StateLicensed

Plumber License Requirements in New Mexico

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
4000 hrs
Upfront cost
$212.76
Exam
JP Journeyman Plumber - Written, JP Journeyman Plumber - Practical
Renewal cycle
Every 3 years
Issuing board
New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department (RLD), Construction Industries Division (CID)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, pass a criminal background check. Per 14.6.4.8(A)(3) NMAC, no individual under age 18 may be issued a certificate of competence. An application may be denied if the applicant has been convicted of a felony enumerated as a disqualifying criminal conviction under 14.6.3.8(F) NMAC; the PSI-administered Journeyman Certificate Application itself asks the applicant to disclose such a conviction (question 3(k)) along with unpaid judgments, outstanding CID fines, and unresolved complaints, with a detailed explanation required for any 'yes' answer. [5]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 4000 hours of training. Per the officially codified 14.6.4.8 NMAC, Subsection F ('mechanical-plumbing journeyman classifications... requires two years of experience unless otherwise specified') and PSI's official CID Journeyman Certificate application packet, the JP (Journeyman Plumber) classification requires 2 years (4,000 hours) of documented work experience within the 10 years preceding application, verified via notarized Work Experience Affidavit(s) from employers/supervisors/foremen/contractors. Note: Subsection C(1) of the same rule states a general '4 years of work experience' standard for journeyman certification broadly; PSI's classification-specific chart (which lists JP explicitly under the '2 YEARS (4,000 hours)' heading, not the 4-year heading) is used here as the more specific, current controlling figure. Up to half of the experience requirement may be satisfied by accredited technical/apprenticeship training (each year of training = 0.5 year of experience), so approvedProgramRequired is false since work experience alone (without any formal program) also qualifies. [1]

  3. 3

    JP Journeyman Plumber - Written

    Pass the JP Journeyman Plumber - Written (fee: $68.88). 70 questions, 185-minute time limit, open book. 75% (53 points) required to pass. Fee is per PSI's official New Mexico Construction candidate bulletin and applies whether taking the exam for the first time or retaking it. [2]

  4. 4

    JP Journeyman Plumber - Practical

    Pass the JP Journeyman Plumber - Practical (fee: $68.88). 100-point practical exam, 120-minute time limit, open book. 75% (75 points) required to pass. Combined written + practical exam fee is $137.76. An applicant is not eligible to test until CID/PSI has verified their work-experience documentation. [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department (RLD), Construction Industries Division (CID) with the $75 application fee. [3]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department (RLD), Construction Industries Division (CID) issues your Journeyman Plumber (JP) Certificate of Competence for New Mexico.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $75
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] $75
JP Journeyman Plumber - Written [2] $68.88
JP Journeyman Plumber - Practical [2] $68.88

CID's published fee schedule lists a single flat '$75.00 - All Journeyman Certificate Fees' figure that applies per classification, covering both the initial application/certificate and renewal (no separate license-issuance fee, so 'license' is left null). The $137.76 combined PSI exam fee is recorded separately under exams[].

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 3 years. 16 continuing education hours required per cycle.

A New Mexico Journeyman's Certificate is active for 3 years, effective the last day of the month of issuance. Renewal requires a minimum of 16 hours of CID-approved continuing education (at least 8 hours specific to code changes/updates, up to 8 hours other approved industry coursework) and the $75 renewal fee; a certificate cannot be renewed without proof of CE compliance.

Reciprocity

No reciprocity or endorsement route was found.

No interstate compact covers plumbing licensure. The official CID Journeyman Certificate Application's multi-state reciprocity checkbox (which lists Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming) is explicitly restricted to the Electrical Journeyman (EE98J) classification only -- it does not extend to Journeyman Plumber (JP). The main general-reciprocity path available to plumbers is the expedited pathway under 14.6.4.8(D) NMAC for military service members, their spouses/dependents, and veterans who hold a substantially equivalent out-of-state license or certification (fee-exempt for the first 3 years); outside of that military pathway, no general civilian reciprocity for JP was found, so endorsementAvailable is recorded as false.

1 state-approved training provider in New Mexico — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $75
  • $68.88
  • $68.88
Total$212.76

Frequently asked questions

How much experience does New Mexico require for a Journeyman Plumber (JP) certificate?

2 years (4,000 hours) of documented work experience within the 10 years preceding application, verified through notarized Work Experience Affidavits. Up to half of this may be satisfied by accredited technical/apprenticeship training.

What exams does the JP certificate require?

A written exam (70 questions, 185 minutes, 75% to pass) and a practical exam (100 points, 120 minutes, 75% to pass), both open book and administered by PSI for $68.88 each ($137.76 combined).

What does a Journeyman Plumber certificate cost in New Mexico?

A flat $75 CID certificate fee (covers both initial application and later renewal) plus $137.76 in combined PSI exam fees.

How often does a JP certificate need to be renewed?

Every 3 years, requiring 16 hours of CID-approved continuing education (at least 8 hours on code updates) and the $75 renewal fee.

Does New Mexico offer reciprocity for plumbers licensed in other states?

Not generally. CID's multi-state reciprocity list (Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming) applies only to the Electrical Journeyman classification, not plumbing. Plumbers' main alternate path is an expedited certification for military service members, spouses/dependents, and veterans holding a substantially equivalent out-of-state license.

Sources

  1. [1] srca.nm.gov/parts/title14/14.006.0004.html — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] proctor2.psionline.com/media/programs/Instructions/NM%20Construction.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] rld.nm.gov/construction-industries/forms-and-applications/fees/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  4. [4] rld.nm.gov/construction-industries/continuing-education/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  5. [5] public.psiexams.com/pdf/CID_JNYA.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12