Oklahoma to New Mexico: master electrician license reciprocity
New Mexico has no reciprocity agreement with Oklahoma. Your Oklahoma experience counts toward eligibility, but you must pass the New Mexico exam.
Reference only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the licensing board before you apply. Full disclaimer.
Out-of-state master or electrical contractor (all states)
Nothing is waived, but your documented out-of-state hours count toward eligibility to sit the exam.
An out-of-state master electrician or electrical contractor receives no exam waiver in New Mexico. The applicant files the qualifying party application with PSI ($36) and a notarized work-experience affidavit showing four years of experience in the EE-98 classification within the past ten years, then must pass the EE-98 trade exam (three parts, $269.06) and the Contractor's Business and Law exam ($68.88), or complete a commission-approved business and law course in place of that exam. Out-of-state experience is accepted on the affidavit. Once the certificate of qualification is issued, the individual or business applies for the EE-98 contractor's license ($30 application under 14.5.5 NMAC; $100 per year or $200 for two years) and must carry workers' compensation coverage.
The RLD page states the QP application fee as $36 and the license application fee as $36 plus license fees, while 14.5.5.8 NMAC states the contractor license application fee as $30; the amounts below follow the RLD page for the QP fee and the rule for the license fees. A contractor license in New Mexico may be held by an individual as sole proprietor. No official page describes a reciprocal agreement or exam waiver for qualifying parties from any state.
At a glance
- Trade exam
- Required
- Law / code exam
- Required
- Out-of-state hours
- Count toward eligibility
What you must already have
- Four years of practical or related trade experience in the EE-98 classification within the ten years immediately before application (NMSA 60-13-14(A)(8); 14.6.6.10(B)(1)(a) NMAC)
What you'll do to get licensed in New Mexico
- 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($36). Qualifying party application fee paid to PSI, with notarized work-experience affidavit.
- 2Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. EE-98 Residential and Commercial Electrical exam, three parts, administered by PSI.
- 3Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($269.06). PSI fee for the three-part EE-98 exam; a single failed part is retaken for $89.69.
- 4Law / code exam. Pass a law, rules, or code exam. Contractor's Business and Law exam (required of all new candidates) or a commission-approved business and law course.
- 5Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($68.88). PSI fee for the Business and Law exam.
- 6Contractor license. Hold or obtain a contractor license ($30). EE-98 contractor's license application fee, non-refundable (14.5.5.8 NMAC).
- 7License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($200). EE-98 contractor's license fee, $100 per year or $200 for the two-year license term (14.5.5.8 NMAC).
- 8Insurance. Carry the required insurance. Workers' compensation coverage is required for all licensed entities.
Published fees on this path total $573.94, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.
What you'll need to buy or arrange
Exam preparation
Most boards contract PSI, Prov, or ICC for exams. Check which code edition the exam is written to before buying a prep course.
- Trade exam
- Exam fee · $269.06
- Law / code exam
- Exam fee · $68.88
Liability insurance
Some states require proof of general liability or workers' compensation coverage at licensing time.
- Insurance
How New Mexico licenses master electricians
New Mexico master electrician · “EE-98 Electrical Contractor (qualifying party certificate of qualification)”
Statewide license
Issued by New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division (CID)
New Mexico has no license called 'master electrician'. Its highest electrical credential is the EE-98 electrical contractor classification (all electrical systems and wiring methods at 5,000 volts nominal or less), which is issued by CID in two parts: the contractor's license goes to the contracting entity, and a personal, non-transferable certificate of qualification goes to the qualifying party, the individual who passed the EE-98 three-part trade exam and the Contractor's Business and Law exam and is responsible for the licensee's code compliance. Because the certificate of qualification is held by a person and earned by examination, this site maps it to the master level. A qualifying party needs four years of experience in the classification within the ten years before application. CID publishes reciprocity only for EE-98J journeymen; no reciprocity or exam waiver is published for qualifying parties or EE-98 contractors, although NMSA 60-13-14(C) allows the division to enter into reciprocal agreements with states having equivalent requirements.
Common questions
- Do I have to take the New Mexico master electrician exam if I'm licensed in Oklahoma?
- Yes. New Mexico requires the trade exam on this path, plus a law or code exam.
- What does it cost to get a New Mexico master electrician license from Oklahoma?
