New Mexico Roofer License Requirements

Official classification: GS-21 Roofing Contractor · Issued by the New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID), General Building Bureau, Regulation and Licensing Department.

🏠 RooferNM ✔ Verified 2026-09-30

In New Mexico, roofers must hold the GS-21 Roofing Contractor, issued by the New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID), General Building Bureau, Regulation and Licensing Department, and a $10,000 surety bond is required. Full requirements — experience, exams, fees, insurance, renewal and reciprocity — are detailed below.

How to become a licensed roofer in New Mexico

New Mexico licenses roofing contractors under the GS-21 classification through the Construction Industries Division (CID), using a Qualifying Party (QP) system. The steps below follow CID and PSI's published process.

Identify your Qualifying Party (QP): the individual whose experience and exam results qualify the business for the GS-21 classification.
Document your QP's experience: 2 years (4,000 hours) of foreman-level roofing experience within the last 10 years. Up to half of that can be substituted with related accredited education, at one-half year of credit per year of school.
Submit the QP application and a notarized Work Experience Affidavit to PSI, with a $36 fee, for eligibility review.
Register for and pass both PSI exams: the GS-21 Roofing Trade Exam (open book, 200-minute limit) and the New Mexico Contractor Business and Law Exam (open book, 130-minute limit), each requiring 75% to pass.
Register your business: get a New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department tax ID, and file with the Secretary of State if you're forming an LLC or corporation (plus an NMPRC certificate if applicable).
Secure your $10,000 contractor license bond from a surety authorized to do business in New Mexico before you apply for the company license.
Arrange workers' compensation coverage; it's required for all licensed entities, though sole proprietors with no employees may be exempt.
Submit the company license application to PSI with the $36 application fee, the $150 GS-21 classification fee, your bond, your tax and state registration certificates, and proof of your exam scores.
Do this within 6 months of your QP application.

New Mexico roofer license lookup

To confirm a roofer is properly licensed in New Mexico — or to check the status of your own license — search the issuing agency's official license database. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Verify a license now: Search the official public.psiexams.com database →

License types

GS-21 Roofing Contractor — Install, alter, or repair roof systems on new or existing roof decks to create weatherproof/waterproof membranes using asphalt, pitch, tar, sealants, felt, shakes, shingles, roof tile, slate, urethane, or other approved materials; includes preparatory work, flashing, skylights (excluding structural framing alterations), roof coatings, gutters, leaders, rainwater downspouts, pans, prefabricated chimneys, metal flues, and sheet metal work incidental to roofing.

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	GS-21 Qualifying Party (QP): 2 years foreman-level experience (4,000 hours) within the 10 years immediately preceding application. Two years of related education at an accredited university may count as 1 year toward the experience requirement (accredited training substitutes at one-half year per year, capped at 50% of total requirement).
Application fee	$36 QP application fee; $36 license application fee
License fee	$150 classification fee (GS-21)
Renewal fee	$150 classification renewal fee (every 3 years)
Renewal period	3 years
Continuing education	None required for GS-21 roofing contractor license per CID General Building Bureau.
Bond required	$10,000 contractor license bond, underwritten by a corporate surety authorized to transact business in New Mexico; must remain in force for entire license period; 30-day cancellation notice to CID required; claims must be made within 2 years following final inspection or certificate of occupancy.
Liability insurance	Not specified by CID as a dollar minimum in 14.6.3 NMAC
Property damage	Not specified by CID as a separate minimum
Workers' comp	Required for all licensed entities under Section 60-13-23 NMSA 1978; sole proprietors with no employees may be exempt
Background check	Criminal history review required; disqualifying convictions include tax evasion, crimes involving physical harm, theft and fraud-type offenses, and bribery (Section 28-2-4 NMSA 1978, the Criminal Offender Employment Act, and 14.6.3.8(F) NMAC).
Credit requirement	None specified by CID
Reciprocity	New Mexico does not have reciprocity agreements with other states for roofing contractor licenses · compare all states
Processing time	QP work experience affidavit review + exam scheduling: 4–7 business days for exam registration confirmation; all requirements must be completed within 6 months of application receipt.

Exams

GS-21 Roofing Trade Exam (open book, 200-minute time limit)	Provider: PSI Exams (on behalf of CID) · Passing: 75% · Fee: $68.88
New Mexico Contractor Business and Law Exam (open book, 130-minute time limit)	Provider: PSI Exams (on behalf of CID) · Passing: 75% · Fee: $68.88

Renewing a New Mexico roofer license

The GS-21 Roofing Contractor renews on a fixed cycle set by the New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID), General Building Bureau, Regulation and Licensing Department. Late and lapsed renewals are handled differently by every board, so check the renewal page linked below before the deadline passes.

