HVAC Certification Licensing in New Mexico – 2022 Guide

| Last Updated: June 11, 2021
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New Mexico is a great place to start a career in HVAC thanks to its desert climate. Hot summer days and cold nights make indoor climate control a priority for all residential and commercial buildings in the state.

With over one thousand jobs in HVAC statewide, the opportunity to have a lucrative vocation as an HVAC technician has never looked better.

Here we will outline for you all the state requirements you’ll need to get your HVAC licensing in the state of New Mexico.

How to Become an HVAC Technician in New Mexico

There are a few things to take care of when becoming an HVAC technician in New Mexico.

License

To pursue a career in HVAC in New Mexico, you need to get two licenses. The first one would be to obtain a license as a Conditioning Contractor, and the second license would be of Business and Law. This will allow you to bid, as well as have the right to contract different projects related to HVAC, renovation, and repair. It also includes commercial and residential projects. 

Exam

Once you apply for the license, the next step is scheduling the exam from your nearest testing center. The PSI hosts the exams. To pass this exam, you need to get at least 75%. The exam consists of 100 questions that have to be answered in 180 minutes. 

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The Business and Law exam comes with 50 questions that must be answered in 125 minutes, and it costs $45. The syllabus for the exam mainly includes bidding, how to organize your business, managing the finances, safety, risk assessment, project management, and state laws. The Natural Gas Fitting Exam is to be taken with the Business and Law one, and it has 100 questions and a four-hour time limit. 

What Makes New Mexico a Great Place to Start an HVAC Career? 

If you want to kick-start your career as an HVAC technician, New Mexico is one of the best places to start! Let’s take a look at the reasons why it is an amazing state to prosper in HVAC:

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Climate

Since this state mostly has cities with desert climates, controlling the climate is a priority for commercial buildings and residential areas. The humid and scorching summer days and cold, wintery nights make indoor weather control a very important aspect for homes and offices.

Demand

There is a huge demand for HVAC technicians in New Mexico. Additionally, the breakthroughs in technologies make being an HVAC technician really useful, especially in states that offer lesser job opportunities. It is also researched that this job prospect is to grow within the next ten years. 

Salaries

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual salary of HVAC technicians averaged out to be $44,300. The hourly rate that an average HVAC technician would charge would round up to $30, which is great. If you are an experienced HVAC technician who has been working in this industry for a long time, your salary could go about $60,000 per annum. 

HVAC Licensing Requirements for New Mexico

To work in HVAC as a contractor, it is required that you both get licensed as a Conditioning Contractor and in Business and Law. The license will allow you to bid and contract on various projects related to heat and air conditioning systems, whether it be for renovation, maintenance or repair. It covers both residential and commercial projects.

If you are interested in working in ventilation systems that use natural gas fittings, you will need a Natural Gas Fitting Contractors license. This license allows contractors to service or install natural gas systems or appliances. Both licenses have similar requirements and examination processes. Here are the eligibility details for each:

Heat, Air Conditioning Contractors License Requirements

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  • Submit a bond for $500 to $5,000, cash collateral, or audited financial statement

  • Provide proof of 2-4 years of experience depending on the classification

  • Submit a certificate of competence

  • Pass both the trade exam and the business and law exam

  • To continue to hold your license you will need 5 hours of continued education every biennial renewal period

  • The fee to apply to sit for the exam is $30, the licensing fee is $30 and there is an additional $30 annual renewal fee

Natural Gas Fitting License Requirements

  • Submit a bond for $500 to $5000, cash collateral, or audited financial statement

  • Provide proof of 2-4 years of experience

  • Submit a certificate of competence

  • The fee to apply to sit for the exam is $30, the licensing fee is $30 and there is an additional $30 annual renewal fee

Examination Process

After applying for your license, you can schedule an exam at your nearest testing site. The exams are administered by PSI and you can contact the company at 1-800-733-9267 to schedule.

Heat, Air Conditioning Contractors License Exam

The exam has 100 questions that must be answered within 180 minutes. You will need to get a 75% or higher on the exam to pass.

New Mexico Business and Law Exam

  • This exam has 50 questions and a time limit of 125 minutes

  • Questions will be related to licensing requirements, giving estimates, bidding, how to organize a business, managing finances, state laws, environment, safety, risk assessment and project management

  • You will need a 75% or higher to pass and the exam fee is $45.

MM-2 Natural Gas Fitting Exam

  • Taken in tandem with the Business and Law exam

  • 100 questions and a 240 minute time limit

  • You will need a 75% or higher to pass

  • The exam covers gas-related topics like piping, gas sizing, appliances, combustion, air, chimneys, flues, vents, and systems

Job Outlook and Salary for HVAC in New Mexico

Let’s now take a more detailed overview of the job outlook and salaries for HVAC technicians in New Mexico. The wages can fluctuate between $13 and $30 per hour, depending on the experience. The average salary of an HVAC technician in New Mexico is about $40,590. 

