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New Mexico Journeyman & Master Electrician License & Exam Guide

Journeyman and master electrician license and test requirements in New Mexico — what the state requires, who gives the exam, which NEC edition it is written on, the fees, and how to sign up. Free — no account needed.

New Mexico

Statewide license
New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division (CID) - Electrical Bureau
📕 Exam code book: 2020 NEC. New Mexico transitioned its PSI electrician exams to the 2020 NEC effective 12/15/2024 (statewide 2020 NEC adoption effective 3/28/2023). Confirm in the current PSI candidate bulletin before testing.
💵 Exam: ~$87 per exam paid to PSI; the EE-98J residential+commercial journeyman certification totals about $206.64 across its written and practical parts (confirm current PSI bulletin).  ·  License/app: $75 application/certificate fee for the EE-98J journeyman certificate (paid to CID).
📋 Exam format: Journeyman (EE-98J): PSI-administered, delivered in parts - Code exam (~50 questions), Theory exam (~50 questions) and a Practical exam; ~2 hours per written part. Closed-book on the theory/code written parts; 75% to pass the written parts (70% on the practical). Master/contractor (EE-98): PSI electrical trade exam plus a separate Business & Law exam, 75% to pass. Confirm exact question counts, timing and NEC edition in the current PSI candidate bulletin.

Journeyman

The EE-98J Journeyman certification requires about 8,000 hours (four years) of qualifying on-the-job electrical experience under a licensed electrician (or an approved apprenticeship). Applicants file an application with the CID Electrical Bureau and pass the PSI journeyman electrical exam (NEC-based) at 75%.

Master

New Mexico's master-level credential is the EE-98 electrical contractor's license (journeyman certificate plus additional experience). The qualifying party documents the required experience with the CID and passes the PSI EE-98 electrical trade exam plus a business/law exam; a contractor bond and registration are required to operate as a contractor.

🔄 Reciprocity: Journeyman-certificate reciprocity only (no contractor/master reciprocity). CID recognizes journeyman reciprocity with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming; reciprocal applicants must be currently active at least one year in the testing state and still pass the NM Business & Law exam. Verify at link and mikeholt.com/statelicense.php?id=NM
Note: Statewide licensing through CID. Terminology: EE-98 = electrical contractor classification; 'J' suffix = journeyman certificate, 'B' = master/business. Verify the currently adopted NEC edition (14 NMAC) before testing. Exam services provided by PSI; confirm forms and fees on the CID/RLD site.

Studying for the New Mexico exam?

Kevin's Electrical Prep Course is built by a licensed master electrician, instructor and electrical inspector: 630+ practice questions with every math problem worked out step by step, timed practice exams, video lessons and drive-along audio. Both code books included — NEC 2023 and NEC 2026. Note: New Mexico currently tests on the NEC 2020. This course teaches the 2023 and 2026 editions, so use it for the code that does not change between editions — theory, math, and how to read the book — and check New Mexico's own amendments for the rest. $200 for 6 months, and a pass guarantee.

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New Mexico Electrician License & Exam — Common Questions

Who gives the New Mexico electrician license exam?

New Mexico uses PSI as its testing provider. Licensing is handled by New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division (CID) - Electrical Bureau.

Which NEC code book is the New Mexico electrician exam written on?

2020 NEC. New Mexico transitioned its PSI electrician exams to the 2020 NEC effective 12/15/2024 (statewide 2020 NEC adoption effective 3/28/2023). Confirm in the current PSI candidate bulletin before testing.

How many questions are on the New Mexico electrician exam, and what score do you need to pass?

Journeyman (EE-98J): PSI-administered, delivered in parts - Code exam (~50 questions), Theory exam (~50 questions) and a Practical exam; ~2 hours per written part. Closed-book on the theory/code written parts; 75% to pass the written parts (70% on the practical). Master/contractor (EE-98): PSI electrical trade exam plus a separate Business & Law exam, 75% to pass. Confirm exact question counts, timing and NEC edition in the current PSI candidate bulletin.

How much does the New Mexico electrician license and exam cost?

~$87 per exam paid to PSI; the EE-98J residential+commercial journeyman certification totals about $206.64 across its written and practical parts (confirm current PSI bulletin). · License/app: $75 application/certificate fee for the EE-98J journeyman certificate (paid to CID).

How many hours of experience do you need for a New Mexico journeyman electrician license?

The EE-98J Journeyman certification requires about 8,000 hours (four years) of qualifying on-the-job electrical experience under a licensed electrician (or an approved apprenticeship). Applicants file an application with the CID Electrical Bureau and pass the PSI journeyman electrical exam (NEC-based) at 75%.

What are the requirements for a New Mexico master electrician license?

New Mexico's master-level credential is the EE-98 electrical contractor's license (journeyman certificate plus additional experience). The qualifying party documents the required experience with the CID and passes the PSI EE-98 electrical trade exam plus a business/law exam; a contractor bond and registration are required to operate as a contractor.

What is the difference between a journeyman and a master electrician license in New Mexico?

Journeyman: The EE-98J Journeyman certification requires about 8,000 hours (four years) of qualifying on-the-job electrical experience under a licensed electrician (or an approved apprenticeship). Applicants file an application with the CID Electrical Bureau and pass the PSI journeyman electrical exam (NEC-based) at 75%. Master: New Mexico's master-level credential is the EE-98 electrical contractor's license (journeyman certificate plus additional experience). The qualifying party documents the required experience with the CID and passes the PSI EE-98 electrical trade exam plus a business/law exam; a contractor bond and registration are required to operate as a contractor.

Does New Mexico have electrician license reciprocity with other states?

Journeyman-certificate reciprocity only (no contractor/master reciprocity). CID recognizes journeyman reciprocity with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming; reciprocal applicants must be currently active at least one year in the testing state and still pass the NM Business & Law exam. Verify at link and mikeholt.com/statelicense.php?id=NM

Anything else worth knowing about the New Mexico electrician license?

Statewide licensing through CID. Terminology: EE-98 = electrical contractor classification; 'J' suffix = journeyman certificate, 'B' = master/business. Verify the currently adopted NEC edition (14 NMAC) before testing. Exam services provided by PSI; confirm forms and fees on the CID/RLD site.

Check it straight from New Mexico

Everything above is kept current, but New Mexico can change a fee, a form or an exam provider at any time — and the state's own site is always the live answer. Before you register, click through and confirm:

These open New Mexico's official pages in a new tab. Nothing on this site replaces what your state board publishes.

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