State guide
The NASCLA Route to a New Mexico Contractor License
Updated August 2026
New Mexico is one of the 17 states (plus the US Virgin Islands) that accept the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor exam - pass it once and the trade-exam box is checked here and in every other participating state, no retesting.
Here is exactly what the NASCLA covers with the Construction Industries Division (RLD), and what New Mexico still asks of you on top of it.
What the NASCLA covers in New Mexico
The trade exam for the GB98 general building license. NASCLA itself confirms New Mexico's participation, and scores flow to the state electronically (details below).
What New Mexico still requires
Two New Mexico specifics: the state's own Business and Law exam still applies, and since January 2023 NASCLA candidates must also show a letter proving they have been licensed and in good standing with another state for at least one year.
New Mexico's NASCLA door is for contractors already licensed somewhere - a year of good standing elsewhere is part of the deal.
Every state also runs its own application - experience or financial documentation, references, and fees - so treat the board's current checklist as the source of truth: requirements change, and this page was last verified against official sources in August 2026.
How your NASCLA score reaches New Mexico
After you pass, your score lands in NASCLA's National Examination Database within about 48 hours. You then request an electronic transcript to the Construction Industries Division (RLD) - and to any other participating state you ever apply to. One exam, seventeen states.
Official source for current requirements: rld.nm.gov
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