Electrician License from Colorado to New Mexico: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID), Electrical Bureau — Regulation and Licensing Department ↗
Yes — New Mexico has a reciprocity arrangement covering Colorado license holders. Apply to the New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID), Electrical Bureau — Regulation and Licensing Department under its reciprocity/endorsement track; typically you skip the national exam and complete state-specific requirements only.
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Verdict
Reciprocity agreement
Colorado is on New Mexico's journeyman reciprocity list, which puts this move on the fast track: New Mexico waives its journeyman exam for electricians who earned a qualifying Colorado license by examination, held it at least a year, and meet the experience hours. Two conditions decide whether you actually qualify — your Colorado license must have come from an exam, not a grandfather clause, and it must be current. The list is also revocable; the verification date on this page is when we last confirmed Colorado on it, and the New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID), Electrical Bureau — Regulation and Licensing Department is the live source.
What changes, Colorado → New Mexico
| Colorado (current) | New Mexico (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Training hours | 8,000 | — |
| Application fee | DORA does not publish the reciprocal journeyman fee on a standalone page; fees are set administratively and shown inside the online application. Aggregator figures (e.g. a $100 processing fee) could not be confirmed on an official page, so left null | $75 (All journeyman certificate fees are $75 (NM RLD/CID fee schedule); reciprocity uses the same journeyman application/certification fee.) |
| Processing time | The board does not publish a processing time; a reciprocal certificate is issued without a written exam once requirements are met and fees paid | CID does not publish a processing time; all certification requirements must be met within 6 months of application. |
| Licensing authority | Colorado State Electrical Board (DORA Division of Professions and Occupations) | New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID), Electrical Bureau — Regulation and Licensing Department |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — New Mexico sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm New Mexico's current requirements on the New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID), Electrical Bureau — Regulation and Licensing Department website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the reciprocity application to the New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID), Electrical Bureau — Regulation and Licensing Department (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold a current, active journeyman electrician certificate/license in good standing from a reciprocal state, originally earned by passing that state's exam.
- Submit the New Mexico Application for Journeyman Certificate with a copy of the qualifying certificate/license and the certification fee.
- Non-reciprocal applicants must document 4 years of electrical work experience within the prior 10 years, then pass the CID journeyman exam (75% to pass).
- Complete all certification requirements within 6 months of application (NMAC 14.6.4.8.B).
- Pay the fees ($75 (All journeyman certificate fees are $75 (NM RLD/CID fee schedule); reciprocity uses the same journeyman application/certification fee.)) and allow CID does not publish a processing time; all certification requirements must be met within 6 months of application..
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does New Mexico accept a Colorado electrician license?
Yes — New Mexico has a reciprocity arrangement covering Colorado license holders. Apply to the New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID), Electrical Bureau — Regulation and Licensing Department under its reciprocity/endorsement track; typically you skip the national exam and complete state-specific requirements only.
Which exam will I take moving from Colorado to New Mexico?
New Mexico waives its CID journeyman exam for an applicant holding an equivalent journeyman certificate/license (originally earned by exam) that is current and in good standing from a reciprocal state; applicants from non-reciprocal states must document 4 years of experience and pass the CID journeyman exam (75% to pass)..
What does the Colorado-to-New Mexico move cost and how long does it take?
$75 (All journeyman certificate fees are $75 (NM RLD/CID fee schedule); reciprocity uses the same journeyman application/certification fee.); processing CID does not publish a processing time; all certification requirements must be met within 6 months of application..
What could disqualify me even though Colorado is on New Mexico's list?
A Colorado license you were grandfathered into rather than earning by exam, a license held less than a year, or falling short of the experience-hour minimum — New Mexico's reciprocity is conditional, not automatic.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- NM CID Electrical Bureau — reciprocity links to partner-state electrical boards ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NMAC 14.6.4 — Journeyman Certification (EE-98J journeyman residential/commercial: 4 years experience; CID exam, 75% to pass) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NM RLD Construction Industries — Forms and Applications Fees ($75 journeyman certificate) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NERA — National Electrical Reciprocal Alliance (About) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Colorado DPO — Electrical Applications and Forms (reciprocity requirements and reciprocal-state list) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Colorado DPO — Electrical Board homepage ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]