Construction / Roofing Contractor License / New Mexico
- New Mexico
- Roofing Contractor
- GS-21 Roofing
- Updated Oct 2026
How to Get Your New Mexico GS-21 Roofing License
This page walks through the New Mexico GS-21 Roofing license: the experience you need, the two open-book exams and how to apply with the Construction Industries Division.
Last updated October 27, 2026 from New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division requirements
Application fee
$36
Plus $150 GS-21 license fee and PSI exam fees
Exam time
4 hrs 40 min
GS-21 (150 min) + Business and Law (130 min)
Time to get license
~2 yrs
Foreman-level experience, then exams and application
Continuing ed
Not required
No CE for the GS-21 license
Overview
Do you need a New Mexico roofing contractor license?
Yes, roofing contractors in New Mexico need the GS-21 Roofing license from the Construction Industries Division. You also need a Qualifying Party who has passed the GS-21 and Business and Law exams.
License required when
- Installing, altering or repairing roof systems on new or existing roof decks
- Prep work to bring a roof deck or existing roof to a condition where roofing can go on
- Cutting, shaping and installing roof-related sheet metal such as flashing, cornices, gutters and downspouts
- Installing skylights, roof coatings, prefabricated chimneys and metal flues at or near the roof line
Common exceptions
- Alterations to structural framing aren’t part of GS-21 skylight work
- Sheet metal work is covered only when it relates to and is incidental to a roofing project
Penalties for unlicensed work
Our source doesn’t list penalty amounts. In general, the Construction Industries Division can take enforcement action against unlicensed contracting, so get licensed before you bid or start a roofing job.
Your fast-track New Mexico roofing contractor license checklist
The New Mexico application, one page
- 2 years of foreman-level roofing experience
- Passing score on the GS-21 Roofing exam
- Passing score on the Business and Law exam
- PSI pass information email
- Approved Qualifying Party
- Completed application, documents and license fee
Types
New Mexico roofing contractor license types and classifications
New Mexico has one roofing classification, GS-21. It’s held through a Qualifying Party who meets the experience and exam requirements.
GS-21
Roofing
Roofing
Roof systems on new or existing decks, plus prep work and incidental sheet metal such as flashing, gutters, skylights and roof coatings.
Exam
B&L + GS-21
Limit
Not stated
Requirements
New Mexico roofing contractor license requirements, class by class
Here’s what the GS-21 license takes. Accredited training can cover part of the experience, but never more than half.
| Requirement | GS-21 Roofing |
|---|---|
| Experience | 2 years of foreman-level practical or related trade experience |
| Training credit | Each year of accredited training counts as half a year, up to half the total |
| Trade exam | GS-21 Roofing: 60 questions, 75% to pass |
| Business exam | New Mexico Business and Law: 50 questions |
| Qualifying Party | Must become an approved Qualifying Party |
| Continuing ed | Not required |
Steps
How to get your New Mexico roofing contractor license, step by step
- Confirm your experienceBefore you apply
You need 2 years of foreman-level practical or related trade experience. Accredited training counts at half a year per year, up to half the requirement. - Schedule your exams with PSIBefore you apply
Book the GS-21 Roofing exam and the Business and Law exam with PSI at 855-807-3994. Testing centers are in larger cities around the state. - Pass both examsExam day
The GS-21 exam is 60 questions in 150 minutes, and you need 75%. Business and Law is 50 questions in 130 minutes. Both are open book. - Get your pass informationAfter the exam
Once you pass, you’ll get an email with your pass information attached. - Become a Qualifying Party and applyMail your packet
Mail the completed application, required documents and license fee to the address in the application. Details are at rld.nm.gov/construction-industries.
Exam
What to expect on the New Mexico roofing contractor exam
GS-21 applicants pass two exams: the GS-21 Roofing trade exam and the Business and Law exam every New Mexico contractor takes. Both are open book, and you can tab and highlight your approved references.
Format
Open book
Questions
60 + 50
Passing score
75% (GS-21)
Exam vendor
PSI
Scoring & content
- GS-21 Roofing: 60 questions, 150 minutes, 75% to pass
- GS-21 topics: estimating and plan reading, surface prep, steep and low slope roofing including BUR, waterproofing, roofing components, safety
- Business and Law: 50 questions, 130 minutes; passing score not stated in our source
- Business and Law topics: licensing, estimating and bidding, financial management, tax and labor laws, lien law, contracts, risk, safety
- Allowed references include the 2021 IBC and IRC and the New Mexico building codes (NMAC 14.7.2 and 14.7.3)
Retake policy
- Retake rules aren’t stated in our source
- Contact PSI at 855-807-3994 for retake scheduling; retakes cost the same $68.88 per exam
- Testing centers are set up in larger cities across New Mexico
Exam references · Open book
New Mexico’s licensing exams are open book: the references below can be tabbed, highlighted and used during the test. The list covers the GS-21 Roofing exam and the Business & Law exam.