Due to the increasing popularity of this profession, the employment rate of HVAC technicians in New Mexico is quite high, especially in some cities. You can expect to avail of many benefits and compensation for your work, including bonuses, insurance of all kinds such as life, health, and dental, 401K, paid leave, and flexible hours.

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The jobs available in New Mexico include HVAC technician, HVAC designer/engineer, residential HVAC technician, service technician, HVAC installer, refrigeration technician, HVAC mechanic, and many more. 

What is the Salary For an HVAC Technician in New Mexico?

This section will help you get an idea of how the range of salaries or wages differs with experience and skillsets:

Entry-Level

If you are an entry-level graduate working as an HVAC technician in New Mexico, your salary will amount to a minimum of $28,410 per annum, with the hourly wage being $13.1. You would need to gain some experience and be consistent with your effort to become more skilled in this job.

Mid-Level

If you are working in this field for about five to nine years, you will count as a mid-level experienced technician. The job outlook for mid-level HVAC technician can range, but the average would round up to $44,860 per annum, with the hourly wage being about $20-$23.

Master-Level

As a highly skilled HVAC technician in the industry with 10+ years of experience, you naturally have a better job outlook in New Mexico. Your annual salary can go up to $60,000, with the hourly wage starting from $30. 

New Mexico Cities with Highest Average HVAC Salaries 

There are great opportunities for entry-level HVAC technicians with plenty of room to grow into higher salaries with even more job security.

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Let’s take a look at the highest paying cities for HVAC technicians in New Mexico. This will give you an idea of how the salaries range, depending on the demand that each city gets for HVAC technicians. 

Hobbs

This is the highest paying HVAC technician city in New Mexico, with their hourly wage going up to $33.92. If you have an experience of one to two years, your per-hour wage is $24. If you have been an HVAC technician in this city for six to nine years, your average hourly wage would be $28.56. If you are highly experienced, then a ten-year experience can get you $33.92 an hour. 

Ruidoso Downs

Ruidoso Downs is also a high paying city in New Mexico, with the hourly wage for experienced workers going up to $33. A novice or fresh graduate would earn about $22.89 an hour, which is quite impressive! As the years go by and you polish your skills even further, you can expect your average hourly wage to be around $28.45/hour. If you are a master HVAC technician, a 10-year experience will lead up to an average of $33.78 an hour.

Peralta

Peralta is a city with a high demand for HVAC technicians because of its weather. The hourly wage goes up to $30 if you are a highly skilled worker. If you have an experience of one to two years or have freshly graduated, your per hour wage is around $20. 

It also helps if you have studied engineering in your bachelor’s. For a higher experience individual of around seven years, your average hourly wage would be $27. If you are a master HVAC technician who is very sought-after in the city, the hourly wage would be $30. 

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Conclusion

New Mexico is a prime location to start your education in HVAC. After 2-4 years of hands-on experience as an apprentice, you can test to get your contractor’s license. With licensing comes the ability to take on larger, higher paying jobs and more responsibilities at your company.

The licensing process requires just a little bit of effort in exchange for long-term career benefits. Whether you get your license in gas fitting, air conditioning, or both, the results can be rewarding. It is never too late to learn HVAC and get your licensing.

People Also Ask

If you still have some questions or concerns regarding the job outlook in New Mexico, you can go over this section to clear out the issues you have. It will also give you clarity on the steps needed to successfully become an HVAC technician in this state:

What Are the HVAC Journeyman License Requirements in NM?

To become a licensed HVAC Journeyman in New Mexico, the Refrigeration, Plumber, Gas, and Natural Gas Fitter certifications all need HVAC professionals to have at least 4000 hours of experience working under the supervision of a licensed contractor and must also pass the exam. 

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Does My Texas HVAC License Work in New Mexico?

To work in New Mexico as an HVAC technician, you need to apply for an active certification as you need a state license to work unsupervised. So, no, you cannot start working in New Mexico with your Texas license; you need to approve and get a new certificate according to New Mexico.

Do You Have to Go to School for an HVAC License in NM?

HVAC technicians and contractors are required to get the HVAC license at the state level. To get their license, students must enroll themselves in training schools or technical college programs so they can get hands-on experience and then schedule for the HVAC exam. 

What are the Types of Commercial HVAC Licenses in New Mexico?

There are different types of commercial HVAC licenses in New Mexico, including technician and contractor licenses. The HVAC license comes under the Mechanical and Plumbing contractor classification and includes apprenticeships and journeyman licenses. You also need to study Business and Law and pass the exams for these licenses. 

Looking for Information on Nearby States?

You might also be interested in HVAC licensing requirements in bordering states:



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My name is Bob Wells and I am a retired HVAC tech from Washington state. I am currently retired and no longer do much with HVAC, however, I feel like I have a lot of knowledge in the subject and I wanted to create a website where I could talk about what I've learned and help upcoming HVAC techs. Find more info about me and HVAC Training 101.