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Obtaining an ES-3 low voltage contractor license in New Mexico can open your life to a plethora of possibilities. You’ll discover a very fulfilling career that allows you to work on many of the special systems that play an important role in people’s lives, such as CATV, telecommunications systems, security devices, audiovisual equipment, and fire alarm systems.

What does it take to become an ES-3 low voltage contractor in the state of New Mexico? What are the experience and examination requirements to become licensed? We’re here to answer these questions.

New Mexico ES-3 Low Voltage License Requirements

Before you schedule your licensing exams, you must be able to show proof of two years of foreman-level practical or other trade-related experience. That experience must:

• Have been completed within the last 10 years
• Have been completed while employed by a licensed contractor
• Be verified by an employer, supervisor, foreman, or another contractor, who must also verify their position and licensing

Up to half of the total work experience requirement can be fulfilled with technical training from an accredited college, university, manufacturer’s training program, technical vocational institute, or apprenticeship program.

All candidates need to submit an application to obtain a Qualifying Party Certificate. This certificate verifies that you have the work experience necessary to obtain your ES-3 low voltage contractor license.

Finally, candidates must take and pass the New Mexico ES-3 Low Voltage Exam and the New Mexico Business and Law Exam, which are both administered by PSI.

What to Expect From the New Mexico ES-3 Low Voltage Exam

New Mexico’s ES-3 Voltage Exam requires candidates to be preapproved before they can register to take the assessment. Topics covered on the 50-question, 145-minute exam include:

• Grounding and bonding
• Conductors
• Electrical power conditioning
• Electrical and electronic knowledge
• General low voltage
• Sound and video systems
• Intrusion detections and alarms 
• Fire detection and alarms
• Computer and data systems
• CCTV systems 
• Testing equipment 
• CATV and MATV systems 
• Applied systems design

Candidates must also take the New Mexico Business and Law Exam. With 50 questions with a 130-minute time limit, the assessment covers the following topics:

• Licensing requirements
• Estimating and bidding
• Business organization and financial management
• Tax laws
• Labor laws
• Project management and lien laws
• Contracts
• Risk management
• Environmental and safety concerns

Both of these open-book exams are made available to all contractor candidates through PSI. They each require a passing score of at least 75%.

Exam Prep for Your Next Career Path

New Mexico maintains rigorous standards for those who wish to pursue the ES-3 low voltage contractor license. RocketCert is the best way to meet these standards and give yourself the tools you need to pass your exams on the first try.

We offer candidates a robust online exam prep course, including calculations that teach you how to solve problems, practice quizzes, and a full test simulation. Our reference materials can be indexed and used during your open-book test. 

Contact RocketCert today for help getting started on the path toward your New Mexico ES-3 low voltage contractor license.