Plumber licensing in New Mexico

Scope

New Mexico licenses plumbing and mechanical work at the contractor level through the Construction Industries Division (CID) within the Regulation and Licensing Department (RLD) under the Construction Industries Licensing Act (NMSA 60-13-1 et seq.) and the Plumbing and Mechanical Trades Regulations (14.8 NMAC). The standard plumbing-contractor classifications are MM-98 (Mechanical, which covers plumbing and mechanical scope) and, where a separate plumbing-only classification exists, the plumbing-specific license under CID's mechanical licensing page. Source: NM RLD CID Mechanical Licensing (https://www.rld.nm.gov/construction-industries/licensing/mechanical/).

Classifications

CID mechanical/plumbing classifications include:

- MM-98 Mechanical Contractor (broad scope covering plumbing, HVAC, gas piping, and related mechanical work). - MM-98J Journeyman Plumber / Mechanical. - JB-1 Journey Plumber (individual journeyman designation used in New Mexico's plumbing scope). - Narrower classifications for specific scopes (natural-gas, propane, boiler) are published on the CID mechanical page.

Qualifying Party

Every CID classification license is held by a business entity and must designate a qualifying party responsible for the technical operations of the licensed business. The qualifying party must document experience and pass the trade exam and the New Mexico Business and Law exam. Source: NMSA 60-13-11.

Experience

The qualifying party must document four years (equivalent) of related experience in the classification sought, per 14.8.2 NMAC and CID rule. Years earned as a journeyman (JB-1 for plumbing scope, or MM-98J) or in equivalent field and supervisory positions count. Technical training can substitute for a portion of the experience up to the cap defined in the rule.

Exam

Administered by PSI Services for CID. Candidates take (1) the MM-98 or JB-1 trade exam covering the plumbing-code edition currently adopted by New Mexico (the Uniform Plumbing Code as amended by 14.8 NMAC) plus NM-specific rule and (2) the NM Business and Law exam. Verify current exam fees and Candidate Information Bulletin on the PSI New Mexico CID page.

Bonding

NMSA 60-13-13 requires every CID contractor applicant to file a surety bond with the Division. Bond amounts vary by classification tier. Verify current bond amount directly with CID at https://www.rld.nm.gov/construction-industries/ before posting.

Reciprocity

New Mexico does not publish broad trade-exam reciprocity for MM-98 or JB-1. Out-of-state applicants are evaluated on an endorsement basis under NMSA 60-13-28 and related Division rule. Confirm directly with CID before relying on a prior-state license.

Renewal and CE

CID licenses renew annually. Licensees must complete continuing-education hours each renewal under 14.5.1 NMAC. Confirm the current hour requirement on the NM CID Continuing Education page (https://www.rld.nm.gov/construction-industries/continuing-education/).

Background Check

NMSA 60-13-11 authorizes CID to require fingerprint-based criminal-history checks for qualifying-party applicants.

Scope Limits

JB-1 (journeyman) is an individual license. Contracting for plumbing work in New Mexico requires the firm to hold a CID MM-98 (or narrower) contractor license with a qualifying party of record.