Electrician License from Illinois to New Mexico: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does New Mexico accept an Illinois electrician license?
There is no Illinois state license to carry to New Mexico: Illinois issues no statewide journeyman electrician license. New Mexico does license this work, so ask the New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID), Electrical Bureau — Regulation and Licensing Department whether it credits a local license or your documented experience; otherwise you qualify as a new applicant.
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Verdict
No state license to transfer
The issue on this move is the starting point: Illinois issues no statewide journeyman or master electrician license, so there is no Illinois state license for New Mexico to verify, endorse or reciprocate. New Mexico does license electricians, through the New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID), Electrical Bureau — Regulation and Licensing Department, and it licenses out-of-state electricians by endorsement — but that route starts from a state license. Ask the board, in writing, whether it credits a local Illinois license or your documented hours; otherwise plan for its new-applicant route and exam. 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's different between Illinois and New Mexico
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into New Mexico. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
Illinois to New Mexico (this page): No state license to transfer.
New Mexico to Illinois (the reverse move): No state license to transfer.
Illinois issues no statewide journeyman electrician license, so neither direction is a state-license transfer.
- Does coming from Illinois matter?
Coming from Illinois matters here: only 13 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get this result for a move into New Mexico.
The others get: licensure by endorsement (27) and reciprocity agreement (10).
- Reciprocity agreements
New Mexico's reciprocity agreement list names 10 states (Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming), not including Illinois.
- Fee and processing
Illinois issues no statewide journeyman electrician license, so there is no Illinois state license application fee or processing time to compare with New Mexico's.
- Exam rules on record
New Mexico and Illinois carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- New Mexico (this move): 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).
- Illinois (the reverse move): Illinois has no statewide electrician license, so there is no state exam to waive or transfer; each municipality sets its own exam and licensing rules (for example, the City of Chicago administers its own Supervising Electrician examination through Continental Testing Services)
What changes, Illinois → New Mexico
| Illinois (current) | New Mexico (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | No statewide fee; fees are set by each municipality | $75 (All journeyman certificate fees are $75 (NM RLD/CID fee schedule); reciprocity uses the same journeyman application/certification fee.) |
| Processing time | Set by each municipality; there is no statewide process | CID does not publish a processing time; all certification requirements must be met within 6 months of application |
| Licensing authority | No statewide board — electrician licensing is municipal (e.g., City of Chicago Department of Buildings) | 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
- Review New Mexico's requirements on the New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID), Electrical Bureau — Regulation and Licensing Department website (linked below) — rules change.
- Ask the New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID), Electrical Bureau — Regulation and Licensing Department whether it credits a local Illinois license or your documented experience: Illinois issues no statewide journeyman electrician license, so there is no state license to verify.
- Otherwise apply as a new applicant: meet New Mexico's education/experience requirements and pass the exams it requires.
- Submit the application with fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Related guides
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)
- City of Chicago — Trade Licensing (Department of Buildings) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- City of Chicago — Supervising Electrician License (municipal exam/licensing) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- City of Chicago — Electrical Contractor License ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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