Electrician license
New Mexico electrician license
The Construction Industries Division of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department certifies journeyman electricians and licenses electrical contractors statewide. Anyone doing electrical wiring needs a journeyman certificate of competence in the matching classification, unless working as an apprentice under a certified journeyman. The licenses are Electrical Apprentice, Journeyman Residential and Commercial Electrical (EE-98J), Journeyman Residential Wiring (ER-1J) and Electrical Contractor (EE-98, residential, commercial and industrial). Each is below with its hours, exam, fees and official source, followed by how to apply, renewal, reciprocity and the official license lookup.
Licenses at a glance
| License | Experience | Exam | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Apprentice | Not set in hours | No exam | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Journeyman Residential and Commercial Electrical (EE-98J) | 8,000 hours | 100 questions, 2020 NEC | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Journeyman Residential Wiring (ER-1J) | Not set in hours | Yes | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Electrical Contractor (EE-98, residential, commercial and industrial) | Not set in hours | Yes | $36 Qualifying Party application fee, then a $36 company application fee plus license fees |
How to get each New Mexico license
Electrical Apprentice
Requirements. An apprentice may do electrical wiring only under the direct supervision of a certified journeyman. A journeyman may oversee up to two apprentices on commercial or industrial work and up to three on residential work.
Exam. No exam for this license.
Fees. Not confirmed: check with the board
Source: 14.6.6 NMAC, electrical license classifications and scopes.
Journeyman Residential and Commercial Electrical (EE-98J)
Requirements. Four years of experience (8,000 hours) within the 10 years before you apply. Accredited technical training, including an accredited apprenticeship, counts at half a year of experience per year of training, up to half the requirement. You may not test until CID accepts your experience documentation.
Experience. 8,000 hours.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | PSI |
|---|---|
| Code edition | 2020 NEC |
| Questions | 100 questions |
| Time | 265 minutes |
| Passing score | 75% on each part |
| Code book | Part 1 (Code) is open book with the 2020 NEC or NEC Handbook, permanent tabs only. Part 2 (Theory) is closed book. |
| Exam fee | $68.88 per part; $206.64 for both written parts and the practical |
| Official bulletin | PSI candidate information bulletin, New Mexico journeyman examinations (updated 4/13/2023) |
Fees. Not confirmed: check with the board
The EE-98J exam has three parts: Part 1 Code (50 questions, 145 minutes, open book), Part 2 Theory (50 questions, 120 minutes, closed book) and a practical exam.
After a failed attempt you must reapply and pay again, and may not repeat an exam more than twice in 30 days.
Free practice. The journeyman electrician practice test with 2026 and 2023 NEC versions has 30 questions on code and calculations, scored by subject, with no account. It is general NEC practice, not built from the New Mexico exam outline.
Sources: 14.6.4 NMAC, journeyman certification; NM RLD CID: Apply for a Construction Industries License; PSI candidate information bulletin, New Mexico journeyman examinations (updated 4/13/2023).
Journeyman Residential Wiring (ER-1J)
Requirements. Two years of experience. ER-1J holders may work under an EE-98 or ER-1 contractor license.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | PSI |
|---|---|
| Code edition | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Questions | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Time | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Passing score | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Code book | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Exam fee | $68.88 per part; $206.64 for both written parts and the practical |
| Official bulletin | PSI candidate information bulletin, New Mexico journeyman examinations (updated 4/13/2023) |
Fees. Not confirmed: check with the board
Sources: 14.6.6 NMAC, electrical license classifications and scopes; PSI candidate information bulletin, New Mexico journeyman examinations (updated 4/13/2023); NM RLD CID: Apply for a Construction Industries License.
Electrical Contractor (EE-98, residential, commercial and industrial)
Requirements. A business license issued to a company that employs or is owned by a Qualifying Party certified by CID. The Qualifying Party needs four years of experience within the last 10 years and must pass the trade exam and the Contractor's Business and Law exam. The company posts a license bond and carries workers' compensation.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | PSI |
|---|---|
| Code edition | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Questions | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Time | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Passing score | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Code book | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Exam fee | Not confirmed: check with the board |
Fees. $36 Qualifying Party application fee, then a $36 company application fee plus license fees.
