How to get your New Mexico real estate license

You must be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma or GED to apply for a New Mexico real estate license. A criminal background check is required — most non-violent offenses are reviewed case-by-case.

Note: New Mexico's entry-level license is called an Associate Broker license (there is no 'salesperson' license). The 90 hours break into three 30-hour commission-approved courses — Real Estate Principles and Practice, Real Estate Law, and Broker Basics — all of which must be completed within the three years before you apply to take the exam.

• Complete the 30-hour Real Estate Principles and Practice course from a commission-approved provider.
• Complete the 30-hour Real Estate Law course.
• Complete the 30-hour Broker Basics course — New Mexico's state-specific course that even out-of-state license holders must take.
• Make sure all three certificates are dated within the three years before you apply for the exam, then submit your course completions with your exam application to PSI.

New Mexico uses PSI to administer the licensing exam. You'll need a passing score of Minimum score of 75 on each portion (state and national); both portions must be passed within 90 calendar days of your first attempt. The exam fee is $95. Expect roughly 100 national questions and 40–50 state-specific questions. Format: Two-part computer-based exam at PSI test centers: 80-question national broker portion and 50-question New Mexico state portion; the $95 fee covers both portions whether taken together or separately.

• Apply for exam eligibility directly with PSI (the commission's examination contractor), submitting your three 30-hour course certificates with the registration form and $95 exam fee.
• Pass both the national and state portions with a score of 75+ within 90 days of your first attempt — miss the window and you retake both portions.
• Get fingerprinted through the state's electronic fingerprint vendor for the state and national (FBI) arrest record check — the processing fee is approximately $44. Fingerprints are required for all new applications but not renewals.
• Purchase errors and omissions (E&O) insurance that meets 16.61.5 NMAC — required for all active licensees, and a certificate of insurance goes in with your application (the commission's group carrier runs roughly $200-$350 per year).
• Affiliate with an actively licensed New Mexico qualifying broker — an active associate broker must work under a qualifying broker, so line up your brokerage before applying.
• Submit your license application to the NM Real Estate Commission with your PSI score report, fingerprint documentation, E&O certificate, and the nonrefundable license fee of $270 — and do it within six months of passing, or you'll have to retest.

Your New Mexico license stays inactive until a licensed broker sponsors you. Interview at least 2–3 brokerages, compare commission splits, training, and lead sources, and pick the one that fits your career goals — not just the highest split.