Moving to New Mexico as a residential contractor: every state's rule

1. 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($30). Non-refundable Qualifying Party application fee, paid to PSI with the notarized Qualifying Party application and the notarized work-experience affidavits. Complete packets go to the PSI Albuquerque office by hand or mail; faxed and emailed forms are not accepted..
2. 2Other. Qualifying Party certificate fee, charged for each classification on the application (14.5.5.14(A) NMAC). With the $30 application fee this is the $36 the Construction Industries Division quotes for a single-classification Qualifying Party filing. ($6).
3. 3Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. GB-2 Residential Building Contractor exam at PSI: 80 questions, 225 minutes, open book, 75% (60 points) to pass. It covers sitework, footings and foundations, concrete and reinforcement, masonry, carpentry, roofing, associated trades, general code, plan reading and estimating, and OSHA safety, using the 2021 New Mexico Residential Building Code (14.7.3 NMAC), the 2021 International Residential Code, the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code and 29 CFR 1926..
4. 4Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($134.53). PSI fee for the GB-2 exam, per attempt..
5. 5Law / code exam. Pass a law, rules, or code exam. Contractor's Business and Law exam, required of every new Qualifying Party: 50 questions, 130 minutes, open book, 75% (38 points) to pass, covering licensing requirements, estimating and bidding, business organization and financial management, tax and labor law, project management and lien law, contracts, risk management, and environment and safety. Instead of the exam, the candidate may complete an approved Business and Law course with a CID-approved vendor and submit the course certificate..
6. 6Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($68.88). PSI fee for the Business and Law exam; not charged if the approved course is taken instead..
7. 7Application fee. Pay the application fee ($30). Non-refundable contractor license application fee paid to PSI by the business, filed with the notarized Contractor License Application, a copy of the Qualifying Party's certificate or passing score reports, and the Business and Law score or course certificate..
8. 8Other. License certificate fee, covering the license certificate and two cards, paid with the contractor license application. ($6).
9. 9License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($300). GB-2 classification fee for the three-year license term. Adding GS specialty classifications does not raise the total above $300 for the category..
10. 10Surety bond. Post a surety bond ($10,000). $10,000 code bond from a corporate surety authorized to transact business in New Mexico, issued in the exact name on the license application and covering the entire three-year license period. It may be drawn on only to cure division-certified code violations, and claims are limited to two years after final inspection or issuance of a certificate of occupancy..
11. 11Insurance. Carry the required insurance. Workers' compensation coverage is required of every licensed entity, and failure to maintain it is cause for revocation. A sole proprietor with no employees may be exempt; the Workers' Compensation Administration can confirm. CID does not require a general liability policy for the license itself..
12. 12Business license. Obtain a business license. A registration certificate issued within the last twelve months by the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department in the exact name on the license application, plus proof of registration with the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission for a corporation or LLC, or with the Secretary of State for a limited liability partnership or limited partnership. The proposed business name must be cleared with PSI first..
13. 13Background check. Complete a background check. CID reviews the application against the disqualifying felony convictions listed in 14.6.3.8(F) NMAC and may deny a license or certificate on that basis; sealed, dismissed, expunged or pardoned convictions and juvenile adjudications are not used. An application is also held where there are pending CID disciplinary actions, a workers' compensation compliance problem, a child support delinquency for the proposed Qualifying Party, or an open unlicensed-activity investigation..

Published fees on this path total $563.41, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.