| Book | Edition | Use |
|---|---|---|
| International Residential Code (IRC) — GS-21 exam | 2021 | Allowed in exam |
| International Building Code (IBC) — GS-21 exam | 2021 | Allowed in exam |
| Roofing Construction & Estimating, Revised — GS-21 exam | Not stated | Allowed in exam |
| NRCA Roofing Manual: Steep-Slope Roof Systems — GS-21 exam | Not stated | Allowed in exam |
| NRCA Roofing Manual: Membrane Roofing Systems — GS-21 exam | Not stated | Allowed in exam |
| OSHA 1926 Construction Industry Regulations — GS-21 exam | Not stated | Allowed in exam |
| New Mexico Commercial Building Code (NMAC 14.7.2) — GS-21 exam | 2021 | Allowed in exam |
| New Mexico Residential Building Code (NMAC 14.7.3) — GS-21 exam | 2021 | Allowed in exam |
| Concrete and Clay Roof Tile Installation Manual — GS-21 exam | 2015 | Allowed in exam |
| NASCLA Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law & Project Management, Basic Edition — Business & Law exam | Basic Edition | Allowed in exam |
Prep
Best New Mexico roofing contractor exam prep, compared
We haven’t compared prep courses for this exam yet.
Costs
How much does a New Mexico roofing contractor license cost?
| Item | Type | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying Party application fee | Fixed | $36 |
| Company license application fee | Fixed | $36 |
| GS-21 license fee (3 years) | Fixed | $150 |
| GS-21 Roofing exam (PSI) | Fixed | $68.88 |
| Business and Law exam (PSI) | Fixed | $68.88 |
| Code books and references | Variable | Varies |
| State fees and exams | QP and company application fees, GS-21 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 roofing contractor licenses?
New Mexico’s listed reciprocity agreements cover Journeyman licenses, not the GS-21 contractor license, so plan to apply as a new applicant.
No reciprocity agreements
No agreements are listed for the GS-21 license. Apply as a new applicant and pass both the GS-21 and Business and Law exams. (Journeyman reciprocity exists with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.)
Local
Do New Mexico cities and counties have their own roofing contractor licensing rules?
Your GS-21 license covers roofing work across New Mexico. Local governments still handle permits, inspections and business licensing.
State handles
- GS-21 contractor licenses and Qualifying Parties
- Exams, through PSI
- The New Mexico commercial and residential building codes
- License applications and fees
City & county handle
- Building permits and inspections
- Local business licenses
- Local code enforcement on the job site
Governance
Who regulates roofing contractors in New Mexico
Licensing authority
New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division
505-476-4500
Oversight responsibilities
- Issues GS-21 and other contractor licenses
- Approves Qualifying Parties
- Reviews experience and exam results
- Oversees the state building codes
Maintenance
How to renew your New Mexico roofing contractor license and keep it active
New Mexico doesn’t require continuing education for the GS-21 license. Contractor licenses run for three years. Our sources don’t list a separate renewal fee, so confirm it with PSI or the Construction Industries Division.
Renewal cycle
3 years
CE hours
Not required
Renewal fee
Not stated
Late penalty
$1/day for the first 30 days, then one year’s fees
FAQ
New Mexico roofing contractor license FAQs
How much experience do I need for a New Mexico roofing license?
2 years of foreman-level practical or related trade experience. Accredited training can count for up to half of it.
What exams do I take for GS-21?
Two: the GS-21 Roofing exam and the New Mexico Business and Law exam. Both are open book.
What score do I need on the GS-21 exam?
You need 75% on the 60-question GS-21 Roofing exam, which has a 150-minute time limit.
What is a Qualifying Party?
It’s the person who meets the experience and exam requirements and qualifies the license. You must become an approved Qualifying Party to get the GS-21.
Is continuing education required?
No. New Mexico doesn’t require continuing education for the GS-21 license.
Does New Mexico have reciprocity for roofing licenses?
Not that our source lists. New Mexico’s reciprocity agreements cover Journeyman licenses, so roofing contractors apply as new applicants.
How much does a GS-21 roofing license cost?
The Qualifying Party application and the company license application are $36 each, the GS-21 license fee is $150 for three years, and the GS-21 and Business and 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 roofing contractor license
- New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division
- New Mexico Commercial Building Code, NMAC 14.7.2 (PDF)
- New Mexico Residential Building Code, NMAC 14.7.3 (PDF)
- PSI, New Mexico contractor exam scheduling
- 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.