How to get an Associate Broker license in New Mexico

New Mexico real estate agent licenses

New Mexico issues 2 real estate agent credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for every New Mexico real estate agent license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

Requirements

Education or training

At least 90 classroom hours¹
90 hours of Commission-approved pre-licensing education: 30 hours Real Estate Principles and Practice, 30 hours Real Estate Law, 30 hours Broker Basics⁷
Who may teach it: Commission-approved courses completed within three years before the exam application⁷
Alternative: Out-of-state brokers with a certified license history may be waived from 60 of the 90 hours (Principles and Law) but must take the 30-hour Broker Basics course⁷

Background check

Background check required³
Fingerprints required⁹
Felony convictions for listed offenses may disqualify an applicant (16.61.3.15 NMAC)²

Residency or citizenship

Must be a legal resident of the United States⁷

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

Apply online

nmrldlpi.my.site.com¹¹

Renewal

How often

Every 3 years⁴

When it expires

Every three years, on the last day of the month following the broker’s birth month¹

Renewal fee

$270¹⁰

Approved courses

Commission-approved courses; certificates are uploaded with the renewal¹²

Exemptions

Brokers who were 65 and had 20 continuous years of NM licensure before July 1, 2011¹²

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $810¹⁰ (up to one year after expiration)

If it expires

Renewable with the late fee (three times the $270 renewal fee) for up to one year after expiration; after that, all pre-licensing requirements must be met again⁴
Missing an annual core course: penalty is the 30-hour Broker Basics course for no CE credit¹²

Renew online

nmrldlpi.my.site.com¹¹

From another state

Who needs an Associate Broker license

Work that does not need this license:

• Owners dealing in their own property (except subdivisions of 100 or more parcels) and owners’ employees managing the owner’s property are exempt⁶

Other rules on who may do this work:

• Unlicensed practice is a fourth degree felony¹
• Managing property for others requires a broker license with a property management endorsement⁶

Requirements for an Associate Broker license

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Education or training

30 classroom hours¹²
Post-licensing: New Broker Business Practices (30 hours) or CCIM 101 within the first year of licensure¹³

Exam

National broker examination and New Mexico real estate broker’s examination (state portion)²
Passing score: 75 on each portion⁷
When you can take it: Apply to the exam contractor with certificates for the three 30-hour pre-licensing courses, completed within the 3 years before the exam application⁷
National portion²
New Mexico (state) portion²
Retakes: Both portions must be passed within 90 calendar days of the first attempt, otherwise both must be retaken⁷
Time limit: Apply for the license within six months of passing, or retake the exam²
Exam waived: Brokers licensed in other states with a certified license history may be waived from Principles and Law and the national portion; licensees from Georgia, Louisiana and Massachusetts are exempt from both exam portions⁶

Also required

Must be affiliated with an actively licensed qualifying broker⁶

Also required

Associate brokers may hold only one license⁶

How much an Associate Broker license costs

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. Complete the three Commission-approved 30-hour pre-licensing courses (Principles and Practice, Law, Broker Basics).⁷
2. Apply to the Commission’s exam contractor, pay the $95 exam fee and pass both the national and New Mexico portions (75 or higher) within 90 days of the first attempt.⁷
3. Get fingerprinted for the state and FBI background check (no more than 21 days before applying) and buy errors and omissions insurance.⁹
4. Within six months of passing, apply online in NM-PLUS with your score report, fingerprint documentation, E&O certificate and the $270 fee; name your supervising qualifying broker.⁷ nmrldlpi.my.site.com¹¹
5. In your first year, complete New Broker Business Practices or CCIM 101.¹³

Renewal and continuing education

Continuing education

At least 36 hours each renewal period⁵

Required topics

4-hour NMREC Core course every year of the 3-year cycle⁵
4 hours of ethics per cycle⁵
4 hours of core electives per cycle⁵
Property managers: 6-hour Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act (or approved commercial PM course) plus 6 more property management hours per cycle¹²

Qualifying Broker

Broker responsible for all real estate activity in a brokerage; may supervise associate brokers (supervisory level) or operate alone (non-supervisory level)⁸

Requirements

Education or training

30 classroom hours²
30-hour Brokerage Office Administration course with in-course exam²

