- Four years of experience in the classification, within the 10 years before you apply. Accredited technical training can count for up to half.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- A $10,000 code compliance 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 HVAC 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.
CID takes permit and inspection requests online.
New Mexico license types for HVAC 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 |
|---|---|
| MM-3 | Install, alter, repair and service HVAC air handling and refrigeration equipment, including fans, coils, condensing units and ductwork |
| MM-98 | All work in the mechanical classifications MM-1 through MM-4, plus some mechanical specialty work |
| MM-4 | Hydronic heating and cooling, steam and hot water systems, chilled water and process piping |
Steps to get licensed in New Mexico
- Get four years of HVAC experience within the last ten years.
- Document your experience and qualify for the MM-3 (or MM-98) trade exam.
- Pass the trade exam with 75 percent or better and complete the Business and Law course if it applies.
- Register your business with Taxation and Revenue (and the Secretary of State for an LLC or corporation).
- Buy the $10,000 bond and arrange workers compensation if you have employees.
- Send the notarized contractor license application and fees to PSI in Albuquerque.
- Renew every three years.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Four years of experience in the classification, within the 10 years before you apply. Accredited technical training can count for up to half.
The license to apply for. MM-3 HVAC (or MM-98 Mechanical).
New Mexico HVAC exams
Trade exam. Yes. A trade exam for the classification, given by CID or its designee. Passing score is 75 percent.
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.
Separate from any state license, the EPA requires Section 608 certification for anyone who works on equipment with refrigerant. It is federal and applies in every state.
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 |
| MM-3 or other single classification fee | $150 |
| MM-98 classification fee | $300 |
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 code compliance 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. New Mexico reciprocates only one journeyman card, EE-98J electrical, so there is no HVAC reciprocity on that list. Check with the board for contractor licenses.
Good to know in New Mexico
- Journeyman certificates cover workers. For example a JSM journeyman sheet metal certificate can work under an MM-3 or MM-98 license.
- Have a current Taxation and Revenue Department registration certificate and, for corporations and LLCs, Secretary of State registration before applying.
- EPA Section 608 certification is a separate federal requirement for refrigerant handling.
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 HVAC repair 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 HVAC companies run on Koira.