Electrician License Requirements in New Mexico
Last reviewed July 2026
To work as a licensed electrician in New Mexico, you'll apply through the licensing authority, meet an experience requirement, and pass a licensing exam based on the National Electrical Code. Here's how it breaks down.
Licensing authority
New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division (CID)
2550 Cerrillos Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87505
Phone: (505) 476-4500
Website: https://www.rld.nm.gov/construction-industries/
License types & experience
| License | Experience required | Exam |
|---|---|---|
| EE-98J Journeyman — Residential & Commercial |
4 years / 8,000 hours of qualifying experience (accredited training can substitute for up to half) | Two-part written exam — Part 1 Code (50 questions) and Part 2 Theory (50 questions), 75% to pass each, 120 minutes each — plus a practical exam |
| ER-1J Journeyman — Residential wiring |
2 years / 4,000 hours | Written exam |
| EL-1J Journeyman — Electrical distribution systems |
4 years / 8,000 hours | Written exam |
| EE-98 Electrical Contractor / Master |
Journeyman-level experience plus contractor requirements | EE-98 exam (multiple parts) plus an open-book Business & Law exam (50 questions, 125 minutes) |
The exam & fees
Testing vendor
PSI
Code edition
2020 NEC (in effect for exams from December 15, 2024)
Fees
EE-98J written + practical exam fees total about $206.64 (paid to PSI)
Renewal & continuing education
Licenses are valid for 3 years. Renewal requires 16 hours of continuing education per 3-year period, of which 8 hours must cover NEC Code changes.
Studying for the New Mexico electrician exam?
The exam is NEC-based — practice with 1,394 questions and worked solutions in the Electrical Exam Prep app.
Sources: NM Construction Industries Division (official) · Mike Holt — NM licensing summary