The short answer
New Mexico uses two linked credentials. The worker holds a journeyman certificate of competence; the business holds a contractor license in the classification covering the work it sells. Do not treat EE-98J and EE-98 as interchangeable: the J identifies the individual journeyman certificate, while EE-98 is the residential, commercial, and industrial contractor classification.
A journeyman certificate in the appropriate trade classification is required for individuals performing electrical wiring, except that an apprentice may work under a valid journeyman’s direct supervision. A journeyman may perform the certified trade only while employed by an appropriately licensed entity or one holding the corresponding annual permit. Read New Mexico’s journeyman rule.
EE-98J, ER-1J, and the contractor classifications
Choose the scope before you count experience:
| Credential | Holder | Scope | Experience stated in the rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| EE-98J | Individual | Residential and commercial electrical; may work under EE-98, ER-1, and electrical specialty licenses within the employer’s scope | Four years |
| ER-1J | Individual | Residential wiring; may work under EE-98 or ER-1 | Two years |
| EE-98 | Contractor entity | Residential, commercial, and industrial wiring at 5,000 volts nominal or less, plus listed specialty scopes | Four years for the qualifying classification |
| ER-1 | Contractor entity | Defined residential wiring at 5,000 volts nominal or less | Two years for the qualifying classification |
The rule sets four years of experience for EE-98J and two years for ER-1J.
The same classification rule sets four years of experience for EE-98 and two years for ER-1.
The EE-98 contractor scope covers residential, commercial, and industrial electrical wiring operating at 5,000 volts nominal or less. The ER-1 contractor scope is narrower: it covers qualifying residential one- and two-family units and certain all-ground-floor multifamily work, excludes commercial occupancies such as hotels and motels, and may not contract for more than four dwelling units in one building. See the official classification rule.
This structure is different from a simple apprentice-journeyman-master ladder. For broader career context, see BuilderBuzz’s electrician licensing path guide.
How to qualify for the journeyman certificate
For EE-98J, plan around four years of qualifying experience; ER-1J and most electrical specialties require two years. The rules require proof of experience with the application and generally require that experience to fall within the 10 years immediately before applying. Approved technical training can substitute at a rate of one-half year of experience for each year of training, but training cannot replace more than half of the total experience requirement. The journeyman rule gives the full documentation standard.
CID or its designee must approve the experience documentation before the applicant is eligible to test, and the passing score is 75 percent or higher. The rule also says an applicant may not repeat the exam more than twice in a 30-day period.
A practical sequence is:
- Select the certificate matching the work you intend to perform.
- Accumulate and preserve employer-verified experience in that classification.
- Submit the CID-approved application, fee, and proof of experience.
- Wait for eligibility approval before scheduling the examination.
- Pass the classification exam with at least 75 percent.
- Work only within the certificate and employer-license scope.
What changes when you start an electrical business
A journeyman certificate lets an individual perform covered work for a properly licensed entity; it does not turn the individual into a licensed contracting business. To act as a contractor, the entity itself must receive a CID license. Contractor licenses are issued only to qualified business entities that employ or are owned by one or more CID-certified qualifying parties for the classification in which the entity will contract. New Mexico’s contractor-license rule explains that separation.
The qualifying party is not a name to borrow. While attached to a license, that person may not take conflicting employment that prevents adequate supervision of the licensee’s work. The business must also remain legally authorized to operate in New Mexico, and corporations, LLCs, LPs, and LLPs need their own licenses even when an owner already holds a license or qualifying-party certificate.
Initial license and renewal applicants must furnish a $10,000 surety bond, and the bond must cover the full license period. That is a bond amount, not the contractor’s premium; obtain a quote rather than treating $10,000 as the purchase price. For the broader entity-level sequence, use BuilderBuzz’s New Mexico contractor license guide. Once the license is active, the electrical contractor software guide can help map estimating, dispatch, job costing, and field-document workflows.
Application and renewal checklist
Journeyman application
- Use the current CID- or designee-approved form.
- Include the prescribed fee and classification-specific experience proof.
- Make sure experience is within the permitted lookback period and supported before scheduling the exam.
- Complete every certification requirement within six months after CID or its designee receives the application; otherwise the application expires and related fees are forfeited. See 14.6.4 NMAC.
Contractor entity and qualifying party
- Form or register the business so it is authorized to operate in New Mexico.
- Select EE-98, ER-1, or the applicable specialty classification.
- Qualify the entity with a properly certified individual in that classification.
- Supply the application, current fee, and $10,000 bond.
- Keep the qualifying-party attachment, business authority, and bond active; losing any of them can invalidate the license.
Journeyman renewal
EE-98J holders must complete at least 16 hours of approved coursework before renewal, including at least eight hours covering the current CID code enforced for the classification. Proof must accompany the renewal or reinstatement application. The continuing-education rule is in 14.6.4.8 NMAC.
Reciprocity is limited to EE-98J
New Mexico’s current CID notice says EE-98J is the only journeyman classification it reciprocates. The accepted states listed by CID are Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. The notice says an applicant must send the journeyman application, a copy of the reciprocal-state license, and $75 to PSI. Check the live CID notice before applying.
That list matters because older summaries often include Utah; the current CID notice does not. Reciprocity also should not be read as a transferable New Mexico contractor license. The agency notice is framed around the EE-98J journeyman certificate, while the contractor entity still has its own New Mexico licensing and qualifying-party requirements. BuilderBuzz’s contractor license reciprocity guide explains why an exam waiver and authority to contract are separate questions.
Frequently asked questions
Is EE-98J the same as EE-98?
No. EE-98J is an individual journeyman certificate. EE-98 is a contractor classification issued to a qualified business entity.
How much experience does EE-98J require?
The rule states four years. Qualifying experience generally must be documented from the 10 years immediately before application, and approved training can replace no more than half of the experience requirement under the rule’s conversion formula.
What score passes the journeyman exam?
A score of 75 percent or higher. Experience documentation must be accepted before an applicant is eligible to test.
Does New Mexico require continuing education for EE-98J renewal?
Yes. The rule requires at least 16 hours of approved coursework, with at least eight hours on the current CID code for the classification.
Which states have EE-98J reciprocity?
CID currently lists Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. Verify the live CID notice before applying because agreements can change.