Sources: NM RLD CID: Apply for a Construction Industries License; 14.6.6 NMAC, electrical license classifications and scopes.
How to apply
Send the journeyman certificate application and notarized work experience affidavits to PSI's Albuquerque office by hand or mail. Once approved you register and pay for the exam with PSI; a passing score is valid for one year. Apply on the official site.
Source: NM RLD CID: Apply for a Construction Industries License.
Renewal and continuing education
| Renewal | Every three years. |
|---|---|
| Continuing education | At least 16 hours of continuing education every three years: 8 hours of code change instruction and 8 hours of other industry-related instruction. Renewals without proof are not processed. |
Sources: 14.6.4 NMAC, journeyman certification; NM RLD CID: Continuing Education and reciprocal agreement.
Reciprocity with other states
EE-98J only, with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming. You must have passed that state's exam after a 4-year apprenticeship or 4 years of experience and hold a current license; apply with a copy of it and $75 to PSI.
Sources: NM RLD CID: Apply for a Construction Industries License; NM RLD CID: Continuing Education and reciprocal agreement.
Look up a New Mexico electrician license
To check that an electrician or contractor is licensed, use the official CID license verification (PSI).
Good to know
PSI's New Mexico journeyman bulletin is dated April 2023 and still tests the 2020 NEC.
Source: PSI candidate information bulletin, New Mexico journeyman examinations (updated 4/13/2023).
Common questions
Who issues electrician licenses in New Mexico?
The Construction Industries Division of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department certifies journeyman electricians and licenses electrical contractors statewide. Anyone doing electrical wiring needs a journeyman certificate of competence in the matching classification, unless working as an apprentice under a certified journeyman.
How do I get a journeyman electrician license in New Mexico?
Journeyman Residential and Commercial Electrical (EE-98J): Four years of experience (8,000 hours) within the 10 years before you apply. Accredited technical training, including an accredited apprenticeship, counts at half a year of experience per year of training, up to half the requirement. You may not test until CID accepts your experience documentation. Send the journeyman certificate application and notarized work experience affidavits to PSI's Albuquerque office by hand or mail. Once approved you register and pay for the exam with PSI; a passing score is valid for one year.
How many hours do you need to become a journeyman electrician in New Mexico?
8,000 hours for the Journeyman Residential and Commercial Electrical (EE-98J).
How many questions are on the New Mexico journeyman electrician exam?
100 questions in 265 minutes, and the passing score is 75% on each part.
Does New Mexico accept electrician licenses from other states?
EE-98J only, with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming. You must have passed that state's exam after a 4-year apprenticeship or 4 years of experience and hold a current license; apply with a copy of it and $75 to PSI.
How often does a New Mexico electrician license renew?
Every three years. Continuing education: At least 16 hours of continuing education every three years: 8 hours of code change instruction and 8 hours of other industry-related instruction. Renewals without proof are not processed.
How do I look up an electrician license in New Mexico?
Use the official CID license verification (PSI) at https://public.psiexams.com/search.jsp
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from New Mexico's own licensing board, statute or rule, or the testing company the board names. Where a fact could not be confirmed from one of them, the page says to check with the board. Rules and fees change: confirm with the board before you apply.
- 14.6.6 NMAC, electrical license classifications and scopes, opened November 11, 2026
- 14.6.4 NMAC, journeyman certification, opened November 11, 2026
- PSI candidate information bulletin, New Mexico journeyman examinations (updated 4/13/2023), opened November 11, 2026
- NM RLD CID: Apply for a Construction Industries License, opened November 11, 2026
- NM RLD CID: Continuing Education and reciprocal agreement, opened November 11, 2026
- NM RLD: Verify a License, opened November 11, 2026
Electrician license requirements in every state · How to become an electrician · Journeyman electrician license · Master electrician license
Last verified November 11, 2026.