New Mexico Contractor License Exam — All Questions
9 questions
Which body licenses and regulates contractors in New Mexico?
- a.Each county's building department, with no state agency
- b.The Construction Industries Division (CID) of the Regulation and Licensing Department✓
- c.The New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department
- d.The New Mexico Secretary of State
New Mexico licenses contractors through the Construction Industries Division (CID) of the Regulation and Licensing Department (RLD), under the Construction Industries Licensing Act (NMSA Chapter 60, Article 13). Licensing and code enforcement are statewide.NMSA Ch. 60, Art. 13 (Construction Industries Licensing Act)
In New Mexico, the individual who supplies the required experience and passes the examinations on behalf of a contracting business is called the:
- a.Responsible Managing Employee
- b.Designated notary
- c.Qualifying Party (QP)✓
- d.Registered agent
New Mexico ties each license to a Qualifying Party (QP) — an individual with the required experience who passes the exams and is responsible for the licensee's construction operations. Without a QP, the license cannot be issued or maintained.NMSA Ch. 60, Art. 13; NMAC 14.6
What score is required to pass New Mexico's contractor Business and Law examination?
- a.80% (40 of 50)
- b.A simple majority of questions
- c.70% (35 of 50)
- d.75% (38 of 50)✓
New Mexico requires 75% to pass its Business and Law exam, which is 38 of the 50 questions. This is a higher bar than the 70% used by many states, so candidates should aim comfortably above the minimum.CID examination specifications
How is the New Mexico contractor Business and Law examination administered with respect to references, and how long is it?
- a.Closed book, 80 questions, 240 minutes
- b.Open book, 50 questions, 130 minutes✓
- c.Closed book, 50 questions, 90 minutes
- d.Oral interview before the division
The New Mexico Business and Law exam is open book, 50 questions, with a 130-minute time limit and a 75% passing score. Candidates may bring the allowed references, but the New Mexico code controls on any conflict.CID examination format
A candidate has passed the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building Contractor exam and wants a New Mexico GB-98 license. How does New Mexico treat that NASCLA result for the trade requirement?
- a.New Mexico does not accept NASCLA for the trade requirement; the candidate must pass the New Mexico GB-98/GB-2 exam, though the NASCLA guide may be used as an open-book reference✓
- b.NASCLA is accepted only for electrical classifications
- c.NASCLA waives both the trade and the business/law exams
- d.NASCLA fully satisfies the New Mexico trade exam
New Mexico does not accept the NASCLA exam in place of its own trade exam. The candidate must pass New Mexico's GB-98 or GB-2 examination. The NASCLA guide may be brought in only as one of the allowed open-book references.CID trade examination policy
Which classifications does New Mexico use for a general building contractor?
- a.Residential-Basic and Residential-Light-Commercial
- b.GB-98 (general building) and GB-2 (general building, narrower scope)✓
- c.Groups I through V
- d.Class A and Class B only
New Mexico classifies general building contractors as GB-98 (the broad general building classification) and GB-2 (a narrower general building scope). The candidate takes the trade exam for the classification sought.NMSA Ch. 60, Art. 13 (classifications)
To obtain a New Mexico general building license, within what general timeframe must a candidate pass both the Business and Law exam and the required trade exam?
- a.Both must be passed within a set period, generally one year✓
- b.The trade exam must be passed ten years before the law exam
- c.Only one of the two exams is ever required
- d.There is no time relationship between the two exams
New Mexico expects a candidate to complete both the Business and Law exam and the trade exam within a set period, generally one year, so that the qualifications are current when the license is issued.CID licensing procedure
On an open-book New Mexico exam question, a national reference book conflicts with the New Mexico Construction Industries Licensing Act. Which controls?
- a.Neither; the question is thrown out
- b.Whichever the candidate prefers
- c.The New Mexico code and Construction Industries Licensing Act control✓
- d.The national reference always controls
Even though the exam is open book and national references such as the NASCLA guide are allowed, the New Mexico code and Construction Industries Licensing Act govern on any conflict. Candidates should answer New Mexico questions from the New Mexico rules.NMAC 14.6 (open-book references)
A New Mexico contracting company's Qualifying Party resigns. What is the effect on the company's license?
- a.Nothing changes; the company keeps contracting indefinitely
- b.The license converts to an owner-builder permit
- c.Every field employee automatically becomes a QP
- d.The company must qualify a new Qualifying Party, because the license depends on having a QP✓
Because a New Mexico license is held through its Qualifying Party, the departure of the QP requires the company to designate and qualify a new one. The QP carries the experience and examination that support the license.NMSA Ch. 60, Art. 13 (Qualifying Party responsibility)