Construction / Plumber License / New Mexico
- New Mexico
- Plumber License
- MM-1 Plumbing Contractor
- Updated Oct 2026
How to Get Your New Mexico MM-1 Plumbing License
Everything you need to qualify for the New Mexico MM-1 plumbing license: the experience you need, the two exams, how to apply and how to stay licensed.
Last updated October 27, 2026 from New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division requirements
Application fee
$36
Plus $150 MM-1 license fee and PSI exam fees
Exam time
6 hrs 20 min
MM-1 (250 min) + Business & Law (130 min)
Time to get license
~4 yrs
4 years (8,000 hours) of experience
Continuing ed
16 hrs
Required for this license
Overview
Do you need a New Mexico plumber license?
Yes. To contract plumbing work in New Mexico, you need the MM-1 classification and an approved Qualifying Party. You get there by gaining 4 years of experience and passing two exams: MM-1 Plumbing and Business & Law.
License required when
- Installing, altering, repairing or servicing plumbing fixtures and piping
- Hot water heating systems up to 30 psi or 400,000 BTU/hour input
- Piping for fuel, oil, gasoline and solar energy systems
- Septic tanks, manholes and sewer lines
- Irrigation sprinkler systems, swimming pools and spas
Common exceptions
- Natural gas fired appliances and natural gas piping are not part of the MM-1 scope
- Hot water heating systems above 30 psi or 400,000 BTU/hour input fall outside the MM-1 scope
- Control wiring is limited to 24 volts or less
Penalties for unlicensed work
Doing plumbing work without the right license can lead to enforcement by the state, including fines and orders to stop work. Check with the Construction Industries Division before you bid or take on a job.
Your fast-track New Mexico plumber license checklist
The New Mexico application, one page
- 4 years (8,000 hours) of plumbing experience
- Passing score on the MM-1 Plumbing exam (75%)
- Passing score on the Business & Law exam
- Approval as a Qualifying Party
- Signed, complete application with required documents and fee
Types
New Mexico plumber license types and classifications
This page covers the MM-1 plumbing classification. It’s the one you need to contract plumbing work, and it comes with a clear scope limit on gas work.
MM-1
Plumbing contractor
Plumbing
Plumbing fixtures and piping, low-pressure hot water heating, fuel and solar piping, septic and sewer lines, irrigation sprinklers, pools and spas. Excludes natural gas appliances and natural gas piping.
Exam
MM-1 + Business & Law
Limit
Not stated
Requirements
New Mexico plumber license requirements, class by class
Here’s what you need to qualify for the MM-1 classification. Items the state doesn’t spell out in our sources are marked “Not stated.”
| Requirement | MM-1 Plumbing |
|---|---|
| Experience | 4 years (8,000 hours) |
| Trade exam | MM-1 Plumbing, 75% to pass |
| Business exam | New Mexico Business & Law |
| Qualifying Party | Must become an approved Qualifying Party |
| Application | Signed and complete application |
| Minimum age | Not stated |
Steps
How to get your New Mexico plumber license, step by step
- Get your experienceBefore you apply
Build up 4 years (8,000 hours) of plumbing experience. That’s the biggest part of the timeline. - Book your exams with PSIBefore exam day
Schedule the MM-1 Plumbing and Business & Law exams through PSI or call 855-807-3994. Test centers are in larger cities across the state. - Pass both examsExam day
Both are open book. You need 75% on the MM-1 exam. You’ll get an email with your pass information afterward. - Become an approved Qualifying PartyBefore you apply
Your license is held through a Qualifying Party, so you’ll need to be approved in that role. - Submit your applicationAfter you pass
Mail the completed application, required documents and license fee to the address listed in the application. You can also apply online through the Construction Industries Division.
Exam
What to expect on the New Mexico plumber exam
You sit two exams: the MM-1 Plumbing trade exam and the New Mexico Business & Law exam. The trade exam is open book, so knowing your references matters as much as knowing the material.
Format
Open book, at a test center
Questions
100 + 50
Passing score
75%
Exam vendor
PSI
Scoring & content
- MM-1 Plumbing: 100 questions, 250 minutes, 75% to pass
- Business & Law: 50 questions, 130 minutes
- MM-1 topics: drainage, waste and vents; water supply; backflow prevention; storm drainage; fixtures and water heaters; interceptors and traps; isometric analysis; septic and sewer
- References include the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code, 2021 Uniform Mechanical Code, NFPA 30A and the New Mexico plumbing and mechanical codes
- References can be tabbed and highlighted
Retake policy
- Retake rules aren’t stated in our sources
- Contact PSI at 855-807-3994 to reschedule or retake
- Mathematics references and OSHA 1926 are not allowed in the exam room
Exam references · Open book
The MM-1 Plumbing and Business and Law exams are open book: the references below can be tabbed, highlighted and used during the test. Print the New Mexico code chapters and liquid waste regulations to bring with you.