Renewal period	3 years
Renewal fee	$150 classification renewal fee (every 3 years)
Continuing education	None required for GS-21 roofing contractor license per CID General Building Bureau.
Where to renew	New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID), General Building Bureau, Regulation and Licensing Department

Local / municipal notes

GS-21 is a specialty classification under the General Building Bureau. After passing exams, submit to PSI: license application, $10,000 bond, tax registration certificate, Secretary of State proof of registration (if applicable), and exam score copies. A New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department tax ID is required.

Upfront costs, itemized

A New Mexico roofing license runs through CID and PSI together, plus a fixed-amount bond whose premium isn't set by the state.

Cost	Paid to	Amount
QP application fee	PSI (for CID)	$36
License application fee	PSI (for CID)	$36
Classification fee (GS-21)	PSI (for CID)	$150
Renewal (every 3 years)	PSI (for CID)	$150 classification renewal fee
Exam fees	PSI	$68.88 per exam (Roofing Trade Exam and Business and Law Exam)
Surety bond	A surety/bonding company	Coverage amount: $10,000. You pay a premium, a fraction of that figure, not the full $10,000; CID does not publish premium rates and they vary by your credit.
General liability / property damage insurance	An insurance carrier	No dollar minimum specified by CID in 14.6.3 NMAC

Frequently asked questions

How do I look up a roofer license in New Mexico?

Search the official license database at public.psiexams.com. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Do roofers in New Mexico need a surety bond?

$10,000 contractor license bond, underwritten by a corporate surety authorized to transact business in New Mexico; must remain in force for entire license period; 30-day cancellation notice to CID required; claims must be made within 2 years following final inspection or certificate of occupancy.

What experience is required for a New Mexico roofer license?

GS-21 Qualifying Party (QP): 2 years foreman-level experience (4,000 hours) within the 10 years immediately preceding application. Two years of related education at an accredited university may count as 1 year toward the experience requirement (accredited training substitutes at one-half year per year, capped at 50% of total requirement).

Is insurance required for roofers in New Mexico?

Liability: Not specified by CID as a dollar minimum in 14.6.3 NMAC. Property damage: Not specified by CID as a separate minimum. Workers' compensation: Required for all licensed entities under Section 60-13-23 NMSA 1978; sole proprietors with no employees may be exempt.

Is a background check required for roofers in New Mexico?

Background check: Criminal history review required; disqualifying convictions include tax evasion, crimes involving physical harm, theft and fraud-type offenses, and bribery (Section 28-2-4 NMSA 1978, the Criminal Offender Employment Act, and 14.6.3.8(F) NMAC).

Is there a credit or financial requirement for a New Mexico roofer license?

Credit requirement: None specified by CID.

How often must a New Mexico roofer license be renewed?

3 years. Continuing education: None required for GS-21 roofing contractor license per CID General Building Bureau.

How do I get a roofing license in New Mexico?

New Mexico licenses roofers under the GS-21 classification through the Construction Industries Division. Your Qualifying Party documents 2 years of foreman-level roofing experience, then passes the GS-21 Roofing Trade Exam and the Business and Law Exam through PSI, before you register the business, post a $10,000 bond, and submit the company license application.

How much does it cost to get a GS-21 roofing contractor license in New Mexico?

Between the QP application, license application, and GS-21 classification fee you'll pay CID/PSI $222, plus $68.88 per exam for two required exams. On top of that is the premium for a $10,000 surety bond, which CID doesn't set or publish.

How long does it take to get a New Mexico roofing license?

PSI confirms exam registration within 4 to 7 business days, but CID requires every step, from QP approval through the company license application, to be completed within 6 months of your initial application.

Do roofers need a bond in New Mexico?

Yes. Every GS-21 roofing contractor needs a $10,000 contractor license bond from a surety authorized to do business in New Mexico, kept in force for the entire license period. Claims against it must be filed within 2 years of final inspection or certificate of occupancy.

Can I take the New Mexico roofing exams before registering my business?

Yes. CID's process has you pass the GS-21 Roofing Trade Exam and Business and Law Exam through PSI first, then register your business, tax ID, and bond afterward, since those documents are needed for the company license application rather than the QP exam step.

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-09-30 — always confirm current requirements directly with the New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID), General Building Bureau, Regulation and Licensing Department before applying. This is not legal advice.