- Published fees on this path total $573.94, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
- Do my Oklahoma work hours count in New Mexico?
- Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward New Mexico's eligibility requirements.
- Does it work the other way, from New Mexico to Oklahoma?
- Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from New Mexico to Oklahoma, the mechanism is endorsement.
Sources
- Construction Industries Licensing Act, NMSA 1978 Chapter 60, Article 13 · NMSA 1978 §§ 60-13-2(E), 60-13-14, 60-13-16, 60-13-38 · New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department · Statute · verified September 15, 2026§60-13-2(E): a 'qualifying party' is an individual who submits to the examination for a license and is responsible for the licensee's compliance. §60-13-14(A)(8): a contractor license applicant needs four years of trade experience within the ten years before application. §60-13-14(C): the division, with the commission's consent, may enter into a reciprocal licensing agreement with any state having equivalent licensing requirements. §60-13-16: no certificate of qualification is issued until the individual passes the division's exam, which includes business/law and, for EE classifications, a technical exam; the certificate is not transferable. §60-13-38: journeymen must hold a certificate of competence obtained by examination; eligibility for the journeyman electrician exam requires four years of accredited training, apprenticeship or practical experience (two years commercial/industrial); 16 hours of continuing education per three-year code cycle for EE-98J.
- 14.5.5 NMAC - Fees (Construction Industries Division) · 14.5.5.8 and 14.5.5.9 NMAC · New Mexico Commission of Public Records, State Records Center and Archives · Admin Rule · verified September 15, 2026Non-refundable contractor's license application fee $30.00; license fee $100.00 per year or $200.00 for two years for the GA-98, GB-2, GB-98, GF-98, EE-98 and MM-98 classifications and $50.00 per year or $100.00 for two years for all other classifications (including MM-3). Journeyman certificate renewal fee $25.00 per year (14.5.5.9).
- 14.6.6 NMAC - Classification and Scope of Licenses and Certificates (mechanical and plumbing) · 14.6.6.10 and 14.6.6.11 NMAC · New Mexico Commission of Public Records, State Records Center and Archives · Admin Rule · verified September 15, 2026MM-3 Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning: four years of experience; scope is to 'install, alter, repair, service and maintain HVAC air handling and refrigeration equipment and piping, including fans, coils, condensing units, self-contained packaged air conditioning or heating units, evaporative cooling units, and ductwork' plus controls at 24 volts or less. MM-98 Mechanical (four years) covers MM-1 through MM-4 and the MS-3, MS-6, MS-12 and MS-14 specialties. Journeyman classifications: JR Journeyman Refrigeration (two years; 'must demonstrate compliance with environmental protection agency (EPA) recovery requirements before certificate may be issued'; works under MM-3, MM-4, MM-98 or JSM) and JSM Journeyman Sheet Metal (two years; works under MM-3 or MM-98).
- State of New Mexico Contractor (Qualifying Party) Examinations Candidate Information Bulletin (PSI) · PSI Services for the NM Construction Industries Division · Other · verified September 15, 2026Text extracted from the PDF locally. Business and Law exam 'REQUIRED OF ALL NEW CANDIDATES' $68.88, or an approved Business and Law course may be taken instead; trade exams for MM-1, MM-2, MM-3, MM-4 and the MS specialties are $68.88 each, first time or retake. MM-3 Heat, Vent and Air Conditioning exam: 100 questions, 245 minutes, 75% (75 points) to pass, open book on the 2021 Uniform Mechanical Code, 2015 New Mexico Mechanical Code and Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning; content covers motors/controls, piping, heating and cooling equipment, refrigerants and refrigeration, and ductwork/ventilation. No reciprocity or out-of-state exam waiver is described.
- NM Regulation and Licensing Department - Apply for a Construction Industries License · New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Section 'Reciprocal Journeyman in New Mexico': 'The only journeyman classification reciprocated in New Mexico is EE-98J, residential and commercial electrical'; no mechanical or refrigeration journeyman classification is reciprocated. Section 'Becoming a Qualifying Party': QP applicants need the required years of experience within the 10 years before application, must pass the classification exam(s) and a Contractor's Business and Law exam, must be pre-approved to schedule exams, and pay a $36 QP application and work-experience affidavit fee; the company license application fee is $36 plus license fees. No reciprocity is mentioned for qualifying parties or contractors.
Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.