| Book | Edition | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC) — MM-1 exam | 2021 | Allowed in exam |
| Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) — MM-1 exam | 2021 | Allowed in exam |
| IPT Pipe Trades Handbook — MM-1 exam | Not stated | Allowed in exam |
| NFPA 30A: Code for Motor Fuel Dispensing Facilities and Repair Garages — MM-1 exam | 2015 | Allowed in exam |
| New Mexico Plumbing Code (NMAC Title 14, Chapter 8) — MM-1 exam | Not stated | Allowed in exam |
| New Mexico Mechanical Code (NMAC Title 14, Chapter 9) — MM-1 exam | Not stated | Allowed in exam |
| New Mexico Liquid Waste Disposal Regulations (NMAC 20.7.3) — MM-1 exam | Not stated | Allowed in exam |
| NASCLA Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Basic Edition — Business and Law exam | Basic Edition | Allowed in exam |
| Mathematics for Plumbers and Pipefitters | 8th edition | Study only |
| OSHA 1926 Construction Industry Regulations | Not stated | Study only |
Prep
Best New Mexico plumber exam prep, compared
We haven’t compared prep courses for this exam yet.
Costs
How much does a New Mexico plumber license cost?
| Item | Type | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying Party application fee | Fixed | $36 |
| Company license application fee | Fixed | $36 |
| MM-1 license fee (3 years) | Fixed | $150 |
| MM-1 Plumbing exam (PSI) | Fixed | $68.88 |
| Business & Law exam (PSI) | Fixed | $68.88 |
| Code books for the exam | Variable | Varies |
| State fees and exams | QP and company application fees, MM-1 license fee and both PSI exams; excludes code books and bond | $359.76 |
Fees from the PSI NM CID contractor license application (May 2025), the PSI NM licensing FAQ and the PSI New Mexico contractor candidate bulletin (updated April 2026), checked October 2026.
Reciprocity
Does New Mexico accept out-of-state plumber licenses?
New Mexico’s reciprocity agreements cover Journeyman licenses. Our sources don’t list a reciprocity path for the MM-1 contractor classification, so plan to take both exams.
Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Montana — Journeyman reciprocity
Agreements apply to Journeyman licenses, not the MM-1 contractor classification.
Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wyoming — Journeyman reciprocity
Agreements apply to Journeyman licenses, not the MM-1 contractor classification.
All other states — no agreement
Apply as a new applicant and pass the MM-1 and Business & Law exams.
Local
Do New Mexico cities and counties have their own plumber licensing rules?
Your MM-1 license comes from the state. Local building departments still control the permits and inspections on each job.
State handles
- MM-1 licensing and Qualifying Party approval
- Exams, through PSI
- Continuing education requirements
- New Mexico plumbing and mechanical codes
City & county handle
- Permits for individual jobs
- Inspections
- Local business registration
Governance
Who regulates plumbers in New Mexico
Licensing authority
New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division
505-476-4500
Oversight responsibilities
- Issues MM-1 and other contractor classifications
- Approves Qualifying Parties
- Publishes the New Mexico plumbing and mechanical codes
- Sets continuing education requirements
Maintenance
How to renew your New Mexico plumber license and keep it active
New Mexico contractor licenses run for three years. Keep up with continuing education: New Mexico requires 16 hours for this license. Our sources don’t list a separate renewal fee, so check with PSI or the Construction Industries Division before your license is due.
Renewal cycle
3 years
CE hours
16
Renewal fee
Not stated
Late penalty
$1/day for the first 30 days, then one year’s fees
Renewing your license?
See the New Mexico CE guide: hours, deadline, required topics and how to renew.
FAQ
New Mexico plumber license FAQs
How many years of experience do I need for an MM-1 license?
4 years, or 8,000 hours, of experience.
Is the New Mexico plumbing exam open book?
Yes. The MM-1 exam is open book, and approved references can be tabbed and highlighted. You need 75% to pass.
How many exams do I take?
Two: the MM-1 Plumbing exam (100 questions, 250 minutes) and the Business & Law exam (50 questions, 130 minutes).
Can I install gas appliances with an MM-1 license?
No. The MM-1 scope doesn’t include natural gas fired appliances or natural gas piping.
Does New Mexico have plumbing reciprocity?
New Mexico has reciprocity for Journeyman licenses with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. Those agreements don’t cover the MM-1 contractor classification.
Is continuing education required?
Yes. New Mexico requires 16 hours of continuing education for this license.
Who do I schedule the exam with?
PSI. Call 855-807-3994 or book online through PSI’s New Mexico catalog.
How much does an MM-1 license cost?
The Qualifying Party application and the company license application are $36 each, the MM-1 license fee is $150 for three years, and the MM-1 and Business & Law exams are $68.88 each through PSI. That’s $359.76 before code books and your bond.
Sources
Official sources for the New Mexico plumber license
- New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division
- PSI, New Mexico contractor exams
- New Mexico Plumbing Code, 14.8.2 NMAC (PDF)
- New Mexico Mechanical Code, 14.9.2 NMAC (PDF)
- New Mexico Liquid Waste Disposal Regulations, 20.7.3 NMAC (PDF)
- New Mexico RLD, Apply for a Construction Industries License
- PSI, NM CID Contractor License Application, May 2025 (PDF)
- PSI, NM CID licensing FAQ (PDF)
- PSI, New Mexico Contractor Examinations Candidate Information Bulletin (PDF)
Last updated October 27, 2026. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Exam Insiders is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division.