Education or training

At least 8 clock hours²
8-hour Understanding and Using RANM forms course (or 8 hours of other approved contract courses)²

Education or training

At least 8 clock hours²
8 hours of core elective courses²

Education or training

Attend one Commission meeting, rule hearing or disciplinary hearing (at least 3 hours)²

Experience

At least 4 years²
Supervisory qualifying broker: at least 4 years’ active experience as a licensed associate broker in the 60 months before applying²
License you must hold first: Licensed associate broker (or out-of-state equivalent)²
Substitute: Limited waiver of up to 30 transaction points and the one-transaction-per-year requirement for hardship (small market, health, force majeure)²

Experience

At least 2 years²
Non-supervisory qualifying broker (will not supervise other brokers): at least 2 years’ active associate broker experience in the 60 months before applying²

Experience

Transaction experience totalling 100 points, with at least one transaction in each of the four years before applying, verified by the qualifying broker (e.g. residential sale side 5 points, residential lease side 4 points)²

Exam

National broker examination and New Mexico real estate broker’s examination (state portion)²
Passing score: 75 on each portion⁷
When you can take it: Apply to the exam contractor with certificates for the three 30-hour pre-licensing courses, completed within the 3 years before the exam application⁷
National portion²
New Mexico (state) portion²
Retakes: Both portions must be passed within 90 calendar days of the first attempt, otherwise both must be retaken⁷
Time limit: Apply for the license within six months of passing, or retake the exam²
Exam waived: Brokers licensed in other states with a certified license history may be waived from Principles and Law and the national portion; licensees from Georgia, Louisiana and Massachusetts are exempt from both exam portions; NM associate brokers upgrading are exempt from the national portion⁶

Business requirements

Qualifying brokers must be affiliated with a brokerage (trade name); registering a trade name costs $20¹⁰

Business requirements

Notarized affidavit acknowledging supervisory responsibilities and a supervisory plan (unless supervised by another qualifying broker)²

Also required

Brokers converted from salesperson status in 2006 must pass the broker exam (and take Broker Basics) before upgrading²

Also required

Qualifying brokers may hold multiple licenses ($270 each)⁶

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. Hold an active New Mexico associate broker license for 2 years (non-supervisory) or 4 years (supervisory) within the last 60 months and earn 100 transaction points.⁶
2. Complete the 30-hour Brokerage Office Administration course (with exam), the 8-hour RANM forms course and 8 hours of core electives, and attend a Commission meeting or hearing.⁷
3. Get new fingerprints (required for upgrades) and current E&O insurance.⁷
4. Apply in NM-PLUS with the Transaction Point Form, affidavit, supervisory plan, fingerprint documentation, E&O certificate and the $270 fee, and return your associate broker wall license.⁷ nmrldlpi.my.site.com¹¹
5. Register the brokerage trade name ($20) if you will run your own brokerage.¹⁰

Renewal

Continuing education

At least 42 hours each renewal period⁵

Required topics

4-hour NMREC Core course every year of the 3-year cycle⁵
4 hours of ethics per cycle⁵
8 hours of core electives per cycle⁵
Property managers: 6-hour Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act (or approved commercial PM course) plus 12 more property management hours per cycle¹²
6-hour Qualifying Broker Refresher course each cycle, plus attendance at a Commission meeting, rule hearing or disciplinary hearing²

From another state

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a real estate agent in New Mexico, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in New Mexico is on the New Mexico license lookup page.

Look up a license

nmrldlpi.my.site.com¹⁴

File a complaint

nmrldlpi.my.site.com¹⁴

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• NMSA 1978 §§ 61-29-1 to 61-29-29 (Real Estate License Law)
• 16.61.3 NMAC (Broker license examination and application)
• 16.61.2 NMAC
• 16.61.5 NMAC (Errors and omissions insurance)
• 16.61.7 NMAC (Fingerprinting)
• 16.61.11 NMAC (License renewal)
• 16.61.13 NMAC (Continuing education)
• 16.61.17 NMAC (Associate broker affiliation and responsibilities)
• 16.61.16 NMAC (Qualifying broker affiliation and responsibilities)

Common questions

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