- EE-98 requires four years of experience. ER-1 requires two years. Experience must be documented within the 10 years before you apply.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- A $10,000 bond from a surety authorized in New Mexico, covering the full license period.
- Every three years. A license runs three years from the date it is issued.
Do you need a state license in New Mexico?
New Mexico licenses electrical work at the state level through the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
New Mexico license types for electrical work
New Mexico splits the work into 3 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| EE-98 | Residential, commercial and industrial electrical wiring, 5,000 volts or less |
| ER-1 | Residential electrical wiring, 5,000 volts or less |
| EE-98J | Journeyman residential and commercial electrical certificate |
Steps to get licensed in New Mexico
- Get four years of electrical experience (two for ER-1) within the last ten years.
- Document your experience to qualify for the trade exam.
- Pass the trade exam with 75 percent or better (or use a NASCLA electrical exam waiver) and complete the Business and Law course if it applies.
- Buy the $10,000 bond and arrange workers compensation if you have employees.
- Send the notarized contractor license application and fees to PSI.
- Renew every three years.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. EE-98 requires four years of experience. ER-1 requires two years. Experience must be documented within the 10 years before you apply.
The license to apply for. EE-98 Electrical (residential and commercial).
New Mexico electrical exams
Trade exam. Yes. A trade exam given by CID or its designee, with a 75 percent passing score. The bureau chief may waive the state trade exam if you passed a NASCLA accredited electrical exam.
Business and law exam. Yes, where it applies. The license application asks for a certificate showing passing grades for the Business and Law course when your qualifying party is licensed for the first time.
What it costs in New Mexico
The board lists 3 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application and certificate fee | $36 |
| EE-98 classification fee | $300 |
| Other single classification fee | $150 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Workers compensation insurance is required of all licensees. A sole owner with no employees may be exempt.
Bond. A $10,000 bond from a surety authorized in New Mexico, covering the full license period.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every three years. A license runs three years from the date it is issued.
Reciprocity. Journeyman EE-98J reciprocity (8,000 hours) is accepted from Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming. This is for the journeyman certificate, not the contractor license.
Good to know in New Mexico
- Every license needs a qualifying party certified in each classification.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for an electrician near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how electrical contractors run on Koira.