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How to become a licensed electrician in New Mexico. State-level licensing required. Apprenticeship: 8,000 hours. Total initial fees: $411-$561. Verified 2026-03-21. Data verified 2026-03-21. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Electrician
Governing Authority
Construction Industries Division (CID), New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department (RLD)
Official website →Some information on this page has not been fully verified.
54% of data points are verified against official sources. 21 fields based on preliminary research. We recommend confirming details with your state's licensing authority. See sources below · Report incorrect data
Yes
State Licensed?
Apprentice Hours
1 levels
License Levels
Total Initial Fees
CE Hours
NEC Version
Regulation Status
VerifiedState Licensed
Yes
Regulation Level
state
License Types
Notes
It is against the law to perform electrical work without a license in New Mexico. The CID licenses individual journeymen as well as contractors. There is no separate 'master electrician' designation at the state level. The EE-98 Electrical Contractor license is the highest credential.
State-Level Licensing Required
Regulated by the Construction Industries Division (CID), New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department (RLD)
Official Title
EE-98J Journeyman Residential and Commercial Electrician
Experience Required
8,000 hours (4 years) of supervised electrical experience, all within the last 10 years. ER-1 Residential Journeyman requires 4,000 hours (2 years).
Exam Required
Yes
Additional Requirements
Apprenticeship
Hours Breakdown
8,000
Total Hours
4
Years
8,000
On-the-Job
DOL Registered Apprenticeship
Exam Requirements
VerifiedRequired
Journeyman Exam
Not Required
Master Exam
Exam Provider
PSI Services
NEC Version
2020 NEC (NFPA 70, 2020 Edition), as amended by NM state rule (14.10.4 NMAC)
Open Book
Yes
Journeyman Exam Details
100
Questions
400 min
Time Limit
75%
Passing Score
Minimum Age
Education
Background Check
Insurance Required
Bonding Required
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Apprentice Registration Fee Apprenticeship program application fee range; NM does not issue a formal apprentice license | |
Journeyman License Fee $36 non-refundable application fee (includes $6 certificate fee) + $75 license fee per classification | |
Exam Fee Per test part, paid to PSI. EE-98J has 3 parts (Code, Theory, Practical). | |
Renewal Fee Varies by classification; 3-year renewal cycle for journeyman. Contractor renewal $150-$300. | |
Total Initial Fees Approximate for EE-98J: $36 application + $75 license + $300-$450 exam fees (3 parts at $100-$150 each). Does not include study materials. |
Renewal & CE Requirements
Verified3 years
Renewal Period
16 hrs
CE Hours Required
CE Topics
Renewal Fee
$75-$200
Varies by classification; 3-year renewal cycle. Contractor renewal $150-$300.
Regulatory Board
Electrician licenses must be renewed on schedule. Most states require continuing education covering NEC code updates, safety practices, and applicable state/local amendments.
Out-of-State Reciprocity
Mostly verifiedAccepts Out-of-State Credentials
Reciprocity Type
Full reciprocity with 11 states
Transfer Details
Applicants originally certified in reciprocal states are mutually excluded from exam requirements. Must have obtained journeyman certificate by passing a mandatory examination after completing either a 4-year apprenticeship program or 4 years of equivalent experience as determined by the licensing state. Reciprocal states: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wyoming.
Additional Requirements for Transfer
Electrician license reciprocity varies significantly by state. Some states offer endorsement for experienced electricians, while others require passing the state exam regardless of prior credentials.
New Mexico is one of the few states that includes a hands-on practical exam component (Part 3) for the journeyman electrician license, requiring candidates to demonstrate actual skills in conduit bending, motor control wiring, transformer connections, and materials identification. The exam also uses the 2020 NEC rather than the 2023 edition, and NM's classification system uses alphanumeric codes (EE-98J, ER-1, ES-1J, etc.) that are unique to the state. The passing score of 75% for written portions is higher than most states' 70% requirement.
New Mexico has a 3-part exam for EE-98J: Code (open book), Theory (closed book), and Practical (hands-on).
The practical exam is unusual among states — it includes conduit bending, motor control, transformer, doorbell, and lighting projects, plus materials identification.
No separate Master Electrician designation exists in New Mexico; the EE-98 Contractor license is the highest credential.
General liability insurance is NOT required for state licensure (unlike many other states).
A 20-hour CID-approved business course can substitute for the Business & Law exam for contractors.
The $10,000 contractor surety bond amount is relatively low compared to other states.
NM reciprocity group is one of the largest multi-state agreements for journeyman electricians (11 reciprocal states).
NM uses the 2020 NEC (not the 2023 edition) as amended by state rule 14.10.4 NMAC.
NM's classification system uses unique alphanumeric codes (EE-98J, ER-1, ES-1J, etc.).
All experience must be within 10 years of application.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in New Mexico.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#47 of 51
Cost
#16 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Electricians (SOC 47-2111)
Entry Level
$45,050
25th percentile
Median
$56,890
-9% vs. national avg ($62,350)Experienced
$73,470
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
5,090 employed in this state
Source: BLS OEWS – Electricians (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2024-2034
Projected Growth
+7.1%
Average GrowthNew Jobs
+60,000
over 10 years
Annual Openings
68,500
per year (avg.)
839,600 currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (September 2025)
Electrical Career Ladder+30% salary growth potential
You are here
Electrician (Journeyman)
$56,890
Apprenticeship (4-5 years) + journeyman exam
You are here
Electrician (Journeyman)
Apprenticeship (4-5 years) + journeyman exam
$56,890
Master electrician license + contractor license
$73,860
Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024 for this state. Career paths represent common advancement routes — actual progression may vary. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Estimated total: 212–224 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department - Electrical Bureau — Licensing Requirements
2–8 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department - Electrical Bureau — Licensing Requirements
Study guides and NEC code practice tests for the electrician licensing exam.
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Official state website
Accessed 2026-03-19
Accessed 2026-03-19
Accessed 2026-03-19
Official fee schedule
Accessed 2026-03-19
Official state regulation — NEC 2020 adoption
Accessed 2026-03-19
Official exam provider document with full exam details
Accessed 2026-03-19
Secondary source for licensing overview
Accessed 2026-03-19
Secondary source for contractor license details
Accessed 2026-03-19
New Mexico requires state-level licensing. An apprenticeship of 8,000 hours is required. All licensing is managed through the Construction Industries Division (CID), New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department (RLD).
Requirements vary by state and local jurisdiction. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing authority.