurance and Financial Requirements

A contractor license surety bond of $5,000, on the CID's prescribed form, is a precondition to issuance.

General liability

CID does not set a state minimum but most NM municipal permits require $1,000,000 GL.

Workers' compensation

Mandatory for every NM employer with three or more employees, or any construction employer regardless of count, under NMSA §52-1-2.

Additional financial requirements

Personal financial statement showing positive net worth. CID also requires a $5,000 contractor surety bond under NMSA §60-13-30.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$30
Examination	$166
Initial license	$60
Renewal (every 3 years)	$60

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the New Mexico CID GS-3 / GB-2 Roofing Contractor (and GA-99/GA-7) comes due every 3 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $60. Triennial renewal. Bond and insurance must remain current.

Continuing education: No state CE.

Downloadable Asset

2026 New Mexico Roofing 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 endorsement.
Utah	Trade exam waived	Bilateral CID–DOPL endorsement.

Business and Law exam never waived.

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

Application Process, Step by Step

Document two years of qualifying roofing experience. CID Verification of Experience plus tax corroboration.
Designate the Qualifying Party. QP must be a bona-fide officer or employee of the entity.
Submit the CID application. $30 application fee plus $30 per classification.
Pass the PSI trade and Business and Law exams. 75% on each.
Post the $5,000 surety bond and submit financial statement. Required under NMSA §60-13-30.
Bind general liability and workers compensation. Workers comp mandatory for any construction employer regardless of count under §52-1-2.
Receive license and renew biennially. Triennial cycle. Renewal $30 base plus per-classification fees plus updated bond.

Frequent Application Errors

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

Construction zero-employee workers comp rule

NM construction employers must carry workers comp regardless of employee count. Sole-proprietor exemption does not apply to construction.

Hot-asphalt fire safety

NMSA forest fire restrictions during dry season prohibit open-flame roofing on red-flag days. Violating restrictions triggers fines and CID discipline.

High-altitude UV degradation

Northern NM and Santa Fe sit above 7,000 feet. UV degrades coatings and shingles faster — manufacturer warranties require specific top-coat schedules.

Foam roof maintenance schedule

SPF roofs in NM require recoating every 5–10 years. Skipping the recoat schedule voids warranties and accelerates UV failure.

QP separation

If the Qualifying Party leaves the entity, CID requires replacement within 60 days or the license is suspended.

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.

New Mexico Contractor Candidate Information Bulletin — PSI Services. Exam source list.
NMSA Chapter 60 Article 13 — State of New Mexico. Construction Industries Licensing Act.
NRCA Roofing Manual — Hot/Arid chapters — National Roofing Contractors Association. Primary technical reference.

Document Checklist

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

☐ CID Verification of Experience (two years)
☐ Qualifying Party designation
☐ CID application + classification fees
☐ PSI trade and B&L pass certificates (75%+)
☐ $5,000 contractor surety bond
☐ Personal financial statement
☐ NM workers compensation declaration page

Other New Mexico Trade Licenses

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

Questions Applicants Ask

What roofing classifications does New Mexico use?

GS-3 (built-up, modified bitumen, single-ply), GS-4 (shingle, tile, metal), and GB-2 (general building specialty including roofing) under NMSA Chapter 60 Article 13.

How much is the New Mexico bond?

$5,000 contractor surety bond under NMSA §60-13-30.

Is workers comp mandatory?

Yes for any construction employer regardless of employee count under NMSA §52-1-2 — construction has a zero threshold.

Does NM accept reciprocity?

Yes with Arizona and Utah for the trade exam. Business and Law is never waived.

How often does the license renew?

Every three years. Renewal fees vary by classification with updated bond and insurance.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-04-19 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-18