New Mexico Electrician Exam
Need of a License: Electrical contractors and journeyman electricians must have a license to work in New Mexico.
Who Grants a License: The New Mexico Construction Industries Division, Regulation & Licensing Department, grants electrician licensing, as recommended by the Electrical Bureau.
License Qualification Requirements: 
Electrical contractor candidates must: have two to four years/4,000-8,000 hours practical experience related to the specific license classification (one year training equivalent to one-half year experience for up to half of total experience); provide proof of financial responsibility; satisfy residency requirements. Four-year/4,000 hour classification types include: EE-98 Electrical (includes ER-1 and ES classifications); and EL-1 Electrical Distribution Systems including transmission lines. Two-year/2,000 hour classification types include: ER-1 Residential; ES-1 Electrical Signs/Outline Lighting; ES-2 Cathodic Protection and Lightning Protection; ES-3 Sound and Intercommunication and Electrical Alarm Systems; and ES-7 Telephone Communications Systems.
Journeyman electricians must have two to four years/4,000-8,000 hours apprentice electrician experience or equivalent. Four-year/8,000-hour classification types: EE-98J Electrical (includes all ESJ Specialties) and EL-1J Electrical Distribution Systems, including transmission lines. Two years/4,000 hours (may use training to satisfy entire requirement): ES-1J Electrical Signs and Outline Lighting; ES-2J Cathodic Protection and Lightning Protection; ES-3J Sound and Intercommunication and Electrical Alarm Systems; ER-1 Residential; and ES-7J Telephone Communication Lines.
Exam Requirement: Contractors and journeyman electricians must pass an exam to receive licensing.
How to Apply for the License: Work experience verification approval required prior to exam. All experience must be within 10 years of the application. To get started in application process, go to the Get Licensed:Overview online.
Application information can also be found on the PSI website.
Test Content: 
Part I of the EE-98 exam consists of 80 multiple-choice questions, three-hour time limit; the open-book test allows 2011 NEC or The National Electrical Code Handbook, New Mexico Electrical Code and National Electrical Safety Code. Questions drawn from following areas: general knowledge and electrical installation requirements; services, feeders and branch circuits; overcurrent protection; grounding and bonding; conductors and cables; raceways and boxes; hazardous locations, special occupancies, and special equipment; lighting, signs, and general-use equipment; motors, transformers, and generators; and New Mexico state code.
EE-98 Residential and Commercial Electrical Part 2 (Residential)
Number of Questions - 40
Percentage Required to Pass – 75%
Time Allowed – 90 minutes
CONTENT OUTLINE
General Knowledge and Electrical Installation Requirements 7
Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits 8
Overcurrent Protection 3
Grounding and Bonding 4
Conductors and Cables 4
Raceways and Boxes 4
Special Occupancies and Special Equipment, including Pools 3
Lighting and General-Use Equipment 3
New Mexico State Code 4
EE-98 Residential and Commercial Electrical Part 3 (Specialties)
Number of Questions - 50
Percentage Required to Pass – 75%
Time Allowed - 120 Minutes
CONTENT OUTLINE
Low Voltage, including Alarms 20
Electrical Signs and Outline Lighting 5
Cathodic Protection and Lightning Protection Systems 5
Telephone and Computer Systems 10
Sound and Communication Systems 10
EL-1 Electrical Distribution Systems, including Transmission Lines
Number of Questions - 100
Percentage Required to Pass – 75%
Time Allowed - 240 Minutes
CONTENT OUTLINE
General Knowledge and Electrical Installation Requirements 12
Electrical Supply/SubStations 6
Transformers 12
Conductors 12
Poles and Structures 10
Grounding Methods 10
Overnead 8
Underground 8
Equipment and Safety 12
Equipment over 600 Volts 10
ER-1 Residential Electrical Wiring
Number of Questions - 80
Percentage Required to Pass – 75%
Time Allowed - 180 Minutes
CONTENT OUTLINE
General Knowledge and Electrical Installation Requirements 17
Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits 17
Overcurrent Protection 4
Grounding and Bonding 8
Conductors and Cables 9
Raceways and Boxes 9
Special Occupancies and Special Equipment, including Pools 3
Lighting and General-Use Equipment 3
New Mexico State Code 6
Low Voltage 4
ES-1 Electrical Signs and Outline Lighting
Number of Questions - 50
Percentage Required to Pass – 75%
Time Allowed - 120 Minutes
CONTENT OUTLINE
General Knowledge and Theory 15
Wiring and Protection 8
Wiring Methods and Material 12
Equipment For General Use 5
Special Occupancies 5
Special Equipment 5
ES-2 Cathodic Protection and Lightning Protection Systems
Number of Questions - 50
Percentage Required to Pass – 75%
Time Allowed - 120 Minutes
CONTENT OUTLINE
General Electrical Knowledge 15
National Electrical Code 15
Lightning Protection 10
Cathodic Protection 10
ES-3 Low Voltage Special Systems (under 50 Volts)
Number of Questions - 50
Percentage Required to Pass – 75%
Time Allowed - 120 Minutes
CONTENT OUTLINE
Grounding and Bonding 4
Conductors 4
Electrical Power Conditioning 2
Electrical and Electronic Knowledge 6
General Low Voltage 3
Sound and Video Systems 5
Intrusion Detection and Alarms 4
Fire Detection and Alarms 7
Computer and Data Systems 5
CCTV Systems 2
Testing Equipment 2
CATV and MATV Systems 2
Applied Systems Design 4
ER-1J Journeyman Residential Electrical Wiring Part 1 Code Examination
Number of Questions - 40
Percentage Required to Pass – 75%
Time Allowed - 60 minutes
CONTENT OUTLINE
General Knowledge and Electrical Installation Requirements 5
Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits 6
Overcurrent Protection 4
Grounding and Bonding 4
Conductors and Cables 6
Raceways and Boxes 4
Special Occupancies and Special Equipment, including Pools 2
Lighting and General-Use Equipment 2
New Mexico State Code 5
Low Voltage 2
Candidates may use a silent, non-printing, non-programmable
calculator in the examination center.
This examination is OPEN BOOK.
ER-1J Journeyman Residential Electrical Wiring Part 2 Theory Examination
Number of Questions - 25
Percentage Required to Pass – 75%
Time Allowed - 60 minutes
CONTENT OUTLINE
General Knowledge and Electrical Installation Requirements 9
Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits 4
Overcurrent Protection 2
Grounding and Bonding 2
Conductors and Cables 2
Raceways and Boxes 2
Special Occupancies and Special Equipment, 1
Lighting and General-Use Equipment 1
Low Voltage 2
Candidates may use a silent, non-printing, non-programmable
calculator in the examination center.
This examination is CLOSED BOOK.
Journeyman Residential Electrical Practical Examination
Number of Points - 100
Percentage Required to Pass – 70%
Time Allowed - 120 minutes
CONTENT OUTLINE
Doorbell Project 35
Lighting Project 35
Simple Conduit Bending 20
Materials Identification 10
EE-98J Journeyman Residential and Commercial Electrical Part 1 Code Examination
Number of Questions - 50
Percentage Required to Pass – 75%
Time Allowed - 120 minutes
CONTENT OUTLINE
General Knowledge and Electrical Installation Requirements 4
Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits 7
Overcurrent Protection 4
Grounding and Bonding 6
Conductors and Cables 5
Raceways and Boxes 5
Hazardous Locations, Special Occupancies, and Special Equipment 4
Lighting, Signs, and General-Use Equipment 3
Motors, Transformers, and Generators 5
NM State Code 4
Low Voltage 3
Candidates may use a silent, non-printing, non-programmable
calculator in the examination center.
This examination is OPEN BOOK.
EE-98J Journeyman Residential and Commercial Electrical Part 2 Theory Examination
Number of Questions - 50
Percentage Required to Pass – 75%
Time Allowed - 120 minutes
CONTENT OUTLINE
General Knowledge and Electrical Installation Requirements 18
Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits 5
Overcurrent Protection 4
Grounding and Bonding 5
Conductors and Cables 3
Raceways and Boxes 3
Hazardous Locations, Special Occupancies, and Special Equipment 2
Lighting, Signs, and General-Use Equipment 2
Low Voltage, including Alarms 8
Candidates may use a silent, non-printing, non-programmable
calculator in the examination center.
This examination is CLOSED BOOK.
Journeyman Residential and Commercial Electrical Practical Examination
Number of Points - 100
Percentage Required to Pass – 70%
Time Allowed - 120 minutes
CONTENT OUTLINE
Motor Control Project 20
Transformer Project 20
Doorbell Project 10
Lighting Project 10
Simple Conduit Bending 10
Complex Conduit Bending 20
Materials Identification 10
EL-1J Journeyman Electrical Distribution Systems, including Transmission Lines
Number of Questions - 80
Percentage Required to Pass – 75%
Time Allowed - 180 Minutes
CONTENT OUTLINE
General Electrical Knowledge 10
Electrical Supply/Sub-Stations 8
Transformers 10
Conductors 8
Poles and Structures 6
Grounding Methods 8
Overhead 8
Underground 6
Equipment and Safety 6
Equipment over 600 Volts 10
Candidates may use a silent, non-printing, non-programmable
calculator in the examination center.
This examination is OPEN BOOK.
ES-1J Journeyman Electrical Signs and Outline Lighting
Number of Questions - 50
Percentage Required to Pass – 75%
Time Allowed - 120 Minutes
CONTENT OUTLINE
General Knowledge and Theory 5
Wiring and Protection 15
Wiring Methods and Material 15
Equipment For General Use 5
Special Occupancies 5
Special Equipment 5
Candidates may use a silent, non-printing, non-programmable
calculator in the examination center.
This examination is OPEN BOOK.
ES-3J Journeyman Low Voltage Special Systems (under 50 Volts)
Number of Questions - 50
Percentage Required to Pass – 75%
Time Allowed -120 Minutes
CONTENT OUTLINE
Grounding and Bonding 5
Conductors 4
Electrical Power Conditioning 2
Electrical and Electronic Knowledge 9
General Low Voltage 3
Sound and Video Systems 5
Intrusion Detection and Alarms 4
Fire Detection and Alarms 7
Computer and Data Systems 5
CCTV Systems 2
Testing Equipment 2
CATV and MATV Systems 2
Candidates may use a silent, non-printing, non-programmable
calculator in the examination center.
This examination is OPEN BOOK.
Fees: There are fees to apply for licensing, charged for each classification held.
Reciprocity: Reciprocal licensing available to journeyman electricians with licenses from the following states: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Test Administration: Psychological Services Inc. (PSI). Candidate bulletins available online or call (800) 733-9267; contractor bulletin and journeyman electrician bulletin.
License Renewal Requirements: Annual renewal, fee for each classification held. Journeymen must complete 16 hours of continuing education every three years, to include eight hours of National Electrical Code training.
Applicable Code: 2017 National Electrical Code.
